Read Safe Haven :: Chapter Five

Monday comes along and the classes start again. When the teacher finishes my first class of the day, I grab my things and make my way to the next one. I’m walking down the halls when somebody grabs my arm from behind and turns me around, making me yelp.

“What do you want, Matt?”

“What do I want? Allie, you’ve been ignoring me since the party!” His voice gets a little louder and some people start staring at us.

“Can we talk later? I have a class right now.”

“No, we’re talking right now.” His grip on my arm gets tighter. “Why have you been ignoring me?”

“I should ask you the same thing, Matthew.” I pull him towards an empty classroom to escape the stares. “You left me at the party and didn’t say a word.”

He furrows his brows. “And your point is?”

I stare at him. “My point? My point is that you told me you’d wait for me while I went to the restroom and when I came back you weren’t anywhere to be found. I looked through the entire place but you vanished. I texted you, but you didn’t reply and-” his grip starts getting too tight. “Can you let go of my arm? You’re hurting me.”

“Not until you explain yourself.”

“Well, you disappeared. That’s what happened.”

“I didn’t disappear, I was with the boys.”

“But you said you’d wait for me and we would meet them together.”

“So what, Allison? I didn’t wait for you. That’s not a good reason for ignoring me.”

I was getting pissed. “Ok, you didn’t wait for me, fine. But what about the text I sent you? Why didn’t you reply?”

“I was with my friends, I wasn’t going to check my phone every five minutes!”

“Did you at least look for me?”

“If you really wanted to stay with me again you would’ve looked harder. It’s not like I was hiding from you. I stayed at the same place the entire night, it wasn’t hard to find me.”

I stay quiet for a few seconds. Maybe he was right, if I really wanted to find him I should’ve kept looking. Instead I hung out with my friends.

I was suddenly filled with guilt. “I’m sorry. I guess you’re right.”

“I know I am.” He lets go of my arm and pulls me in for a hug. “I hate it when we fight.”

“Me too.” I close my eyes and take in his scent. “But now I have to go to class. It’s the first day and I don’t want to miss it.” I try to pull back, but his arms don’t move.

“Only if you kiss me first.”

“Matt, I’m serious. I’m already late.” I try to get out of the hug, but he won’t budge.

“Kiss me.”

I stare at him but peck his lips so I can leave. He pulls me in for a deeper kiss and holds my head in place. His lips are harsh against mine, so I hit his chest and he finally lets me go.

“Bye, Matt.” I rush to the door.

“I’ll call you later.”

The door closes behind me while I speed-walk towards the classroom.

“Remember me why I decided to go to college?” Daisy drops on the seat next to mine in the cafeteria.

“I was wondering the same thing, so if you find out the answer, tell me.” I stuff more food into my mouth.

“It’s probably because you like the major you picked and wanted to learn more,” Jamie chimes in. “I know I’m here because I want to work researching and studying ocean stuff.” I just stare at her. “What? I really like it.”

“I’ll ask you if you feel the same after Calc II. I know I’m minoring in Math, but Calculus is a bitch.”

“Let me live in denial a little longer, will you?” She takes a sip out of her juice.

“Fine.” I sigh. “How were your classes today?”

“Do you really have to ask?” Daisy asks with her face laying on the table. “One of my teachers already scheduled a test for next week. Next week. Who does that?” She sits up and stuffs her mouth with food. “Anyway, can we talk about something other than classes?”

“I talked to Matt today. He found me between classes and we figured out the whole party situation was just a misunderstanding.”

“What do you mean?” Daisy turned in her chair to face me.

“I didn’t look for him that well, I gave up too quickly.”

“He told you he would wait for you and then he didn’t. He left you, Allie,” Jamie says.

“I still could’ve looked harder. But it’s ok, we’re fine now.” I lower my eyes to my food to escape Jamie’s stare.

“It’s not your obligation to follow him, Allie. You didn’t have to look for him if he said he’d wait.” Daisy’s voice was serious.

“Guys, I already said it’s fine.”

“Allie, this isn’t-”

“Just drop it, Jamie.” I look at her and then Daisy. “Both of you.”

We all stay silent for a few seconds before Daisy changes the subject to something silly and Matt doesn’t come up anymore.

After lunch, Jamie and I head to Calc II. Before the class even starts, I already know I won’t be able to focus. The conversation at lunch doesn’t leave my mind the entire time and I can’t really pay attention to the teacher.

“I’m sorry for pushing you at lunch today,” Jamie gently pulls me back to my seat when I get up to leave after class “but I saw you after the party and I just… don’t take this the wrong way, but don’t be stupid. I know you’re far from it, you’re really smart, but still.” She grabs my hand with hers. “I just care about my friend and don’t want her to get hurt.”

Her words catch me off guard. We just sit there, in the empty classroom, staring at each other.

“I know that, but you have to trust me.”

“And I do, I trust you, it’s him-” she sighs. “Please be careful.”

“I am.”

“You know I’m here if you need me, right?”

“I do.” I smile and pull her into a hug. “Now let’s go back to the dorm so I can spend the rest of the day in bed.” We laugh and leave the classroom.

“We could get some ice cream and watch a movie. What do you think?”

“I think you’re a genius.”

As we walk towards the convenience store, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I grab it and see a text from Matt.

Matt 💙

Hey Pumpkin

I don’t think I’ll be able