Chapter 2
A knock on the door woke me from a typically fitful sleep. I'd laid there for what seemed like hours before finally passing out, my high heart rate a constant thorn in my side.
Oh god I felt like shit, my eyes heavy and mouth dry as I clambered out from under my duvet.
“Alice, Alice, it's getting late.”
It was Tess, by best friend. She was on the same course as me and had gotten accustomed to banging down my door when we had any early morning classes.
“Hey, hey, I'm coming,” I croaked through the door as I quickly assembled an appropriate outfit.
After a quick brush of my teeth I was opening the door, seeing the expression on Tess's face as she eyed me up. “Another late night?” she asked, her bright blue eyes in stark contrast to mine. Mine were brown, although right now I guess 'bloodshot' would be more accurate.
“You have no idea,” I said as I shook my head and bundled a couple of books under my arm.
“Err Alice, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we study Jane Austen as part of our course.”
“Huh?” I said, totally bemused.
She nodded her head down at the books I was holding - Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
“Oh, right,” I said, “what is it today?”
“Advertising Alice. What's with you, you're even more scatty than normal.”
“I'll tell you on the way.” There was no time for chit chat right now.
A little while later we sat side by side at the back of a white-walled classroom, whispering in hushed tones as our lecturer droned on to the rest of the class.
“So what are you going to do?” Tess hissed.
I huffed louder than I should have done. “I don't know. We've got this damn paper due in a few days so I guess I need to get that done first. You know my grades have been slipping - I need to ace this one.”
“Yeah, sure, but you need to ace your rental payment as well babe.”
She was right, and the timing really couldn't have been worse. Rent was coming up and I was running on fumes now, my funds all but depleted by the latest set of textbooks we'd been urged to buy. I'd get my final bit of pay from Mr Asim, but after that I'd be lost. I needed a job, fast.
“Do you know of anything?” I asked in hope rather than expectation.
“Sorry babe,” she said, shaking her head. I didn't expect her to - she didn't need to work after all, so why would she know if there were any jobs going.
“That's all right, I'll ask around.”
AHEM.
We looked up to see the lecturer, and the entire class, looking at us. I guess our conversation had been a little louder than we thought.
“Miss Newton,” he said, his words entirely accusatory, “of all the people in this class I would expect YOU to be listening most intently.” His words carried a sting, and now everyone knew how badly I was doing. Thanks for that.
I didn't deign to respond.
“Now, so the rest of the class can maximize their college education, would you please keep it down. And, perhaps, listen in yourself - it might do you some good.”
What a dick.
As soon as class ended I was off. I had a couple of lectures lined up for later in the day but they were way down my priority list. I could catch up with what I missed later, but now I had to get that damn paper done. I headed straight for the library for the rest of the afternoon, busily diving into my books and clicking away on my laptop as the hours ticked on by. When it shut, I returned to my dorm in a bid to keep the train moving.
It was Friday night and, without my waitressing job dragging me away from my dorm, I'd be able to knuckle down for the entire weekend and get it done. Priority one - finish my paper. Priority two - find a job. The sooner I could get priority one finished, the sooner I'd be able to move onto priority two. Simple logic.
F*ck it. Jen was back. I'd hoped to have the place to myself tonight, see how much progress I could make.
“You in for the night Jen?” I asked, hoping for a response in the negative.
“Yeah, why?” She was unusually frosty.
“Oh, nothing, I just need to get some work done that's all. I find it easier to work alone.” I didn't want to push her out but there was a suggestive slant to my words that I couldn't hide.
She hardly seemed to be listening to me, her words so quiet. “Oh, sorry. It's OK, I'll just be sleeping anyway.”
It was kinda weird that she was even around. She was out most nights, I didn't know where. We weren't the closest of room-mates, even though we got along fine, so I never tended to ask. With all my college work and working so many shifts at the restaurant we hadn't really bonded much. I guess I also had this lingering bitterness that I had a room-mate in the first place.
“You all right Jen? You seem a bit - I dunno - upset.”
She nodded vacantly as she began to undress, pealing off layers of warm outerwear to reveal a silky and tight-fitting dress. Wow, she looked amazing, the fabric hugging her feminine curves, accentuating her breasts and bum. She unzipped the dress and stepped out of it, revealing some sexy, lacy underwear.
Ah I see, she's been on a date....and it didn't go well.
I unglued my eyes from her and turned my attention back to my books. I heard her slip into bed behind me and her lamp shut off, leaving her side of the room blanketed in darkness.
Right, let's get to work.