BECAUSE IT WAS YOU

Chapter 12

While we walk back to the dorms, we don't talk much. The only sounds are from the raindrops dripping down the leaves on the many trees, drop after drop, and the noises made by little insects.
Along with petrichor, the pleasant, distinctive smell after a rain.

"Why were you outside during such a heavy rain?" I ask him, suddenly remembering how he had approached me.

 "I was-ssss looking for you."

"Me? Why?"

"Chris and Ash were quite worried about you. They phoned me, I said I'll go look for you. So, here I am!" he explains.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I thank him. 

"You've got to stop thanking me."

I turn to look him in the face and smile, so does he. Our eyes meet in the dark.
There it is! That awkward eye contact again!

"Were they very worried?" I ask him, hoping to change the ambience.

"I gue-"

"EMMA!!!" a girl runs up to me. Two girls. 
And they suffocate me with a tight hug.

"Chris? Ash?" I recognise them both once they are closer. "What are you doing here?"

"We were freaking out!!!" Chris exclaims, moving back along with Ash.

"We decided to look for you as soon as the rain stopped. You have no idea the scenarios that went across our minds." Ash makes this weird facial expression while shaking her head slowly.
A suspicious look.

"What?" I laugh.

"What not?!" Chris replies.

I laugh at their expressions. SO weird! 

"Well, thanks to him, I'm alright." I point at Jayden who's just standing next to me.

"YES!" Chris exclaims. "I didn't know you were this cool!!!"

Jayden just smiles and nods.

"Isn't that Jayden's?" Ash points at my jacket, with a smile on her face.

"Oh shoot! I'm so sorry." I apologise to Jayden, trying to take off the jacket.

"No. I'll get it later, you must be cold now. Have it on." he says.

"Thank you, for the last time." I smile at him.

He smiles back.

Meanwhile, I notice Chris and Ash look at each other and  back at us. 
I turn to face them, only to notice their notorious smirks.

"My friend, who are you? And, what have you done with THE Jayden Walker?" Ash smirks.

Jayden rolls his eyes. "We should go. It's getting late."

Both Chris and Ash laugh. I join them. Although I must say, I am pretty confused about what Ash had just pointed out. What did she mean by all what she had just said?

"Alright sir!" Chris giggles.

When we get to the dorms, Jayden follows us to our floor.

"You're not in this floor. Are you?" I ask him.

"I am." he answers plainly.

"He is your neighbour. Didn't you know?" Ash asks.

"What?" Chris is confused too. "He does? You do?" she looks from Ash to Jayden.

"See for yourself." he says.

We walk to our room, mine and Chris's. Jayden stops along with us. He walks to the room opposite to ours, and holds the door knob.

"This is your room?? You were like right here since day one?" I ask him.

He shrugs, like it was obvious.

NO! It wasn't! 

"Aight! I'mma head inside." Ash laughs, walking  towards her room across the hall. "Night night loves!" she waves.

We wave back at her, with low "Bye" and "Night night!" responses. 

We are both still pretty shocked. Or probably myself, more than Chris.

"Bye!" Jayden shakes his head and walks inside his room, closing the door behind him.

I stand there with my mouth hanging open.

"Let's go buddy!" Chris grins.

"Oh yes! We shall!" I grimace, snapping out of it.

What a day!

Lately I've been saying this inside my head wayyyy tooo much.

Thanks to our beloved, Jayden Walker.