Love's war soldiers

Chapter 9

I run around the room with the toothbrush between my lips, trying to catch my hair and to pull my clothes on at the same time.

It's 7:39 and I still haven't left for classes. I didn't sleep well last night due to nightmares and the haunting voice, and now I'm in danger of being late for my first day of college because I failed to hear the alarm that repeated every 5 minutes from 6am untill 6 and a half.

I hold the brush between my lips as I search the underwear drawer for a matching bra.

Shit, I forgot the water turned on at the bathroom sink

I close the drawer almost trapping my hands in it and start to head for the bathroom to turn off the water when I'm tripped up by the jeans that are halfway up my knees that I haven't been able to lift.

I make head-on contact with the dusty wooden floor and it hurts.

I stand up in a daze and take a fleeting look in the mirror.

Great Aimee, now you have a red spot on your forehead in addition to dark circles. Everything is going perfectly, I think.

I take a few seconds to collect myself and decide to take things one at a time. It seems to be true that haste spoils the job. I start by successfully pulling my dark blue jeans up and zipping and buttoning them, and then I rinse my mouth full of toothpaste and turn off the water in the bathroom thinking about how glad I am that Clarissa isn't home to see me how I run around half-naked.

I quickly grab my black bra and pull out a navy blue t-shirt that says "Dreams come true" over it.

I managed to fix my hair, put my backpack with the classes behind me, put on a pair of white sneakers and head for the classroom.

I glance at the watch on my wrist which reads 08:06 as I reach the classroom door. I take a deep breath and pray that you I won't be dead before I open the door, but it seems I'm out of luck.

The professor gives me a nasty look without saying anything else, and I head for the first free seat in the almost full amphitheater.

I quickly pull out my notebook and pen and i'm surprised at how many students are present. In the movies I've watched, the students don't really attend the classes at these early hours, while here the hall is almost full.

— First time in this class? A male voice echoes next to me and I turn my gaze to where it's coming from.

A brown-haired, well-built guy with brown eyes and a gentle smile looks at me. His features express masculinity, as does his rich voice.

— Yes, is it really that obvious? I answer.

— Kinda yes, he laughs, you are too surprised by the number of students. More than the professor's lesson, I might say.

I answer him with a smile.

—I'm Robb, he adds.

— Aimee, I reply shortly.

The course continues between discussions with Robb. He seems like a good guy, he helped me by explaining the things I didn't understand and we had other discussions that were not related to the course.

That's how I found out that today we have all the classes together, that he is 20 years old but was late to school and that...what a surprise, he has a girlfriend.

I can't help thinking it's a shame. He is such a handsome boy that I think many girls fell in love with him. And I can't deny that my imagination also wandered a little to green pastures when I saw that he was paying attention to me. I think I've seen too many romance movies..

After the first 3 courses I was terribly hungry, so I was very glad when it was time to retire to the cafeteria. The thought of food carried me towards it as if I were floating, and I am convinced that even the foreign voice calling me could not make me turn from my path.

I grabbed a tray from the stack and walked over to the fat lady with the fishnet over her black hair who was standing next to the food. I politely asked her for a side of cheesy fries, an apple juice and a small piece of cake and after paying for the food I turned and scanned the perimeter for the right place to sit.

At the last table in the back, Robb motions for me to come to him. I don't know anyone around here, so my steps lead to the table where he sits surrounded by unfamiliar faces when a hand grabs my arm.

— Aimee, I've been looking everywhere for you, Clarissa says when our eyes meet.

— Hello, Clarie, I say. I have been to classes since morning.

— When I got home you weren't there, and I didn't see you at all at the university, she says.

— Well, you didn't sleep in the room? I ask and immediately realize how indiscreet I was. But..I was terribly surprised that she didn't sleep in her room last night.

— I slept at my boyfriend Dean's place, she says as easily as if we've known each other all our lives.

— Aah, I murmured.

— Do you want to come to our table? I know you don't know anyone yet and our group would welcome you with open arms.

— Thanks, Clarie, but I'm going to Robb's table. He beckoned to me earlier and it would be foolish of me to refuse him, I say honestly.

I really wanted to go with her, but it felt rude to ignore Robb's call. And what could I do not to be numb? I also thought about going to tell him I was staying with Clarissa, but it seemed out of place to go all the way to the other side of the cafeteria just to excuse myself and leave.

— Aah, it's ok, she says, letting me feel the disappointment in her reaction perfectly.

I plant a kiss on her cheek in an attempt to excuse myself and awkwardly walk away, leaving her behind.

— Amy, I didn't know you knew anyone else here, he says as if disturbed by the situation.

I love the name Aimee and hate it when someone else tells me otherwise

— Aimee, not Amy, I say imposingly, and his expression instantly changes. He feigns an apology and starts to introduce me to the people at the table, but my mind is elsewhere and my eyes are fixed on the table Clarissa is at.

I don't know why, but I can't take my eyes off it. It's a group of about 4 girls including Clarissa and about 5 boys if I'm not mistaken. I can't see their faces, but the harder I try, the faster my heart beats and a strange, indescribable feeling comes over me.

— Aimee, are you still here? Robb's voice brings me to my feet and I shake my head to regain my focus. I turn my gaze to him and begin to join in their discussion.