Chapter 25 – Haley
Friday morning, we wake up and linger in bed longer than we should, cuddling and touching and kissing.
“Guys!” Charlie yells from downstairs. “You’d better get a move on!”
We jump out of bed and quickly dress.
“Sorry we’re running late,” I tell her as we walk into the kitchen. “I overslept.”
“Really?” she says, arching an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
“Because I—um—because I—” I’m terrible at lying.
Philip grabs my backpack, takes my hand, and practically drags me out the back door. “Sorry, but we gotta run,” he yells back to her. “She can’t be late. We’ll grab breakfast on campus.”
We’re both laughing like idiots as we climb into the truck and head to campus.
I make it to my chemistry lecture class with five minutes to spare. We actually didn’t have time to stop at the student union to grab a quick breakfast, but Philip had stashed some protein bars in my backpack, so we made do with those.
When we reach the science building, Philip opens the door for me, and I step inside. The air conditioning feels good on such a hot day. The hallway is full of loitering students waiting for the room to become available.
I spot Andrea and Christian waiting just down the hall and wave. They come over.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Andrea asks, nodding pointedly at Philip.
“Sure. This is Philip, my boyfriend. Philip, this is Andrea and Christian. They’re in my chemistry classes.”
Philip nods in greeting. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Andrea says as she gives me a look that says, You go, girl!
Christian is about to say something when the lecture hall doors open, and dozens of students stream out into the hall. “That’s our cue,” he says, grabbing Andrea’s hand and pulling her along with him. “I want to get good seats.”
We wait a minute for the crush to die down.
“Don’t look now,” Philip says, “but there’s your lab partner.”
I scan the hallway and spot Mark waiting in line at the other door. He glares at us until he disappears inside the room.
“Ready to go in?” Philip asks as he nods toward the door.
“Do I have a choice?”
“You can play hooky,” he suggests.
He’s grinning because he knows I’d never go for that. “Ha, funny. Yes, I’m ready.”
Philip leads the way into the room, stopping just inside. “I’ll sit back here. You go find a seat where I can see you clearly. If there’s a problem, text me.”
“Or,” I say with a grin, “I can yell dandelion!”
He laughs as I continue down the aisle and find a suitable seat.
Just as the professor walks in and takes her place behind the podium, a notification pops up on my phone.
UNKNOWN – WHAT IN THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?
Oh, my God. The stalker is in this class. He has to be.
I text Philip.
Me – He just texted me. I think he’s in this class.
Philip – what did he say?
Me – He asked what you’re doing here.
I glance back at Philip, who is methodically scanning the room.
I do my best to pay attention to the rest of the lecture, but I’m having a terrible time focusing. Instead, I find myself looking around the room, wondering if I’ll catch someone staring at me.
I locate Mark, but his eyes are glued to the projection screen in front of the class.
I notice a few more students I recognize from my lab class, but they’re listening to the professor.
I spot Andrea and Christian seated near the front of the room.
Christian happens to look back at me and waves.
He elbows Andrea, who glances back and smiles.
But no one’s staring at me or glaring.
When class ends, I shuffle out of the hall with everyone else. Philip is waiting for me at the exit, his big arms crossed over his chest. As I approach him, he holds his hand out expectantly. It takes me a moment to realize he’s waiting for me to hand over my backpack.
I roll my eyes as I give it to him. “I survived four years of high school carrying my own backpack. I’m not helpless.”
He slings it effortlessly over his shoulder like it weighs five pounds instead of forty and winks.
* * *
As we walk into the liberal arts building, we find our friends waiting for us.
Layla rushes forward to hug me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ve moved off campus to a secure location, and Philip has been assigned as my bodyguard.”
“We’re here, too,” Jasmine says as she steps forward for a hug. “If you need anything, just let us know. We’ve got your back.”
When it’s time to take our seats, I walk with Layla and Jasmine to claim our usual spots. Philip remains in the back with Jason.
“Do you have any idea who it is?” Layla asks.
“No, but I think it’s someone in my chemistry class. I just came from there, and someone texted me during class—someone coming up as UNKNOWN on my screen—and he asked what Philip was doing there. How would someone know Philip was with me unless he was right there in the same room?”
Our history professor starts lecturing, so I turn to face the front of the room.
Toward the end of class, she tells us about our research papers that are due by the end of the term. It looks like I’ll be making a trip to the library again sometime soon.
At the end of class, we gather up our things and meet the guys in the hallway.
“Were you bored to tears?” I ask Philip.
“No,” he says. “It was actually pretty interesting.”
The five of us walk over to the cafeteria for lunch. With Philip here, it feels like a special occasion, so we all sit together at a big round table.
Everyone wants to know all the juicy details of what’s been going on with the stalker situation. Once I catch them all up to date, they’re shocked.
“I’m glad the campus police are investigating,” Layla says. “I hope they catch him quickly.”
“Catch him, lock him up, and throw away the key!” Jasmine says.
“Don’t worry,” Philip says. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Can we please talk about something else?” I ask. “Something that doesn’t involve stalkers?” I glance at Layla. “What’s the latest on the wedding plans?”
“Well, since you mention it,” Layla says, “I know this is short notice, and you have more important things on your mind right now, but I was wondering if you girls could come with me to the bridal shop this afternoon to try on your bridesmaid dresses.”
“I’m available,” Jasmine says as she picks up her grilled chicken wrap. “What time?”
“I was thinking around three,” Layla says. She turns to me. “Haley? If you don’t feel up to it, we can reschedule.”
“I can do it. It’ll get my mind off of things.” I glance at Philip. “Is it okay with you?”
He sets down his soft drink. “I am at your disposal. Just tell me where you want to go and when.”
I laugh. “Is that a bodyguard answer or a boyfriend answer?”
He smiles. “Both.”
We sit and eat and talk for a good while longer, until it’s time for the others to leave.
Once we’re alone, Philip says, “We have some time to kill before your chemistry lab. Would you like to take a walk?”
“Yes!” I’m dreading going to class because of Mark. I have no idea how he’ll react when he finds out we’re switching lab partners. “I would love a walk.”
* * *
Philip walks beside me as I enter the chemistry lab. Mark is already seated at our table. He’s facing forward, so he hasn’t seen me yet. When I take a step forward, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“Wait here,” Philip says.
Philip walks up to the instructor’s desk to speak with her. Supposedly, Detective Bauer has already notified her about what’s going on and asked her to move me to a different lab table.
Ms. Davis glances at me where I’m standing near the door ready to make my escape. It’s unnerving to think there might be someone in this room who wishes me harm.
As Philip speaks to the instructor, she nods periodically to indicate she’s following the conversation. But her gaze bounces back and forth between me and Mark at first, and then over at Andrea and Christian’s table.
Eventually, she walks over to Andrea’s table and has a quiet conversation with her and with Christian. Andrea and Christian look at each other a moment, speaking quietly, and then Christian nods.
As Christian starts to gather his things, my pulse starts racing.
Philip returns to my side. “You and Christian are exchanging lab partners for the rest of the term. Andrea is your new lab partner, so you can go sit with her.”
As I head to Andrea’s table, I pass by Christian, who nods at me.
“Hi,” I say to Andrea as I take my new seat.
She smiles. “Welcome, new lab partner.”
The instructor begins to go over our lab assignment for today.
“I’m sorry about the change,” I whisper to Andrea.
She shrugs, still smiling. “It’s no problem. We don’t mind.”
I glance back at Philip, who’s standing near the door, leaning against the wall. He nods to me, as if to say, You’re good. You’ve got this.
For the rest of the class, I focus on the day’s assignment. Andrea and I go over the steps for the experiment we’re going to perform. When we’re ready to get to work, we both pull on lab coats and protective goggles because we’re working with some caustic materials today.
I notice both Mark and Christian looking this way. Mark looks angry. Christian looks amused. Christian chuckles as he says something to Mark, and Mark jabs him hard in the side with his elbow.
“Ignore him,” Andrea says to me, bringing my attention back to our experiment. “Don’t let him rile you up.”
“That guy creeps me out.”
“Who? Mark?”
“Yes.”
“He’s weird. Just ignore him.”
Throughout the class period, I catch Mark staring at me. I don’t understand his fixation. I’m a nobody. I’m not some femme fatale whom men can’t resist.
Andrea and I complete our assignment, and the instructor comes around each table to observe the results.
“Great job, ladies,” she says to us. “You’re one of only three teams who got it right.”
As we’re cleaning up our station, Andrea leans close and asks me, “Why is your boyfriend here?”
“It’s complicated.”
She looks perplexed, and I hate keeping her in the dark. “I’m sorry, but I really can’t explain.”
When we’ve finished cleaning up, I grab my backpack. “Thanks for letting me work with you,” I tell Andrea. “I appreciate it. I’m sorry for any inconvenience.”
She shrugs. “It’s fine, really. It’s no big deal.”
“If you don’t mind, can I ask if you and Christian are a couple? When I see you, you’re always together.”
Andrea snorts out a laugh. “No! We might as well be brother and sister. We’ve been friends since elementary school. We’ve known each other forever. Besides,” Andrea says with a grin. “He’s not my type, if you know what I mean.” And then she winks at me.
“Oh.” It takes me a minute to catch on. “I see.”
Andrea grabs her backpack and heads for the door. “See you Monday!”
Christian meets up with her, and they walk out of the room together.
As I’m heading toward Philip, Mark intercepts me, blocking my way. “Did you ask for a new lab partner?”
Before I can reply, Philip steps between us, pushing Mark back. “You don’t talk to her, got it?” he says to Mark.
Mark scowls at Philip. “Who the fuck are you to tell me who I can and can’t talk to?”
“Just keep your distance,” Philip says before he ushers me out of the classroom and out of the building. “How’d it go with Andrea?”
“Good. She was very understanding. And it was nice of Christian to change places with me.”
“It was.” Philip slings my backpack over his shoulder and takes my hand in a very boyfriend move. “So, we’re done for the day? Do you want to check your mailbox?”
“Let’s not. I’ve had enough drama for one day.”
We head to the parking lot, and with each step away from campus, I feel a lightness come over me. My body relaxes, and my muscles loosen. I feel more like myself again.
Philip must pick up on the change in me because he puts his arm around me and pulls me close, smiling down at me when I meet his gaze.
“Feeling better now?” he asks.
“Much. Let’s go try on some bridesmaid dresses.”
He laughs. “How about you try them on, and I’ll watch.”