No sunshine shown through the lecture hall, making Ariadne seem suspicious as she walked into class wearing her cheap sunglasses. She didn't bother to speak to anyone and sat at her seat, wanting the day to end. Recently, she had been stressed because Arthur, of all people to hallucinate about, kept appearing in front of her. Sometimes, she saw him instead of the person she was in the room with, but only when that person touched her.
There was a guy in her class named Bernie who sat next to her. Constantly he got on her nerves. On occasion, he would pretend to flirt with her. Bernie always had the worst pick up lines that would get him killed if he used them on an Irish woman. One time in class he whispered to Ariadne, "Eh, madam. Let's go to Little Ceasers after class, eh?"
They had Little Ceasers in Paris? Maybe just one, she assumed.
"Why would I?" she whispered back in hope Miles didn't hear her.
"Because you're hot and I'm ready." The boys in the row behind them snickered.
She did not want him to talk to her that day but he did anyway.
"Nice shades Canada." Ariadne rolled her eyes. Ignoring an annoying person was always the best solution but he was on her like a bee to honey. "So, eh… you busy at all?"
"Bernie…" Ariadne sighed. "I have a boyfriend now. So stop pretending to like me because it's really getting old."
"A boyfriend eh? What's he like?"
"His name is Jean and he's an actor." She felt like bragging to him. "And he's a peach."
The boys behind him 'ooed' and laughed.
"Well eh, he's no Flinstone. Only I can make your bed rock." He snickered.
On cue, Professor Miles came in and told everyone to sit down. Ariadne hoped he didn't notice her new look even though she was assigned a seat in the front row. Miles had a strict no hats no sunglasses policy. He absolutely found it disrespectful when a student came in with their head and eyes covered.
"Miss Ariadne." He called out. "You know better. Please take those off."
If he see's my black eye he's going to question me. What do I tell him? Ariadne slipped off the sunglasses.
"Damn, what happened to your eye?" Bernie asked.
"It was an accident…" she made up. "While building the set."
"Well there's nothing to be ashamed about if it was an accident." Said Miles.
After the lecture, Ariadne walked to the café to have lunch with Jules. She checked her phone to see that Jean texted her too many times in the past hour.
Where are you? His last text said.
Was at class. Now at lunch.
Jules was already at the table eating. In front of the chair across was Ariadne's usual order.
"Odd day to wear sunglasses, don't you think?" Ariadne ignored her remark and sat down.
"The sun's really been hurting my eyes lately." Said Ariadne. "It's like I'm a vampire or something."
"Beware of sparkling vampires." Jules laughed. "But it really hides your black eye." She took a bite of her salad.
"I didn't tell you about that."
"I know." Jules chewed casually, her voice like an evil kids. "Bernie did."
"When did Bernie talk to you?"
"He texts me a lot lately." Jules chuckled.
"It's me!" a French accent rang. "It's me!"
"What is that?"
"Jean recorded it." Ariadne explained. "So whenever he texts me, that comes up."
"Cute." Ariadne opened the phone and texted him back. "Don't you think your going too fast?"
"Going too fast would mean spending every second with the guy, right?"
"It's me!"
"That's one way." Said Jules. "How many times have you made out?"
"Only twice."
"And you've been with him for only two weeks? You need to slow down."
"It's me!"
"And you need to turn off that phone."
"I can't help it if he texts me every thirty seconds." Ariadne growled.
"Uh… that's kind of strange, don't you think?"
"He's my boyfriend."
Jules sighed. "Don't you think he's a little obsessed with you?"
"No." Ariadne shook her head.
"It's me!"
"He is." Jules grumbled. "That kind of worries me."
"What do you know?" Jules could sense her best friend heat up.
"I've been in more relationships than you and the shortest one's were because of spending too much time together.
"That won't happen. He said himself we'd go slow."
"Looks like your doing a great job." Jules scoffed.
"Shut up."
"So is he the reason why your wearing sunglasses now?"
"I told you, it's really sunny out."
"If the black eye was an accident then why are you ashamed of it?" Jules questioned.
Ariadne sighed. "I feel like a klutz, ok? It was an accident."
"It's me!"
"Ari…" Jules was now very concerned. "Did Jean hit you?"
Ariadne looked over at her best friend thinking about the consequences for being honest.
"No Jules. Jean did not hit me."
"Ari…" Jules leaned forward. "Tell me the truth."
"I am." Ariadne sneered. "I'm happy with him so just stop!" she picked up her sack and walked off.
Later that day, Jules went to see Miles. It was hard to find the room since she's never been down the hall but she found it when she saw him sitting at his desk. Jules tapped the door lightly. Miles looked up and granted her entry.
"I don't think you know me." She began. "I'm Jules, Ariadne's friend."
"I've seen you around here." He said. "What can I do for you?"
"It's about Ariadne." The professor's eyes beamed off his students' homework. "I'm worried."
"Is she cutting again?"
"No, but I'm afraid she might soon. You saw her black eye today, right?" Miles nodded. "Well, she recently stated going out with this guy and he text's her every minute. I think he hit her."
"Did you confront her about it?"
"Yes. She got mad."
Miles sighed.
"Can you just watch her more closely?" Jules requested. "I've seen so many girls go through dating abuse and I'm afraid it can get nasty soon."
The professor nodded his head. "If I see another injury on her, I'll have the police know."
"Great." Jules sighed with relief. "I just don't want anything to happen to her."
"Neither do I."