Hello again everyone! So, I've been tired lately. School's catching up to me. Ugh. But I must press on! Please enjoy the chapter!
The University was full of its weekend share of parties. I could hear music coming from somewhere in our dorm, but Sandy and I were content to stay in our room and read, snack, and play games. Not that parties couldn't be fun, as I'm sure they were, but I had too many bad experiences that I'd rather forget.
Sandy had a lollipop sticking out of his mouth. He was glaring in concentration at his laptop screen, moving a pen across a thin drawing tablet. I watched him lazily from my bed, a book dangling from my hand. After a moment, Sandy looked up and smiled.
My phone buzzed.
Missin u at William Tallest
Why didn't u come?
I promptly deleted the texts. Sandy's gaze took on a look of curiosity, and I shook my head. My phone buzzed again. Though I dreaded it, I looked at the new text message.
U heard about it rite?
Did I 4get 2 tell u?
I deleted both messages, beginning to feel sick to my stomach. Barely a minute passed by before I got another one.
Pulled out some good booze
Come have a cup or 5?
Does ur boyfriend drink?
I shut my phone off and threw it to the foot of my bed, where it skidded off and onto the floor. I was breathing heavily and trying to keep from sobbing. Sandy was by my side in an instant, patting my back and trying to help me breathe. I looked up; he was blurry through the tears in my eyes.
"Sorry…" I cleared my throat and tried again. "Sorry. It's nothing."
Sandy shook his head and wrapped his arms around me. He kissed my cheek. I wiped my eyes and my vision returned to normal.
"Um…can I see what you were drawing?"
Sandy smiled gently at me. I could tell he wanted to inquire, get to the bottom of what happened, but we both knew that changing the subject was probably the best thing. He went back to his laptop and turned it around. There was line art of a manta ray swimming in the ocean.
"You really like sea animals, don't you?" Sandy nodded, opened a word document, and typed out a reply.
Ever since I went to a conservation center. They were nursing dolphins back to health and I got to volunteer there.
"Sounds fun."
It was really fun. Dolphins are really cute and smart!
Hey, do you wanna watch a movie or something? I have Netflix streaming.
"What do you have in mind?" At this question, Sandy pulled a sheepish expression before typing again.
What do you want to watch?
"Do you like scary movies?"
I saw him cringe. I sighed.
"I'll take that as a no. Seriously, you can pick one out."
Do you like animated movies?
"What kind?"
Like, Studio Ghibli I guess.
"Well, alright. Sure." Sandy's shoulders relaxed. I nearly scoffed, but smothered the sound with a question. "What, what's wrong?"
Sandy's fingers twitched, but he paused and typed out: It's nothing. Let's watch Princess Mononoke~
Even though I didn't like sweets that much, Sandy tried to share anything he thought I would enjoy from his bag of snacks. We were up until 11:00 watching the movie, and then we both went to the bathrooms to get ready for bed. No-one was there when we entered, and from the sounds down the hall hardly anyone would make it there, even if the RA dispersed them.
Warm water felt so calming on my skin. As I washed I took note of how pale I was. My skin was a very light shade that almost seemed faded, like a gray, I thought. It looked ghostly against the white tile of the shower. Looking up, I could catch just a glimpse of steam rising from Sandy's shower. I thought of him, his skin against mine when we held hands and hugged and kissed. His healthy tan against my paleness. I thought of how warm he was, how comforting he felt.
You've lost, Pitch. Admit it.
You really are in love, aren't you?
"Written in graffiti on a bridge in a park
Do you ever get the feeling that you're missing the mark?
It's so cold, it's so cold
It's so cold, it's so cold…"
I didn't bother stopping myself. No-one was there anymore.
"Written up in marker on a factory sign
I struggle with the feeling that my life isn't mine
It's so cold, it's so cold
It's so cold, it's so cold
See the arrow that they shot trying to tear us apart
Take the fire from my belly and the beat from my heart
Still I won't let go, oh
Still I won't let go
Oh you use your heart as a weapon
and it hurts like heaven…"
I left the shower after several minutes. Toweling off and putting on my pajamas, I was met with Sandy, whose eyes might as well have been sparkling at me. He clapped enthusiastically and then took hold of my hands, lifting them up and down in a hyper sort of jig. My face burst into a blush, but I waited for him to stop before saying anything.
"I-it's really nothing," I stammered. "I got too relaxed…sorry."
Sandy looked horrified. He quickly shook his head and gestured to me again, clearly trying to say something meaningful. Finally he pouted in frustration and tugged me all the way back to our room. He typed a message on his laptop.
You sing really well! I like you sound even more now!
"You like how I…sound?"
YES. You shouldn't take that for granted, you know.
And suddenly I felt like the biggest asshole on the planet.
"Oh, Sandy, I'm sorry," I said, swinging my night bag down in frustration. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean anything by it, I just…in the past, I…"
If it hurts, don't talk about it now. He typed. It's late. Let's go to bed happy, okay? And we can have more fun tomorrow. How about going into town again? Or just sleeping in? Yeah, sleeping in sounds much better.
"…Whatever you want," I shrugged. Sandy puffed his cheeks out; he was pouting adorably.
One of these days we have to do what YOU want to do. We'll figure it out tomorrow, okay? Night~!
"Oh, must you be so…" I caught myself before the word dared pass my lips. Sandy looked at me curiously, but I shook my head and turned to my bed. "Nothing. Nevermind. Goodnight."
I got turned back around quickly and felt Sandy pull me down. He broke the kiss after a moment and went to turn off the lights before getting into bed.
Chapter over for today! I hope you all liked it. I don't know how long it's going to go on for, but it's really just getting started. Who knows, maybe it'll go on forever! No but seriously, I don't know when I'll end it. I have a few other stories I want to put up but I've got some things to sort out before I do.
Please leave a review, someone. No one has reviewed in a long time. I miss them. But I'm still glad if anyone is still reading this story~!