Nineteen

Chapter Seventy-Six

"I don't know, Link. It's not fair of you to expect me to answer to all of that," I say.
His eyes go big and he waves his arms. "No! That's not what I'm expecting. I just wanted you to know."
I press my mouth into a hard line and melt into the chair. I prop my feet up onto his table and cross my hands together. His eyes burn through me.
"Okay," he says, "let's forget about it for now."
Finally, something I can agree with. I nod my head and smile at him.
"So, you've been here for a few weeks. How are you liking it?" He asks.
"I like it, but I miss home. There's something missing."
"You belong at Duke," he says, "everyone has always known you were a blue devil."
I couldn't agree more. It gives me butterflies when I think about being on that campus. Transferring is still playing in the back of my mind.
"I don't want to start all over. It's been so easy here, I have people I know from home," I say.
"But are you happy?" He asks. It's a tough question. I'm not sad, but I think I could be happier.
"Duke is really hard to get into," I say.
"Don't doubt yourself. You're great."
I check the time on my phone and I've already been here for almost an hour. Time gets away from me whenever I'm with Link. It always has.
"Do you want to go home after you graduate?" I ask.
"I do. I miss my aunt and everything. It was much slower there," he replies. I nod my head in agreement. "Where do you want to go?"
"Home. I hate being away from everyone." I'm majoring to be an author, but I'm also using my classes to eventually get a teaching license, and I don't know how the writing will go in a small town.
"We're on the same page," he smiles. After a few moments, he speaks again. "You know, there's an open apartment on my floor. It's not the best place, but it's cheap. I can easily afford it and I use the monthly money I saved from working at home."
He tells me how much a month he spends to live here, and it isn't as cheap as he led on, but it still isn't expensive and I believe working at the book store, I could afford it. I jot the landlords number into my phone, just in case.

We talk for a while longer before I hug and tell Link goodbye, and he promises to text me later. When I get outside I can see the sun beginning to get lower and that's when I realize it's after seven. I get into my car and roll the windows down. The warm air is perfect at this time of the day, and I add it to my list of things I like about Miami.
It still doesn't seem real that I'm living here. I always thought it would be super fast paced, celebrities at all of the clubs, and parties every night, but reality is only half of that.
I drive down a few back roads to explore a little more while traffic is slower than usual. By the time I pull into the dorms, it's almost eight o'clock.
When I step out of the car, I see that there's a lot of people gathered on the grass. It's Sunday, so I'd assume there isn't a party tonight, but these people always surprise me with their love of parties.
I walk down the sidewalk and decide to go beside the buildings to avoid the group of students. I turn the corner and begin down the long brick walk.
"Hey again."
I jump from the voice. I look around me but I don't see anyone. I'm stopped in my tracks from the voice.
It's the voice. The voice from the alley. He's here.
I start my walk again, but this time I'm running. I feel the tears fall from my cheeks and I have no idea where I'm going.
I turn a corner and I'm knocked on my back. I hear my cast smack the concrete with a loud thud.
"Please stop! What do you want!" I scream and flail my arms. My eyes are closed tight.
I feel pressure on me, and that's when I realize he's sitting on me. I open my eyes for a split second to see his face only inches from mine. His eyes cut a hole through me.
I scream a few more times for help until his hand connects with my jaw, silencing me. I feel the warm taste of blood inside my mouth.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, but you always have that boy," he says.
I shiver at the sound of his voice. My eyes are full of salty tears. I feel blood run down my cheek and onto the pavement.