Good Girls Have Secrets

Chapter 4

The Memorial Union is one of my favorite places to study.  The beautiful old building, spanning an entire city block, has everything from a hotel, bowling alley, ballrooms, to a food court and bookstore in the basement.  The connected parking ramp makes Union an ideal place to study because I can avoid going out into the cold.

Hurrying to make my way inside, I drop my phone, cracking the edge of the screen. Picking it up, seeing something move out of the corner of my eye, I shove my phone in my back pocket and hurry into the building. Trying to shake off the feeling that someone was watching me, I decide to add pepper spray to my shopping list.

Walking through the marble hallways, admiring the thoughtful design of the light fixtures and the flooring, I can't help but imagine a group of designers sitting around for countless hours with floor samples, upholstery, stone pieces, sconces, railings, woodwork, and so much more. I can imagine their design boards and the arguments over what color best suits the drapes.

Someday I'll wander through this building taking photos for my Instagram, which has photos of all the places that inspire me.

    Making my way down the basement steps, into the food court, I stop to grab a vitamin water. Smiling at a group of sorority girls, one of them notices me and smiles back, but the rest are too engrossed in their conversation.  I can't help but wish the girl would wave me over to sit with the group, knowing it won't happen I move on.

For a Saturday, the food court is busier than usual. Scanning the entire place, I lock eyes with Damien, the creepy guy from my English class. Quickly looking away, I act like I didn't recognize him and move in the opposite direction of where he's sitting.

Finally grabbing a table in the back corner, dropping my bag on the table, I rub my shoulder. Digging in the front of my bag, I find my air pods and cracked phone, which has a couple of text messages that I ignore.  Laying out my laptop, syllabus, pens, and notebook, I'm ready to tackle this mountain of homework.

My skin prickles, feeling someone's eyes on me. Looking around, I spot Damien striding towards me. His bald head shines in the light. I wonder if he's balding or if he wants to complete the tough look of his gages and canine bites.

Damien stops. "Hey Maddie. Are you working on that English paper that's due next Thursday?" His hand rests on the chair across from me. "I could use some help getting started."

He's not sitting with me. Thinking quick, I point to my Music Appreciation packet. "Nope. I have to interview someone for Music class, and it's due before English, so I'm working on that."

He glances back at his friends. One guy, who has gages and black neck tattoo, seems to be egging him on. Like I can't see his disgusting hand gestures. He smirks, "Could you at least look at the beginning of my paper to see if you think I started it right?" 

His piercings and tattoos aren't the problem, I have a nose ring and tattoo, it's something in Damien's eyes that puts me off. He gives me the feeling like he would leave me dead in a ditch somewhere.  How do I get rid of him?

Spotting Matt, I call out, "Matt."  Waving at him with a big smile, I get up making a show out of giving him a big hug.  Pointing to the chair in front of Damien, pleading with him to play along, I say, "Thanks for coming. Ready to start on that interview?"

Nodding to Damien, Matt waits for him to scoot over so he can sit down. He puts his bag on the chair next to him, apologizing, "Sorry I'm late. My mom needed help with a project this morning. It took way longer than I expected." Looking at Damien he says, "How's it going?"

Glaring, Damien snaps. "Shut up." And walks off.

Once he's out of earshot, I whisper, "Thank you. I didn't know how to get rid of him."