Chapter 4
Scott
Two hours after our cam session, a text alert pinged on our phones. There was a fire in one of the dorms. Several students injured and left without housing. No one knew what caused the fire or where it started, other than the college was looking for donations. Cole and I hopped back online and made a plea. Whoever stopped by our channel would see it and hopefully, we could raise funds for the students in need. Then we hopped into Cole’s truck and headed to the college to see what damage had been done.
When we arrived, billowing black smoke covered the area. Flashing red lights bounced off the walls and swelling clouds rose into the night sky. There were students huddled together, blankets wrapped around them, crying on each other’s shoulders. The sound of chirping twined with the rev of the pumper truck’s engine while the firefighters lay siege on the fire, still consuming the structure.
Off in the distance, ambulances sat in a line. All their doors were open, and several students sat at the rear of the vehicles, being assessed. Then there were those who laid on gurneys, masks over their faces, while paramedics and EMTs worked on them. My heart sank. My stomach churned. Mystic College was one of the safest colleges on the western seaboard. About the only thing that’d happened since our arrival was some fraternity thing neither Cole nor I wanted any part of.
I parked the truck when I saw Doctor August Barlowe, or Lowe, as he was called at Behind the Lens, standing off to the side with a group of school officials watching the scene play out. Even in the darkness, the looks of concern on their faces, along with the way the muscle in his jaw twitched, said everything I needed to know. Nothing about the situation was normal.
“Half the building is gone,” Cole murmured, staring out the windshield at the building. “Where did the dorm go?”
Even in the low light with spotlights and the red flashing lights casting parts of the structure in shadow, Cole was right. The half of the building following the slope of the campus had toppled, leaving behind the ruined charred remains. “Down the hill.”
The gravity of the situation lay like a heavy weight between us. I hadn’t ever stepped foot in that building, nor had Cole. The text didn’t even convey the totality of the situation. Students weren’t just going to need a night at a friend's place. They’d need a whole new home, including all their stuff being replaced.
“What do you want to do?” Cole glanced at me.
“Whatever we can. Help as many as possible, then give the money we raise to the housing committee for the students in need.” I glanced over at August, who walked away from the group of people. “First, we’ll talk to Lowe.”
We jumped out of the vehicle and hurried across the parking lot, following behind August. I didn’t know what we’d say to him or how to even broach the subject with him. Not that he could tell us more than what we knew. But something was better than nothing, right? Plus, if we told him our idea, maybe he’d kick in a few bucks or hit up his fans for a little donation. I knew Cole wouldn’t be averse to working with August in a scene. Hell, damn thing might sell more than what we’d ever made with our cam stuff.
“This isn’t how I saw my first year of college going.” I knew that voice. I practically heard it every day in my statistics class. I glanced to my right and almost tripped over my feet. There she sat, the girl Cole and I crushed over since the beginning of the semester.
She didn’t even know we existed.
Lyra.
Splotchy soot covered her face. Her vibrant blue eyes were bloodshot from the smoke, if I had to guess, and she looked hella pale. Her eyes were also a little too big for my liking. She appeared scared, probably freaking out...lost. I knew that look on her face all too well. I didn’t like the punch of jealousy to my stomach as the paramedic touched her, either. It wasn’t like she was my girlfriend or anything. Just some cute chick who shied away from people, while also turning my world upside down.
“Hey?” Cole said, nudging me as he slowed his pace. “All good?”
“Yeah,” I said, losing Lyra in the crowd. “I think that was Lyra’s building.”
“Shit,” Cole muttered. “The super sweet girl in your statistics. That’s fucked up bro. What should we do?”
Wasn’t like she could stay with us. That would bring up too many questions and put us in a position of having to ask our landlord permission to allow Lyra to stay with us, our lease was up, and we’d have to move for the rest of the semester. Which meant camming more and being home less, not a great combo when having a houseguest. Didn’t want them to feel ignored all the time. Especially since we needed the money if we wanted to finish school and have a cushion while we looked for “real” jobs in the private sector.
“Just something else to talk to Lowe about when we catch up to him.” I quickened my pace, following August back toward the professors’ residence. When we were close enough, I called out to him in hopes of catching him. “Dr. Barlowe!”
The man stopped mid stride and glanced over his shoulder. He exhaled. “Boys, what can I do for you tonight?” The tension in his voice held the weight of the situation.
“We wondered if we could have a minute of your time, privately,” I said. “It’s about the fire.”
“If you have information on what transpired please let campus police know,” he said, taking a step away from us.
“No, sir,” I replied and kept my voice low, “Lowe, we were wondering if we could talk to you about something else.”
A flash of recognition and understanding filled his winter-gray eyes before he nodded. “Walk with me, gentlemen.”
It wasn’t until we stepped into his home that he spun around to face us. Bits of soot and ash speckled his face. The exhaustion marring his features gave me pause. It was well into the early morning hours when I glanced at the grandfather clock next to the staircase. Shit maybe we should have waited. “I didn’t realize how late it is.”
“Trust me,” August said, “none of the staff will be sleeping tonight. It appears we’re all on chaperone shifts for the foreseeable future, watching over the students after they’ve moved to the gym.”
I frowned. That didn’t sound fun or healthy for anyone concerned. I understood it might take a while for the college to find appropriate housing accommodations for the displaced students, but the gym seemed a bit like camp and less like home. Or normal like a dorm room would. “Not exactly fun.”
“No, not at all.” August sighed, rubbing his temples. “So, tell me what this plan is.”
“We set up a donation link on our cam site,” Cole said. “We were wondering if you’d do something with us, to help raise money for the students.”
August stared at us. Surprise filled his features. “Me? You have a passel of people from the company you can choose from, but you chose me?” He tilted his head. “Why?”
“We’re part of the school. I know it’s been difficult to do your work for Behind the Lens, but you could wear one of your signature masks and our fans—yours and ours—could tell us what to do or whatever.” I shrugged. “I know it sounds stupid, but we also know one of the students—probably more, but one in particular who looked really sick when we saw her.”
August frowned, pulling off his glasses before rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Who is the student?”
“Lyra,” Cole answered. “We don’t know her last name.”
“She’s cute and shy, but will help most everyone in class given half the chance. She’s not from here either. So, I doubt she has family that could help her if she called,” I added.
“The housing committee and the Dean of Students are coming up with a plan. I’ll have a meeting with them by morning. You find out the rest of the information on Lyra, and I’ll see what I can do. As for the other… Lorna selected me for the first annual calendar shoot. I’ve been given February. All I need is a national holiday–and not Valentine’s Day. I’ll see what’s still available for the month and if it’s something we can work with, you’ve got yourself a deal. Only we’re doing a full feature, boys and the photo shoot together. No cam for me. I’m too old for that shit.”
“Fuck yes,” I said. “We’ve wanted to do a feature but weren’t sure how to go about doing it. This will be perfect.”
“Don’t go getting ahead of yourselves. Like I said,” August stated, “I have to speak with Lorna first about my idea.”
“Right.” Cole nodded. “I—we understand. Thanks, Lowe.”
August opened the front door of his house. “I’ll keep you posted. Now, get out of here. In a few hours, this place is going to be ground zero for the press, concerned parents and investigators.”
“If you need anything for the students before then,” I said, heading down the stairs to the small wrought-iron gate, “let us know. I’m serious. We want to help.”
“I’ll let the appropriate people know. I have your number, so I’ll give it to them.” He lifted his hand as we exited his front yard.
“Later, Professor.” Cole gave a last wave as we exited the area and went back to the truck. “This is going to be fucking epic.”
“I can’t wait.”
August
A dorm burning to the ground wasn’t on my bingo card. Nor was the idea of housing a student in my home for the rest of the semester, but here we were. The meeting for staff and professors had started well over an hour ago and the first bomb they laid at our feet was the idea of allowing one student to stay in each of the professors’ houses. Obviously, those with families were excluded, but everyone else had to open their homes.
I couldn’t say how I felt about the situation. To be honest, the house I lived in was three stories and had five bedrooms available. If need be, they could assign two students. I also doubted my tenure would be approved if I declined to take part. Then again, I didn’t need the tenure. I had a lucrative side hustle with Behind the Lens. I could always quit and film more movies.
“Dr. Barlowe,” Moira said, grabbing my attention. “Are you willing to open your home to a student for the time being?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Of course. We’re all in this together.”
“Perfect,” Moira stated. “By this afternoon you’ll receive links to the system we’ll be using to accept applications. We’d prefer students find housing within their programs, but right now, that might not happen. When you receive an application, the email will link you to their answers and a step by step guide to make an offer to the student who fits your profile.”
I cleared my throat. “Do we know how many students are still in the hospital as of this morning?”
Moira frowned. “Three. It appears one had a severe reaction to the smoke—we hadn’t even realized she was having an allergic reaction until the ER doctor on duty called us this morning. Two others have second and third degree burns that are being cared for in Fresno at a level one trauma and burn center. As for the firefighters who were injured, one died due to their injuries. Two sustained life-threatening injuries and are in Fresno as well in critical condition. While two others are recovering at home with a few broken ribs and an arm.”
A shocked gasp sucked the life out of the room. The totality of the situation grabbed me by the stomach. Seeing the ruined remains at night did nothing to prepare me for the actual toll of the blaze. I sat there in stunned silence, worried about the students. Firefighters knew the risks when they went into a building, students however… “Do we have any more information on what happened?”
The committee members frowned. “The RA set the fire. When the side of the building came down, he confessed. The sprinkler system was also temporarily out of order due to a purge of the system. In other words, routine maintenance.”
Fuck.
“The fire marshal knew about the maintenance and had been present during the purge. The fire extinguishers were still where they should be on every floor.” Moira shook her head. “It appears, and we won’t have the full story until the investigation is complete, but for now, it seems the student set the fire as some misguided hero complex.”
I had my doubts.
With the death of the firefighter and the injuries sustained by the other firefighters and students, guess it didn’t matter what the RA’s motives were. He’d be lucky if he ever breathed free air again. “When did you want the students to move in?”
Moira flushed and a smile touched her lips. It was better to change the subject than to continue the line we were on. Nothing good would come from the darkness. “As soon as you find a student who fits your preferences. The applications should come hard and fast the second we tell the students. The others who don’t find housing with you will be moved to local hotels along with dorm rooms which haven’t met capacity.”
The next afternoon, I met the boys for lunch. I hadn’t talked to Lorna yet, but an interesting development appeared in my inbox. The first application to stay with me came from a Lyra Jenkins and I wondered if the curvy white-blonde girl with beautiful blue eyes was their dream girl. Because if she was, we were all in for a long fucking ride.
And I had a crazy fucking idea for our new movie together.