Everyone believes that college will be the fresh start after high school. Joseph thought that way too until he realized all of his problems just followed him. The brunette walked into his apartment with a sigh, already feeling the dread of college weighing down his shoulders.
He's only had one class and his first ghost of high school had showed itself. The way he jumped when the professor called his name made Joseph hold back a smile. He hadn't changed at all.
The sight of the cheery blonde made his heart hurt as memories from the previous year resurfaced.
"I did what I had to do." He told himself as he sat down his laptop bag on the rugged couch cushion. He could hear the nasally voice of his roommate as he yelled into his headset. Memories flashed in his mind as he poured himself a glass of juice.
Brown curls bounced with joy as his friend showed him an ad for an apartment, "Dude! Since you two boneheads finally noticed your undying love for each other, we can just get a nice two bedroom apartment for so much cheaper!"
A sigh left him as he took a look around his shabby apartment, stopping at the front door, where jingling keys could be heard. Joseph knew exactly who it was, but tried his best to seem friendly.
The door opened, making Joseph and the brunette girl who entered make eye contact.
"Hey, Eleanor!" He greeted in a quick and friendly tone. She glanced at him and kept walking towards her shared bedroom with her hermit of a boyfriend, Simon.
Joseph tried to douse his annoyance by downing the glass of orange juice, "Uh, hey," She paused and glanced back at him, waiting for him to continue, "Um, I'm about to do my laundry and you guys' stuff is still in the dryer."
"Oh, well you can just put the clothes in our room," Was all she said before opening their door and shutting it.
His jaw dropped slightly as he grabbed his laptop bag and retreated into his own room. The sun tried its best to lighten up the room, but couldn't seem to do the same for his mood.
Sitting on the edge of his creaky bed, Joseph's face fell into his hands. How the fuck did it end up like this?
There was a small shadow on his floor, which he normally would've brushed off. However, it's rectangular shape made an uneasy feeling wash over him.
I've done everything he's asked.. There's no way it's him..
He lifted his head slowly, praying there wouldn't be anything there. His prayers were left unanswered as a burgundy origami envelope was left hanging on a piece of thread from the curtain rod.
Closing his eyes to fight the oncoming tears of frustration, he walked towards the ominous envelope. Weary brown eyes watched it sway in the wind from the air conditioning.
A shaky hand reached out to hastily tear it down but decided to open it instead, thinking of his poorly set-up curtains. Slim fingers found their way under the 'envelope's flap, easily opening the cursed paper. As he did so, a single photo fluttered down to the ground.
Curses and swears was all that filled his brain while he bent down to collect the picture. It was a picture of Joseph sitting in the lecture hall as he waited for class to start a few hours ago.
He stood again to read the note that almost always accompanied the pictures. Hands shaking as he read:
'I told you, little muse, you can't run from me. -A'
It was shorter than what the stalker (self-proclaimed 'Artist' or 'A') had normally done, but it's underlying message weighed heavier than the largest novel. Thoughts of going to the police came and went. Memories of his previous failed attempts surfaced and all he wanted to do was reach for his phone and come clean.
His mind became cluttered as the sound of glass shattering filled his mind. A mental ache shot up his arm to his shoulder, despite the wound being healed weeks ago. He fought the urge to regurgitate the juice he had drank minutes prior.
Swallowing, he shoved the envelope in a drawer with the other ominous letters and grabbed his bag. He rushed out the apartment after locking the door behind him. There's no way, there's absolutely no way. I did everything he asked. I hurt Spencer just because I couldn't come clean and face A.
A little voice in his head screamed that it wasn't his fault, but the self-doubt silenced it immediately. He knew Spencer would've stuck with him until this situation blew over. But after seeing the face that always smiled be overcome with pain by something that involved him, destroyed him more than any letter could.
He walked. How far he walked, he wasn't sure. His thoughts clouded everything. He could feel his body beg for food, but his appetite left the second he saw the letter.
That man did this. He caused this. He—
Joseph's shoulder collided with something hard, making him stumble out of his thoughts. He looked around, coming out of his haze.
"Hey, watch it—" There was a pause as Joseph finally focused on who he had bumped into. Chestnut brown curls shifted as his steel blue eyes widened ever-so-slightly, "Joseph?"
It took a second for the dark brunette to answer, making the curly haired boy call his name out again, "Jo? You okay, dude?"
Finally, Joseph blinked himself fully out of his daze, "Grayson? Oh, hey," His voice came out shakier than he had hoped, but he couldn't help it after he noticed the blonde waves and forest green he used to be able to adore. Subtly, he glanced around, realizing how dangerous this meeting could end up being, "This is crazy, sorry for bumping into you two. I gotta go now. Good seeing you two."
The two males glanced at each other as he practically ran away, unaware of the worry that he just awoken inside the two, "Um, okay, see you around.."
