75 - The chapter with the meeting with Audrey

ROSE CAMPBELL

Without waiting for them to speak up, I headed toward the art building where my locker was, grabbing my notebook and a case, mentally cursing myself for not remembering to take that with me to my room yesterday. Then I went to the main building, where the theory classes of all subjects were held. I was walking distracted when I felt a snowball hit the side of my arm. I raised my head in fright, looking around for any of my friends, but to my surprise, I spotted Audrey, Alicia, and two other sorority girls standing a few feet away.

That was all I needed!

I decided to take a deep breath and go on my way again, because I really didn't want to bother with this so soon, but they didn't seem to think so.

" Look who's without her great protectors," Audrey hummed as she approached.

I stopped walking, casting a tired glance at them, noticing that some people passing by were already watching us expectantly.

" Have you lost something with me, Dixon?”

" I think you need to learn a little more respect, Campbell," Alicia stopped beside her friend, crossing her arms.

" My respect and my time are far too precious for me to waste on you." I offered my best smile before walking away again, but instead of leaving me alone, they hurried on, getting in my way.

" I hear that you have a new loser as a friend. A little creature as pathetic as you and Skyller," Audrey continued, making me laugh.

" And yet it is in our shoes that you would die to be, just to get a third of the attention we get, so in the end, who is pathetic? " I challenged her.

If a look could kill, I would surely have fallen hard at that moment, but I wasn't intimidated.

" Oh sure, I'd die to be around a guy who calls me an insane bitch," Allie sneered.

" You may not wish he called you an insane bitch, but I bet you wish he would stop everything he does to watch you walk in and out of every place like he does with me," my smile widened as I saw the girl lose her voice before I turned to Audrey, "and you must be dying to know that Liam did everything he did for someone, and that someone wasn't you.”

Her face reddened even more as I heard laughter from some of the people watching this little clash, hoping that things would get even more exciting.

" Listen here, bitch, do you think I'm going to forget what you did at that party? " Audrey lowered her voice to a threatening tone." Until today I've been nice to you, but from now on my personal mission is to torment your life in every way.”

" First of all, I haven't given you the freedom to call me by my affectionate nickname, so if you think you can offend me by calling me bitch, you're out of luck. Secondly, you'd better get out of my way before I'm forced to make way. Because I don't need any man to defend me, and I bet you'd hate to have your rhinoplasty redone," I declared looking into her eyes.

Audrey stared at me for a few seconds before taking a few steps to the side, allowing me to pass. I made my way quickly to my initial destination, entering the central hall that was becoming increasingly crowded and finding a vacant bench, settling there to wait a little longer for the class to begin.

I put on my headphones and opened my notebook, beginning to scribble any drawings on the sheet when a message from my mother interrupted my thoughts.

Are you busy? We have some news about Christmas.

I frowned, letting a small smile escape as I read that message.

I'm going into class in a little while, can I call you at lunch?

I'll wait for your call

Seeing the time already advanced, I decided to head to the auditorium where the class would take place. My surprise was to find Skyller sitting on one of the chairs at the back of the room.

" Hey, what are you doing here?”

" I'm ahead of schedule with the project we're working on at the moment, so my Interior Design professor let me join this class on museum architecture," she explained.

" Why didn't you tell me?”

" I would have come with you, if you hadn't rushed out this morning," Sky returned.

" I'm going to kill Davis later," I muttered.

" Please, if he was responsible for making you run away like that, spare me the sordid details," she sneered.

" Yes, he was. And that's after he let me down yesterday. Twice! It was so frustrating," I sighed, feeling good that I could finally open up about it to my friend.

" Twice? " She stared at me with both eyebrows raised.

" It's a long story. We can save it for later. But what about you and Liam? I want all the details!”

Skyller looked at me for a few seconds before smiling, looking a little embarrassed.

" Well, it all started when he was getting the tattoo. He was so scared, and at one point I really thought he was going to faint. I was holding his hand the whole time, trying to keep his attention on me, but he turned his face away just as the tattoo artist was starting over after he cleaned up, because he thought he was done," she lowered her voice to a whisper as Mrs. Ryuzo entered the room, "so I did the only thing that crossed my mind. I kissed him!”

I turned my face toward her, staring in surprise.

" Oh my God, that's why you wanted to spend some time alone with him!”

" I won't go into details now, but we talked, and... I didn't sleep in my room last night," her face flushed red as she whispered.

I brought my hand to my lips, covering them with an amused expression as I stared at her in disbelief. Despite everything, I felt happy for the two of them for finally getting it right. The teacher began to explain the subject, making it impossible for us to continue this conversation.

The class went on for the next few hours, and when we were finally released for lunch, we felt exhausted. I sent a message to the guys telling them that Skyller and I would have lunch together. I couldn't wait to hear all the details my friend had to tell me about her and Liam.

We went to the west side cafeteria, which we didn't usually go to. I can't deny that I enjoyed just the company of the girl, it was rare for us to have time without the boys around.

" We are together, but I don't know if it's good to assume this already, I mean, it's not even a week since my ex-boyfriend found out he is going to be a father in a big way," Sky sighed as we walked back to the main building.

" You can keep this to your group for now, it's winter break soon and we'll only be back on campus in January, so it can't hurt to wait," I advised.

" I guess you're right. But what about you and Chris? I heard that you couldn't resist and ended up kissing him in front of even your parents on Friday," she teased me.

" Don't remind me, I still can't believe I blew that off. But I must admit it's a lot easier now that we don't have to pretend," I admitted.

" And how does that work?”

" We spend several nights together, but that doesn't mean that we are a couple. If he wants to go out with any girl he can, and so can I," I explained, hiding the fact that lately I wanted to die every time I saw him with another girl.

" But don't you feel anything for him? Do you really expect me to believe that? " she sneered.

I sighed, knowing that she wouldn't believe anything I said, and how could she, I had filled her up myself for months on account of Liam.

" Maybe I do. But it's complicated," I murmured.

We finally reached the building, and I took advantage of the pleasant temperature of the heater to get rid of the thick coat I was wearing outside.

" Why?”

" Because I don't want to get into a relationship, I don't see myself getting attached to anyone so soon," I was sincere.

Sky gave me a cross look, looking as if he didn't quite approve of what I had just said.

" You know that you might end up regretting this. Come on, it's easy to see that you're jealous of him," she stared at me.

Yes, I am jealous of him, I admit that, but taking on a relationship seemed so serious and... adult...

" Rose, Liam texted me to meet him before class, see you in class? " she asked after checking the time.