by Layla Wilde
Knowing I didn’t have a class until ten, I walked to the shower. I closed my eyes and slowly shampooed my hair, excitement still swarming my body, making my mind numb. I grinned, but as I looked down, I saw the shower floor painted red. My injury was bleeding, and it looked worse than before. Around the stitches, gruesome looking scabs had formed. I touched them gingerly, but wiggling them the tiniest bit nearly caused me to cry out. Moving my fingers away, my eyes traced the halo of red, inflamed tissue surrounding the cut. It was definitely starting to get infected. I really needed to have it looked at, but it would just have to wait until after the party.
Victoria
I couldn’t believe how busy I was, even though the semester had just begun. I had only been to three of my four classes and already had homework due. There was a book I needed to read in the upcoming week and a small, two-page response paper I needed to do for an anthropology class. I tried to keep up, making schedules and keeping my calendar updated, knowing that my education here would take a lot more work than the classes I took in Maine.
I had woken up early. It was Friday, and I had a full day ahead of me, with classes from nine until three in the afternoon. I looked out my window. Day was breaking, and the scenery was painted in dull grays as far as the eye could see. From the looks of it, it was going to be a relatively cloudy day. Had I packed an umbrella? While I looked around, rummaging through my stuff, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my stomach.
My hand flew up to my mouth, holding back the urge to vomit. My eyes widened, and I rushed out of the room as quickly as I could, barging into the bathroom. The moment I was close enough to a toilet, I couldn’t stop myself. Everything I had eaten came back up. My body shook, and my skin was covered in cold sweat. I breathed hard, keeping the hair out of my face. I spent nearly thirty minutes in the bathroom, trying to control my queasy stomach.
I had no idea what was going on. It was the third time in a week that I had gotten sick like that, and always in the morning. I rose to clean myself off when the bathroom door swung open. My eyes widened again when I realized I hadn’t closed my stall.
“You okay?” The lacrosse player’s voice pierced through me. Of all the people in my suite, he was the last person I wanted to see me like this. I gulped and nodded, regretting it instantly as the bitter taste in my mouth intensified, threatening to make me sick once again.
“You don’t look so good… Do you want me to call you a nurse or something?” he asked, looking genuinely concerned. He walked into the stall, his hand wrapping gently around my thin arm to help me up. “You’re shaking,” he observed with a frown. “Come on.” He pulled me out of the stall.
I felt much too weak to argue with him. He led me to the sink and helped me clean up. “Thanks,” I said before taking control of the situation. My cheeks were bright red. I couldn’t believe I had allowed a stranger to see me like this.
“Do you need anything? I can go pick you up some medicine or whatever,” he offered.
I smiled at him, appreciating how thoughtful he was, but I shook my head. “I think I’ll be fine. Thanks for helping me out.”
I tried to walk away, but as soon as I took a step forward, I felt dizzy and nearly collapsed to the ground. If he hadn’t caught me, I probably would have cracked my head against the sink.
“You definitely aren’t fine. C’mon, let’s get you back to your room.” He guided me out of the bathroom and to my room. He tried opening the door, but of course, it was locked. “Do you have your key?”
Dread washed over me. In my hurry to get to the bathroom, I hadn’t grabbed my key. “N-No…” I stammered, wondering what would happen now that I was locked out of my room.
“Damn.” He jiggled the lock again, but it wouldn’t budge. The doors automatically locked once they were closed, making it impossible to get back inside without a key.
“What do we do now?” I had never been locked out before.
“Well, we have to call security. They’ll come and open it for you, but they can take up to an hour to show up. Sometimes even longer. I think it’d be best for you to come into my room and lie down.”
I bit my lip, remembering what Hunter had told me. Should I really go into this guy’s room and lay down on his bed? I contemplated my options, but right now, I didn’t really have much of a choice.
“Okay,” I relented. What else was I supposed to do? I could have called Hunter, but of course, my phone was also locked in my room.
“Don’t worry,” he said, seeing the hesitation on my face. “I won’t do anything, I promise.” He smiled kindly at me and helped me down the hall and into his room. I had expected a messy disarray to greet me, but his room was actually quite nice. It was decorated in a plethora of lacrosse paraphernalia, but surprisingly, it was tastefully done. The bed was made, and the carpet was vacuumed. The room smelled of coconuts.
“This is nice…” I whispered more to myself than to him. Nevertheless, his face lit up at my comment.
“I’m glad you like it! I spent a lot of time making sure it was perfect.” He grinned and helped me onto his bed. “If you need anything, just let me know. I have some schoolwork I need to finish, so you won’t be alone, okay?”
I nodded and got under the covers, suddenly feeling very cold. I lay on my side and watched him as he sat down on his desk and opened his laptop. He started to type vigorously on a document, but his keystrokes were soft and somehow gentle. The sound was actually quite melodic, nearly putting me to sleep.
“What’s your name?” I asked, realizing we had never properly introduced ourselves.
“I’m Lance.” He swiveled in his chair to face me. “What about you?”
“I’m Victoria.” I smiled at him, and he smiled back. I noticed how handsome he was. He was larger than most guys I knew, with broad shoulders and a large, powerful torso. His arms were thick and his hands beefy. Despite all this, he didn’t look very intimidating. Instead, he looked like one of those teddy-bear guys who give really good hugs and are actually quite the gentle giants.
I continued to admire him from across the room until I eventually fell asleep. My dreams took me back to Hunter, picturing how he would react if he knew I was sleeping in someone else’s bed. I tried to explain that it was innocent, but he wouldn’t listen to me. My nightmare intensified, Hunter’s screams echoing through my mind, making me toss and turn, whimpering loudly until I woke with a start.
I looked around, but no one was in the room. I noticed that my keys had been left on Lance’s desk. I jumped up quickly, trying to steady my spinning head. I took a deep breath, grabbed the keys, and rushed back to my room. I had to figure out why I was getting sick every morning. I opened my laptop and did a quick search.
My heart stopped in my chest as I saw the first search result. Morning sickness. Hesitantly, I clicked on it, remembering the term from health class in high school. Still, I wanted to make sure, so I read the article.
Morning sickness affects most women during their pregnancy. They will often find themselves throwing up in the very early mornings. There are plenty of medications a doctor can prescribe that will lessen nausea, but side effects should be taken into consideration. Cottonmouth, dizziness, and fatigue are all very common with these medicines.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, you may want to consult your doctor. If you are uncertain whether you are pregnant but suspect that you are, we recommend a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
I glanced down at the symptoms, and dread settled over me. I had quite a few of the listed symptoms: cravings, hot flashes, sharp stomach pain moments before sickness, and cold sweats. Could I really be pregnant? No. I shook my head. Hunter and I had always been safe. I took birth control, and we used condoms. How much more protection could one need?
Rocking in my chair, I clicked a pen nervously, trying to figure out if there might have been a chink in our armor. Suddenly, it hit me. The moving truck! We were in such a hurry to leave and I had been so focused on packing
and getting ready to move that I hadn’t taken my pill that morning. Hunter hadn’t put on a condom either.
My tongue felt too big for my mouth, and my heart was beating a mile a minute. I shot out of my seat and grabbed my keys and wallet. I had to figure this out. I didn’t even know where I was going, but I needed to find a pregnancy test. My body worked on autopilot, taking me to the local drug store.
All around me, it felt like people were staring at me, judging me for my horrible decision. If I were indeed pregnant, my whole life would be ruined. I would have to drop out of college. I would turn into a deadbeat mom. All the worst-case scenarios rushed through my mind, leaving me in an almost paralyzed state near the entrance of the store.
“Can I help you?” the greeter asked, staring at me.
“N-No.” I finally snapped out of it, walking past him and disappearing into one of the nearby aisles. I read the signs, trying to avoid people as I navigated through the store. I had never felt so paranoid in my entire life. It felt like my mother—or worse yet, Hunter’s father—would jump out at any moment. Finally, I made it to the family planning aisle.
I spotted the pregnancy tests and was glad no one was in the aisle with me. There were so many different brands. Which one was I supposed to get? All of them were in some sort of pink packaging, advertising they could accurately predict pregnancy sooner than the next leading brand. I picked one at random and clutched it tightly in my hand, making my way to the counter. I didn’t dare make eye contact with the clerk. I was too embarrassed by my current situation.
I glanced at my phone; it was nearly ten. I had missed my first class. A pang of guilt washed over me as I contemplated putting off the pregnancy test until after my classes, but I quickly convinced myself against it. This was more important than a class. I was in college, anyway. I wouldn’t be the only person to skip a few lectures.
I locked myself in my room and read the instructions several times, trying to commit them to memory before I stowed away in the bathroom. I made sure to lock the stall door. I followed every instruction to the letter and waited impatiently for the result. When I heard the telltale beep, a wash of emotions came over me. What if I really was pregnant? I didn’t want to look down. I didn’t want to know the results, but I forced myself to look. To my dismay, a tiny plus sign stared back at me. I was pregnant.
Hunter
Classes dragged on after practice. I couldn’t focus on anything my professors said. My mind was too preoccupied with the upcoming game. I couldn’t believe the coach had put me in. I would definitely need to get my wound checked before then.
As my professor continued to ramble on about business models and some sort of inverted pyramid, my hand wandered to my side. I winced. It was getting worse. Before, the pain was localized to just the site of the stitches, but it crept higher and higher, nearly reaching my armpit. I couldn’t play like this. I would need to ask Victoria to look at it.
The thought of Victoria brought a smile to my lips. I missed her. I hadn’t seen her for a while, and I wondered what she was up to. I had tried swinging by her place, but she was never there. No doubt she was stuffed away in some library corner, studying for an exam that was still a month away.
Just as I thought I was going to go insane with boredom, the tower clock struck, indicating the end of classes for the day. I swung my backpack over my shoulder and headed for the door, joining the crowd of students rushing past the professor desperately trying to assign us more reading before we could leave. He should know better than to think college students would stay after class for more work. I shook my head and grinned.
There was a light breeze rolling through the main part of campus. The benches that had been empty the night I got stabbed were now packed. Students balanced laptops precariously on their laps, trying to finish their late lunches while also reading the paper they “forgot about.”
I was headed back toward my house when I saw a group of my teammates. They walked up to me, grins on their faces.
“We were hoping we would bump into you,” Ben said, punching me in the arm. I grimaced but laughed like it was nothing, even though the throbbing pain in my side was enough to force the breath out of my lungs.
“Good one,” I told him, one eye open and one closed. The men howled with laughter, taking my real pain for pretense.
“When did you become a theater major?” Ben teased, grinning wildly.
“Oh, you know…you pick it up in your free time. No big deal. I’m going to star in the new school play, Homecoming Game.” I smirked.
“Are you playing the lead quarterback?” Ben challenged. The guys behind him took a sharp intake of breath and looked at me.
“Oh, you just got burned.” Our smallest member spoke up, defending the quarterback.
“Did I? Well, when I run the ball all the way down the field, no one’s going to remember some stinking quarterback.” I hit him back. He looked offended for a moment before we both burst out laughing. We were always like this, teasing each other.
“Anyway, you still coming to the party? It’s at Kappa Sigma. You know where that is, right?” Ben asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been to every frat house on campus. You can count me in.”
I flashed him a smug smile, excited by the idea of going to a party. I hadn’t been to a proper one all summer. Victoria was rather adamant I didn’t go to them, and the one time I managed to convince her to come with me, we ended up leaving within the first thirty minutes. Now, however, I had a good excuse. Nothing wrong with a little pre-game celebration, right?
***
The afternoon flew by and before I knew it, it was evening. I checked my stitches in the bathroom mirror. I didn’t like the look of them. I contemplated calling Victoria and having her come over, but if she did, she would never let me go to the party. I bit my lip, trying to decide what to do. I grabbed a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and poured it directly over the wound. It fizzled angrily, a white bubbly substance oozing out. I tried not to look because it made me a little nauseated.
My doorbell rang, startling me. I pulled down my shirt quickly, airing it out so it wouldn’t stick to my wet side. I hid the peroxide just in case Victoria had decided to drop by. To my relief, it was just Jesse, standing at the door with his signature leather jacket and slicked back hair.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I heard you were going to the Kappa party. Thought I would join you, if you don’t mind.” Jesse didn’t hesitate to push into my home, making a b-line for the kitchen. He opened the fridge and grabbed a cold bottle of water.
“You know, I don’t get you, Jesse. You go to parties all the time, but I’ve never seen you drink at them. What’s the point?”
“Well, it’s nice to meet new people, you know? Plus, it’s a great venue, if you know what I mean.” He grinned, pulling back the sides of his jacket to show off his stash. I shook my head.
“The way you’re working things, we’re going to be as bad as Boulder soon.”
“Are you kidding me? Half the people on this campus have never even taken a whiff of this stuff. It’s only a small group that keeps coming back to me.” Jesse shrugged. “It pays the bills, which is all I’m concerned about.”
“Have you tried getting a job? The library, maybe?”
“Please. Working for eight bucks an hour? That’s not going to pay tuition. Not everyone has a rich daddy like you, Hunter,” he said, a bit of cruelty in his voice. “Some of us have to work for our money.”
I stared at him, a little offended. I always had an inkling that Jesse was bitter about my financial situation, but I didn’t think he would ever accuse me of abusing it. “C’mon, don’t be like that. If you’re in a pinch, you know I’ll help you out in a heartbeat.”
Jesse just took a swig of his water. “Are we going to the party or not?”
“Yeah.” I grabbed my jacket, and we left.
We walked across campus in silence. Jesse’s
mood was still soured by our conversation, so I didn’t try to make small talk. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and looked up at the waning moon. A cloud passed over it, cloaking our surroundings in shadows, making everything seem more dangerous. Every person who passed us looked like an apparition or someone ready to jump us again. My guard was up, knowing we could never be too careful.
Finally, the sound of blaring music could be heard as we entered the Greek Quad. The Greek housing was clustered into a single, tight-knit circle. There were people already passed out on the lawn, red solo cups in their hands, and the night had only just begun. The largest building belonged to Kappa Sigma, who threw most of OSC’s parties.
As we approached the door, I fished in my wallet for a five-dollar bill to pay my due, when Ben showed up behind me, slapping my back.
“What are you doing that for?” he asked. “Tonight, you’re a brother!” He chuckled, shoving a beer in my hand. I slipped inside, following him. I barely noticed Jesse glaring at me as he was left outside and forced to pay his entrance. I immersed myself in the crowd, enjoying the atmosphere.