I made a face at him. “No, why?”
He had the audacity to look shamefaced as he looked down at his feet. “Look, Blake, I’m really sorry for the way I behaved earlier. I know it was reprehensible. That’s why I’m surprised you even came back here and so early.”
I sighed and stood up. “I wouldn’t have, if I had someplace to go,” I was letting him believe his control of me was working. “I was abused for the last seven years, I promised myself I would never be in that situation again, but here I am. Whether you meant to or not,” I pointed to the marks on my arms that he had left. “The only reason I came back early was because…hey wait,” I looked at him with feigned innocence. “Did you know Bridgette is here?”
It was believable, even to my own ears.
His look of astonishment…not so much. “As in Bridgette Mason?”
“Yes,” I rolled my eyes. “I thought I was done with her pettiness. I couldn’t even sit through dinner without her ugliness.” I faked a shudder. “When did you stop talking to her? I know you guys were on again-off again for a long time.”
He laughed nervously. “The moment I came to college here I cut all ties to home, well, except for my parents.”
I nodded and walked over to my bag by the door, turning off my music. “Well I’m going to hop in the shower and go to bed.”
“Do you want to watch a movie, maybe pop some popcorn?” he sounded pleased with himself.
I didn’t bother turning around as I rolled my eyes, but said sweetly. “No thanks. After doing cardio, strength training, and the rest of my emotional day, I’m exhausted.”
“Well, I really am sorry.” And for a moment there I could almost believe he meant it.
As I walked up the stairs, I prayed that Gavin and I could get enough evidence to fry them all soon, so I could finally go home, my real home.
Even though I went to bed before ten last night, I hit my snooze button numerous times. I woke up feeling under the weather. I didn’t normally get sick, so I immediately knew the signs when I was. My head was pounding, my body was aching, and I pretty sure I was running a fever. I didn’t even make an effort at all today in my appearance. My limbs felt heavy as I slid on a pair of black yoga pants and a white Knightstown College sweatshirt. I skipped putting on my makeup. Then I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and went out to the kitchen.
“Hey,” Collin said with a wide smile, but then it faltered. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “I think I might be coming down with something. Do we have any orange juice left?”
He grabbed me a glass immediately and poured me some juice. “You need to slow down, babe. You work out every day. You push yourself relentlessly with school work. Now you want to squeeze in a music program. Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
I shrugged. I wasn’t in the mood to fight today. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Collin scoffed.
I sighed and clutched my head. “Please, Collin, I’m not in the mood. Can this wait? Do we have any Tylenol?”
He gave me a couple of Tylenols and we left the apartment. If I didn’t have two exams today I would have stayed home. I was nearly caught up in my English Literature class, so I didn’t want to fall further behind.
When we got to school, I let Collin give me a perfunctory kiss as he told me he hoped I would feel better.
“Whoa, Blake,” Gavin did a double take as I took a seat next to him. “You don’t look so hot.”
“Gee thanks,” I halfheartedly stuck my tongue out him. “You really know how to make a girl feel beautiful. I think I’m coming down with something.”
“Speaking of beautiful girls,” Gavin squirmed in his seat. “How do you feel about getting a cup of coffee after class? Or I can run you home?”
I knew that was code words for he wanted to talk in private.
“I might take you up on that ride after our next class. I need to finish these two exams and maybe I can catch up at the apartment,” I said as I laid my head on the desk, angling myself so I could still see the front of the class.
I loved this professor. She was no nonsense, and she always handed out our exams right away. She also dismissed us the moment we turned them in. She posted all the notes and some important reminders at the beginning of the week, so everything else was on us.
This book wasn’t one I was familiar with, but when I had the time, I didn’t mind curling up with an enjoyable book. Not that this book was good; in fact, I found it quiet boring, but I was always great at retaining stuff just enough to test on it.
We were given the whole class period to complete the test. I took 30 minutes. The professor smiled at me when I turned it in. She liked me, and I liked her. She wasn’t one of those teachers that wanted us to give our theories based on her personal bias. She liked having a lively debate on our interpretations of the novels we read.
I smiled back and headed out into the hallway. I knew Gavin wasn’t going to be too far behind. He was bright, and I was going to be amused to see how he and Jemmy meshed after the ‘honeymoon’ phase was over.
I curled up in one of the leather armchairs located in the lobby, and shot him a text using Collin’s phone, so it didn’t look suspect.
Blake: Hey. Out in the lobby waiting for that coffee.
I then pulled out my other phone and noticed I had missed a text from Noah.
Noah: Good morning, beautiful. Why can’t I get you out of my head? Last night I had a dream we were sitting in a hot tub and you were wearing this hot red and white bikini ;)
I gulped. I wanted to tell him it hadn’t been a dream. It was a memory. Instead I wrote back.
Blake: Good morning, handsome. :-D A dip in a hot tub sounds amazing right about now. I feel like crap. Think I’m coming down with something.
He texted back immediately.
Noah: I’m sorry, you don’t feel good :( Too bad Drake’s in classes all day. He makes a chicken noodle soup that’s amazing and cures all maladies.
Blake: Says the healer :-P
Noah: Hey, hey, hey no fair. You know I would take away any pain you had if I could.
Blake: Sooo sweet :)
And I meant it. I knew our relationship was stronger than it had ever been.
Noah: Well, getting the stink eye from the proff. TTYL :-*
Blake: Okay :)
I smiled down at my phone as I put it back in my bag.
“Well that’s a happy smile,” Gavin said, startling me as he walked up.
“Noah,” I mouthed silently. Out loud I said, “Just felt really confident about that test.”
He nodded with his own goofy grin before a frown settled on his face. “Let’s go get that coffee.”
“Sounds good,” I nodded, wondering what he had to tell me.
I took Collin’s phone and purposely stuffed it in the cushions of the seat I had been sitting in. The seats were barely used and were more for decorative purposes. If someone found it, so be it. Right now I couldn’t care less.
I followed Gavin out of the building.