89 - The chapter where Christian misses the time

CHRISTIAN

I woke up the next day watching her peaceful face, we had both put the two beds together to be more comfortable. Rose was sleeping on her stomach wearing only the t"shirt I was wearing the night before, making me smile.

That was the image I always wanted to have when I woke up!

But all the tranquility disappeared as soon as I picked up my cell phone, my eyes widening when I saw the time.

Damn, we overslept!

I stood up in a jump, knowing I couldn't be late for Miss Hanh's class, pulling Rose's foot as I picked up my pants thrown on the bedroom floor, putting them on in a hurry.

" Rose, wake up, we missed the time!”

She turned over in bed, looking confused as she opened her eyes.

" What?”

" It's fifteen minutes before the class starts, I have an exam today, come on!' " I rushed her.

The girl stood up in a jump, grabbing her panties that I threw to her afterwards.

" Damn, how did we sleep so much? " she complained while getting dressed.

"I don't know, but I need my shirt," I pointed out, realizing that I would have to go to class in the same clothes as yesterday.

" You should bring some clothes here, it would be easier " she complained, taking off her shirt and throwing it to me " My bra is over there.”

I threw the underwear to the girl before putting on the shirt, getting annoyed with that suggestion. At the same time that Rose said she didn't want a boyfriend, she treated me like one, and that situation was just annoying. If we weren't so late, I'd definitely discuss that damn failed relationship we were in.

I finished getting dressed quickly, putting on my boots before heading towards the door, but before I could leave, Rose pulled me by the hand, bringing her free hand to my face, trapping me in a quick kiss before pulling away.

"Good luck,” she wished, getting dressed again.

I mumbled some kind of thank you before running to make it on time. Practically running across campus, I managed to get through my locker, grabbing my scientific calculator and my case and still make it to the room in time, entering a few minutes before Miss Hanh.

Camille gave me an urgent look as soon as she saw me enter, I went to where she was, settling between her and Harry, greeting my roommate afterwards.

" Where have you been? I thought I'd miss the exam," Cam whispered to me as our professor arrived.

" Rose and I overslept” I whispered back.

" Oh my God, have you slept in your room any day this week? " Camille stared at me.

" No, he didn't " my roommate answered for me " But now I know he's enjoying some time with his new girlfriend.”

Miss Hahn was giving a brief explanation about the test she would be giving in a few seconds while I was silently enduring my friends' teasing.

"I think Rose didn't wanted a boyfriend," muttered Taylor, who was sitting right in front of me.

Great, this is getting better and better.

" She's not my girlfriend or anyone else," I said nonchalantly, "and I warned you not to get attached to her.”

We would have continued that stalemate if Miss Hanh had not asked for silence to start the exam. I concentrated on the subject for the next few hours, feeling relieved when I finally handed in the test and was able to leave the room, being accompanied by Camille and Harry who practically finished at the same time.

" So, you and Rose haven't come out yet? " Harry asked.

" I don't have to, we're not really together,” I denied as I walked alongside the two of them around the outside area of the campus freshly covered by the snow that had fallen earlier.

" Really? And how many times have you slept in her room since she got sick? " Cam teased me.

I took a deep breath watching the cloudy sky just above our heads mentally wondering if it would snow again later.

" Are you going to ignore us? " Harry insisted on my answer.

" Since Saturday I slept in my room only one night " I admitted against my will.

They both laughed at my answer, making me sigh. I knew I was denying the obvious, but what could I do if Rose wasn't willing to assume exclusivity?

" I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you're in a relationship, it may not be an exclusive relationship, but it is a relationship," Harry teased me.

" It's almost like you two are living together, soon you'll start taking your clothes to her room," Camille added.

I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips when I saw how much the girl had changed in such a short time. She even took Theodore's advice to heart and started walking around with her hair up, leaving her new tattoo in plain sight. In the end, I think she just needed a bit of company to loosen up, and I felt happy to have achieved that feat.

But also her speech made me remember Rose's request earlier complaining about my lack of clothes in her room. What does she want from me anyway?

" Everyone can see between the lines, only you won't admit it,” she added.

" Really? 'Do you want to talk about between the lines now, Cam? Why don't we talk about how close you and Theo seem to be these days? " I teased, having the pleasure of seeing her face take on a vivid shade of red.

" Wooow, that's news to me,” Harry changed the target of his teasing, looking lighter than the last few times we'd talked.

" I don't know…”

" If I remember correctly, it was him who asked you to start wearing your hair up, wasn't it? " I insisted.

If possible, the girl's face turned even redder and she quickly looked away.

" I hope you're not as messed up as this guy here " Harry put his hand on my shoulder, shaking me lightly " Peterson is a nice guy, you better not waste your time.”

I ignored his teasing and decided to change the subject once again, after all there was a lot going on in my friend's life that I didn't know about yet.

" What about you? You didn't tell us how your trip went," I glared at him.

Harry sighed, putting his hands in the pockets of his jacket before lowering his head, showing that he still hadn't gotten over the subject.

" Charlotte wanted me to accompany her to her parents' town in Quebec. 'I think she's going to drop out and go back to live in Canada,' he began, 'I don't know how we're going to make it work, I'm feeling lost.

At that second I felt bad for my friend, I didn't know what I would do if I were in his situation.

" But if she's going back to Canada, what will you do with the baby? " Camille frowned.

" That's the question. She wants me to do the same, give up everything and move to her parents' town to help her with everything " he took a deep breath " At the same time that I get angry that she decides everything, doesn't even consider my opinion and expects me to do what she wants, I feel guilty, after all she is pregnant!”

" She can't expect you to drop out of college just because she did. In fact, you graduating is a guarantee that this child will have a better future " I said.

We stopped walking as we approached the second cafeteria, where we always had lunch with our friends.

" I know, but in the end, I'm not sure I'll have that option. I haven't told my parents yet, I'll tell them now when I go home " he took a deep breath " and in the end, I'll need to get a job to at least pay the alimony.”

" 'I hope things work out for you,” Camille wished.

" Thank you. You're an interesting girl, Cam. You shouldn't have wasted so much time on your own," he smiled at her, making her cringe, "now I have to go…”

" I thought you were going to lunch," I frowned.

" I've been avoiding this cafeteria for the past few days," he sighed, and I didn't need to ask him anything to understand why.