I Left No Traces

Kimberly's POV

I showered until the hot water ran out. I pulled on an oversized sweater, packed my books, and looked at myself in the mirror.

Apart from the hickeys, I was the same girl. Same face, same smile, nothing had changed. Except everything had...

Arianna was still asleep when I got back and she hasn’t woken up when I slipped out, so I didn't have to explain anything.

Outside the dorm, a black SUV was parked at the curb. Caspian leaned against it with his arms crossed, watching the entrance.

He was waiting...

My heart jumped into my throat the moment I saw him. And just then I spotted Raymond walking towards my dorm to keep up his pretence of loving me. I ignored Caspian and kept walking towards Ray. I passed him as if he were a lamppost. I felt his eyes on my back with every step.

“Don't look back. Don't look back.” I muttered to myself as I smiled at Raymond, pretending I hadn’t heard him plotting against me last night.

“Where have you been, Kimberly?

I searched for you yesterday and I couldn’t find you. Even your phones were turned off.” Ray complained.

“I had a study group, I put off my phone to avoid distractions.” I lied.

“My smarty girlfriend,” he teased and leaned to kiss me. But I felt so repulsed that I backed away immediately, putting some distance between us.

“Whats this, Kimberly?

I can’t even kiss you again?

Why do you have to be so uptight and annoy?” he asks me, glaring daggers at me. I tried to maintain my composure, but my scarf had already slipped from its position and my hickeys were open and glaring for everyone to see.

Raymond stared at my chest and neck and he almost burst with rage. His eyes were fixed on me, glaring daggers at me.

“You won’t le me touch you but you let another man put his mark on you?” he asks furiously, taking a step in my direction.

“Who is he, Kimberly?

Who have you been seeing behind me?” he asks.

“What are you talking about, Raymond?

How can you think so low of me?” I asked him, feigning anger.

“I had an allergic reaction that messed with my skin, and I caught the flu because of the allergy. The doctors don’t yet know the cause of the allergy and flu. That’s why I moved away so you don’t catch it.” I lied through my teeth, keeping a straight face.

He moved back from me, putting more distance between us as if he could communicate the allergy or flu by standing so close and talking to me.

“I knew you would never cheat on me. You love me too much, you can never leave me for another man. Besides, no man can put up with you except me. So, why should I be worried?” he chuckles proudly and turned around to leave, not even bordering to ask how I’m feeling.

“Don’t come anywhere near me with your disease. Have it treated first, do you understand?” he calls out to me before getting into his car and walking away

 “Bastard!” I muttered to myself as I continued my walk to school. We are going to the same direction, but he would rather I walk than come close to her because I’m sick.

Dear God...

Is this the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with?

Well, good thing I came up with a lie that’ll make him avoid me for now. I can’t bear to look at him, not after what I shared with Caspian last night.

Caspian...

All morning I didn’t see him. I

And I made it until lunch, thinking I’ll go through the day without seeing him. Then as I walked back from the cafeteria, a hand closed around my wrist, and the next thing I knew, my back was against the wall of the corridor behind the cafeteria. Caspian stood in front of me, one arm braced beside my head, ignoring the students staring from the end of the hall.

"What is this, Kim?" His voice was low and tight.

"Am I a joke to you?

You flirt with me all night, sleep with me, and walk away like it never happened?" His jaw flexed, as if fighting back his emotions.

"Am I that bad in bed, or are you just playing hard to get so I'll chase you?" He asks. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

What could I say?

That I had assumed he'd forget my name by breakfast?

That I had judged him on gossip?

That’s ridiculous!

I would sound so stupid if I opened my mouth to speak. The best I could do is keep quiet before I embarrass myself more. He waited for an answer, and the silence stretched.

"Fine," he said quietly and he stepped back and walked away. His cold aura cleared the hallway in seconds, and people scrambled out of his path. I stayed against the wall, my heart pounding.

I had seen his face, and what I saw wasn't anger, It was hurt. I had heard it in his voice too and the guilt crawled up my chest. I had judged him by rumors, yet he had never once brought up the rumors about me and Raymond. He had only ever defended me.

“Maybe he really liked me.” I thought to myself.

Maybe I could actually be with him, and make Raymond jealous for real. If he likes me, maybe this might actually work.

The more I think about it, the more the idea felt achievable to me. I could just try it, who knows, maybe I might get lucky.

So, after classes, I went to the training rink to see Caspian. When I got there, they teased me about disrupting their practice for my lesson. They thought I was here to see Raymond as usual.

Who would blame them?

As I approached the rink, I heard skates scraping the ice, and the coach barked orders from the sideline. I found Caspian near the benches, wiping his face with a towel, his dark hair damp and messy.

Good thing Raymond is not here. He hates training the same time with Caspian. That’s how I know that he has not here today. I took a deep breath and walked up to him.

"Hi." I said, trying to calm my nerves. He looked at me. His expression didn't change.

"Are you drunk?" he asks me sternly.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Do I look drunk?"

"No, and that's why I'm asking." He said sternly, maintaining his cold aura. He knew the rumors about himself, and he knew why girls kept their distance. I guess he has already given up on getting to know me. I stayed on the same spot, looking at him, wondering how I would start the conversation with him. He noticed my nervousness and stopped for a second,

"What do you want, Kimberly?" He asks, drinking from his water bottle.

"I want you to be my boyfriend." I said, letting the words out finally. He stopped drinking. Then he laughed, and it wasn't a happy sound.