Page 24 of Peripheral Vision

“How is the adjustment going?” she asks.

I shrug, glancing around the courtyard as we take our seats. “No complaints... though it’s a bit slow. I literally don’t know anyone here and the campus is a tad overwhelming, but at least all of my classes are in the same hall. But on the bright side I was able to find a job almost right away.”

Lacey unpacks her bag, laying out study material before replying, “That sounds lucky. Where are you working?”

I unpack my own bag. “Sins and Sons bar.”

Lacey freezes in her spot, dropping a highlighter to the ground. “Is everything okay?” I ask, suddenly nervous. Swiping her highlighter off the ground she leans in, her voice taking on a note of seriousness. “That place has a reputation. I’m sure you haven’t heard the rumors because you’re new, but there’s some shady shit that goes down there.”

I blink, caught off guard. “Well, wouldn’t it have a reputation of some sort being a bar?”

She shakes her head, her voice lowering as if she doesn’t want anyone to hear what she’s telling me. “Of course it would, but I’m saying that there are rumors that people, girls, have gone missing at the bar during peak hours when nobody would notice. Not to mention the fights that break out and the crowd it brings in.”

My blood chills at the mention of missing girls. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like an uncommon occurrence for bar scenes in big cities. I’ve watched enough true crime to believe it. But things like that can happen anywhere… I should know given my current circumstance. “Has it happened with their female employees that you know of? Callum and Audrey didn’t mention anything like that happening to me.”

She sits back, crossing her arms. “I’m not surprised, it’s probably why they have a revolving door of employees. But no, I don’t think any of the girls have been employees, though I could be wrong. Just… be careful.”

I nod, the silence passing between us for a beat. “So, if you know about the bar's reputation, I’m assuming you’ve been on campus for a while?”

“Since I started my degree.” She nods, cracking her knuckles.

I wince at the sound of her bones cracking, making a disgusted face. “Right, so you probably know this place pretty well by now.”

Lacey laughs, the sound light and melodic. “Are you saying you need a tour guide?”

I return the laugh, and it doesn’t quite reach my mouth, suffocated by my closed lips. “And maybe… a friend.” It feels weird to reach out for this olive branch, having had Thea as my only friend for the past couple of years. But I won’t be able to see her as frequently as I used to, and if I’m being honest with myself, the prospect of being alone is starting to wear me down. There’s a difference between the act and feeling. Being alone, when it meant my dad would come home one day, was a moment I could choose. It was empowering, enabling me to find myself and explore who I was without the outside pressure of a world that wants all of us to follow societal norms. But feeling alone? Feeling alone is a moment that chooses you. One where it is out of your control. And no matter how much you crave connection, it remains just out of reach.

“I’d like that. And besides, I’ve been here for three years, I have this place down to a science by now.” We swap phones quickly, exchanging numbers, and relax into studying for the next hour before having to wrap it up for our next lecture. The good news is with both of us trying to get the same major and being in the same year, it means we have most of our mandatory classes together. The only thing we don’t is our electives. During our courses we sit next to each other and during our other study break, around lunch, wespend less time actually focusing on our work and more time getting to know each other better.

Lacey is here on out-of-state tuition, having moved up from Florida. When I had asked her why she made such a far move, she notified me that she had followed her girlfriend after they had done long distance for a year and decided how awful it was. She’s planning on introducing us soon, mentioning that she had already graduated the year before and is actively working for a news outlet as a journalist. Turns out that she is also a few years behind in her studies due to starting late. She’s twenty-three, her girlfriend and her having met shortly after she graduated high school, but sadly right before her girlfriend was set to move and start college. She said that she had been nineteen and her girlfriend twenty-one when that happened, but they have been going strong ever since.

When she had asked more about myself, I opted against offering her any of the sad details about my life as I didn’t want to scare her away so soon. I had just left it at not ever knowing my mom, and my dad not being around because he was military. Apparently, that was enough information to get her to stop asking such detailed questions. I told her that we moved around a lot, having only been born in the Midwest. I found relief in how easy it was to talk to her and despite the fact that Thea and I text every day, it’s nice having someone to be around in person.

When our last lecture finishes in the afternoon, we make plans to get together for coffee and breakfast later this week and talk about making an arrangement to meet up with her girlfriend and all go out for an evening. “Friday morning work for you?” she asks, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

“Any particular place in mind?” I ask as I stand with her.

“Nah, but I’ll figure it out. Take you somewhere good.” She waves as she heads toward the exit, leaving me to stand in the lecture hall by myself.

Guess it’s time to go get ready for my… whatever tonight is with Callum.

Chapter

Sixteen

DYLAN

If I knew what was good for me, I would’ve turned Callum down. It’s not that I don’t want to go out with him… I’m intrigued. And even if I were blind, I wouldn’t be able to look past how attractive he is. He’s also funny, charming, and sweet, with a seductive undertone… Jesus. I sound like a middle schooler fangirling over whoever the new hottest boy band is. Despite that, I really should focus on getting into a routine. I don’t feel like I have the luxury of distraction, not when I’m slowly digging myself out of my current cyclone of shit. The last thing I need is someone like Callum diverting me down a different path. Not when he’s the kind of guy who seems too good to be true—too easy to fall for, to make you forget yourself and everything else in the world to follow him to the ends of the Earth.

However, I’m not one to back out on plans and I never didactuallysay no to him. So once again, I find myself mulling over what to wear, unable to focus on my classwork. Clearly, my wants and needs are battling with each other. Slamming my laptop shut, I throw myself back on my pillow, my ceiling staring back at me. Am I putting him in danger by doing this? I don’t want to stop living my life because of my stranger… but I can’t help but feel like there was a hint of a warning when he told me that I was his. Maybe I should tell Callum about him. Would that scare him away? I sigh, sitting up and placing my head in my hands in frustration, fear, and a hint of curiosity. It won’t do me any good to dwell on it—not when there isn’t anything I can do yet. A chime comes through on my phone.

Be there in twenty—Callum

I swing my legs over the edge of my bed, wishing I knew where he was taking me. But considering he wouldn’t tell me when I texted him earlier, I opt for something safe: faded blue denim skinny jeans and an emerald green strapless bodysuit. I tried to tell him I’d meet him wherever he wanted to go but he didn’t fall for that either. I throw on my sneakers and rush to the bathroom to do something with my hair and touch up my makeup from the day. I swipe lip gloss over my mouth, a subtle pink, and clean up the fallout around my eyes from my mascara—which has thankfully held because I did not want to have to remove it to add another layer.

By the time I choose jewelry there’s a knock on the door, with my security system alerting me to someone being there, followed by Alaska’s barking. I collect my purse from where it was thrown on my floor and ruffle through it to make sure I have my wallet and ID. I should grab some deodorant before we leave. Am I overthinking this? It’s been so long since I’ve gone on a date, let alone spent time with a guy alone. There’s another knock on the door before I pull it open with an apology.

“I’m sorry, I was just deciding if I needed to bring anything else.” I give him a grimace. “It’s… been a while.” Fuck. Why did I admit that?

---