Chapter 24 #2
Finally, I pay for my items, grab my two bags, head to the public restroom and put a tampon in, and then, finally, leave the store before I run into Dane again.
Knowing him, he's probably lingering outside just waiting to pick on me again. Something odd happens when I step out the door. There’s no Dane there, but all the lights have gone out in the parking lot.
I’d suspect an outage, but nowhere else has lost electricity.
Quickly, I inform the store of the outage so no one gets hurt and make my way back to my dorm.
The hairs on my neck stand on end as I walk down the sidewalk. It's eerie out here without the parking lot lights. At least there is still some lighting up the sidewalk. As I look over my shoulder, the lights flicker back on in the parking lot, illuminating the area.
"Hey, Oli!" I blink several times. How many people can I run into on my way to the store?
I stop short, turning as Wade runs toward me with a pint of ice cream. The lid is off, and a plastic spoon rests in the thick Rocky Road. Rub it in, why don't you? I can't have mine until I'm in the safety of my own bed. I mean, I could totally eat it now, but I have patience.
"Wade." I look him over as he jogs to stand beside me. "Why are you out so late?"
"Hey, man. You just came from the store? I had to stop and get something, too. The fights always leave me hungry. Besides, I think your cousin is with Simon." He snorts when I wrinkle my nose.
Ah, he's avoiding our dorm, too. I'm surprised he didn't find an alternate place to stay. Although I haven't seen him hanging around other people on campus. Maybe he's a loner. Besides, when was he at the dang store? I would have seen him. Right?
"Yeah, he is." But I doubt they're hooking up.
Not in the condition Simon was in. Jordy won't do that sort of thing with anyone who's been drinking as heavily as Simon had been.
He may be a little shit, but he's a respectful guy in that regard.
In others, though? He's an asshole. But I love him. Just don’t let him know that.
"Good ass fight today, though. Dude. You rocked Brutus." He shakes his head, whistling under his breath. "Careful, though. Brutus is..."
"An asshole with a bone to pick?" I quip, shaking my head.
"Yeah. One of those." He shakes his head.
"Let me know if he gives you issues." He gives me a look like he has some sort of connections.
Shit. His mom is the dean of the university.
The last thing I need is her sticking her nose in my business, though.
No thanks. I can solve this on my own. I hope.
If not, I'll have to call in reinforcements and create a special team.
Again, no thanks. If Jonathan trusted me with this case, then I'm going to give it my all to prove myself. Hello, future promotion. It’s on the horizon.
Silence engulfs both of us as we walk down the sidewalk together.
It's kind of nice having someone beside me, rather than being alone, and not being alone while it's dark and eerie outside.
Once again, no one else is roaming the streets.
Maybe they're the smart ones by staying inside and not getting kidnapped.
Or having all their internal organs plucked out of their bodies. I shudder at the thought.
As we get closer to the school, I expect more police officers out like there were thirty minutes ago when I tried to leave. I wonder where they all went off to?
"Didn't the RAs say there would be security guards out? How can we all get away with breaking curfew?" I peek over at him as he shoves a bite of chocolate ice cream into his mouth with a satisfied hum. He seems awfully giddy tonight, with an extra pep in his step.
"Yeah. My mom hired extras because of all the shit going on. They're around, but they know when the fights happen. And they know students will be out. Honestly, sticking to campus seems impossible, ya know?" He offers me a warm smile.
"Yeah," I say, trailing off when we finally return to campus.
"Just stick close, and we'll sneak in through the window. I'm guessing Si showed you?" Wade asks, gesturing for me to follow him.
"Yup," I agree, following close behind him and trying to keep my bags concealed. The last thing I need to do is have him suspicious of me, too.
"Good. They don't guard this window, and they don't put anyone in the room, either. For obvious reasons." Obvious for who? Certainly not me.
"Why is it an empty room?" I question softly.
Wade grunts, opens the large window, and hops down onto the mattress with ease. Extra points for holding tightly to his ice cream and not spilling an ounce. "Give me your bags, and then you can jump."
Fuck. Whatever. I give him my bags and jump down beside him on the cushy mattress. He doesn't give me funny looks or ask questions before he closes the window behind us, and we head up toward our dorm room.
"I told you all kinds of shit happens here, right?
" he murmurs when we come to our door on the second floor.
I nod in agreement when he pushes open our dorm door and closes it behind us.
He shoves a massive bite of chocolate ice cream into his mouth and sighs.
"Some kid was attacked in that dorm room two years ago.
" He shakes his head. "Don't know what happened after that.
But Mom made sure no one else occupied that room. "
Great. Another thing I need to ask Carter about.
"Weird," I say, wrinkling my nose. "Did he survive?"
"Oh, yeah. He survived, but he left after that.
And so did his roommates. It must have spooked them all.
I think the window is faulty, I guess that's why we can get in and out.
" He shrugs. "Don't know what happened to him or whatever.
" How fucking morbid. Wade turns and looks at his closed bedroom door with a sock on the damn doorknob and sighs.
"Well, looks like I'm on the couch tonight.
" With that, he saunters to the couch and plops down with his ice cream, finishing it in five large bites.
Before I wave goodnight, I put my ice cream in the freezer. I'll eat it later. I need meds, bed, and nothing else.
"Night, then," I say, slowly going to my room. I could offer Wade Dane's bed since the asshole never stays here. But I don't. Tonight is not one of those nights where I need an audience. I'm already dying from the pain in my stomach, face, and everywhere else.
Now is the time to sleep.