2:00 pm.
I stood outside the entrance to one of the private rooms in the library, and unable to concentrate, I decided it was best to head back to my dorm.
The slight movements of individuals in the corridor near the private reading rooms did little to ease my unease. I hadn't slept much the previous night, and I came to the library hoping that immersing myself in books would provide a distraction, but the image of Annabel, vulnerable and completely out of control, replayed in my mind. The entire situation was a chaotic distraction from the relentless pressure of my law studies. I wasn't used to chaos and I never planned on getting used to chaos.
My phone buzzed. It was a message from Mr. Berkeley.
"Nicholas, thank you for looking out for Annabel yesterday. She is family to us. As we discussed, I'm relying on you to ensure she focuses on school and stays away from distractions. Please see that she settles in well. My wife is also pleased that you agreed to help and she sends her regards. Thanks son, your father must be the proudest man on earth"
The message was a politely worded contract, one I couldn't break without disappointing a powerful ally of my family's firm. I was now officially Annabel's reluctant guardian, and the obligation weighed heavily on my chest. I resented this duty, yet I couldn't ignore the strange, uneasy protectiveness that had surfaced the night before.
"Certainly, sir. I'll ensure she settles in and will look after her," I typed with a sigh as I walked to my car.
The thought of checking up on her briefly crossed my mind, but I pushed it away. I couldn't stand the sight of her again, so I focused on something else for the night. I knew I needed to see her and set my boundaries, but not today.
I drove back to my dorm, took a few strides to my room, and slammed the door shut.
"What's up with your mood today, man?" Axel inquired. I ignored him while I changed out of my clothes into a pair of my cozy shorts.
I let out a sigh as I sat on my bed, rubbing my temple with my hand.
"Are you going to say anything? You had that same expression when you ignored me yesterday."
Right, I knew he would hold that over me and would keep it going if he discovered the reason.
"About yesterday, I was occupied," I replied assertively.
"As always, you've got to keep your title as Daddy's favorite son," he said playfully, and I shot him a disapproving look.
I reflected on my reality; Axel wasn't entirely incorrect, at least not about part of it. I was raised to excel in everything I pursue. It was overwhelming at first, both from the expectations of my Dad and strangers who always remarked that I looked like him and would surpass him. But as time passed, I began to accept it. He would always say, "There's no position for you except number one." He viewed me that way, and people regarded me similarly, too, and I've consistently made him proud since I became accustomed to being the best at whatever I do and relished the feeling. I enjoy taking on new challenges, I thrive on testing my limits, I love providing others with something to envy, and I'm passionate about perfection...
"Are you just going to sit there lost in thought like an old man, or are you going to spill the beans?"
I turned to Axel, my roommate and closest friend, who had been by my side since I started at Seleby's. We'd shared a space since my freshman year, understanding each other well. He was the only one who genuinely supported my decision to switch to a dual degree program back then. A business major himself, I loved hearing him share stories about his classes when he returned to the room. Eventually, I decided to major in Corporate Law and Business Administration. Though I started classes later than most, Axel helped me find my footing, and I've come to see him as a brother. But if I didn't talk to him, he was definitely going to nag me until I did.
"Dude," Axel snapped his fingers.
"Yeah…" I recounted the events of yesterday. The expression on his face told me he was gearing up to hit me with some harsh truths.
"Dude, you could've just said no," he said, irritation clear in his voice.
"Right," I mulled it over for a moment. "But…"
"There's no 'but', Nic. She's an adult, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is."
"Well, since you've already given her dad your word, it's not your responsibility anymore. She can handle herself, you've got nothing to worry about."
"She got drugged yesterday!" I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the situation.
"Sounds like she's a bit of a troublemaker, but everyone makes mistakes, especially freshmen. It's part of the experience," he shrugged.
"Yeah…"
"Seriously, don't stress about it, Nic. He can't just unload his worries on you like that. Besides, you have your two degrees to juggle. Don't risk falling behind."
One of the main reasons I chose him as my roommate was his uncanny ability to spew facts all the time, leaving no room for my excuses.
A heavy silence settled between us. He narrowed his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You're sick, Nic, and you know it. You're such a people pleaser, you can't just relax and do nothing about it?"
As much as his words stung, I had to disagree.
"I'm not a people pleaser! I just thrive on exceeding people's expectations. Plus, he's my dad's business partner, and potentially mine too."
"Anyone else would think you're crazy for caring so much about this. I thought you had something serious going on," he shot back. Deep down, I felt like something was off, but I kept that to myself.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Like I said, you're a little sick."
"Okay, Mom," I teased, finally pushing his buttons. In a flash, he launched a pillow at me.
"Call me 'Mom' again, and I'll blow your head off!"
"Not if I get to you first!" I smirked back, feeling that familiar thrill. Sicko.
"Sicko," he replied, knowing exactly what I was getting at. It felt good to let this out; I should've vented like this instead of burying myself in that boring library.
"Wait a minute... Nic, how did you figure out she was drugged last night? You went to Oak's pub, right? That's where the freshmen party was, and you said earlier you were busy." I watched him connect the dots. Clever guy. I didn't share all the details about last night, just that Mr. Berkeley wanted me to help his daughter get settled.
"Is she cute?" he asked suddenly.
"Come on, don't ask me that!" I replied, trying to dodge the question.
"She must be if she got in between us, right? You practically ditched me last night." He did have a point.
"You're making it sound like we're a couple when you say it that way," I said with a bit of amusement.
"Aren't we?" he teased, grinning.
"I might need to blow your head off first " I joked.
There was a pause as I waited for his response.
"Hey, Nicholas..."
"Nic," I said with my teeth.
" I thought about it and realized just how worked up you'd gotten over something so trivial. Don't tell me she's already got you distracted like that," he teased.
"In what way?" I shot back, feigning ignorance, even though deep down I knew he had a point, he always did.
"Come on, Nicholas, you know exactly what I mean."
"Just zip it, man," I replied, trying to brush off his teasing.
"Alright, alright," he said, chuckling as he slapped my shoulder lightly. "But let's be real. I bet she's gorgeous. There are tons of stunning girls at college, and you'll get over it soon enough." With that, he headed back to his bed, a knowing grin still on his face.
And deep down, I knew he was right. Eventually, I would move on. But no one had ever looked as captivating as Annabel did yesterday, not a soul in all of Seleby could compare. I shook my head, trying to banish her image from my mind. Axel was right, I would get over it. I whispered that to myself as I plugged in my earbuds, drowning out the thoughts with soothing sounds, hoping they'd lull me to sleep.