Chapter 12: Memories

Tiffany.

My eyes fling open sharply, my chest rises, and falls rapidly as I blink.

My hand goes to my chest, trying to steady my drumming heart.

Sweat coats my face and other parts of my body.

A nightmare.

No... memories.

I sit up slowly, my hand still on my chest as I reach for my phone under the pillow.

I turn it on to see if it's already 9am.

"Shit!" I exclaim and hurry out of the bed, bolting to the bathroom.

I don't spend up to 20 minutes in the bathroom when I come out to get dressed really fast.

I stare at a sleeping Ava, and I smile, I wish I get to sleep in like this.

Wearing something comfortable, I put all the necessities in my bag and hurry out of the apartment.

I check the time and it is almost 10 am.

Mr. Herald is going to kill me.

_

I feel the eyes on me as I walk into the classroom and make my way to my seat.

Mr Herald stops talking when I walk in, and I know I am in for a lot today. He will lecture me like his life depends on it.

He continues after I've taken my seat, and Larry, who is sitting next to me, gives me a mischievous smirk.

The type that tells me I am in trouble and that he enjoys it.

Fuck him.

I still haven't forgiven him for posting trash about me.

The class ends and Mr. Herald walks out without asking me to meet him which is weird.

He isn't going to lecture me again?

"How's the article coming up Holmes?" Larry says beside me but I ignore him.

"You know you won't be able to get on the front page with me alive right?" He says again but I don't reply.

"Do you really think dating Justin is going to get you on the front page? Trust me, it would get ME on the front page.... again!"

"Can you not talk to me?" I hush him and stand up from my seat. "And don't fucking use me to make content on your stupid blog," I fire.

"It's not my fault you're the hot shot these days," Larry shrugs.

I am beginning to think I hate Larry more than I hate Justin.

I flip him off and walk out of the class.

I step out of the class only to get drenched in cold water.

My shirt clings to my body and a painful chill peels through my skin.

"You should have known better than to cross me," I hear Georgia's voice and I turn towards her.

She is still holding the bucket, she rolls her eyes at me and walks off while I stand there drenched.

Great... I get bullied in university too.

Eyes stare at me from different directions and I feel like entering the ground but that won't happen so I just have to brace myself and walk away.

Pretend nothing happened.

I am about to move when I feel a warm jacket drape over my shoulder.

I look at the jacket before raising my head to see Justin.

"Let's get out of here," he tells me and leads me away from the crowd while I follow blindly.

My brain isn't working properly right now and I just need to get away from there.

Justin leads me to the hockey players locker room and opens his locker to bring out a shirt.

"Yours is wet, change into this," he finally says even though we've been quiet throughout the journey.

I am about to take the shirt from him when I realize all this is his fault.

It is because of him Georgia drenched me in cold water. I am also angry with him for ignoring my message.

I retreat my hand. "I don't need your help," I say and Justin sighs, shoving the shirt in my hand.

"Not today please, just accept it or you'll catch a fever," he says, his tone stern. "I would wait outside," he tells me and walks out.

I watch him go with a mixed expression.

He clearly isn't in the mood for an argument, did something happen? Or was it yesterday?

I stare at the shirt in my hand. He is right, I would definitely catch a cold if I don't change out of this.

I hate when he is right.

I remove my shirt and put on Justin's but I am still cold so I wear his jacket too and walk out of the locker room.

True to his words, he is waiting outside.

His eyes fall on the shirt and he stares for a moment too long. "I would return it," I say.

"Sorry about Georgia," Justin apologizes, taking me aback.

"You better be sorry, I thought you said you guys were done? I do not enjoy getting harassed," I snap at him.

I need a reason to keep hating him, his attitude these days is beginning to go against what I remember.

"We are, she is just being a bitch about it, ignore her and I promise it won't happen again," Justin replies.

I can't help but notice his tone is different from how he normally sounds.

"Are you okay?" I ask and he stares at me for a while.

"Yeah... yeah... I'm fine,"

"Doesn't look like it,"

I'm just curious, that's it.

"Are you worried, Sherlock?" Justin's playful smile appears, and I roll my eyes.

I should have known better. "Why didn't you reply my message?"

"Is that why you're being a sour candy... or wait, you're always a sour candy," Justin remarks with a chuckle.

I flip him off and walk away from him.

"I was about to reply when my phone died and I wasn't in the mood to charge it, I don't even have it on me right now," Justin follows behind me and I pause.

I never thought of Justin as the type to live without his phone.

"I don't need an explanation," I reply.

"But you asked me," Justin says, already walking beside me and I ignore him.

"So why don't your father want you to play hockey?" I ask even though I can already guess the reason.

"He wants me to inherit his business, you know... to keep the family legacy and all," Justin shrugs.

"Wouldn't that be better than playing ice hockey?," I ask.

"Don't... just don't say that," Justin stops me.

Looks like I hit a nerve.