Keira alighted the shuttle bus, heaving an exhausted sigh and yawning afterward. She was drained after having to sit for over two hours, taking a pop quiz and writing an argumentative essay, and all she needed at that time was to eat something and go straight to bed, but unfortunately for her, her work for the day wasn't done. She had less than an hour before her evening shift began and she couldn't afford to be late for work, or else, an hour's pay would be deducted from her salary. No matter how small ten dollars was, she couldn't afford to lose it from her salary. Never. Having paid the bus driver, she turned and hurried towards her dormitory building, to freshen up and change into her work outfit. This was her second month at Camden University and her tenth week after she received the mail that changed her life forever. Before then, she was just like most of the kids in her small neighborhood, Witherthrow, with no hope for a brighter future. "Back so early." Elvi
"What did you just do?!" The second guy queried Keira in perplexity after she'd snatched her palm from Andre's face.She quivered timorously, taking a step away from Andre.What have you done, Keira? Her frightened conscience reprimanded her.How could you have allowed your emotions to get ahead of your rationality? It was just a minor stain, but all thanks to your exaggeration, you've gotten yourself into trouble with whoever this guy is.An enraged Andre, surged towards her, raising his hand to retaliate, but his friend grabbed hold of him before he got close enough to touch her."Andre, please calm down." His friend begged him earnestly,"She's just a little girl and has no idea who you're." His friend pleaded, throwing Keira a demeaning glance.Fury emanated from every single pore on Andre's body as he glared at Keira. The sight of her caused his blood to boil with irritation and resentment.How dare she raise her filthy hands to slap him?No one has ever done that, not ev
The drive to the frat house was the longest twenty minutes of Keira's life. She has never felt more apprehensive and agitated in her entire life as she did during those twenty minutes.It was like a twenty-minute-long visit to hell, in a staring challenge with the devil. Xander, as Kimberly had introduced him, kept throwing her sinister glares from the rearview mirror and he pretended as if he was just meeting her for the very first time when he went ahead to ask her how Camden University was treating her.She couldn't tell if he was playing mind games with her or if he loathed her guts for laying hands on his friend, but didn't want to say anything yet.She was very uncomfortable and edgy, but neither Elvira nor Kimberly noticed because Xander was an expert player. Without any hassle, he played the nice and chivalrous gentleman to Elvira and Kimberly, while dishing her the deadliest glares, through the rearview mirror.She was more terrified about meeting Andre at the party. If
Keira traveled down the corridor, still shackled with the thoughts of what she'd done earlier.She'd called Andre sir and she bet he must've heard her. Everyone in the room must've heard her. Bet they are calling her all sorts of names now, laughing their guts out.She's never going back there. Not like anyone would notice her absence.They'll be too engrossed in their fun game or listening to Xander and Cole's tales about being cavalier playboys, to notice her absenteeism.They both should've passed out as twins, rather than Cole and Aiden. The latter is calmer, more elusive, and earmarked, while Cole, on the other hand, is wild and boisterous.Well, good for them. She was probably gonna stay out here and watch the wild orgies until it was time for them to go home.She located the bathroom exactly where Andre had directed her and she pushed the door open, only to be welcomed by a somber and gloomy room, devoid of light.Keira was confused, so stepped out to reassure her
Three months later, Keira has forgotten about the party incident with Andre and his friends. She moved on with her life, returning to her normal cycle; work, school, and home. She avoided Shakira and her cliques like a plague, shying away from every frivolous gathering Elvira invited her to, drowning herself in her academics and her work.Surprisingly, Xander dropped by the cafeteria where she was working two weeks later, with a copy of Tully and an apology note, apologizing for his and his friends I'll attitude towards her, during the frat party.She did try rejecting the book, but he was assertive and threatened to cause a scene if she doesn't accept his acknowledgment."I just want us to be friends. Platonic friends per se." He'd fessed with her when she queried his motives behind the sudden attention on her. "You're different from the other girls I've been with and very special too. I just want to be your friend and nothing more attached to it." He'd reassured her. Although
Keira tried to free her arm from Xander's grasps, but it was mostly impossible as his grip on her was strong. However, the grip whatever he'd taken had on him, was way stronger."Xander, you can't do this to me. You're my friend, remember?" She tried talking sense into him, wriggling her arm and sobbing, but he was clouded by a thick fog of lust and alcohol, her pleas couldn't penetrate into."Xander...""Shut the fuck up and strip!" He roared authoritatively, pushing her against the rock. Keira winced in pain as her back came in contact with the hard rock.The environment was calm, dark and almost lonely, except for the sleeping ducks in the lake. They'd walked several yards away from the party spot, so if she cried, the possibility of anyone hearing her and coming to her rescue, was a five out of a hundred."Xander, please don't do this to me." She begged him relentlessly, her eyes clouded with tears as she fought him off.She couldn't allow him to do this to her. She co
Keira was dumbfounded and frazzled, it felt like her whole world was crashing down, right in front of her. No...it wasn't possible. This can't be true. They must be mistaken. There must've been a mistake somewhere. It wasn't her Xander they'd seen. It wasn't him. She was with him last night and of course, it wasn't in best situation, but he was there, alive and breathing. He told her to go home with Drew, that he needed some time alone. It isn't possible he would turn up dead just several hours later. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words could come out. She'd a lot of questions and arguments, but her brain couldn't fathom anything for her to say at that moment. She was completely dumbfounded. "Are you sure he was the one?" Elvira, who was still recovering from the shock, questioned no one in particular. "And why would you ever think it was Keira who was responsible for his death?" She queried them still, shocked they could think such of her. "Keira