I woke up late in the morning, I had decided to skip through the day but then again, I remembered how Rowan had sacrificed his job to avoid my expulsion. That was enough to get me dressed in fifteen minutes. I pulled on a baby pink woolen t-shirt over blue denims, grabbed for my books, all ready to head down towards the dorm mess, that's when I heard a soft knock on the door.
I opened it only a crack, and noticed a young guy standing there with a large beige teddy bear in his hands. He smiled warmly at me, "Alana Hayes?"
"That's me." I nodded, folding my hands across my chest.
"This is for you, ma'am." The guy pushed the large bear into my arms along with a white lacy card.
"Who is this from?"
"Ma'am, the card."
Silly me. "Thanks."
I closed the door behind me and sat the stuffed bear on the empty table, as I settled on the edge of the bed, opening the lacy card that had come along with it. It was written in beautiful loopy cursives, which would probably win the award for handwriting contest in school.
Dear Alana,
Consider this as my apology gift for what happened yesterday. You deserve so much more than this, and I wish to give you all the happiness you deserve. Thank you for making me a part of yourself. Thank you for giving me another chance. Nothings else matters anymore.
I love you baby.
Yours always,
Rowan.
A smile crossed my lips, bad mood be damned. I hugged the bear tight, wishing it would remain this way forever.
I had downed almost two large mugs of black coffee, but that didn't stop my eyes from becoming droopy. I jogged out of the hostel gate. I froze when my eyes locked on the tall figure, watching me with curious eyes.
Rowan stood leaning against the wall, he waved at me as I made my way towards him. He was dressed in a navy blue tee-shirt and casual dark denims. His smile was lascivious, showcasing those beautiful dimples I noticed once in a blue moon, but his expression quickly changed to worry when his eyes travelled to the band-aid on my palm.
"Hey."
"Hey" he had the distant look he'd worn yesterday, the 'I'm-good-for-nothing' look. "How are you feeling this morning?"
Dammit. He stood so tall, he must be some 6'3 or something and I was 5'3.
Yeah, I know. Pathetic to say the least.
All thanks to my large sized sandals, I managed to reach his shoulders.
"I'm fine." I assured him, "I received your wonderful gift and the card. I love it. Thank you, Rowan."
"Thank you baby." He kissed my temple, and took my hand in his. "for sticking around, for handling the crazy me."
"You're not crazy, and we are putting on a show." I reminded him. All those Gossip club members were boring holes into us and boiling with jealousy. Some even greeted Rowan with a 'Good Morning Mr. Masters' which I tell you, is the height of idiocy, like they weren't aware of the situation.
Fucking Pretenders.
"So what?" his lips grazed my cheek, as he reached to carry my books. "I'm no longer faculty; I'm only the beautiful Alana Hayes boyfriend."
He winked and I punched him playfully, he was so cute when he became like that.
We walked to the university gates hand in hand like a love sick teenaged couple. Rowan did not seem uncomfortable to receive the stares. To him, I was the only colorful person and everything else didn't matter. Everyone around him was black and white in color.
Upon reaching the university gates, he handed me back my stuff, "So I'll see you after class?"
"Can't wait." He stood holding onto my hand, reluctant to let go.
Just when I was living my teenage dream, Rio decided to crash it to bits by entering the scene.
"Senorita." He smiled at me, turning to Rowan, he nodded, "Sir."
Rowan did the unexpected which had me pinch and punch myself to realize I wasn't day-dreaming.
"Listen Rio, I'm sorry about yesterday." Rowan's hand tightened around mine, "I wasn't thinking rational. I'm sure you're aware of our situation. Alana's important to me."
Was he freakin' marking his territory with sugar coatings?
"I understand." Rio's eyes travelled towards the band-aid and his smile was replaced with sympathy and I'm sure he was getting the idea about me being a victim of an abusive relationship. This news was heading straight towards the Chez direction. Great! Just what I needed.
I went up on my toes and kissed Rowan until his brain stopped functioning, when I pulled apart I noticed Rowan smiling gleefully at me, with zero traces of jealously. Rio didn't seem to be in near vicinity, poor guy. I didn't mean to embarrass him.
"Bye." I said shyly.
"Bye, baby." His fingers grazed my cheek.
My heart thumped in my chest, how much I wanted him. I trotted through the gates and into the university building, where Rio was waiting for me with his back to the pillar wall.
"Rio, don't misunderstand this, but I would really appreciate if you wouldn't acknowledge me in front of Rowan. It's a request."
"no es gran costa, chica." When he realized I didn't understand a word he added, "No big deal."
"Great." I grinned, "Thanks for understanding."
We turned to go to our separate classes, everything felt so darn weird with Rowan not around anymore, like a freakin' cherry on top of my depression cake, though I was glad for the major promotion from student to girlfriend. All those Gossip club members still kept an eye on me, expecting another major controversy.
I walked farther into the hallway, if I knew Chez's class fell right in my way towards the Sociology class, I would have been sure to take the longer route but my destiny sucked ass and so I bumped right into the unfortunate situation.
Nope. I wasn't up for another confrontation, especially if that confrontation was taking a major turn at the Rowan intersection, like I even had a choice.
Chez walked right at me like a bull ready to wrestle with that idiotic taut body of his, he looked like a bit leaner version of John Cena. He stopped right in my face, not leaving me an inch of space to move.
"Hi." I tried to act nonchalantly, like nothing was wrong.
He seized my arm and shook it hard, "what the fuck is this?"
"Ouch." I pulled my hand away from his grasp. "I fell in the bathroom, nothing major."
"Does my face read, 'I'm-stupid?" he sounded like someone who had a large sized rod shoved right up his ass, "Because this looks more like a case of domestic violence to me."
Dafuq?
"What is this about, Chez?"
"Don't try and put up that act for me, Al, you can fool that airheaded Nina all you want, but me? I know you better than you know yourself."
"I'm already running late for class." I started to leave when he blocked me again.
"Sure, I'll make it fast for you." He stared at me with grim eyes, trying so hard to get me intimidated and start talking. The balloon of fury was all set to blow. He whispered the next words close to my ear, "YOU ALANA, are a Big Fat liar."
I snorted, what are we? Grade schoolers?
He continued, "All you've been doing these past weeks is lie, sneak out of the dorms and hide things from me, why?" Chez sounded hurt. The last time he sounded hurt was when I'd broken his crayon set when we were eight.
"Because you wouldn't understand, no one did until now." I explained.
"What do you want me to understand? You have no idea what goes around your back. I can't sit and fucking listen to the shit anymore, Alana, I'm done punching them in the faces because they wouldn't stop talking about you. Rowan's not a good guy; the faster you understand this, the better. He is just using you as a toy, as soon as he finds a new shinny one, he'll dump you faster than you can say Vampire Diaries and I don't want to be the one putting the pieces back."
"CHEZ!" I gritted my teeth, "I don't give a rat's ass about what others think or say. Not even you."
"You're my best friend, Al, I care for you." Chez took my hands in his, "Do you trust your friend of eighteen years or some man you recently met?"
"You don't understand Chez, he loves me."
Chez pushed back a loose tendril behind my ear as he grazed my cheek with the back of his fingers, "See what he's done to you. It'll only end in a heart break if you don't finish this now. He'll ruin you."
I pushed him hard though he didn't budge, "I know what I'm doing and I want to be with him. I don't care about the consequences."
"Sure." he chewed on his lip, "It's just a little cut anyway, next time it'll be a few broken bones but that doesn't qualify as an abusive relationship does it?"
"You're one to talk. At least Rowan doesn't sleep around with random girls and cheat on me or paint naked prostitutes for that matter."
"ALANA."
I'd gone too far this time, but Chez needed a dose because, hey! This was my life and I have a right to decide how I wanted to live it. It was fine until he pointed out certain things but then it went overboard when he started to talk about the dirt on Rowan's shirt, choosing to ignore the dirt on his own.
He continued to pin me with his cold stare, "I want what's best for you and Rowan isn't that. What do you see in him anyway? He is whooping nine years older to you, much more experienced in every aspect. He was probably screwing chicks when you were eight and playing Barbie dress up."
He did have a point there.
"Nobody is perfect, Rowan might have flaws but I love him the way he is. Nine is just a number and it isn't a big deal and you know it. What he did before me is none of my concern." Chez's expressions did not change, they remained haggard so I continued, "He sacrificed a job for me, Chez, so I could remain in college."
"When you come back to your senses, you have my number."
"Then I don't think I'll need to dial that number any sooner." I snapped at him.
"If you're so sure."
I stormed away without looking back at his sorry face. So I was alone again, it did hurt a little even though I'd lost him temporarily. I knew for a fact that Chez would come to accept my relationship with Rowan sooner or later but Chez always did what he wanted and so there was a 99.9% possibility he wouldn't speak with me until I declared the end of my relationship with Rowan which so wasn't happening in a zillion years.
The choices were already laid on my platter.
It was either Chez or Rowan.
And my choice was a given and I would never doubt my decision even after I've turned ninety or lost all teeth or when I've started talking granny gibberish. I'd almost reached my class when Rio came running to me from the opposite direction doing some crazy hand signals.
"Rio, I'm late for class.."
"You need to drag your ass back to the main gate and see what's going on for yourself." He said between the erratic panting.
"What's going on?"
"Trust me Alana, you either run now or issue another ticket to the Dean's office."
I didn't wait to hear the rest as I took off in cheetah speed, my parents would've been so proud if I'd run like this during my sports day in fifth grade. Something was so out of place, if Rowan was responsible for whatever was going on beyond the gates, I was gone for good with nil chances of making lame excuses or saving my ass for that matter. When I reached the front gate, I noticed a huge mob gathered around the corner but the actual action was hidden from view so I had to push a few people aside to see what the commotion was about.
Rowan had Ed pinned against the university wall fence and the next thing, I watched Rowan's hard fist collide with Ed's blood dripping jaw.
HOLY SHIT!
Ed went down with another blow. Did that guy know any defense moves?
"Rowan." I called him.
Another punch followed by a nose smack. I had to break this fight before the testosterone attracted more attention.
I grabbed for Rowan's arm, "ROWAN! STOP IT!" that's when the spell broke and Rowan stopped pounding Eddie, the background was filled with loud dramatic K.O since Ed went down on his knees with all the energy being drained out. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Alana he..he was the one who spread rumors about us, he took those pictures and sent them to the dean's office."
I glanced at Ed, who appeared to be wiping the blood off his nose and straightening his shirt.
"Is that true? Did you give us out?" I asked him calmly.
He didn't make eye contact which was my cue to strike. I slapped him hard across the face, "what did we do to you, Ed?"
That's when he looked straight in my eye with murderous intent glimmering bright in those pools of blue, "I didn't mean to pull your reputation down, I just wanted Rowan Masters career ruined and you played my game without instructions."
"Why?"
"Because he ruined my sister's life. She was crazy after him, Rowan this, Rowan that." Ed spat out the blood, "I had to get back to him somehow."
There were no traces of regret whatsoever and I was in no mood of asking for a fake apology. What was done was done, and Rowan made sure Ed paid with a few fists.
"You disgust me." I said with as much as hatred I could muster up. "Your sister cheated on Rowan, she deserved being dumped."
Ed looked from Rowan to me and back at him. "Is that what he told you?"
I scanned the surroundings, each and every Carmel species was a spectator, whether from the parking lot or from the tiny windows inside the building.
Enjoy the show you guys, why don't you?
Rowan first glared at all his students who had started to dissipate. "Get back to your classes everyone."
Even though he wasn't teaching them, he still held some authority. When most of them were out of view, Rowan turned to Ed and grabbed for his collar.
"You almost ruined her career." He gritted his teeth, "And your sister almost ruined my life. If I see you anywhere near Alana again, I will make sure you don't live to see graduation. Am I making myself clear?"
Ed glared at him, to me he said, "Get the fuck away from him while you still can."
Rowan's jaw tightened, and good for Ed he wasn't at arm reach. He wiped the blood and walked through the campus gates.
I turned to Rowan, "good fist exercise, huh?"
"What?" Rowan stared back at me with a bewildered expression, "He owes us, Alana. He obviously deserved more than a few fists."
"Listen, you've already given him the load of fists he deserved," I pulled at his arm, "we don't want a Texas chainsaw massacre unfolding in Carmel."
My eyes travelled to Chez who stood a few steps ahead watching me like a damn angry predator. He didn't say a word, only kept staring at us, I started back until he turned and left.
I laced my fingers through Rowan's. "Let's go."
"Did you and Chez have a fight?"
"Something like that." I muttered.
"Am I the reason you aren't speaking?"
I looked at Rowan who had turned pale, "It doesn't matter to me. It's you and me against them. Okay?"
He wasn't convinced yet, "Don't worry about Chez, he'll come around, now let's go."
We left the place hand in hand.