Chapter Ten

Bella

It was my turn next and I just hoped I could tell my story as well as the others,

"It's not connected with a college campus but here goes. A guy went hiking on recommendation to the Olympic Range and had a great time. His friend was joining him the next day and they were going to try some more challenging hikes. The innkeeper asked him if he'd had a good time and he told him it had been great especially as he'd picked up some company, a little black dog that followed him all the way.

She went pale and then explained the legend of the little black dog.

"We have a saying around here," she replied. "'And if a man shall meet the Black Dog once, it shall be for joy; and if twice, it shall be for sorrow; and the third time, he shall die.'"

He laughed it off as superstition but she explained,

"That's what Mr. Pynchon said. He saw the black dog twice. The second time he saw the dog, the friend he was climbing with fell to his death. And later, Mr. Pynchon decided to climb the same mountain, and he died too. Everyone here believes he saw the dog just before he fell."

His friend arrived the next morning and they both laughed about the story of the black dog. They set out on their climb and about halfway up the mountain, they saw the black dog. He turned to point it out to his friend and his foot slipped. He plunged down the side of the hill, desperately grabbing at saplings and rocks, trying to halt his descent.. When he finally stopped he looked at his leg which was in agony to find it bent at an odd angle.

They had to send in a mountain rescue team to get him down. At the hospital, they told him his leg was broken in two places and he was very lucky it wasn't worse.

"You know, that was a very strange fall," said his friend uneasily. "You don't really think it had anything to do with that black dog?"

"I don't know. But I don't really want to find out. Next time, let's go to Colorado."

I got a few laughs and was relieved my story was over, now I could relax as I listened to the final story from Sally.

"I guess I have to admit I was going to tell hatchet man and I've been racking my brains for another one. This isn't an urban legend but it is a true story and it took place here on this campus a couple of years ago. A final year student left her boyfriends late one night after a fight to return to her own place.

When he went looking for her the next morning ready to apologize with a bunch of flowers he found she wasn't there, she'd never arrived home. The police were involved and they thought he was responsible at the time so they arrested him and he was held for two days but there was no sign of a struggle in his rooms or in his car. She'd vanished into thin air and as far as I know she's still missing, they never found a body and she never contacted him or her family ever again."

We were all quiet for a while after this until Clarissa spoke,

"Is that really true?"

Sally shrugged,

"It's a story I heard from someone in the student bar. His family moved here about two years ago and the story was doing the rounds then but whether its true or not I never bothered to find out. I guess every campus has it's missing girl story, sometimes girls just find its too much and leave without going through the correct channels, some run off with boyfriends so who knows but it got you all thinking didn't it? Which means I don't get to pick up the tab for coffee for the next week."

"We're gonna miss you Bella. Do you have to move in with Prince Charming? I would probably be missed less so how about I take him instead?"

I grinned at Toni who was deeply involved with Troy,

"I don't think so, Troy might have something to say about that."

"Hell, for Jasper Whitlock I'd risk it, he is hhhhhhhhhhhhhhot!"

They all agreed he was and who was I to disagree, I was just glad he was mine and not theirs.

After that we just chatted generally about end of year exams, something none of us were looking forward too and the others agreed next year to try getting an apartment together as we all got on so well. Clarissa grinned,

"Except for Bella who will be shacked up with lover boy!"

I had been relieved to find such good friends so quickly thinking I was alone with my fears coming to a new place only to find out they all felt the same way too. We were all strangers in a strange and confusing new world but helped each other as much as we could.

"Hell when we come back after the summer we'll be old hands at the college thing. It'll be our turn to look down our noses at the terrified first years. I'm gonna enjoy that."

We all knew Sally was way too soft hearted to do any such thing but we all agreed anyway. Personally I was looking forward to the second year at college, it meant being with Jasper again because my summer trip was going to keep me away from him for far too long and I had no idea how I was going to cope.

Jasper rang about eleven to see if it was OK to pick me up, he didn't want to get caught up with the others leaving. I suspected he was waiting around the corner because within five minutes of me telling him I was ready he was knocking on my door. While I picked up my last few things Clarissa gave him the low down on "THE RULES."

"The rules?"

"Sure, you look after Bella or we'll come looking for you. Treat her right and you'll be safe. Also she is allowed out for a girls night once a fortnight and you share the chores, she is not your slave. You want one of those look no further."

I could hear them laughing and knew Clarissa approved, I just hoped my dad would too. That was the next hurdle to jump and not one I was looking forward to.

He took my bags out to the car without comment, there were more than I realized and I hoped we would find room for everything. I needn't have worried though, he'd cleared a closet and chest of drawers for the stuff not already at his place along with half the book case and bought another computer station for me complete with chair and small filing cabinet. Looking round I couldn't help a beaming smile but I turned to him shaking my head,

"You shouldn't have moved everything around or bought me things Jazz."

He stopped me with a kiss,

"Bella I want this place to be comfortable for you, to be home and please let me buy you things, it gives me great pleasure. I'm just relieved you agreed to move in with me."

Of course one thing led to another and we spent the afternoon in bed, only climbing out when my stomach started to complain…...loudly!

We showered together which was a squeeze but I wouldn't have it any other way then dressed and went out for a walk calling in for a Mexican take out on the way home which somehow I ended up eating naked sitting on a rug by the fire, being fed by my very own, also naked, boyfriend. It beat the hell out of our slumber party although I wouldn't have missed that either.