Page 44 of Pit Stop

“Always.”

As we pull up to the campus, I get my Iced Chai Tea Latte situated with my book bag. There’s nothing in here except notes and pens. All of my books are gone thanks to Lyle. I sigh to myself. I really got my life in a mess, but I was trying to do what I thought was best at the time. I stop by the bookstore to see if I might can get replacement books, hopefully used, but the shelves are only stocked with new copies. More money I don’t have. Frustration bubbles all over my body. I grab a local newspaper and stand in line to pay for it. Maybe, I can find a job and afford to buy the books back.

I head to class worried about how it’ll go. When I arrive, I sit toward the back instead of my usual front and center spot. I don’t want to draw attention to the fact that I don’t have a book right now. I pass by Bridgette who seems shocked to see me head to the back of the lecture hall. I pass the first fifteen rows of seats before stopping and doing my best to get ready for class.

Bridgette appears beside me, sliding into the chair. “What are you doing back here?” she asks.

Bridgette and I had our very first college class together and since we are both nursing majors we end up seeing each other a lot. She’s probably the closest thing I have to a friend outside of Onyx and Odin. She’s super smart and funny, sarcastic as hell. Her hair is currently cut in a chin length blunt bob and the color is fire engine red. Her dark brown eyes hold a softness to them. “I don’t have a book, so I was trying to not make it obvious.”

She opens her book and sits it between us. My heart sighs in relief. Of course, she would share with me without me even having to ask. “What happened to your book?”

I sigh, feeling like a dumb girl. “My ex-boyfriend.”

“Girl, I’m sorry. Any books I have that you need we can share. I think we’re on campus on the same days; we can meet somewhere and switch off and make copies of what you need for homework.” Bridgette smiles over at me.

Tears prick behind my eyelids. I’ve been so stressed out worrying about how I was going to make it through the rest of the semester with no books. Bridgette has no idea how much she just saved me. “Thank you Bridge, you’re the best, and just took a world of stress off me.”

She leans in and nudges my shoulder. “What are friends for?”

The professor appears and calls the class to order. For the next couple of hours, we sit and listen to the lecture. I take extremely detailed notes just in case I need them for homework since book use will be scarce. Afterwards, Bridgette and I head to the library where the copy room is. We pay to get the copies and head back outside. We’re almost to the parking lot when someone appears from behind the trees. My blood runs cold. Lyle strides towards us. Anger radiates off him. Before he reaches us, I tell Bridgette the address to the hotel and tell her to tell whoever is there that Lyle is back.

“Lyle is the ex-boyfriend?” she asks.

I nod my head. “Yes, please let them know. They’ll know what to do.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” she says. Hesitation shows on every part of her body.

“You have to. It’ll be for the best. Please go.” Bridgette watches me for a moment. Doubt is evident in her eyes. Finally, she turns and heads towards the parking lot.

When Lyle is close enough, he grips my arm and pulls me into him. Stale alcohol stench oozes off him causing my stomach to turn. “Where is she going?”

“To work. Why do you care?” I ask.

“You came to my house, took my stuff.” He squeezes my arm tightly and I fight back the yelp that threatens to slip out from my mouth.

I try to yank my arm back away from him. “I didn’t take anything that belonged to you. I took Odin’s stuff. I took my stuff which by the way thank you for ruining everything I owned.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” His eyes are bloodshot with dark circles around his eyes. He’s on a bender and I’m guessing more than just alcohol.

I’m trying my best not to draw a lot of attention right now. Then again maybe that would be the best thing to do. “What don’t I get, Lyle?”

“You belong to me.”

His words anger me like I’ve never felt before. My body reacts. My knee comes up and connects with him. He hollers out in pain and I shove him off me before pulling my arm back and landing my fist on his face. Instant pain shoots through my hand and up my arm. Lyle is lying on the ground, groaning loudly. I start to take off when I hear my name. I turn around and just like that the dark knight is once again saving me.

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