Chapter 10
(Aaron)
How.
How had he not realized it? It was so obvious, you idiot.
He hadn’t moved dorms, but when he had returned to his dorm all of Bella’s stuff was gone except for the bandages. He had seen her drop something in a puddle, but had taken it anyway when he had gotten up. He still hadn’t read it though.
Aaron tried to imagine what her life was like now without him. Probably better off, most likely. She had probably forgotten all about him. But she hadn’t. Every night there were police cars everywhere, crime occurring nonstop. No one knew what had happened to Celeste, though many had made rumors. He didn’t bother to listen in, because they were probably all fake or horrible.
He got up, stretching. Maybe a walk was all he needed. He got up, slipping on his black sneakers and attempted to untangle his hair with his fingers. Aaron eventually gave up and opened the door, locking it behind him with a click. Humming to himself quietly, he headed off. Over what seemed like years, it had finally turned spring. The sky was cloudless and birds chirped, trees filling quickly with nests. Maybe the squirrels will overpower and kill all the teachers. He snorted to himself. School work had gotten harder, especially without Bella. His father had called him when he heard about his grades dropping, but Aaron had ignored all 76 attempts his father made to call him.
With his grades dropping, his emails piling up, and without much money, his life had turned from amazing to miserable. And without her. He shoved the thought to the back of his brain.
He sighed, raking his hand through his hair. He sat down on a nearby bench, emptying his pocket. Some quarters, a receipt… There! A small poorly drawn comic laid rested and slightly crumpled up in his palm. He needed to return it.
------
There he stood, by the clean white door. He had seen her walk in (on accident) and had assumed it was her new dorm.
Knock knock.
His knuckles rapped against the wooden door. The door opened with a click and there stood her.
There stood a short chubby black woman with a messy black afro and big, warm brown eyes. It was Bella.
(Aaron)
How.
How had he not realized it? It was so obvious, you idiot.
He hadn’t moved dorms, but when he had returned to his dorm all of Bella’s stuff was gone except for the bandages. He had seen her drop something in a puddle, but had taken it anyway when he had gotten up. He still hadn’t read it though.
Aaron tried to imagine what her life was like now without him. Probably better off, most likely. She had probably forgotten all about him. But she hadn’t. Every night there were police cars everywhere, crime occurring nonstop. No one knew what had happened to Celeste, though many had made rumors. He didn’t bother to listen in, because they were probably all fake or horrible.
He got up, stretching. Maybe a walk was all he needed. He got up, slipping on his black sneakers and attempted to untangle his hair with his fingers. Aaron eventually gave up and opened the door, locking it behind him with a click. Humming to himself quietly, he headed off. Over what seemed like years, it had finally turned spring. The sky was cloudless and birds chirped, trees filling quickly with nests. Maybe the squirrels will overpower and kill all the teachers. He snorted to himself. School work had gotten harder, especially without Bella. His father had called him when he heard about his grades dropping, but Aaron had ignored all 76 attempts his father made to call him.
With his grades dropping, his emails piling up, and without much money, his life had turned from amazing to miserable. And without her. He shoved the thought to the back of his brain.
He sighed, raking his hand through his hair. He sat down on a nearby bench, emptying his pocket. Some quarters, a receipt… There! A small poorly drawn comic laid rested and slightly crumpled up in his palm. He needed to return it.
------
There he stood, by the clean white door. He had seen her walk in (on accident) and had assumed it was her new dorm.
Knock knock.
His knuckles rapped against the wooden door. The door opened with a click and there stood her.
There stood a short chubby black woman with a messy black afro and big, warm brown eyes. It was Bella.