The Great Escape
AN: Thank you to Chain Gang Princess, RandomlyAwsomer, xTwistedxImperfectionx, xSomeKindaRush, Melissa Cristina, Cena-Wilson-Crazy, TJ Sparkles, RKO.I.F, jojocheer28 and rory21 for reviewing the last chapter.
Thanks very muchly :)
Chapter Thirteen – My Girls
MARIA
The sky was a dull and murky grey. Rainclouds hovered over the campus, threatening to spill over and ruin the already drab day. As if it being Monday wasn't enough, the dark atmosphere did everything in its power to worsen the fact.
There was one college student, however, who wasn't too fussed over the weather. Her mood didn't reflect the general depression, but, in fact, stood out prominently.
Of course the student in question was Maria, who wore a bright smile on her face as she bounced around her dorm room. Red locks jumped on her shoulders, occasionally landing in her eyes, as she searched for something in-particular.
"Tell me why this is important again," sighed Jeff a little too heavily as he loitered around her bed.
"I've already told you! My mom wants me to send some pictures home – you know how she is – and since you're one of my closest friends, you have to be in at least one of them."
"But—"
"You're not getting out of this and that's that. I plan to have everyone I know from home in the photos."
"Good luck with Ashley on that one."
"Already sorted. I'm going to sneak up on her. She won't be happy...but really, what's new?" A beat later, she cheered. "YAY! I found it!"
The guy glanced in-between her and the item, and then shook his head. "Only you could be so happy on such a miserable day."
"That, my friend," she grinned, "is because I'm finally meeting up with Michelle. We're hanging out today. Isn't that great?"
"Er, I suppose so...but Eve called her a bitch."
"Yes but Eve is exactly like Ash: unnecessarily critical," replied the redhead and rolled her eyes. "Anyways, let's take this picture before I forget. I sometimes start to ramble when I really shouldn't."
"Sometimes? You do it all the time, Maria."
But she'd already cocked her head to the side, a popular look in her case. "I really should do something about it. A short attention span isn't a good thing, is it?"
"Maria...the picture?"
"Oh right!" She snapped back into life. With a renewed sense of energy, she skipped to the other side of the room to join him. "Are you ready?"
He rolled his eyes, which meant, yes, he was.
The pair ended up taking quite a few pictures together, sharing goofy poses all the while; mock serious faces, sticking out their tongues, over exaggerating the rock and peace sign, and, finally, her kissing his cheek.
Jeff certainly wasn't able to deny the fun they shared. He did, however, try to downplay it. "Alright. Enough of this," he announced, heading for the door, "I've got to go and find Candice."
"Bye!" She exclaimed cheerfully enough, but was actually paying no attention to him whatsoever. "See you later."
She glanced back down at her digital camera, engrossed in the new visuals. These would be just perfect; her parents loved Jeff and so they would be pleased that their daughter was still maintaining her friendships despite being in new surroundings.
All this talk about "being herself" was sure to delight them now; if everything was the same as it had been back home, how could they deny the proof?
"Oh hi...Michelle, right?"
The bubbly student's head snapped to the open doorway where she was pleasantly surprised to find Michelle nodding politely at Jeff.
When he disappeared, the tall blonde twisted back to greet Maria. She smiled, lifting a hand to wave lazily. "Hey. I know I said we'd meet somewhere else but I was already out of my dorm and thought I would come and see you anyway. Is that okay?"
"Definitely." She nodded. "Just give me a sec and I'll get my jacket. We can go for a walk if you like."
"Sure." There was a short pause before Michelle asked, "Jeff is Candice's boyfriend, right?"
"Yep. Why?"
"Oh...no reason. I was just wondering. That's all."
A look of confusion swept over the redhead's face, but disappeared just as quickly. "Okay then. I'm ready now."
"Alright." A fresh smile graced the blonde's features. "Then let's go."
It was mid-afternoon by the time the girls arrived back on campus. Having been just about everywhere their footsteps would follow, they were both fairly tired, but energetic in their pursuit to return.
Traipsing into the guys' dorm, the two looked like the best of friends with Maria's arm looped through Michelle's and bright smiles on their faces.
"That was a good day out," said the redhead of the two, "Don't you think?"
"Definitely – though it's a bit of a downer to come back and realize we've got a load of work waiting for us."
"That's true...but college is college. I wouldn't trade my position for the world."
"I'm with you on that one," smiled Michelle, her Southern twang sweet as she eyed the doors they were passing. "But I might want to trade positions with you in a minute. You see all these shopping bags? Well Randy doesn't like me to overspend...don't ask; he's protective over his girls—"
"His girls?" Maria giggled.
"Yep. His mom, his sister and me," the blonde explained and then rolled her eyes. "That's Randy Orton for you."
She settled for a smile, but was thinking inside: She's so lucky to have him. He's wonderful. Of course she kept this particular thought to herself; it would do no good whatsoever to have the guy's girlfriend hear about her feelings for him.
"And here we are. How much do you want to bet he's asleep?"
She didn't have the time to respond as her new friend quietly pushed the door they'd arrived in open, and waltzed in. Maria, somewhat cautious, followed after her. She had a strange feeling deep inside her...she was almost giddy and nervous at the same time.
But this was only Randy's room. What reason would she have to feel like this? Just because he was a crush – or former, she hadn't decided – it didn't mean seeing his room for the first time was a huge adventure for her.
...Did it?
"Yeah, there you go. I'm always right."
The student snapped out of her funk, re-focusing in on Michelle. She followed her gaze to the bed, where, true to her word, Randy was sleeping. She cocked her head to the side for a brief moment, studying every inch of him that she could see.
The dark-haired guy was sprawled all over his cover; his head barely on the pillow and one arm dangling over the side of the bed. In an image somewhat recipient of a five year-old kid's position, he looked perfectly vulnerable.
Maria, in an instant, had an overwhelming urge to move closer and sit down beside him. She briefly visualised running her fingers through his short hair, looking down at him lovingly...and then perhaps tenderly kissing his forehead to wake him up.
But – instead of doing that – she wisely placed both her hands behind her back and clasped them together tightly.
Stop thinking like that, Maria. It's not right.
"Do you want to put your bags down?" Michelle asked, breaking her from her thoughts as she glanced over to find her pointing to the items barely dangling on her wrists. "You look like you're struggling."
Yes, she was – just not over her bags.
"Sure," smiled the redhead innocently, turning to find a suitable place to dump her stuff. When she had – a small spot beside a dresser – she twisted around again...only to find Randy awake and staring at her. "Oh hey." She offered shyly, but soon giggled. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"It was...interesting." He said, a little weary-eyed as he sat up a little, resting on his elbow. His free arm snaked around Michelle's waist, who was now sitting beside him. "What have you two been up to?"
"Take a wild guess," laughed his girlfriend.
"You went shopping, didn't you?" He rolled his eyes. Sitting up properly – though not before dragging the blonde with him – he glanced around his room. "Though I see Maria wasn't sucked into your habits...good."
"Actually," smirked Michelle, "I think you'll find you're wrong."
Randy was just a little dramatic as he turned to the redhead. "Please say it isn't so."
Maria giggled at his little show, and pointed to the spot behind her. "I'm afraid so – and what's so bad about me going shopping anyway?"
"I'm just looking out for my girls. That's all. It's not just shopping anyway..."
There was a moment of silence. It was safe to say that both girls were thinking the same thing: What did he just say? It wasn't so much to do with the meaning of his comment, but two words he used in it.
A look of unease was plastered over Michelle's face as she shuffled a little, and then out of his grip. Standing to her feet, she tried her best to remain calm. "I'm just going to head to the bathroom. I need to...clean up. Or something."
Maria watched until she disappeared behind the door, and then swallowed lightly. She glanced over to Randy, who was smiling lightly at her. She returned the smile despite her nervous mood.
Whether he knew it or not, the guy had just planted a seed of doubt into both their minds; for entirely different reasons but he'd still managed to do it. For Michelle, it meant questioning her relationship – for Maria, it meant questioning what he actually meant.
Looking out for my girls. My girls. MY girls.
Did he really mean to say that or was he just being friendly? As much as she wished the former option was the truth, she had a feeling that he was just sleep-deprived from being woken up too early.
But the way her heart lurched when he'd said my girl...
"Oh shit." Randy swore as he lifted himself to his feet and glanced over to his desk. "I shouldn't have fallen asleep – I've got a paper to work on."
"Oh. That sucks," offered Maria unhelpfully, as she unfortunately was most of the time. "Well I'm heading to the library later so if you want to join me you're more than welcome too."
"Thanks, but I'm going on a dinner date with Michelle later tonight," he explained. Then he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What is she doing in there?" He asked, pointing to the door.
Wondering what you think of me. "Oh...I don't know. I should go now actually."
"Really? You don't have to if you don't want to – I wasn't forcing you out or anything."
"Oh, I know! But just like you I've got work to do so..." She trailed off.
An awkward silence swept over them, but only for a few seconds before he walked over to her, closing the once moderate gap between them. She was startled as he ducked a little to meet her eyes. "You're okay, right?"
"Me?" She began, a little confused. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"You just seem a little...unlike yourself. Which, I know, probably doesn't make any sense. You just don't seem as bubbly and...happy...and...lovely...as usual." He finished quickly. "But you're okay?"
"Yes, perfectly."
"Awesome." His smile brightened a little as he lifted a hand to wipe away the stray lock covering her right eye. "Because I'd hate to see you upset."
Maria had nothing to say in response; such a moment didn't even need anything after it. Instead she stood there and gazed into his eyes...
Crap. Crap. CRAP! She thought desperately a beat later, shaking herself out of the moment. This is Randy, someone else's boyfriend!
The door to the bathroom creaked open, giving them both all they needed to truly pull themselves out of the situation. Randy didn't look so guilty of himself – unlike Maria – which she was sure meant he hadn't felt the moment at all.
He walked away from her and towards his girlfriend, a look of confusion on his face. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. That took a little longer than I thought it would." Michelle smiled weakly. She wrapped her arms around his neck a moment later, pulling him closer. "But I am fine."
And to prove this, she kissed him.
It was no ordinary kiss though; no, this was a passionate and tender lip-lock. The blonde squeezed her boyfriend as though he was the only one in the room...as if he was the only person worth paying attention to. He responded in kind, of course, and the pair were soon involved in their own little familiar world.
Maria finally took the hint, grabbed her bags and left the room, shutting the door behind her quietly.
"I'd say," Eve finally spoke up as her lips left the pen she'd been sucking, "Michelle is either incredibly grateful for her boyfriend all of a sudden or she knows that time is running out."
Maria had all but given up on the work in front of her. She'd arrived at the library with her best friend a little over an hour ago, only to find she was not in a positive enough mood to put herself into anything she had to do.
Now she was intrigued with a popular subject of conversation.
"Time is running out – what are you talking about?"
"You know, for her and Randy. Their relationship." The brunette then rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me like that. You can deny it all you like, but I know she's threatened by your friendship with him."
"But..." The word was left in the air.
Was there a point in arguing her case when in all actuality she was starting to see her friend's point? Disgraceful as she thought it was, the student couldn't deny what everyone else appeared to be telling her: she and Randy had a special friendship. Very special indeed.
"Well Michelle can feel threatened all she wants...intimidated even, but nothing is going to happen so she doesn't have to worry," said Maria with an air of confidence. "I know better than to mess with someone else while they're with someone. It's wrong. If you're in a relationship, that's it – there shouldn't even be any consideration towards someone else..."
That would usually be Eve's cue to pick up the conversation, and twist it around somehow to make the redhead believe she wasn't in the wrong at all. But not today. The Latina just sat there instead, gazing into the distance.
"Are you alright, girly?"
Maria's soft tone brought her back into reality and she swiftly nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Um...what were we talking about?"
"Nothing that important," she shrugged, all too happy to get out of the discussion. She sighed weakly. "Alright. I suppose that if I'm not going to get any of this work done I should head back to the room. Are you coming?"
"I'm right behind you."
She waited for Eve as she collected her things and then looped her arm into hers. "You know," she picked up the conversation as they headed for the exit, "You really should give Michelle a chance. She's nice...and fun to hang out with."
"Oh please. I actually agree with Ash for once: Michelle's a bitch."
"I wish you'd stop saying that."
"When it stops becoming true I will..." At Maria's disappointed expression, the brunette softened. "I'm just making it easier for you; when you end up with Randy, you won't feel so bad because his ex was such a—"
"Stop it."
Obediently, Eve did as she was told.
The redhead wasn't satisfied with the silence though. It just led her straight back to her thoughts of Randy. Then her thoughts of Randy and Michelle.
But then – after a while – she paused and reminded herself of one thing. They'd been together for a long time, right? So surely they were strong enough to remain a couple throughout college and their love was irreplaceable.
Yeah, that's right. Maria thought to herself proudly. They're happy with each other and that's enough. I'm not even a threat.
If only she knew of the chaos Michelle was creating right now...
So there's the next chapter. Please review :)
Up next is Mickie's chapter.