Chapter 5 Bumping into Trouble

Alyssa

I tossed and turned in my bed, barely able to focus or get my body to stay on a spot. It was frustrating as I willed myself not to stare at the clock. Not the bedside clock on my study desk, nor the giant one that was way high up the wall. I couldn't look. I just couldn't.

But what if....

No. I mentally chided myself as I lay on my side, my gaze falling on the wall supporting my bed. It wasn't a blank view, but there was only so much stickers and wall posters I could take in all at once.

I inhaled and exhaled as I wrapped my arms around myself. I was freaking out and I had no idea why.

No, scratch that. I did have an idea but it made no sense why I was freaking out about it. Do you understand?

No.

It just didn't....

"Alyssa." I jerked up at the sound of my name being whispered dangerously close to my ear. Like that wasn't enough, someone's hand pressed down on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Are you okay?"

"Olive!" I sat up, my hand flying to my chest. I'd hoped that single action would pause my thumping heart or at least slower the rate, but I was wrong. Very wrong. "What'd you do that for?!"

"Sorry." Olive smiled sheepishly as she sat at the foot of my bed. "I didn't mean to scare you, but I thought something was wrong. You were literally shaking and mumbling to yourself."

"Oh." I mouthed. "I'm fine. It's nothing. What's up with you? Are you on your way out?"

"Yes, actually." Olive beamed as she gestured to her clothes with a wave of her hand. "A party."

I could already tell from her ensemble. A low cut blouse hugged her frame, stopping just a few inches short from her belly button. There, a piercing hung loose and as she moved, it seemed to catch the light in the room every now and then.

Toned long legs were bared open, with nothing but a mini skirt skimming the very top of her legs. Black boots the color of the night cicrled her feet, and a perfect match with the lazy bun that sat atop her head.

In summary, my roommate was gorgeous.

".....you should come." I tuned back into Olive's conversation. "Tell me you'll come."

"I'm sorry." It was my turn to put on a sheepish grin. "I can't. You know I don't like parties and I kinda have somewhere else to be ."

"Ouuuuu." Olive wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Are you going out with a boy?"

"No!" I let out abruptly, too abruptly if you asked me. "I mean yes...."

"Bennett?" Something about the way she belted out his name didn't sit right with me. "I thought you both never went out on night dates. What changed?"

"It's not Bennett." I shrugged. "It's..."

"I have to go." She was on her feet immediately. "I'll be back in the morning. Make sure you have fun but not too much fun. And use protection!"

"Olive!!" I groaned, but she was already out the door.

What was I going to do now? I finally stared at the clock and it was already 9pm. One more hour and the doors of the dorms would be shut. One more hour of my indecisiveness and I could kiss my chance to hear the truth from Cameron goodbye.

The truth? I literally had no idea what he was going to say, so how could I trust that to be the truth? What if it was all just a ruse or some kind of plot? But would Cameron get anything out of it, even if it was?

I groaned again, this one louder than the last as I searched for my phone. In one scoop, I picked it up and dialed the only number I could in this situation; Vivian's.

My heart beat picked up its pace, a simultaneous rhythm to the way my phone vibrated in my palms as I waited for Vivian to pick up. After the third ring and still not hearing her voice, I gave up. She wasn't going to answer me. Why? Because she was off somewhere probably having the best time of her life.

It was in moments like this I cursed this school for not assigning us the same dorm rooms. We'd been looking forward to it all year, until the school system happened. I loved Olive, but if I was being honest, we couldn't be more different. I was the indoor bookish nerd, while she, well, you'll figure it out on your own.

I stole a peek at the clock and regretted it immediately.

"How did time move so fast?" If I hadn't been in the room by myself all this while, I'd have said someone snuck in and toyed with the hands of the clock just to stress me. But it wasn't that, I had fifteen minutes to decide if I was going. Fifteen minutes to decide if I would chicken out or man the fuck up.

I strode to my wardrobe immediately as I pulled out a series of outfits from the hanger. What was I going to wear? What was even appropriate for a night like this? I had no idea what the night would bring so what was I supposed to do?

I eventually settled on a pair of jeans and a slightly oversized hoodie. It was a shade of baby blue and a smile fleeted across my lips at the memory attached to it. It was Bennett's. It didn't take long for the smile to slowly turn into a frown.

What if this was about Bennett? Was it?

Remember, Bennett isn't who he seems to be. His words rang in my head again, like a painful reminder.

No. I wasn't going to jump into conclusions. I would go ahead with the meeting with Cameron and find out the truth once and for all. All it took was one last glance at the room before I stepped out, my destination etched painfully at the back of my mind.

The front of the dormitory was lit up as always but the lack of any human in sight made way for an eerie feeling to wash over me. I sunk deeper into my hoodie as I kept on walking, not daring to turn around. The front of the school gate was a bit far from here, although walkable. Because I'd made no plans prior, I would have to walk.

Twigs crunched underneath my shoes as I walked, my eyes straight ahead. A few stars littered the night sky, but asides that, it was close to empty. Leaves rustled by as a gentle breeze shook their branches. All of this would have been beautiful if I wasn't alone and if it wasn't so freaking late at night.

Relax Alyssa.

No sooner had I said that, did I hear something snap behind me. Loudly too. I glanced over my shoulder just to make out the silhouette of people standing away from where I was. Not just any people, guys, three of them.

My breath hitched in my throat as I locked eyes with one of them. Slowly, I watched his lips curl into a smirk that translated into nothing; trouble.

"Hey, pretty lady." He slurred. " What're you doing outchea all alone? Do you need some company?"

There was no way I was going to answer that, so I did the only reasonable thing I could think of. I ran. And they did too. I pressed my foot in front of the other as I pushed myself to cover more distance. But the more I tried, the more they caught up with me, their cackles and hoots reaching the night sky.

"Come on girlie." One of them yelped. " We're going to have so much fun."

An intense jolt of pain spread through my legs but I ignored it, as I pressed on. If I could just get to the school gate, then surely I would be free of them.

Cameron.

For some strange reason the thought of him standing there and waiting for me, gave me some sort of reassurance, a sense of calm that had me declining in my pace.

"Gotcha!" The smell of alcohol reached my nose immediately he got close. My heart dropped to my feet in fear, but the last thing I would do would let them see it. I shut my eyes as I counted to three. It was a risky move, but that was the only thing I had at the moment.

On the count of three, I pushed myself backwards, but only slightly, my feet kicking out behind me.

A loud thud rose in the air,followed by a thud and a string of curses, but I didn't care. I wasn't going to stop. I stole a glance at them and a smirk made its way to my lips.

If I was being honest, it was fun seeing grown men toppled on top of each other. But maybe if I wasn't enjoying the view so much I would have seen the hunk that stood just a few feet ahead.

"Owww!" I yelled in pain as I collided with whatever was in front of me. "Are you blind?"

"I think , I should be the one asking that question."I froze at the sound of that voice.

No way.