Ch.7 College in Fear

"Well, here we are," Lucas said as he and Josie stepped into the apartment. Josie grinned and ran over to one of the two rooms.

"This one will be ours," she commanded, and Lucas looked confused.

"I thought I'd be sharing a room with Marshall…"

"Please, didn't Marshall call you? He and Corrine are sharing a room. Yesterday they ran into Jake…" Lucas shivered at this and muttered, "Death with boy."

"And he threatened them again, this time saying 'at all costs', 'even if I have to die' and 'car crash' and then Corrine had another dream…"

Lucas had yet another look of dawning apprehension on his face.

"And this time the murderer (turns out he WASN'T drunk) was Jake, and he was cackling and stuff," Josie concluded.

Lucas was white, "ever since they were kids, Jake's…"

"… Wanted to kill Marshall. Why, though?" Josie asked, confused.

"It is a ton of things really, but it started when all the geeks at their elementary school decided to hang with him and not Jake and Jake had no friends and stuff."

Josie snorted, "That's no reason to want to kill Marshall…"

"Plus, he and Jake had been best friends but Marshall just ditched him, and ever since then Marshall's been the 'luckier of two nerds' in everything."

"Whatever, I don't care," Josie growled, "we've got to protect our friend at all costs, right?"

Lucas nodded, "we drive everywhere together, and Marshall never does the diving…"

Josie nodded in agreement, "we can't afford to loose Marshall. Corrine would die of heart break, Marshall's family would die of family pain, and we would die of…"

"Just plain grief," Lucas finished for her.

"But Corrine, I think, would quite literally die. Its not funny, I'm starting to wonder why Marshall hasn't asked her to marry him yet, their hearts have melted into one… I think they love each other more than anything."

"Its true… Corrine would definitely die or else go insane."

Josie nodded and hung onto Lucas' arm.

"At least no one's got a death wish for you."

"Yeah," Lucas grinned and lightly kissed Josie. Josie then smiled thoughtfully, walked inside the room, threw her bags on the bed, grabbed Lucas, and kissed him so his head spun.

Marshall and Corrine arrived within the hour, took the leftover room, and discussed the Quasler problem with Lucas and Josie.

"He sounded serious!"

"You should go to the police…"

"No driving for Marshall…"

"I'm scared," finished Corrine, in a hushed tone. She had not talked throughout the angry discussion. At this, Marshall reached over protectively for Corrine. Corrine shook in his arms, visibly shook, and Josie and Lucas exchanged worried glances. They had it all… young, in love, nothing in their way, smart, successful… something had to ruin it all, and it's the worst possible thing… unintentional and unwanted separation, with no was to return everything to way it was… why God, why Corrine and Marshall, two of my 5 best friends, the other tree being Lucas, Z, and Vaughn? Why them? Josie thought angrily, then fished something out of her backpack.

"Here Corrine… it has some good songs that'll help you," Josie explained, handing her the CD, "and I recommend track 20, Chop Suey. Very hard rock, but excellent if you just need to scream or cry."

"Thanks," Corrine said weakly.

"No prob, I've got two copies. Oh, track 3 is This is how a Hear Breaks, which is good too, obviously, but I thought that would kind of be inappropriate now…"

"Its fine," Corrine smiled meekly.

"And 21 is Alive, which is rock but a total feel good song. 1, 2, 4, and 19 are all funny, non-song tracks, and then 5-18 is Fall Out Boy, which is like the only group you and I both agree is awesome."

Corrine grinned a bit more confidently and nodded, "very true!"

Josie smiled and nodded, sitting back in her chair. Lucas suddenly got a burst of inspiration and stood up.

"Guys, I know we're all worried beyond belief, but that, in fact, does not mean we should all just give up. No, we should go out, hang out, have fun. Especially Marshall, if he's to…" Lucas stopped there upon seeing the look on Marshall's face. But then Josie stood up.

"Lucas is right. Corrine, Marshall, lets go to the Freshman Tours. Lucas, try to organize this place, ok?" Josie asked while kissing Lucas lightly, who then nodded.

"Ok then! Corrine, Marshall, lets go!" Josie laughed. Corrine and Marshall shakily followed her out the door, to college. To UIC.

On a 3-day weekend, when Corrine and Marshall were going to Corrine's, and Josie and Lucas we're staying behind to look after the apartment, it was November, Lucas was reading a magazine.

Things had been getting a little better. Marshall hadn't drove at all, they didn't hear anything from or about Jake, and Corrine's dreams had lessened to once a week. But, in order to not be lulled into a false sense of security, all of them remained scared and alert.

Humming and flipping through the magazine, Lucas didn't look up when Josie came into the room smiling.

"Hey Lucas," she said to wake him up out of his stupor. Lucas didn't look up, just grunted in a playful way.

"Oh, are you ignoring me now?" Josie giggled. Lucas, again, playfully grunted in response.

"Now, in order to punish those boys who ignore their girlfriends for no apparent reason, we mush tickle said boys till they are begging for mercy," Josie laughed and leaned over, tickling him. Lucas laughed as Josie did so, until he was indeed begging for mercy.

"Uncle! Uncle! I'll stop grunting!" Lucas cried, placing his hands on Josie's arms to stop her from continuing the tickling. Josie giggled at this.

"It always works, although this is the first time I have ever had to do it to anyone," Josie admitted while scooting next to Lucas on the couch and resting her head on his lap.

"Hmm. Well, if I ever give you the same type of treatment, feel free to tickle me again," panted Lucas, still out of breath, as he stroked Josie's hair.

"I'll remember that. Maybe if I'm ever pregnant and extremely moody…"

Lucas blushed a deep shade of crimson.

"I'll need to do that. I've always heard that pregnant women are moody, obviously."

Lucas continued to blush, but also continued to stroke her hair. Is she actually suggesting that we like each other enough… love each other enough… to have a kid, or get married and then have a kid? God I hope so! I love her enough, after all, it all depends on whether she loves me enough. I want to find out, at least find out if she loves me.

"Josie… I need to tell you something, and then ask you something…" Lucas stammered, blushing even more (if that was possible).

"Yes Lucas?" Josie sighed, content with the moment.

"I… well I don't think, I know, and I've known this for a while… but I l-love you," Lucas stuttered, waiting impatiently for the response.

There was a long period of silence, Lucas tightly shutting his eyes. "I need to know, Josie, if you love me back…"

The silence continued, until…

"Lucas?'

"Y-yes?"

"I do. I love you."

(1,219 Words) I loved this chapter! XD