Chapter 10

 

Georgiana

 

My body felt really stiff as I opened my eyes slowly, and then the harsh sunlight flooding the room put a strain on my eyes. I heard rustling coming from the other side, and then I saw Rebecca’s face was above me with a mixture of relief and concern.

“Thank goodness you’re awake!” she cried, and I winced as I got up, my back feeling all kinds of stiffness. Jesus, I feel terrible.

“How long was I out?” I asked. Feeling like it was a hundred years of numbness from lying down so long.

“About half a day, give or take a couple of hours,” Rebecca replied, and I groaned. “You missed the orientation.

“What happened to me? I feel so sluggish,” I said. Her face turned grim at my question, and I realized whatever happened last night probably wasn’t good.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” she asked. I worried my lip while I racked my brain for the events of last night.

“I remember talking to this guy with white hair before I blacked out. I forgot his name though,” I said.

“Do you remember what he gave you?” she pressed, and I remembered a red cup filled with beer.

“He gave me a drink,” I answered, and grimaced. “Why? Is there something wrong?” I asked.

Rebecca looked at me for a long moment, not saying a word. Finally, she shook her head and gave me a forced smile.

“We don’t have anything to do after orientation, so do you want to go somewhere?” she asked.

“Um, I was going to check out the writing center after orientation, but since I missed out on the latter…,” I trailed off and Rebecca nodded, getting the picture.

“Alright. I’m going to go and meet up with a few club members. Let’s meet up for lunch, okay?” she said, and I nodded.

I waved goodbye as she left the room before swinging the sheets off of me so I could stand up. I reached my arms over my head, stretching my stiff muscles.

Thank goodness we scored the room with its own bathroom. I’m going to give myself a long warm soak in the bathtub before I leave. That would soften up these aches and pains right up.

 

***

 

Cassie smiled widely as she saw me coming down the stairs, waiting for me at the last step. She laced her arm around mine, and we walked out of the house together, and she lowered her head to peer at my face.

“It’s so great to see you finally up and about,” she said, and I nodded weirdly. She made it sound like I’d been in a coma, jeez. “You had a lot of us very worried!” she said.

“It was no big deal,” I replied, although I still couldn’t remember what happened. “I just crashed so hard, that I’m still feeling pretty exhausted.” She looked at me all weirdly before shaking her head.

“Do you not remember anything from last night?” she asked, and I shook my head in admission. “You were carried to your room by this really hot blonde guy,” she revealed. My eyes widened, my mind immediately going to Spencer at the mention of ‘hot blonde guy’.

“I was?” I asked, egging her on. She nodded vigorously.

“It was such a Prince Charming moment. He literally carried you all the way from the party and up to your room, and wouldn’t budge until the nurse said you were A-OK!” she cried.

She took a deep breath and sighed dreamily, making me feel a tad annoyed, and a little more than a tad possessive of the person she was sighing about.

“Oh my God, he was so chivalrous and mysterious at the same time, Georgiana. How I envy you for having such a boyfriend like that,” she said. My eyes widened at her remark.

“B-boyfriend?” I repeated, stammering. “Spencer isn’t my boyfriend!” I exclaimed.

“Really? He’s not?” Cassie asked, and I nodded.

“He’s just an acquaintance of mine.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she said, shrugging. “He certainly acted way too concerned for you for someone who was ‘just an acquaintance’.”

“No way,” I said, laughing uncertainly. She was probably exaggerating again.

“Oh, and I just remembered that before he left, he kissed you on the forehead,” Cassie added, as if it was just trivial information. My eyes widened as I turned my head sharply at her, but she was already pulling away and waving her hand as she went back up to the house. I remained standing by the entrance, frozen in shock as my mind repeated Cassie’s words over and over in my head.

He kissed you.

He kissed you.

Spencer kissed you.

I snapped out of my thoughts and continued on towards the writing center, still pondering Cassie’s words. Could she be telling the truth? Was Spencer really that concerned about me last night? And did Spencer really… kiss me?

I heard my phone ringing Darcy’s assigned jingle, and pulled it out from my bag, picking up the call. He was probably pissed off because I didn’t call him as soon as I got here like I promised I would.

“Hey, I know I messed up, I’m really sorry. I just get really distracted,” I said instead of greeting. I heard him clicking his tongue on the other line, expressing his disappointment, and I bit my lip guiltily.

“”Well, as long as you know you’re at fault,” he said petulantly. “I was really worried your plane may have crashed or something,” he said, and I rolled my eyes at the comment.

“Sure, you were. You don’t have to rub it in, Darcy,” I said, and he chuckled.

“Now that I know you’re alive, how was your first day? Anything interesting happen?” Darcy asked.

My mind went to last night’s party and how I had to be carried home, and I shook my head. Like hell I was going to tell him that.

“Nothing really. I’m just here at the writing center to fill up my schedule,” I told him.

“Have you made new friends?” he asked, the eagerness evident in his voice. I had to laugh at how boyish he sounded, but at the same time it tugged at my heart a little. I wished my parents acted all excited for me too, but instead it was just Darcy.

“What am I, in kindergarten?” I asked jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

“You were homeschooled,” Darcy reminded me.

“Yes, Daddy. I made some new friends to play with on the sandbox during recess,” I said.

“Don’t call me ‘Daddy’. It sounds disturbing,” he said. I laughed as I imagined Darcy’s disgusted face with his tongue half hanging out. “And that’s good. You’re actually mingling with other members of the society. Quite a feat, dear little sister,” he said proudly.

“And now you’re making me sound like I’m an alien,” I spotted Elliot by the registration’s office, and I immediately raised my hand to wave at him. He waved back somewhat reluctantly, and I told Darcy I was going to call him back.

I asked the registrar for the schedule of classes available this semester, before turning towards Elliot with a smile.

“Hello, Elliot. Did you sign up for some writing programs, too?” I asked.

“Actually, I only came here as a favor to Spencer. He asked me to grab a copy of the schedule for him,” he explained.

“Spencer’s taking writing courses?” I asked, intrigued. Elliot nodded, adjusting his eyeglasses. “Why did you pick up his schedule? Where is he?”

“He said something about scouting the perimeter, but I’m not sure what he meant by it. Sometimes he talks like he’s a drill sergeant, but I guess that’s ironic coming from me,” Elliot said sardonically.

I talked with him some more about school and electives he could recommend before parting ways, and I wondered where Spencer could be. I didn’t have anything else to do, and I wasn’t hungry yet despite missing out on breakfast.

Maybe I should’ve asked Elliot what else I could do around here on my downtime.

“Oh well. I could always just walk around and see where my feet take me,” I said to myself.

And maybe I’ll bump into Spencer on the way, I thought gleefully. Oh my God, I did not just think that. Why did that possibility make me so happy?

I really must get a hold of myself. I hardly even know the man.

…But then again, that didn’t mean I shouldn’t get to know him a little better.