Chapter 10
CHAPTER
TEN
JAMIE
M onday was here before I knew it. The alarm on my phone, although set to silent, vibrated like a jackhammer in my hand. I blinked awake, my eyes dry and crusty from lack of sleep. It was still dark outside, but the light from the streetlight near our window illuminated the room enough for me to see.
After not being able to fall asleep Saturday night—even though it was almost three a.m. before Ava went back to her room—I should have been exhausted. Instead, I was wired. I had tossed and turned, got up, fumbled with my e-reader, and at one point, threw it across the room. When it crashed into the door, Mal got up, picked my e-reader up, and placed it on my bed. Then, like the sweet-hearted guy he was, asked what movies I liked. I wasn’t able to think of anything, because my mind was still laser-focused on what Dillon said at the party.
Instead of being put off by my introverted nature, Mal put on Twilight and told me to get into bed with him. I must have looked like my eyes were about to bug out of my head, because he threw his head back and laughed at me. I’d never shared a bed with anyone else, so his suggestion caught me completely off guard. He’d assured me that he had no nefarious intentions; he just wanted to offer me some comfort and told me when his sisters struggled to sleep, he did the same and thought it might help.
Sunday morning, he plied me with a caramel latte and breakfast wrap from Bean There before spending the rest of the day snuggled in his bed. We were both able to get a few hours of sleep in between watching the whole Twilight Saga. Mal was a dork and a massive Jacob fan, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, considering he dressed up as him for the party and all.
I slowly extracted myself from Mal’s arms, careful not to wake him. He needed his sleep, but because of me and my nightmares, he’d hardly had any. Remembering his words about his sisters, I made a mental note to call Jessie after classes. It had been nearly a week since I last saw her beaming grin.
After showering and dressing, I closed the door quietly behind me and headed toward Bean There where I was due to meet Ava. She wanted to walk me to my first course. Not many students signed up for the early-morning classes, preferring to sleep in longer. Unfortunately for us, the ones we needed for our degree started at eight, so we had no choice.
The cool morning air was a welcome reminder that the seasons were starting to change. Fall was one of my favorites. I loved the autumnal colors—golden yellows, burnt oranges, and vibrant reds, and the first frosts that crunched under your feet and the way your breath hung suspended in the air. Nature at its finest.
“Well, if it isn’t my little angel.”
“Hey, Ava.” She handed me a to-go cup and smiled. The early morning sun lit up the kaleidoscope of colors in her hair. “You ready for today?”
“Of course, I am! Who doesn’t like getting up at the ass crack of dawn?” she snarked. “That’s why this is my third latte this morning.” I snorted. No wonder she was an Energizer Bunny every time I saw her. “I got you a caramel latte.”
I took a sip and groaned. “This is delicious. Let me know how much I owe you.”
She waved me off and sat down on one of the benches facing the main quad. “Sit with me, we’ve got time.” She patted the space next to her. I dropped my bag by my feet and tried not to shriek when my ass hit the cold wooden bench. “So?—”
Her tone said everything, and I rolled my eyes. “Not you as well?”
She looked up at me with an arched brow. “It’s not wrong to care about your friend’s wellbeing, Jamie.” She put her hand over mine and squeezed. “And we care. Me and Mal.”
“Did he put you up to this?”
She shook her head. “No. He said he was worried about you. We both are. We saw how you were on?—”
I held up my hand to stop her from saying anything else. I turned in my seat and took her hands in mine. “I know, and I’m sorry that you did.” I bit my lip as I took a deep calming breath. “That was, well, that was rough.” I fumbled my words, not knowing what to say. “But I’m alright.” She looked at me like she didn’t believe me. “Honestly, I’m okay.” I smiled. “I’ve been here a week and already made the best friends I’ve ever had.” Saying that hurt more than I’d ever admit, but I plastered a smile on my face so she would believe me.
“Alright, if you’re sure?” she said hesitantly. I squeezed her hand before letting go and taking another sip of my latte.
“I am. I’m excited about today.” I beamed at her over my cup. Ava’s mirroring smile settled something inside me, and a weight lifted off my shoulders.
“It’s Architectural History for you, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “I’ve heard good things about Mr. Tunaley.”
“Yeah, you can say that again. The guy is a bit of a legend around here.” She snorted. “Shame he doesn’t teach the arts,” she said, flashing me a bright smile. “I snuck into one of his lectures when I was a freshman just to see what all the fuss was about, and I mean, the guy is hot. Older, like late thirties, I think. He’s got that refined air about him and always dresses in a three-piece suit.” She leaned in closer. “Some of the jocks here could take a page out of his playbook, if you know what I mean.”
I didn’t really, but I just chuckled with her. Her light laugh was infectious like that. “Well, at least I’ll know he’s the one in a suit.” I cracked a smile and finished my latte, already feeling lighter than when I got up. Ava was like a rainbow fairy godmother, and she didn’t even know it.
“But in all seriousness,” she said around a mouthful of burrito. “He’s as straight as they come.” I choked and swallowed that last mouthful down the wrong way. “Not like that.” She whacked my arm. “Well, I mean he is, but that’s not what I meant. He calls a spade a spade, but he’s passionate about his subject. He even made me consider doing one of his courses, and I’m here for the creative arts program.”
“I guess that explains your flare.”
“Totes. Why live life in the gray?” She turned her dark eyes to me, and the weight of her gaze made me squirm.
“Uh oh,” I muttered. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something I don’t but should.”
Her hands landed on my shoulders, pinning me in place. “Maybe I do? Maybe I see that you’re hiding yourself away, burying your truth.” Who the hell was this girl? I’d only known her for a few days, and it was like she could see right through me.
“I…I…” I lost my voice and tried to swallow around the lump in my throat. Ava made me feel vulnerable and exposed, but ironically, also safe. There was this softness to her, an inherent goodness that had me wanting to rip open the vault doors and lay my secrets at her feet. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, three short bursts. It was my alarm reminding me I had twenty minutes to get to my first lecture. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I cleared the alarm and glanced at the notifications. I had messages from Mal and Aunt Clara. I opened Mal’s first.
Mal
Good luck today! You’ll be fine.
Thanks. Hope I didn’t wake you?
Mal
*smiley face emoji* Nah, all good! Wanna meet for lunch?
Sure.
Mal
Sweet. Text me when you’re out.
Will do.
I flicked to the thread with Aunt Clara.
Auntie C
Good luck today, JJ. She’s proud of you.
Emotions I wasn’t prepared for slammed into me, knocking me off center as a cool breeze lifted my curls. It felt like Mom was there with me, holding me, soothing me like she used to when I was younger. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, catching the tears that clung to my lashes before replying.
Thank you.
Just as I sent through my reply, a photo popped up in the thread of Jessie holding a cardboard sign with the words WE LOVE YOU, JAMIE!!! MISS YOU! surrounded by millions of little hearts.
Miss you too, sunbeam. Will call you when I’m done for the day.
Aunt Clara
Sounds good, kid. Love you *heart emoji*
Love you guys too.
I tucked my phone back into my pocket and took a moment to lock my emotions down. The quad had filled since Ava and I sat down. Groups of friends walked together on their way toward different buildings on campus. Others headed in the direction of Bean There for that elusive first hit of caffeine and a quick hot breakfast. It was like watching a silent movie, the figures moving around the screen while your mind tried to work out what they were talking about. A loud laugh rang out, and the world snapped back into focus like an elastic band. I shook my head and looked over at Ava who was lost in her phone.
I cleared my throat and dumped my trash in the garbage. Ava peeled her eyes off the screen and tilted her head. “I’ve gotta go. I’ve only got fifteen minutes until my first class starts and it’s roughly a ten minute walk from here.”
“Alright, let’s go. I’ve got to get to the dance hall anyway.” Popping up off the bench, Ava slid the strap of her bag over her shoulder and dumped her trash. I smiled at her as she linked her arm with mine and dragged me along with her.
“I didn’t expect there to be this many people around this early.”
Ava’s musical chuckle rang out. “I’m pretty sure every department has early starts.” She inhaled a quick breath. “Plus, we’re not far from the sports fields, gym, and dance center. Those guys train from like six in the morning, so y’know, we’re not the only early risers.”
I groaned. “It wasn’t like I was up at this time by choice. If I had my way, the day wouldn’t start before noon. Anything before that is just plain rude.”
“I hear you on that.” She chuckled. “Anyway, we’re here, angel.”
I looked at her with wide eyes. Trepidation and excitement made a complex mix for my strained anxiety, but my smile held firm. “Thanks for walking me. You didn’t have to.”
“Nonsense.” She chucked her thumb over her shoulder. “Besides, you practically walked me too. I’m just over there.”
“If you say so. You wanna meet for lunch? I’m meeting Mal.”
“Sure thing, angel boy.” Ava wrapped her arms around me before giving me a quick once over. I wasn’t in anything special, just jeans, a hoodie, and my high tops. “Hmm, we need to do something about that,” she muttered as she turned away.
“What?” I called after her
“Tell you at lunch!” she shouted as the crowd of students swallowed her up, and I lost sight of her rainbow hair.
I didn’t have time to ponder what she’d meant, because now I only have five minutes to get to my room and find a seat. So much for planning to have plenty of time on my first day. I shook off that thought and slipped through the still open door behind a group of girls and jogged up the stairs to the second floor of the building in search of room N305.
Luckily for me, I’d entered the right end of the building, and the first door I came to was the one I needed. A large metal desk sat at the front with a massive white screen behind it. Curving around it was the seating, arranged like an amphitheater, with each row having a long communal table. Half of the seats were filled with quietly chatting students. I’d read that this course was quite interactive, and I had high hopes for Mr. Tunaley’s engaging lectures. I made my way up the stairs to one of the back rows and sat in the middle of five empty chairs, placing my laptop on the table. The clock above the white screen ticked over to eight o’clock and a pregnant hush fell over the collection of students as a door I hadn’t noticed in the wall behind the desk opened.
“Good morning everyone, I am Mr. Tunaley.” His voice boomed through the room, effectively silencing anyone who was still talking. “I’m excited to share with you my love of architecture, its history, different movements, and how it still impacts modern design. The course this semester will be split into architectural movements, modern engineering developments, and an end of unit design project.”
Quiet conversation broke out as Mr. Tunaley sorted through the stacks of paper on his desk before handing them off to those in the front row. “Take one of each sheet and pass it on, please. You will shortly be receiving your syllabus, required reading material, and reference books. There is also a pop quiz on the online portal that I expect you to have completed before our next lesson.” A collective groan rang out, but I couldn’t wait. Academics was where I felt confident.
The next ninety minutes passed in a blur, and I found myself looking forward to my next lecture with Mr. Tunaley. As Ava said, he dressed sharply in a navy-blue three-piece suit with the whitest shirt I’d ever seen. But it was his easy-going demeanor that put me instantly at ease. He was a fun and engaging talker who seemed to value student participation.
I packed up my things and jogged down the steps, following the crowd and ready to dash across campus to Applied Mathematics. Numbers made more sense to me than words half the time, both written and spoken made me nervous. It still surprised me that I’d settled into an easy friendship with Ava and Mal. Usually, I was left on the sidelines. I was the kid always stuck on the friendship bench, and the last to be picked for a sports team when PE was a requirement.
The number of students had increased exponentially, and the halls were flooded with bodies. It made it difficult to navigate them, especially when I had to go against the flow. I managed to squeeze through a gap and hit the stairs without too much issue, but as soon as my feet touched the ground, I was shoulder-checked so hard I smacked into the wall, and the air was punched from my lungs.
“Shit,” I muttered, slightly dazed as I braced myself and took a few deep, steadying breaths.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh?” I glanced up to see a red-haired guy standing in front of me. His plaid shirt hung open, revealing a tight white t-shirt that hinted at what lay underneath. A smile flickered at the corner of his lips, but it was his bright green eyes and the intensity of his stare that had me tongue-tied.
“You took a pretty hard hit there I just wanted to make sure you were alright?”
Flustered, I stepped back and ran my hands through my hair, my fingers catching on the knotted strands. Unnerved, I pulled at the drawstrings on my hoodie as a way to hide the tremor that ran down my arms. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Sure it was an accident.”
“Mmhmm, if you say so.” The look on his face said he didn’t believe a word I was saying. Same dude, same. “I haven’t seen you here before?”
I smiled, stepped away from the wall, and headed for the exit. The guy fell into step beside me, like we were friends. “It’s, umm, my first day, if you couldn’t tell.” He chuckled and held the door open for me. His hand landed on the small of my back as he guided me through the throng of students bustling to get to their next class.
“I guessed as much, sweetheart.” Heat warmed my cheeks, and my eyes dropped to the pavement beneath my feet. “I’m Cory, by the way.”
“I…oh…um, Jamie,” I muttered, flustered and wishing the ground would swallow me up right this second. I wasn’t good at this, small talk or making friends. I’d rather be left alone. I was more comfortable being on the outside looking in, than right here on the hot seat like now.
“Nice to meet you, Jamie. What do you have next?”
I licked my suddenly dry lips. “W-why?”
“Just wondered if you’d like to grab a drink with me?”
Oh holy god. Was he? Is he? No, surely not. I felt like my face was on fire. “Oh umm, errr, thanks, but I’ve gotta get to my next class.”
“Oh, sure.” Disappointment clouded Cory’s features. “How about next time?” He sounded hopeful, and his confidence terrified me.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” I went to step away, but he grabbed my arm, halting my progress.
“Can I get your number?”
I looked up at him blankly, my mouth opening and closing rapidly. “Why?” I squeaked.
“So I can take you for that coffee.” His green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “Here, give me your phone.” Why was on the tip of my tongue when Cory shook his head. “I want to give you my number. That way, when you’re ready and want that coffee, you can let me know.” Oh. Well, that made sense.
“Okay,” I whispered and handed over my phone. Cory typed in his digits, his smirk growing into a blinding smile.
“Here you go.” He started to turn away but stopped and looked at me over his shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Jamie.” I smiled and waved. God, why did I wave? What am I, twelve? “Make sure to message me, cutie.”
“What the fuck?” I breathed as Cory melted into the crowd. “That was so weird.” I shook my head and hurried to calculus.