Page 69 of Burn It Down
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Walking into the halls of Loyola, I was excited. Anxious. My brother was getting married, I was madly in love. I was about to drop out of college. Things were great. My mother was thrilled when Charli and Cage decided they wanted a big wedding.
After Tegan decided a quirky courthouse wedding in the spring was her idea of perfect, Mom figured she had a while to wait for another wedding.
Mom loved events.
Loved laughing and drinking expensive wine and seeing the people she loved. The moment Cage decided to marry Charli, she was already making plans.
The five of us--Mom, my sisters, Charli and I--had talked of nothing else since Cage’s perfect proposal. Details weren’t set, but with the Coopers on it, it wouldn’t be long. We dealt with the details rather well.
Exactly why I am dropping out. My details don’t include needing a degree to do what I love. Finn proved that to me. That night in the park was the most alive I’ve felt doing what I love.
After a long talk over the weekend, one that surprisingly didn’t involve wedding talk, my parents agreed. Mom wanted me to do what I wanted to do; she would have loved me to finish, but I promised I still might someday.
“I have four months left of my junior year. I can take an absence and retain my credits. After things settle down or I decide what I want to do, I can go back. My scholarship doesn’t run out. I thought it all out, Mom. I just need to do this now.” Mom agreed because she knew when to trust our choices.
What I wanted to do now was explore my photography. I had an eye for it, yes, but I was hungry for more knowledge. Lola had hooked me up with a photographer friend of hers who would teach me the basics.
I was struggling with school so much, I was miserable. Add in the fact that my professor was stalking me, and Bree was in most my classes, and I was less than enthused to go back.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Kellar. Thanks for seeing me without an appointment.” I smiled at my aging counselor as she greeted me at her door.
“Of course, Gigi. Sounded very important when you called. Come in, sit. Let’s talk about whatever you need.”
The office smelled of old books, leather, and lilac. In the window behind her desk, a huge blooming lilac in a pot explained the latter. I sat in the club chair and smoothed my hands over my skirt.
It was cold outside, and I had second guessed the skirt when Charli drove me over here today. My boots were wet with snow, I noticed as I bounced my foot anxiously. Though certain of my choices, I was still anxious about them.
“I need to take an absence. It’s been a struggle this semester for lots of reasons. I need to regroup and refocus.” Ms. Kellar glanced at me over the top of her glasses.
Then, without a bit of discussion, she twisted to the cabinet behind her. Pulling out a file, she stood and opened another drawer. Seated again, she twisted back to me.
The file was my own and the paperwork she had grabbed was for temporary withdrawal. Sliding them both across the desk at me, she handed me a pen with a smile. I perked a brow and tilted my head.
“No discussion? No attempts to keep me enrolled?” A smile twisted her face; it wasn’t unpleasant, though.
“No, ma’am. Every once in a while, I see a look of resolution on someone’s face. You may come back. I doubt you will. Not because I don’t have faith in your intelligence or talent. Because perhaps you will find what you need elsewhere. Could I talk you out of it if I tried?” Her raven hair was pinned back into a bun and her laugh lines crinkled at her temples.
“Not if you spent the rest of our day giving the speech of your life.” We shared a smile and I took the paperwork.
Half an hour later, I was no longer a student of Loyola. At least, not unless I chose to come back, where my scholarship would continue for two years. After that, if I chose to come back, it was on my own dime.
I thought Ms. Keller was right, though. I thought I might find what I needed somewhere else. Relief coursed through me, cementing that I had made the right decision.
“Hi, gorgeous.” Dread doused my relief when I heard his voice.
Jordan. I kept walking, cursing that I forgot where his office was. I just made it to the doors when he caught up to me. Fingers wrapped around my wrist, and I felt as if he had burned me with acid. I yanked my hand away, my other going to clutch at the necklace at my neck.
“Jordan. Please, don’t touch me.” I chanced a look over my shoulder to find him frowning.
“Gigi. Relax. I won’t hurt you. We just need to talk.” I shook my head against that.
“No, Jordan, we do not need to talk. I need you to stay away from me. No more calls.” Despite the number change, he had somehow gotten the new one and the calls continued, “No more notes or roses. Finn finds out you tried to talk to me…” I left that up for him to figure out.
“He threatened me, you know? I just wanted to talk to you. I deserve a few moments of your time. Instead, that…that caveman threatened my life.” I almost giggled; I know I smirked because he let out a sound of contempt.
“My caveman. Finn told you to steer clear of me.” I pretended I knew this because it didn’t surprise me. “You ought to heed the warning. Leave. Me. Alone.” I backed toward the steps then twisted to run down them.
