Just as I Begin to Fade

Forty Six. Parents

Walking through the door of the college dorm, Gwen wore a form-fitting black dress, a denim jacket over top, pair of black, nylon tights underneath, and her combat boots as they were the comfiest pairs of shoes she owned. In her hand, she held her tiny black purse in which contained her keys, ID and money, plus some things she may have needed like her lipstick and personal hygiene products, not to mention her knife and pepper spray.

"Hey, it's you," a boy came up to her.

"Me what?" she wondered, not too turned on by his attitude so far.

"You were the one who got arrested a couple weeks ago. There's a video and everything."

"Yeah, that was me and how wonderful," she crossed her arms, hating the idea of there being plausable evidence of something misleading since she had done nothing.

"You haven't been back? Did you just get out?"

"I got out the same night. It was a false alarm, not that it's any of your business."

"Hey, I'm just asking a question," he assured.

"Well, it's none of your business. I don't even know you, dude."

"I see you all the time at these things."

"Yeah, same, but I don't know you. Don't come at me with shit like this, you may know my name but I don't know yours. I'm not gonna tell you everything you wanna know just because you think you know what happened. I'm here for the party and a quick drink. Have you seen Bobby?"

"Nope, he's not here yet. And you don't have to be a bitch about it."

"Trust me, this was nice..." she spun around and walked away.

The guy crushed his red cup in his hand, angered by her attitude and ability to walk away from him while he was talking.

Gwen plopped down on the couch across the way and she drank from a bottle of water, waiting for Bobby because she didn't want to drink until he got there to accompany her.

As though on key, his tall and ruggedly handsome self walked in to greet her; a black tee shirt on his person, dark washed jeans and some fancy shoes.

He greeted her with a smile, genuinely happy to see her as he walked through. He then grabbed two bottles of beers, not being the normal social butterfly that he was only because he was trying to get to his girl. Once he got passed some people, he went over and sat down beside her. "How's it going so far?" he popped the metal top off and he handed it over to her.

"Bad," she took a drink. "Thanks," she also raised her bottle to him for bringing it.

"Awe, why bad?" he slung his arm around her and he tucked her close.

"Some idiot over there asked me about getting arrested. Does everybody know? He said there was a video," she dropped her head into his arm. "That's why I didn't come to the party last week, we just chilled. I was afraid this would happen."

"Well, do you wanna go? We can go if you want."

"No, I want you to hang out with your friends. I'll stick it out and then we can go."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, positive."

"I'll be right back, let me just say hi."

"Go for it, I'll be fine," she gave him a little shove, wanting him to go. She then remained seated and she started thinking about Lindsey and her mom.

Something just felt off and she felt like she needed to get home to them, even though things had been planned and Lindsey knew where she was.

She soon got up and she walked over to Bobby. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna head to the payphone," she explained.