Book club
1703 Words
Taylor's POV:
Every head seemed to turn to me the moment I pushed the door open.
I froze.
The lecturer also turned slowly, tapping his walking stick on the floor as he said, “It's nice of you to finally join us.”
I let out an awkward chuckle before I ran to the back of the class, huffing as I climbed the little steps.
Fuck Elias.
Fuck him really hard because it made no sense to me why he spent almost an hour in the bathroom.
Craziest part? He used my freaking shampoo!
“Hi,” my seat partner said.
I flashed her a brief smile then focused on looking for my textbook. A frown appeared on my face followed by relief when I finally felt it.
“Nice to meet you,” I whispered to the girl.
The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was rude. Or maybe that was a horrible decision.
She turned to me immediately and smiled so brightly that the gems in her braces caught my eyes.
“My name is Chloe,” she continued before I could continue talking.
I nodded slowly and continued to stare at her when she didn't look away.
“Oh,” I said when I realised what was wrong.
I brought out my hand and said, “My name is Taylor.”
In my head, I could already hear myself receiving a lecture from my inner thoughts.
Who the hell shakes in class these days?!
She shook me regardless even with a bright smile.
I had to admit that I kind of liked her. Probably would have been a perfect roommate if…
“Do you need the note?” She asked out of nowhere and I nodded before thinking.
I let out a breath of relief when she passed it to me and her handwriting was legible enough to see.
“Thank you very much,” I said after scribbling out as much as I could.
“So who can tell me the main focus of journalism with what I've said so far?” The lecturer asked after a while.
Murmurs started as people started to look around. I felt my heart thump loudly as I waited for him to pick me for coming late.
Thankfully, he picked the person sitting right in front of him and after getting a satisfactory answer, he ended the class
“Well, that was easy,” I muttered to myself.
“I heard Prof. Winters is actually pretty chilled,” Chloe chipped in.
I couldn't help but wonder how she had so much information while I could only boastfully mention just one lecturer's name.
“What's your next class?” I asked her, hoping she didn't have one.
“I don't have any,” she replied and I muttered a quick ‘thank God’ under my breath.
“So… you're free now?”
She nodded and asked. Just as I was about to also nod, I remembered a registration I had eagerly applied for.
“Shoot! I actually have a club meeting now,” I said, letting Chloe shut the door behind us.
A frown appeared on her face just before she asked, “You've already joined a club?”
I tightened my grip on my textbook and nodded while wondering if something was wrong with that.
“Which one?”
Okay, I was safe.
“Reading club.”
Chloe nodded absentmindedly as she scrolled through her phone.
I hadn't noticed it earlier, but there was a small silver ring tucked into the inner fold of her ear. I vaguely remembered Ciara calling it a daith piercing once. It looked so cool.
“There's this journalism award for freshmen that I wish to win,” I continued and she paused.
Her mouth went wide by a fraction as her green eyes suddenly had a glint in them.
“I'm also contesting,” she said with a squeal and placed her hands on mine.
A smile that matched her contagious one appeared on my face, “Do you have a partner?”
She shook her head vehemently and we both went quiet before we burst into laughter.
The answer was quite obvious. I let my new partner entwine her arm in mine and we both walked down the hall.
“You're f*****g joking,” Chloe said with her mouth open.
I took a sip out of my drink and shook my head. It was so therapeutic having someone to rant to about Elias.
“He's a d**k,” she commented with her nose scrunched up and I couldn't agree more.
We were currently sitting at the pavilion close to the club because apparently, I was one hour early.
“I think you should lay down some rules, girl.”
I furrowed my brows as I gave it a thought. Would Elias give a f**k about it? Maybe not but it didn't hurt to try.
“Okay then,” I said at the same time my alarm rang.
Chloe stood up immediately and said, “I'll text you on Snap later.”
I nodded and gave her a little hug. Watching her walk away left a smile I couldn't explain on my face.
Maybe I was happy to have a friend on the first day. Apart from Elias being my roommate, it seemed like college was going well.
I walked back into the club room and it was filled up compared to the first time.
We were just about fifteen people so it felt like a safe space. With a happy sigh, I settled in a chair far at the back.
Then we started.
“Everyone voted to have read ‘The Teacher’ by Freida McFadden,” Tony, the president, said.
His glasses didn't fit his square face and he has his checkered shirt looking crumpled.
“Yes,” we all chorused in reply.
I looked around and noticed that a few people brought the book with them so I made a mental note to do that next time.
“Okay let's start with Stephanie.”
Stephanie’ stood up while clearing her throat and then started to give her opinion about the book.
“He manipulated her with the poem,” she said and I tilted my head.
I wouldn't say he did that exactly.
I tapped my fingers on my thigh as I watched her continue to ramble about what made no sense.
“Also, I wouldn't say the plot twist makes any sense.”
“I don't agree with you,” A voice that was awfully familiar boomed but the owner was nowhere to be found.
I stretched a bit on my chair to see who it was when he leaned against the door.
I still couldn't see him but his hair was definitely black like…
No it couldn't be.
It couldn't be him. Elias barely read the instructions on a cereal box as a kid.
My eyes fell on Stephanie when she stiffly asked, “Why?”
“The poem was the final straw,” he started and I couldn't agree more.
"The husband had been manipulating her long before that. By the time she found the poem, she'd already been isolated from everyone who could've helped."
Several people nodded.
Stephanie frowned. "I still think it was unrealistic."
"It wasn't," he replied. "People don't suddenly become victims. It happens little by little."
His voice wasn't loud or dramatic. If anything, it was annoyingly calm. Somehow, that made everyone pay attention.
Tony nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting point."
"I agree," another girl added.
"So do I."
I leaned farther to the side just enough to finally see his face.
My stomach dropped.
Of course it was Elias.
He pushed himself off the doorframe and walked into the room as though he owned it.
His backpack hung loosely over one shoulder while a football jersey peeked out from beneath his hoodie.
Without asking anyone, he dragged a chair backwards and sat down.
"You came late," Tony pointed out.
"I had practice."
"And you still interrupted Stephanie."
"I corrected Stephanie."
A few people laughed.
The f**k? He wasn't funny!
Tony rubbed his forehead before sighing.
"Fine. Taylor, you've been quiet. What do you think?"
I blinked.
My heart stopped.
"...Me?" I asked, pointing to myself.
"Yes."
Every single person turned to me.
Even Elias.
I cleared my throat as I internally regretted introducing myself.
"I think..." I began slowly, "they're both right."
Stephanie smiled immediately.
Elias raised an eyebrow.
“The husband manipulated her little by little until she stopped questioning him," I said.
"The poem wasn't the manipulation itself. It was simply the moment she could no longer ignore everything that had already happened.”
I looked around, then added, “It was the final act that sealed everything.”
Tony nodded.
"I actually like that."
"So do I."
"Same."
I couldn't help smiling even though it was weird that everyone tends to agree… as if they were just respecting opinions.
Maybe joining this club hadn't been a mistake after-
"Half right."
The smile slid off my face.
I slowly turned toward Elias who seemed to enjoy manspreading.
"What?"
"I said you're half right."
I didn't say a word and just subtly glared at him.
"The poem wasn't proof."
"It literally was."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Then…
"You still argue exactly the same way."
My heart skipped.
"...What?"
"You still puff your cheeks whenever you're about to argue.”
My cheeks instantly deflated.
"I do not."
"You just did,” he said with a jerk-ish smirk.
Someone snorted and heat rushed to my face.
Tony clapped his hands together before the argument could continue.
"Looks like we're going to have entertaining meetings this semester."
I hated the way he was making me look like a clown in front of everyone.
Elias had already moved on, nodding along to whatever another member was saying, as though our argument had never happened.
I looked away before he could catch me staring.
Maybe everyone else thought the debate had been fun.
I didn't.
Because if today had taught me anything, it was that escaping Elias Raine was going to be impossible.
- Writer
