Chapter 3
If I thought following Victoria after the classroom scare was gonna be easy, I was gravely mistaken. After class she met up with Taylor and Courtney as per usual, but instead of their generic babble about Vortex or whatever they talked about, she brought up the incident.
“I swear I saw Max’s chair move during class.” Victoria all but blurted out as quietly as she could to her groupies, both of which shared a glance of unreadable expression.
“Are… You sure you didn't just imagine it? I mean, Jefferson’s class is pretty boring, V.” Taylor said a bit concerned for her friend.
“Maybe it was a trick of the light. That classroom is always dark so maybe sunlight made you think it? Or maybe…” Courtney went on.
“Maybe you're just tired! You probably need some rest. Dealing with that dropout probably wore you down, Vic.” Interjected Taylor.
Wow talk about hate for the Che.
“Yeah,” Courtney joined. “Why don't you go back to your room and take a nap?”
Whoa. Since when were these two nice? I mean, I know they aren't always bitchy and mean, but holy shit I wasn't expecting this much concern.
Victoria however seemed distant, hand subconsciously coming to her wrist, toying and playing with her bracelet. “Maybe…” She trailed off and let out a sigh. I knew that sigh. And I had a funny feeling about this.
Victoria soon shivered as if a chill ran down her spine.
“Is it just me or is the hallway unnaturally cold?” She rubbed her arms for warmth. Her friends shrugged and shook their heads apparently not feeling the “cold air”.
I had moved closer to her on accident and made her cold. Brilliant me.
“Being cold is a sign of one of two things. You either are on the rag, or you're coming down with a cold.” Courtney crossed her arms.
“Yeah, c'mon let's bring you back to the dorms.” Taylor offered. Victoria made a sound of protest but let herself walk with her groupies on either side of her through the halloway, out the building, and on the way to the girls dorms. I tailed after her close by.
Once inside the hallway, the three of them stood in front of Victoria’s door.
“Really, guys, I’m fine,” A stern look from them both. Victoria sighed. “But I’ll do what you told me to do and rest up.”
“Good. We’ll come by or text you later to check up. Okay?” Courtney said, arms crossed. Victoria nodded and gave a small smile. Taylor and Courtney both turned and walked back to the door, Victoria waited till they were out before going to the bathroom instead.
Once she was in there, and I followed her in, she washed her face, looking up in the mirror surveying the room. “I know I saw something, or someone. I just don’t know what…” I watched her wash her face once more, dry up, and look in the mirror once again. She was able to see me -- only slightly -- before in the classroom, does that mean if I solidify she can see all of me? I want to try it out, but I don’t want to scare the poor girl, even though it would be pretty funny to do so.
I smile at that thought, sad as it is, but vote against it and wait for her to leave so I can leave as well. Once she’s at her door, she unlocks it and walks in closing the door on my face. ...Well, if I was alive she would’ve, I just simply floated in after her. Victoria flops down onto her bed with a huff, backwards almost with her head by the foot of the bed so she could look out the window.
It was silent after that save for the soft whirring of her always on laptop at her desk but that silence was broken when she finally spoke again.
“Where are you Max. Chloe and I miss you…” Victoria soon rolled over to face the wall, grabbing a pillow to hug in the process. I sat across from her on the other side of the room thinking she was to fall asleep. I was right. Her breathing had slowed and I could tell. I thought about seeing if I could send myself into her mind, her dream realm, to talk with her and just for kicks as well. I always hear stories of people getting chats with lost loved ones from Beyond the Grave so why not give it a try?
Well, better now or never or else I’ll never do this till later.