Chapter 9

The next morning Dana rolled over and realised that Mulder wasn't by her side. Confusion set in for a moment before the events of the night before came tumbling back into her mind. It was at that moment that she also remembered that she had an exam at 9:30am. Glancing at the clock with a growing sense of dread she realised that it was already 8:50am.

"Shit!" she cursed, struggling out of the sheets that had wrapped themselves firmly around her body during her night of restless tossing and turning. She didn't have time for a shower so she hurriedly pulled on a skirt and blouse, gathered her notes and bag and ran into the kitchen.

" Hey" Nicole greeted, " How are you feeling?"

" Fine" Dana replied

" Yeh sure you are" Nicole answered engulfing her in a hug before she had any chance to object. The comfort of her friend made Dana's façade fall down around her and she started to cry.

" I have an exam in 35 minutes.." she wept into Nicole's shoulder, " How could he do this to me?"

" I have no idea" Nicole answered, " But if it's any consolation he's got one of the worst hangovers I've ever seen."

" Where is he?" Dana asked, immediately straightening up and wiping the tears from her eyes

" Throwing up in the bathroom" Nicole answered, " I'm amazed you didn't hear him."

" I was in my own little world." Dana admitted

Nicole nodded, " Come on I'm driving you to the exam."

" I can walk" Dana insisted half-heartedly

" We're driving" Nicole repeated, shoving a piece of toast into her hand and shooing her out the door before Mulder could emerge as that was definitely the last thing she needed right now.

Dana didn't think she could make it through the exam, but she did. She even managed to remember nearly all of the information she needed to answer the questions. Some how she had managed to turn off her emotions and concentrate purely on the facts.

However when she emerged from the exam hall the emotions came flooding back, making up for the lost time. She couldn't go home yet; she needed some time to think and be alone.

Five minutes later she sat at a table towards the back of the library, she had a book on psychics open in front of her but was paying no attention to its contents. With a sigh she glanced up at and saw one of her classmates.

" Hi Dana, I didn't see you there." Trent smiled, moving his books and bag next to her own

" Hi Trent." Dana murmured, " How did you find the exam?"

" Yeh, not too bad" He answered, "What are you doing up here? I thought you'd be out celebrating."

Dana looked away, " No I need a bit of time out before I go home"

Trent's brow furrowed as he took in the expression on his friends face

" Is everything okay Dana? Have you and Mulder had a fight?"

Dana snickered and then leaned in closer, resting her weight on her crossed arms

" What do you know about Ashlin Thompson?"

" Ashlin? She does psych doesn't she? Blonde, bout 5'6"?"

" I don't know- that's why I'm asking you." Dana answered, already inwardly cringing at the description

" All I've really heard is that she's a bit of a man-eater. I wouldn't worry about Mulder though, she's been trying it on with him since last year and he's had nothing to do with her each time."

Dana raised her eyes to take in Trent, " How do you know?"

Trent shrugged, " Word gets around. A lot of guys were wondering why he never accepted, but then we all met you and it made sense." He finished with a wink

" Does she live on campus?" Dana asked

" Yeh I think so, she's from out of town. I'm pretty sure she lives here." He narrowed his eyes at her, " Why Dana? What do you plan on doing?"

" I have no idea," Dana answered truthfully

" Would you like me to come with you?" Trent asked

" No" she replied immediately, " This is a girl thing."

" Enough said" Trent retreated

Dana gave an anxious smile and stood up,

" Thanks Trent, I'll see you round."

" Don't do anything I wouldn't do" he called after her

Dana brought up her discussion with Trent that night with Nicole and Sally

" Is it true?" She asked, "Has this girl been after my boyfriend for over a year and I haven't even noticed?"

The two friends looked at each other and shrugged, " Dana from what I've heard about Ashlin she's after any guy who acts like they don't want her. She thinks of it as kind of a challenge."

Dana rolled her eyes, " I think I'd like to meet this girl and give her a piece of my mind"

" All in good time, we can do that tomorrow." Nicole schemed

" We can?" Sally asked

" How about we go on a picnic tomorrow for lunch, and we can pay Ashlin a visit after we're finished."

" I don't know" Sally and Dana murmured hesitatingly

" Oh come on Dana, as much as I'm annoyed at Mulder right now too, it's his birthday on Sunday. Do you still want to be fighting for that?"

" Well, no." Dana agreed, " But what if it was he who kissed her and that's what she says? Either way I'm not going to just let him off the hook."

" What else can we do Dana?"

" I don't know" Dana admitted with a sigh

" Sally do you want to stay here tonight?" Nicole asked, looking at her watch, "It's getting late"

" Oh, sorry. It is too- have you got room?"

" You can stay in my room with me" Dana offered, " Fox is still limited to the sofa, and I wouldn't mind some company."

" Okay, are you sure Mulder won't hate me for it?"

" I don't really care" Dana commented, even though deep down she knew she did.

Soon after they had all gone to their respective rooms, Sally was just settling into the unfamiliar bed when there was a knock at the door. "Come in" she called softly

Mulder stuck his head around the corner and peered in, expecting Dana to be there

" Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise she'd given away my side of the bed already."

" Sorry Mulder, it got late and she said I could stay."

" It's okay Sally, I was just joking. It's my fault I don't have a bed." He admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice. " I just needed a change of clothes."

" Go right ahead." Sally smiled

He grabbed some clothing and was on the way out when Dana walked in the door. The tension could have been cut with a knife, Sally observed as she noticed their eyes meeting before Mulder ducked his head and left the room.

The minute the door clicked shut behind him Dana let out an exasperated sigh.

" Wanna talk about it?" Sally asked, patting the bed next to her

Dana glanced up slowly and nodded.