Rm w/a Vu(17)
“Cam,” Mom says, interrupting my thoughts before I start to seriously consider calling Greyston and telling him I can’t move in with him. “Maybe we should trust that she knows what she’s doing. You did educate her on everything she needs to know to keep herself safe.”
She does it. She breaks his resolve.
With a sigh, he flops back down into his chair, propping his arms on his knees as he looks up at me. “I’m going to want to meet him. If I am going to be able to trust that he’s providing a safe place for you to live, I’m going to want to get to know this guy.”
My head bobs up and down quickly. “Yeah. Obviously. I’ll give him a call and set it up.” Relieved, I look between my mom and dad. “Thank you for being so cool about this…eventually.”
Dad laughs, making me feel a little more at ease. “That’s me. Cool.”
Since the situation has been diffused, Mom suggests ordering a pizza for dinner to celebrate. I’m not sure if we’re celebrating my new digs, the fact that I came home for once and didn’t catch them getting coital on a new piece of furniture, or that Dad’s head didn’t explode when he found out about my new roommate. Maybe all three.
Pizza night also means we eat in the living room and watch a movie. It’s been a tradition ever since I can remember, and one of my favorites. After we all finish eating and our movie ends, I clean up before excusing myself to go and do my homework. I still have to finish up my paper before class tomorrow, and I am not going to let Drayke down again after my last grade.
Just as I am putting the finishing touches on my paper, Daphne calls. I tell her I’ve found a place, and she has a hard time containing her excitement. Her enthusiasm is contagious as I tell her about the place. She’s sweet to offer to help me pack up when I ask if she’s seen Ben loitering around my room. It annoys me that he’s apparently been hanging around almost every day; I may have to take her up on her offer, even if just to utilize her as some sort of buffer.
After saying goodbye, I set my phone on my nightstand, move my laptop over to my desk, and get dressed for bed. Opening my door, I pad into the hall, sure to walk heavily—just in case—and stop at the top of the stairs. It’s been pretty quiet down there, so I’m confident I’m not interrupting anything as I call down—because I’m not dumb enough to risk going downstairs. “Mom? Dad? I’m turning in now. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Mom says back.
“Sleep well, Jules.”
I turn off my light, slip back into my room, and slide beneath my thin comforter, nestling in for a solid night’s sleep. It’s still early, but the previous night’s lack of sleep finally catches up with me.
I’m in such a deep sleep that I miss my alarm and start the morning late. The morning is a blur as I run around my room, dressing and gathering up my things. Thankfully, Mom has been up for the last two hours and has prepared me a breakfast sandwich to take with me on the way. I make it to school with just enough time to slip into my first class without the professor noticing.
At lunch, I call Greyston and let him know that I’d like to bring a few things by. He doesn’t answer, but I leave a message, assuming he must be working. I tell him to give me a call by the end of the day if that poses a problem; he doesn’t, so I suspect he probably won’t mind. Plus, he did give me a key and tell me to start moving my stuff over whenever was convenient.
When my classes are over for the day, I decide to head down to the dorm. I know Ben should be in his pop culture class, so I should be able to get in and out without seeing or hearing from him. Walking through the quad, I decide that I don’t feel like lugging my backpack around as well as tote boxes to and from my vehicle, so I toss it onto the front seat before I go off to pack.
As I make my way through the lot, I start to feel really good about the new direction my life has taken. I never thought that Ben’s cheating on me would turn out to be a good thing.
Nobody really pays attention to me as I make my way through the hall; it would seem that steering clear of this place for the last two weeks has made everyone forget the drama that had unfolded here. I was definitely a little nervous that people would remember everything and stare while pointing and gossiping about me. Needless to say, it’s a relief when they all let me walk by without so much as a glance.
I round the last corner to go to my old room and stop dead in my tracks, slowly backing up out of view and pressing my back against the wall.
Even though I am certain he should be in class, Ben is pacing the hall in front of my door. I thought I would be able to face him, but seeing him makes me realize I can’t. It’s not that I think I still have feelings for him—I don’t. I honestly just that I don’t really enjoy confrontation, and I definitely don’t want to get into it with him when there are students milling around in the halls. And there’s no way in hell I’m going to close myself in a room with him.