Adrian

Lucia 

The next morning, I decided to take sick leave and stay inside my room. But when I heard Meredith bellowing on the other side of the door occasionally orchestrated by loud bangs on my dorm door, I knew I am not having my peace today. 

I remember running into the woods and falling on my knees somewhere near the lake and I remember crying as I was lying in the forest mud knees close to my chest as I tried to protect myself from everything happening around me. Then, All I remember was Meredith picking me up hearing my voice mail which I sent her while running to my safe place. 

There were snippets of memory where Meredith helped me out of the woods. She held me in place by wrapping her arms around my waist. I don't remember how I ended up on the other side of the road making it easy for her to find me. Then I remember lying in my room with the same muddy, wet clothes cocooned around my pillow and going through every memorable moment I spent with him. 

I was both physically and emotionally exhausted due to all the running and lack of sleep. I barely slept for an hour between 3 A. M. and 4 A. M. which was interrupted by some ridiculous dream of a woman running in the middle breathing heavily. 

Best way to begin a day after the breakup. 

The incessant hard work to get me out of the room continued for nearly half an hour. Both of us had to skip our first period due to my stubbornness to get out of my room. 

I thought she gave up the effort when silence enveloped the hallway. 

"Lu, I know he hurt you, he was a selfish prick, I know this is horrible. I have experienced heartbreak in the past. So, please listen to me, don't close yourself, it will kill you. Let me help you. " Her voice sounded soothing followed by soft knocks against my door. 

"This isn't the same MD, this isn't fucking same. I loved him. For the first time in my life, someone cared enough to stay with me for two years. That's huge. Everything was… just a fucking lie to him. There were no real feelings. I am so stupid. " I let go of everything again, not caring about anything at this point. I just lost the person I loved so much. 

"Maybe this isn't the same. But yesterday how I found you yesterday in the woods. I couldn't leave you alone. You were so depressed and lost. I couldn't bring myself to watch you go through it all over again. If you are going to stay alone in the room that's what is going to happen. You don't have to. It's okay to cry, just let me in. Let me be with you, " She pleaded. 

I felt so guilty for pushing her away since morning beside the fact she is the only person who has been with me through all this. I should be glad that she is sticking with me but this betrayal is overpowering, blinding me from seeing the best in people. 

I am just a human

Sighing, I unlocked my door and swung it to open , accompanied by a brief thump  as the door made contact with the surface. 

As soon as I opened the door Meredith launches her arms over my shoulders pulling me into a warm hug and that was my cue to let it out again. 

God! Why can't I just stop crying? 

After hushing me to calm down, whispering some encouraging words she led me to the bed as I lay in my bed hugging my knees. She sat beside holding my one hand and listened to my feelings, often interrupted by sobbing that escaped from my mouth. 

We stayed there for an hour, after which she slowly convinced me to have some food. She gave her lunch and I decided to attend classes in the afternoon because my absence would have been informed to the principal. He would be passing this information to my parents and there would be unnecessary drama around it. 

The last time I cried was when my first foster parents died. I believed and loved them so much in a short time. They gave me the taste of real love and care. When they were gone it was an unintentional betrayal and I was hurt beyond repair. I felt like I lost my real parents. It took me nearly a week to coax me out of the bed in my current foster home. Once I was up and able to do my work they brought me here and admitted me here. Since then I have been caged here.

Is it what my life is going to be? 

Meredith and I reached the campus when the hallway was scattered with the usual crowd and people staring at me as I ducked my head as much as I could. 

"Hey, babe, " Meredith's boyfriend joined us. 

"Hey! I will see you in the evening. I gotta catch the class" Meredith replies as she throws her lanky arms around him. 

"No problem babe! See you in the car, miss ya. " They end their conversation with the smacking of their lips. 

"Shall we? " Meredith pushes me forward keeping me close to her.

I nod. 

We walk past through the hallways ending up in our English class. 

As expected I couldn't bring myself to concentrate on the class. All I did was nod at the professor occasionally to distract myself from hearing Minerva's giggling and remarks she had been passing through the class. 

"So you and Calvin huh? " I froze. 

"Actually, we are just messing around, " She replied after a brief giggle. I felt a pat on my shoulder as I turned around to see Meredith giving me a weak smile asking me to avoid them with the shake of her head. 

"But.. I think I like him more than just a fuck partner. " Her reply was followed by a series of giggles and snorting. 

"I thought he was in a relationship with Greyson, " One of the girls said. 

I can feel the stares directed at me. Sighing hard, uncomfortable from all the stares I moved in my seat. 

"I know but he said she was just fun. Moreover, he broke up with her last night to be with me. So you know it wasn't that serious, not as serious as our casual relationship, " Minerva scoffed at me. 

I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my notebooks and scurried away from the class without excusing myself. I just need to run away from here. 

This is embarrassing. 

I should have just stayed in the room. 

Why was I so stupid to not see this? 

Why would he do that to me? 

I wasn't forcing him into this relationship. If he just said a word, I would just leave him. This is so painful. 

Did our relationship really meant nothing to him? 

He wasn't serious. 

Was it just all in my head? 

Was I so bad? 

I know I am not like other girls who wear those short skirts and waving boards and cheering for their boyfriends. It isn't like I didn't want to, I couldn't figure what he wants, I guess that made me insufficient. 

Self-pity isn't helping me here. 

Maybe this is it. Maybe I wasn't a sufficient girlfriend. 

"You were a good girlfriend. " I stopped in my tracks when  I heard a male voice as I passed one of the sideways leading to the library. 

"Excuse me? " 

"Don't blame yourself. You are a good girl. He is an asshole. Good girls don't deserve disloyal assholes like him, " There he was the owner of the voice that scared the shit out of me during my daylight. He was standing leaning his arm against the wall in a black shirt paired with a black shirt, silver rings dancing in his fingers as he combed his dark brown hairs, pushing them away from his forehead.

" Who are you? Don't you have class? " 

Seriously, he doesn't look like he studies here. He might be from college. 

"I don't study here, " He replied. 

Something about him makes me want to run away. His words, his attention, and the lurking darkness behind his eyes sending me overdrive into alertness. Something is deeply disturbing with him. 

"Don't be scared, I am not going to hurt you, I promise, " He said taking a step back. 

I am so frustrated with everything around here. I just want to be alone. But I have no idea why is this guy is here and speaking to me. 

I am hell sure he would find some amazing girls like Minerva for him. 

"I think you are amazing, " He spoke. 

"Excuse me? " I asked. 

"Nothing, " He chuckled. 

" Who the hell are you? " 

" Adrian, Adrian Colten. Nice to meet you" 

He forwarded his hands. 

"You Miss? " He asked. 

"Miss Greyson, you have been requested to meet the principal as soon as possible." The intercom beamed when I went to reply to him. 

I glanced at the college guy as I ran away to the principal room.