Chapter 3: Go Little Rockstar

Chapter 3: Go Little Rockstar

Faith’s P.O.V

I was panting by the time I rushed out to the main courtyard; my mind fogged to the point where I couldn’t even see where I was going.

Hands…lips…breasts…sweat…jerking…blue eyes met mine through the mirror…

Startled, I stopped mid-step, pausing to place a hand over my racing heart. My breath was shaky and that feeling in my tummy was back…that warmth…that, that…

I shook my head before looking around the empty campus, where I had run out to after witnessing the scene at the washroom. Why did it feel like I would be in so much trouble if someone saw me like this? Running around the campus like I had done something wrong?

Could people really tell by the look on your face when you have done something you shouldn’t have? When you have witnessed something you shouldn’t have? But looks can be deceiving right?

My heart felt like a drum against my ribcage as I stood up straight and turned in every direction, just to make sure that no one saw me just now. Looks might be deceiving, but the fact that I had come out of the building running like a thief wasn’t in my favor either.

When the judge at the courthouse had handed me over to my aunt, I had expected someone with a scantily clad body and probably multicolored hair and a cigarette. But when I had seen my aunt for the first time, she had looked more like my mother than I had ever imagined. The same dark brunette hair, freckles and kind green eyes, but her personality had been the complete opposite of my mother’s.

She had been the exact definition of how deceiving looks could be. She had held my hand when I had been nervous, instead of telling me to hold onto my rosary. She had fed me soup when I felt sick, instead of just leaving me to feed myself, because big girls could take care of themselves. And most importantly, she had been right beside me ever since I lost everything I once knew.

It had felt welcoming…warm.

This past year, since I arrived at my Aunt Kathy’s house, I hadn't had much interaction with anyone except for my aunt and her new boyfriend, George. I had also refused to set foot outside the house and my aunt had become my source of comfort after my mother. To think that as an almost nineteen year old, I would still need my aunt to comfort me was a ridiculous idea even to me…but after everything that I had been through…after what I had witnessed…I didn’t mind if someone called me a big crybaby.

I went to touch my chain, the one that had belonged to my mother, the one that she had died clutching in her hands; to find comfort in that familiarity…only to find it gone.

My eyes widened in horror as I frantically began to search for it on my body and on the ground. But no matter where I searched…it wasn’t there.

Oh lord! Did I lose it? Where? Where could I have lost my mother’s chain?

I backtracked my way to the main building, but didn’t dare enter. I looked around the road, searching both sides as well as the grass in the lawn area. But the necklace was just nowhere to be found!

“Oh no!” My breath came out in pants as I tried to remember all the possible places I could have dropped it.

I remember that I still had it on after I ran out of the washroom…but I hadn't touched it since. I had come out to the near empty campus grounds, surrounded by tall, shady trees and benches that were an ideal place for outdoor studies. But now I was panicking. What do I do? What should I do?

My aunt’s face came to mind and without thinking…I took out my phone and dialed her number. But when the phone started ringing…my panic increased. Holy cow! I wasn’t supposed to call her! I was old enough to deal with these kinds of things myself! What was I even thinking?

But it was too late. My aunt answered on the third ring. “Faith?” Aunt Kathy’s voice sounded concerned. “Faith, sweetie, is everything okay? Are you alright?”

“Yes...” I told her, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have called…it’s nothing really…y-you’re at work…” I stumbled over my words, not knowing how to respond. It was stupid of me to have called her.

“Don’t worry; I have a few minutes to spare.” She answered. “Is everything alright? You sound out of breath.”

I touched my cheeks to wipe away the tears. I hadn't even realized that I had been crying just because of this! What on earth was wrong with me?

I wiped them away quickly, not wanting to upset my aunt. I was almost nineteen years old, for lord’s sake! I shouldn’t be crying over such trivial matters! But even as that thought crossed my mind, I still couldn’t help the tremble of my lips as I spoke to her. “I lost mom’s necklace.”

“Oh?” She sounded surprised. “Do you remember where you lost it?”

“I don’t…remember.” I bit my lower lip to stop the trembling. “I think.”

In fact, I was beginning to remember where I lost it. It was probably inside the washroom or out in the hallway when I had been running out the door without looking back, but I couldn’t tell my aunt that. She would ask questions…and I didn’t think I could repeat what I saw today. At least not to her.

But instead of asking questions, she answered in a gentle voice. “It’s alright, Faith. People lose things all the time. What’s important is that you always remember you mother in your heart.”

This time, I was the one who was surprised, because it was exactly what my mother would have said. Yes, she would have been furious at first and probably would have scolded me for being careless, but at the end of the day…she would have said the exact same thing that my aunt just told me.

“Was it overwhelming?” She asked, surprising me once again. “You can skip school for today, if you want, but I would advise you not to. If you have to slay the dragon, why wait another day?”

I nodded, feeling myself calming down after speaking to her. She may not be my mother, but she was still family by blood; she was my mother’s younger sister; that’s probably why I felt so calm when I was with her.

“Thank you.” I spoke in a small voice. “I needed to hear that.”

“I know you’re all grown up, but call me any time you need me, okay?”

“Okay.” I sighed, feeling relieved now that I had spoken with my aunt.

“Oh! Before I forget; I called my friend’s daughter to help you get adjusted. You’ll find her at the entrance to the Science building.” She told me. “I’m sorry that I didn’t warn you about all the possible things you could witness on your first day at a co-ed institution, but just know that whatever you see is normal. It’s not against god’s wish or that of any other religion. People can love anyone they want, be it a man or a woman and anyone who seems different. So…even if you find it…surprising, please keep an open mind about it, alright?”

I understood what she meant. She was trying to make me understand that love was love and the fact that I had seen a male student kiss another boy out in the open… was normal. And she was right…for now, I didn’t have to change my beliefs or my faith…I just have to be understanding of them.

“Okay.” I nodded, a sigh leaving my lips. “I’ll try my best.”

“Great!” I could almost hear Aunt Kathy’s smile over the phone. “Go little rock star.”

I frowned as the line went dead. Huh?