Chapter 3

Complete Freak

It is now 9:42 in the morning. I have class in an hour, and I didn't do my assigned reading. I look over at Audrey who is as dead as a rock. Her class starts in ten and I seriously doubt that she'll be attending.

"Audrey! You have class in ten minutes! Wake up!" I demand after throwing pillow at her head.

"Ugh! Joe-eeey! (moan/groan/screech/yawn)"She says before hiding in the covers and going back to sleep. Yep. She won't be going to class anytime soon.

All of the clothes I wore yesterday are laying on the floor next to my bed. My white button-up blouse is the first thing I notice. I pick it up. It may sound weird but I start to smell it. I smell every inch of my blouse. And no, not to check if I had some serious case of B.O. But to check if Dawson had left his scent on it.

Last night before going our separate ways we hugged. A good and short friendly hug. A hug that I didn't want but desperately needed.

My nose starts to get this tingly sensation. I have found it. This is going to make me sound like a complete freak but I smell it, I smell it long and hard. I realize that Dawson still smells the same way he did when we were 15. And it is not because he continues to use overly priced, names-too-hard-to-say cologne. The smell is just... Dawson.

Audrey begins to mumble in her sleep. And that takes me out of my thoughts. I look at my watch. Oh crap! Class is in twenty and it takes me at least 15 to get there. I hurriedly grab my book bag and head out. And just as I close the dorm door I realize that I still have the dumb blouse in my hand.

Later that day. Dawsons point of view.

They're dorm door is slightly open and from where I am standing I can see Audrey. She is laying on her bed with her head phones on, rocking back and forth while reading Elle. Typical. I stretch out my hand to knock. No answer. She probably has her cd player on full blast. After a few seconds I knock again and still no answer. I finally decided to go in.

I am now standing right at the foot of Audrey's bed. And still I have yet to be noticed. She is either reading a very, very, very interesting article, or I am just plain invisible.

"Audrey? Audrey? Audrey!" She finally looks up. Audrey takes off her head phones and smiles.

"Hey Dawson! How long have you been here?" She asks.

"Oh umm not long." I lie. "So uh...is Joey here?" Stupid question. It's obvious that she isn't.

"Nope. No she isn't. Why? What do you need?" She says. I'm not sure but I think Audrey is studying my face.

"Nothing. I just wanted to talk to her. We didn't really get to talk last night."

"Yeah. Hey you have a thing for Chris don't you?" She asks curiously.

This completely throws me off kilter. "What? No. No? No." As I say this she quickly glances at the bathroom door.

"Dawson don't lie! You're not a liar. Not a good one at least." She says.

"Audrey I barely even know her!" Which is true. "Why are you even asking me this?"

"Because I want to know. Because you gave her a look." Another quick glance toward the bathroom.

" A look? You think I have a "thing" for Christina because I looked at her? Audrey that's beyond stupid." I say.

"No not because you just looked at her. But because you LOOKED at her." She says, emphasizing the last looked. "You gave her a look...a look.. a look that was filled with feeling, with passion, with longing." She says dramatically, throwing her hand to her heart and everything. "Oh and Dawson you should be more careful with those because they can also hurt. Hurt someone who isn't on the receiving end of it. Someone like Joey."

"But Audrey I didn't give her that look!" I say. I am now even beginning to question myself.

"Ah hah! See you might not have given her that look but you do admit to giving her a look."

" Audrey what look?" As the question mark jumps out of my mouth the bathroom door slowly begins to open...

and out steps Christina. Looking at her is the closest thing anyone can get to looking at an angel. Why am I so captivated by this girl? I only met her less than twenty four hours ago and already my heart beats for her. She looks up at me and smiles a big beautiful Christina smile. Her smile brightens up the room.

"Oh hey Dawson!" She says, still smiling.

I managed to get my mouth into a smile. A goofy and somewhat creepy smile.

Audrey grows excited. " Dawson that look! The one on your face right now! I'd tell you to go look in the mirror but I'm afraid it'll wonder away if you move."

With that said the look goes away on its own.

"Audrey what are you talking about?" Christina wonders.

Before either of us have time to give Christina a well thought up explanation someone enters the room. Joey. And even though I don't completely know or believe in the "look" I quickly shut my eyes. Just in case. I don't want another "look" for Christina to pop on my face while Joey is there. I don't want her to see. I don't want to hurt her.

Sorry guys for taking awhile to update. I just started school so I don't have a lot of time to do this. But I'll try to get in atleast two updates every week.