Changes

 "Hello, who is this?"

 Richard basked in the sound of her voice for a while. She sounded sleepy, her smoky voice enhanced in the process. He could almost imagine her, stretched across a bed, her long legs scattered every which way, the same with her long, blonde-white hair, her phone plastered to her ear. No matter how disorderly that picture would look like, he still longed to see it.

 "Hello? Who the hell is this?" she yelled, her shriek tearing through his imagination. She looked at the phone to know if she had cut the call without realizing.

 "Um? It's me," he replied stupidly. She is just a girl, he chided himself, slapping his forehead.

 Jacqueline sat up on her bed, yawning widely. She had fallen asleep, reading Pride and Prejudice and had slobbered all over the novel.

 "Mr Rossi? Is that you?"

 Richard did not know what pleased him more: that she did not cut the call on him or that she had instantly recognized his voice though over the phone.

 "It is. I was calling to know if you got to school safely." He left his hotel bed and moved to the window, suddenly restless. On the other side of the phone, Jacqueline was also at her window, staring outside.

 "Yeah, I did. Cameron drove carefully and didn't break any speed limits, just so you know."

 "Are you still mad at me about earlier today?" He had to know; his conscience had slain him a thousand times already.

 Jacqueline played with a lock of her hair, thinking of what to say. She would have said yes but since he was the only one that had cared enough to ask about her wellbeing, she could not keep grudges.

 "Well, I was plotting your demise before but now I might let you off the hook. You are forgiven."

 He didn't know when he let out a breath of relief. "That's good to hear. Sorry for disturbing your sleep. I will call you tomorrow. Goodnight, Jackie."

 "Good night, Mr Rossi," Jacqueline replied and the call ended.

∆     ∆     ∆     ∆

 Friday came finally, which meant less classes, more parties, at least to most of the students. The bookworms were prepping for the forthcoming winter tests, stalking libraries and sneaking into empty classes for night study. That was their idea of 'fun'. College life was independent: no parents, no guidance and no abiding rules- or at least, at NYU, there wasn't any.

 "Turn up the music, Jacqs. I've got a high coming up," Ginny giggled, rolling on the queen size bed. They were planning to head out later but with Ginny already stoned, Jacqueline was considering a change of heart. 

 "So, where are we going tonight?" Ronnie asked, from the table where he was putting together a joint. Jacqueline screwed her nose and sniffed. Her room smelled like an Amsterdam drug dungeon.

 "Club T?" Ginny suggested, lying on her belly.

 "Nah, too crowded for me," Jackie objected quickly.

 Ginny sat upright at once, not believing her ears. "Since when do you hate a crowd, Jacqs?" When Jackie remained silent, Ginny exchanged looks with Ronnie real quick.

 "What's with the looks?" Jackie wanted to know.

 "What's up with you lately? You are no longer the fun-loving, Devil-may-care, bitchy, bad-ass girl I met in our first year. Something has happened and you are keeping it from us. Okay, maybe you don't need to tell Ronnie, but I'm your best friend."

 "Hey!" Ronnie interjected but a dab from Ginger silenced him. 

 Jacqueline opened a notebook and pretended to be reading from it. It was true that parties, drugs and fun were no longer fun to her but she didn't know how to fill the void in her with anything else. She had tried reading and dozed off immediately. 

 "Maybe I suddenly realized that there is more to life than booze and weed. Don't you guys see? We graduate in two years time and we have gotten nothing done so far. Our grades are failing. I got a D in Econ and I love Econ but I might flunk it again this year. I don't want to end up like...."

 "Like us? Is that it? You think we are wastrels who could never amount to anything?" Ginny imposed heatedly.

 Jacqueline stood in her own defence. "I never said that, Ginny. Don't pull out arguments that aren't there. My point is that there is still time for us to do something about our future."

 Cameron suddenly burst into a mocking applause from his side of the room. Jackie questioned him with her eyes. 

 "What a great speech, Jacqs. It almost moved me to tears, no doubt. Nevertheless, I don't need another mother. My last one died of AIDS. Try another door for indoor sermons. Are you ready to go, Gin?" He picked up his leather jacket and took his pre-arranged joints.

 "Right behind you," Ginny replied, her eyes still on Jacqueline. She stood up from the comfy bed and shook out her hair.

 "Guys, I didn't mean it like that. I just want a change in my life."

 "Then you will be better off without people like us. Bye."

 The duo left together, hand in hand. Jacqueline was hurt to see them go but somehow, she felt lighter and relieved, like a milestone had been rolled off her neck. But she still had no purpose. Her eyes fell on the book she had failed in reading. Or don't I?

∆     ∆     ∆     ∆

 Because it was dark, Jacqueline hastened her steps, her bag clutched tightly against her chest. The streetlights were flickering, resembling the ominous part of a horror movie. It was also cold outside and the wind was playing with the branches of a red maple tree. She turned on her flashlight to aid vision and trudged on doggedly. 

 On getting to the library, the front door was unlocked, indicating that some students were already inside. Jacqueline looked back down the road she had come. Truthfully, the only thing that stopped her from going back was the reminder of the scary path. She pushed open the doors and hurried in towards warmth.