Deception

Chapter 22: The Only Apple

"So you just ran away from him, just out his door and he didn't stop you?" Jo asks me. I nod.

"He had creepy pictures of me." I lie. I want to be able to tell someone about what happened but even as I began to open up to Jo, I switched the story around because trust is not found easily in my body.

A huge part of me kept screaming Niall, Niall, Niall but I don't think I can tell him anything about Harry. I don't want to imagine what he would do.

"I am so sorry you're his victim this year. I would say it normally doesn't last too long, but that's when he actually gets the girl. You are giving him a hard time, probably why he is still here." She says, slipping on her pajama pants. I assume she is kind of correct, considering she doesn't know the full story.

I snuggle under my duvet, emotionally wounded by the events that took place today and sigh. "Have you visited Dominique?" I finally ask as Jo slips under her twin bed.

"I went to the hospital but she was getting stiches. I am going in the morning, to pick her up. I am such a great friend. Or ex-friend, whatever. Do you want to come?" Jo asks. I consider her offer, and think about how lovely it would be to have the dorm to myself. But then again, Dominique was attacked in here and it was because of me.

"Of course, I will come." I smile and Jo switches the light off.

~

Jo shakes me awake and she has wide eyes.

"What?" I sit up.

"Who's Ellie?" she whispers. My heart stops.

"I don't know? Why?" I say quickly.

"You kept saying her name in your sleep. You sounded pretty scared." She whispers. I take the pillow to the left of me and fall back, shoving my face in it.

Not right now, Ellie. I don't need this right now.

"That's strange. Never heard of an Ellie. Can we go now?" I ask, removing the blanket from atop me.

"Girl, you are the one still on pajamas. Put on a raincoat because it's pouring. We'll have to take the bus or get a ride." She says as I walk over to the closet.

I take out Joanna's second rain coat and bit e my lip looking at her. "Sure." She smiles and I slip it on.

"Charlie?"

I turn around and arch my eyebrows. "Why don't you, I mean you didn't really bring a lot of things with you to Uni. Most people bring tons of stuff." She says. I can tell she is trying to ask me why I am so god damn mysterious.

"I was broke, got lucky with a scholarship. I didn'thave much clothes." I whisper, slipping on the same jeans from yesterday.

"Oh." She mumbles. I wonder what she is thinking.

"Well you are always welcome to wear my clothes." She smiles and I nod. Then we leave our dorm, making sure to lock it securely.

We make it about two feet out of the dorm center before Jo starts complaining about how wet her hair is getting even with the hoodie. We run back into shelter and she pulls out her phone and dials a number.

"Hey babe." She speaks into the phone, clearly using her means of seduction.

"I need a ride." She whispers and I hear someone talking on the other line.

"It's pouring. Please?"

It's silent for a moment. "You're going to make us walk alone in the rain?"