Chapter 2
Elle
My pulse began to rise steadily as the road signs began to count down towards my destination.
100 miles.
50 miles.
25 miles.
10 miles.
Soon I found myself off the main highway and onto more lightly trafficked roads, the cars thinning as my nerves began to thicken. It was approaching 7 PM and I'd been on the road since late morning, my little car now well due a rest.
I continued to follow the signs through the city towards the campus. Dulwich Halls, that was where I'd now call home. I'd done some research into it online over the last couple of days. It looked nice, smaller than the campus and living quarters I was used to, but modern and cosy, tucked away on the outskirts of the city away from its major hustle and bustle.
I steeled my nerves as I rolled up outside Dulwich Halls and into a parking lot out front. I sat there for a moment, looking up at the building, trying to work out which room would be mine.
Most of the rooms had their lights on and I could see figures moving within them. Outside the building there were students coming in and out through the main doors, wrapped up warm in coats and gloves and hats. It wasn't a sight I was used to. Where I'd been everyone wore shorts and skirts and light tops.
I grabbed my handbag and reached inside, pulling out an envelope. I opened it up and turned it upside down, a set of two keys falling into my lap: one for the main front door, one for my dorm room.
I wondered if my new room-mate, Alice, would be in. She knew I was coming today, or so I'd been told, so I guess it wasn't going to be a surprise when I came barging in out of the blue.
I could feel my nerves building further as I sat there. In a way it was even harder than starting college as a freshman. At least then everyone was in the same boat. Now everyone in there, everyone in those dorms, had alreadyestablished their lives. I was coming in as an outsider, and that made things even harder.
But then, I'd changed. I didn't feel like the shy little girl who'd tiptoed around college 18 months ago. No, my experiences with Brad had changed all that. This was nothing compared to the shit I'd been through with him.
With my resolve strengthening I stepped from the car and grabbed my handbag. The wind hit me immediately, biting at my nose and ears. I guess I'd need to go shopping for some more winter gear if I were to be living round here.
I aimed my gaze at the main doors and set my path towards it, leaving my luggage stacked in my car. I passed students as I went, hustling around with their books and backpacks. It was a Friday evening, and it looked like people were eager to get home and get ready for a night out of some kind.
I passed through the main door and got my first look at where I'd be living, all things going well, for the next few years. There was a wide hall straight ahead of me, with a staircase on the left leading up to the first floor.Down the right were a series of doors leading into what I assumed to be social areas and ground floor dorm rooms.
My room was on the first floor, so I started off up the staircase, getting a few looks as I went. It felt weird, like I was a total stranger invading someone else's home. I guess right now that was kinda the case.
I caught glimpse of a few pictures and plaques on the left wall as I ascended towards the first floor, notable alumni given their place on the “staircase of success”, as it was known. At the top I rounded to the right, a corridor ahead of me with a series of doors on the left, the staircase dropping down to the right.
I walked down the corridor and spotted my new room, right at the end. The door was shut, but there seemed to be a slither of light creeping out from between the hinges. It looked like Alice would be in.
I took a breath as I stood outside, feeling kinda awkward as other students passed me by on their way to or from their rooms. As I was about to knock I felt a hand tap me on the shoulder. I turned to see a girl standing behindme. She was strikingly beautiful, her hair long and wavy, her eyes a deep brown, her complexion perfect.
“Hi,” she said lightly, “are you...Elle?”
“Um, yeah,” I said, nodding, still slightly struck by how good looking she was.
“They told me you'd be coming today. I thought you'd have more stuff.” She lifted her eyes to my handbag, a quizzical smile on her face.
“Oh, it's in the car,” I said, not quite sure if she was being welcoming or sarcastic.
She stepped past me and put her key to the lock. “Yeah, I thought as much,” she said, opening the door up to the room.
I walked in behind her and glanced around. It was a decent size, a single bed lined up against the far wall on each side of the room, a bedside table next to each. Both sides had their own desk and wardrobe, plenty of storage for my things.
Yet one side was bristling with color and life and the other was bare, a skeleton without any meat. I guess I knew which side was mine.
“So,” she said as she sat down on her own heavily cushioned bed, “what's your story?”
She didn't seem overly pleased to see me. I guess she wouldn't be now that she'd have to share her room with someone else.
“Well, I've just moved from California, needed a change of scenery...”
“Change of scenery? So that's why you moved?” She interrupted, her voice littered with scepticism.
“Well, there's a bit more to it than that.” Christ she was right down to it. Not the sort of welcome party I'd hoped for.
“Yeah...”
“Well, there was this guy. This really weird guy. It got bad so I had to move.” This wasn't really something I wanted to discuss right now after nearly 8 hours of driving.
“Ah, I see,” she said nodding. She didn't seem overly interested really. “So, do you need some help with your stuff? I've got a 45 minute window.”
Was she offering to help? Well, at least that was something.
“I don't have too much stuff, just a few bags and boxes. Don't worry about it, I can manage on my own.”
She stepped to the window and peered out, straining her eyes. “Is that yours down there? The little green one?”
“Yeah, the Mazda.”
“Sorry, I don't really know cars. It's fine, I'll help. Come on, the quicker you get your stuff in the quicker you can relax.”
She seemed to be softening slightly. Perhaps she wasn't as harsh as she appeared. As I thought, maybe just bitter to get a new room-mate.
She walked out and down the stairs to the car as I followed in her wake. “Nice car,” she said as she got closer, the cold air seemingly having no effect on her despite the fact that she was garbed in only a pair of sweatpants and light sweater. She was probably used to it.
“Thanks,” I said, “I haven't had it long.”
“So how long was your drive?” she asked, grabbing a box and passing it to me.
“About 8 hours, with a couple of short stops.”
“F*ck girl, you must be exhausted!”
“Yeah, I kinda am to be fair.”
She took her own box and shut the trunk before walking back towards the dorm. I looked back at my car, unlocked, slightly worried that someone would pounce on my stuff.
“Hey, don't worry, this place is pretty safe,” she said, noticing my expression.
We carried on up the stairs and dumped my stuff before turning around for a second go.
“Well,” she said, her tone growing ever lighter, “if you have any energy at all, you should come out for a drink later on. A few of us are having drinks in town, so you're welcome to join. If you're not too tired, that is.”
She carried on unpacking my car for me as we went in and out a couple more times. That was a turn up. Only been here 10 minutes and already have an invite out for drinks with a group of people.
It took me about a month before I managed that the first time around.
“Sure, that sounds nice. Thanks Alice.”
She smiled, more genuinely than before, as we parked the final load of my stuff on the floor of the dorm. “No probs. Why don't you leave this stuff for now, sort it tomorrow.”
I nodded and lay down on the bed. It was comfy enough, better for my bedding once I got it on there. “Although,” she continued, “you might wanna make the bed up before we go. That's not something you wanna be doing after a few drinks!”
“Good point,” I said, lifting myself, with some difficulty, from the mattress. I was truly exhausted but didn't want to let this opportunity to make friends pass me by.
“OK,” said Alice, checking her watch, “it's 7.30 now and we're heading out just before 8. I'll go grab my friend Tess and bring her over here. She lives just up on the next floor. Get ready and I'll see you in 5.”
....
Just over 5 minutes later Alice came back into the room, her friend, Tess, right behind her. She was pretty as well, a bit taller and slimmer than Alice. She looked supermodel-esque to Alice's swimwear model, with blonde hair and blue eyes, a playful look on her face.
“Elle, this is my best friend Tess,” said Alice as she came in, a bottle of champagne and three glasses in hand.
Tess stepped forward and kissed me on the cheek. She had this glint in her eye as she looked at me, the sort of look a guy might give me when he was checking me out.
“Lovely to meet you Elle, Alice has been waiting for a new room-mate for a while.”
I could see Alice roll her eyes at Tess' comment. Clearly an in-joke that I wasn't privy to. I sensed it was heavily weighted with sarcasm.
There was a loud POP as I saw the cork from the bottle hit the ceiling and crash back down to the floor. I looked over to see froth shooting out of the top of the bottle, Alice wrapping her plump lips around the top of the bottle to stop it from hitting the floor.
“She's not used to champagne,” Tess said with a whisper and a smile, turning back towards me.
I saw Alice's eyes zip up and stare at Tess, who pouted and ran in to give her a hug. “Awww, it's not your fault for being born on the wrong side of the tracks,” she said, laughing.
Alice shook her off in feigned anger and filled three glasses, handing one to me.
“Thanks so much,” I said, kinda coyly. I couldn't believe that I was already drinking champagne and going out with these girls after being here for less than an hour. I didn't know whether this was just a standard Friday nightfor them or not, but it was really sweet of them to involve me.
“All right girls, here's to a big night!” shouted Tess as she put some dance music on and started bouncing around like a leaping gazelle.
Alice crept in towards me, her face more restrained.. “You'll get used to Tess. She's got a real excess of personality sometimes, it gets her in trouble from time to time!”
She smiled and clinked her glass to mine before taking a long sip. “You seem nice Elle,” she said, “I've gotta be honest with you, I was kinda hoping I didn't get a new room-mate, but if I've gotta have one you seem like a good bet.”
“Thanks,” I said, “same to you. I have to admit I was pretty nervous coming here today. I've never lived with anyone before, so it's all new to me!”
We sipped on our drinks together as we watched on at Tess, jumping and spilling champagne around the room. She stopped suddenly, sank what was left of her glass, looked at her watch, and then spoke, a wide smile cracking across her face.
“OK, time to go!”
....
My nerves were beginning to rise once more as we sat in the cab, Alice and Tess chatting together next to me as I stared out the window. It always took me a little while to warm up to people, and in group situations I often retreated into my shell. Alice had told me that her boyfriend would be there along with a few other people, the sort of scenario that I generally shied away from until I was really comfortable with each individual.
The cab journey seemed to be taking us a good way from the dorm, and I couldn't help but feel out of place after the initial rush when I'd arrived. I sat, looking out of the window, listening in as Alice and Tess gossiped about mutual friends and talked about their course. It sounded like they'd been friends for years, way before coming to college, and that they were doing the same subject as well.
All in all, I felt left out, although I didn't think they were doing it on purpose.
After about 20 minutes in the cab we pulled up along a fairly bustling street in the city. Along both sides were bars and restaurants, cars and people rushing up and down the road and sidewalk. Alice pulled out her purse and paid the driver, refusing to take any money from me for the ride, despite my protests. It didn't look like money was much of an issue for her.
It wasn't for me really either. My parents were paying for college, and I had my own savings to use for personal luxuries like nights out. OK, so things like champagne perhaps weren't on the cards, but a normal college existencewasn't outside of my financial means.
We stepped out of the cab and headed towards a bar - or nightclub, I couldn't tell - called Sparks. It was heavily illuminated with lights on the outside, with two heavyset bouncers standing either side of the front entrance.
There seemed to be two queue's formed outside - a short one to the right, and a longer one down the left. I assumed the short one was for VIP's and the longer one for regular people. We were students, so I expected us to head to the left.
We went neither way. In fact, we went straight forwards towards the bouncers.
They looked up at Alice as she approached and nodded her straight through, Tess and I following in behind. Weird.
The inside was dark and luxurious, a long bar down one side of the space and lovely richly colored booths stretching down the other, with other free-standing tables in between. We moved straight on through and towards an area at the back, cordoned off from the main section by a rope and guarded by another menacing looking bouncer.
Again the bouncer opened the rope and stepped to one side on seeing Alice, a look of recognition on his face. Within I could see a well dressed group of young people, all sitting around a large circular cable. Alice bounded forward immediately as a young man stood and hugged her.
He had medium length wavy hair and a square jaw. As he smiled his cheeks deepened to reveal dimples, his eyes flashing blue. He was, for want of a better word, gorgeous. As a couple, they were stunning.
After a short but passionate kiss Alice stepped back and turned to me.
“Elle, this is my boyfriend Kyle.”
He smiled as he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, his eyes set deep but sparkling in their sockets. I couldn't help my heart from fluttering at the sight of him.
“Come sit down,” Alice said, taking me by the arm and moving me toward the table, “you can meet the rest.”
Tess had already perched herself near another blazingly good looking young man. He had similar features to Kyle, his hair slightly longer and more ruffled, his eyes a dark shade of green.
“This is Kyle's brother, Zack” she said.
No kidding! They really did look alike.
“And that's Zack's twin, Cade, and his girlfriend, Gem.”
I looked up to see another guy sitting at the back of the table. His hair was different - straight and lighter in tone - but his face was almost identical to Zack's. Clearly he'd made a conscious effort to alter his appearanceso that they didn't look so alike. At a glance it made a difference, but their faces could be mirror images of each other when you took a proper look.
I sat down at the table, in between Tess and Alice, not quite knowing what to say. I'd been thrust right into the middle of a social situation that was completely against my instinct to find comfortable.
I could see Tess immediately saddle up close to Zack, pouting her lips and tousling her hair. She was an obvious flirt, I'd noticed that as soon as she met me.
Across the table Cade and Gem were locked in a serious conversation. There seemed to be a tension between them, their body language uncomfortable, their expressions slightly glum. They took little interest in me, or anything else for that matter.
My initial impression of Alice, however, had been way off base. She'd seemed frosty at first, owing, as she'd admitted, to her reluctance to accept a new room-mate. I guess knowing that she had a boyfriend made that even more understandable. Any privacy she might have enjoyed there with him had been stripped away from her just like that.
I'd be pissed off by that too.
She was sweet, though, bringing me into the conversation and making me feel at ease. She kinda acted like an older sister, not that I'd know exactly what they would feel like. All I had was a younger brother.
Kyle was quieter, though, and had this brooding intensity about him. He seemed a bit stand-offish, as if he didn't trust this new person sitting in their group. He spoke little, allowing Alice and I to get to know each other a little bit. Maybe he was just doing that to be nice, seeing as we'd be living together now. Or maybe he was just quiet and didn't say much. I couldn't be sure.
I started feeling the effects of the alcohol after only a couple of drinks. I wasn't much of a heavy drinker, and coupled with my tiredness and the day I'd had, it went straight to my head. Tess seemed to get jolly fairly quickly as well, her eyes rarely far from Zack as the group began to lighten up a bit. I wasn't completely sure her affectionate and flirty looks were reciprocated, though.
“So,” I said to Alice as Kyle turned his attention to Cade and Gem, “what does Kyle study. Is he at college as well?”
She seemed to flinch a little bit at the question.
“Er no, he runs his own business actually.”
“Wow, that's amazing! But he's so young. What sort of business is it?” I could sense my tongue beginning to loosen with the alcohol streaming through my veins.
She seemed to pause, or maybe it was just the drink in my head. “He runs a club, for his father. It's his father's business really. Actually, they all work for him, or they did.” Her words grew heavy, her eyes dropping.
“Oh, you mean...”
She nodded without saying anything.
I didn't push it, didn't want to. I'd only just met her and the rest of them, and it sounded like he'd only died recently. At least, I was pretty sure that's what she meant.
She lifted her eyes back to me and took a sip of wine. “It's still pretty fresh in the memory. I wouldn't mention it.”
I nodded, pursing my lips. Don't want to alienate my new room-mate or her boyfriend and his family the first night at my new college. That wouldn't be a good start.
We carried on talking for a little while, the conversation once again picking up. I could hold my own with anyone after a few drinks, but not before. Now that I had a bit of champagne, some wine, and a cocktail or two inside me, my mouth was rarely closed. I just had to stay on that fine line without tripping over into inappropriateness. It was a precarious tightrope at times.
Thankfully Tess was in the same sort of mood, so we ended up giggling and joking about this and that as the others kept their conversations more reserved. I guess their dad had just died, so that was no real surprise.
My mouth shut tight when I was tapped on the shoulder and introduced to a new entrant, however. I'd had my back turned away from Alice towards Tess when I felt a finger poking at me.
I swivelled in my seat to be greeted by yet another Adonis. No, this guy was even better looking than the rest. Or maybe it was the alcohol.
He had short dark hair, shorter than his brothers, but not shaven like a marine. It suited his face, his jaw square and peppered with black stubble. His eyes were a hazel brown, shining lights in a deep sea, hooded under thin but dark eyebrows. But it was the look on his face that got me above all else. Not his features, but his look.
It was a look of authority, of power. It was a look that said he was not a man to be messed with. It was a look to say he could get whatever he wanted, take whatever he wanted.
His eyes lingered on me for a moment as Alice introduced me, her voice sounding more formal than it had been.
“Elle, this is Crash, he's Kyle's older brother.”
Another brother. How many were there?!
He paid little attention to me, but turned straight to Kyle. It was clear that he was the eldest of the lot. Even if Alice hadn't just told me, that much would have been glaringly obvious.
“Kyle, a word.”
His voice was deep and heavy. It was the sort of voice you'd immediately fall to command to.
Kyle stood and they walked off out of the VIP area together.
I looked at Alice as her eyes followed on as Kyle left. She seemed concerned. I might have just stepped straight into a family drama right here.
A tension hit the group as Alice turned back to me. “Maybe it's best we call it a night Elle. This is a pretty hard time for the guys, I should have realized. I just didn't know that he'd be turning up.”
“Who, Crash?” What kind of name was Crash anyway?!
“Yeah. Kyle said he'd be busy. This place, it's one of the family businesses, so you never know when he'll drop in to check on things.”
Ah, so that explains the side stepping of the bouncers, no questions asked.
“Is there a problem?” It was the sort of probing question I'd rarely ask sober, but was happy to do so when under the influence.
She shook her head. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
She looked over my shoulder at Tess behind me. “Tess, time to go?” She said it like a half question, half command.
I looked at Tess. Her eyes made it clear that she wanted to stay. Probably so she could keep chatting with Zack, although I wasn't sure if she'd get was she was after.
“Tess,” Alice said again, with a bit more authority this time, “I think it's time to go.”
I could see Tess' expression deflate at her words. It looked like Alice was the voice of reason with these two, Tess the party girl who never knew when to stop.
Begrudgingly, Tess was dragged from the table as I followed them out of the bar. I said my goodbyes to the twins and Gem, but they didn't seem overly interested in me. To be fair I hadn't really spoken much to them over the last couple of hours.
As we emerged from the club into the cold night I saw Alice and Tess' gaze pointing down the street. I set my eyes to where they were looking to see Crash bearing down on Kyle. He was taller and more physically imposing, the dominant brother in every way. He had Kyle up against the wall, a furious look on his face. It looked at though they were primed for a fight, Kyle's teeth grinding under his clenched jaw.
I looked at Alice. Her eyes were wide with concern as Crash gesticulated in her direction. It seemed as though they might be arguing over her.
What sort of screwed up family drama had I walked into. I'd only been here a few hours!
Kyle tore himself away from Crash's grip and stormed back down the street towards us, walking straight back into the bar. Alice went after him, with Tess not quite knowing what to do.
I looked up and saw Crash staring at me. There was a fire lit in his eyes, this blaze that was exploding out of him. He looked scary. Like, seriously scary, as though he'd suddenly go berserk and start pounding the wall.
I wilted under his gaze, my eyes dropping to the floor. What was he looking at me for? I had nothing to do with any of this.
And yet, I wanted him to look at me, I wanted to look back at him.
I turned my head up again and locked eyes once more. Screw you. I don't know you. You're not gonna make me turn away.
He reached into his pocket and aggressively pulled out his phone, thrusting it to his ear. His eyes still lingered in my direction, if not fully burning into me as before, as he barked down his cell. In the blink of an eye he thrust it back into his pocket and stormed across the street, giving no shit for the cars blaring down the road.
He stepped into a Hummer - yeah, that suited him perfectly - and boomed off into the night, leaving me wondering exactly what the hell was going on.
“Hell f*cking no.”
I turned around to see Tess right behind me.
“Did you just stare down the big dog?” She was kinda shocked, kinda laughing at the same time.
“Er, I suppose so.”
Was Big Dog a nickname, or something she just made up?
“I mean, I've only met him a couple of times, but good job girl! That guy is intense. I mean, these brothers, they're all a bit intense, but him, he's on another level!”
I didn't quite know what to say. I didn't really have a clue who any of these people were. Even Tess. I'd spoken to her, nattered about random gossip, but still, I didn't really know anything about her. I mean, how could I after only a few hours?
Well, my first day here had been nothing if not eventful.
Unlike my last effort at assimilating myself into college life, I'd really made an impression. I just wasn't sure whether it was a good or a bad one.