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14| New Normal (pt. 2)
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Witness 15| Whiplash
Waking up the next morning, I felt a lot of things. I was still scared and emotionally taxed from the events of the last two days, I was physically sore from the whiplash and gunshot wound, I was nervous about beginning my new life, I missed my dad and friends, and surprisingly, I was excited to see Jax again. I looked over to Hannah's lofted bed, noting she was still sleeping. I pulled my phone out from under my pillow and lit up my screen.God, my body hurt so bad. I felt like I got hit by a truck. I didn't know how easily I'd be able to get down from my bed when I could barely even move my arm. I figured it would probably loosen up throughout the day like it did yesterday, but as of now, I felt absolutely terrible. Just then, before I could send anything, my phone lit up with a text from Jax: Mason: what's your plan for today? Well good morning to you too, I thought. Skyler: I think Hannah wanted to show me around campus- she mentioned last night maybe going to a coffee shop?
Witness 16| Coffee Bean
When I entered my room again, I saw Hannah sitting up on her bed. "Good morning," I greeted. "Morning roomie!" She replied, stretching out her arms. "Was someone else in here? I thought I heard whispering." "Oh um... yeah. Mason came over for a second to bring me some ibuprofen." She nodded in understanding. "Well that was nice of him; Is it for your arm?"I just nodded, contemplating offering up information, but I chose not to unless she asked."Can I ask what happened?" She pressed.I was so grateful to have asked Jaxon what to tell her. "Old sports injury. I just had surgery to correct it but I'm feeling super sore today." I made my way over to the futon, sitting down since I couldn't get back up on my bed. "Oh gottcha. Are you still up to seeing the campus today? I can show you where your classes are and the coffee shop- nothing too crazy today since you don't feel well." "That sounds great! Would you mind if Mason and his roommate Blake tag along? He's new here too and ment
Witness 17| Moving Forward
The rest of the campus tour was okay. Hannah had done a nice job of showing us the ins and outs of this place, and I felt confident that Jax and I would be able to find our classes with ease tomorrow. Besides, we had the same class schedule so if I forgot, I was sure Jax would be able to get us there. As the tour progressed, I found myself opening up a little more to Blake and Hannah; they were both nice and outgoing, which made it easy for me to make small talk with them. Jaxon, on the other hand, remained silent. I wasn't sure what killed his mood, but he really wasn't being very social, and I found myself growing irritated by him.Hannah had said that she had an assignment she wanted to finish up, so she dipped from the tour early and headed to the library while Blake, Jax, and I walked back to our dorm. It felt kind of awkward with the three of us after Hannah left, and I really didn't like it. It was like cold, professional Jaxon was here for no reason after he was being so nic
Witness 18| First Days
The first few days went by without a hitch. Jaxon and I were actually becoming fairly good friends. I found out that he really wasn't the hard-ass that I had made him out to be in the beginning, and he actually could be pretty funny when he wanted to be.Hannah and I also were becoming closer. We hadn't yet had a weekend together, but we sat together during class and we did have the occasional movie night in our dorm. I hadn't really seen too much of Blake since the coffee shop, and I was okay with it. Don't get me wrong, I liked Blake a lot but I also didn't want any more awkward tension with Jax and I because of the whole "you can't date my roommate" conversation.I also was learning that although my situation was pretty awful, I did have a lot to be thankful for. First of all, California was gorgeous, and each day walking the beautiful campus provided me with more things to love about the school. In addition, thus far, I was actually feeling like I would enjoy my classes... with t
Witness 19| Just Breathe (pt. 1)
Heading into the third week of classes, I was actually feeling pretty good. I really enjoyed Hannah. Having her around as a friend was actually helping me much more than she would ever know. It was definitely hard keeping things from her, but for the most part, I found I was able to be myself around her. I was learning that I could still be Emery Starr, just under the name of Skyler Finley. Currently, we had just gotten coffee's and were heading to our Psychology class. I liked this class a lot. The professor was old school, and since it was my previous major, I found the topic to be super interesting. Jax obviously had the same class as me, but he also couldn't be right next to me all the time. It would definitely be suspicious considering he and I weren't even a couple. Therefore, on days like today, he just followed a few minutes behind us, tracking my location in case of emergencies. "Oh my God," Hannah said, pointing at our professor. He was currently wheeling out a large proje
Witness 20| Just Breathe (pt. 2)
I kept my face tucked in close, enjoying the comfort his hug was providing me. I could feel his muscles tighten as he held me, and all I wanted to do was stay in the warmth of his embrace. We may not have been best friends… but he certainly made me feel safe and protected. Unfortunately, this was reality, and I understood that Jax was my bodyguard; he had made it clear on several occasions, that professionally, we could never be anything more than distant friends. In any case, we still had a class to attend, so I forced myself to let go. I loosened my grip on his neck and pulled back as I spoke. "Thank you; I really needed that. We should probably get back to class though." "Yeah. We probably should,” he agreed, letting his arms fall from my waist. “You sure you want to go back in?" I nodded, "Yeah... I feel much better now."He nodded back and offered me a hand so that I could jump down off the wall. "Ready?"I placed my hand in his and hopped down, being extra careful to not st
Witness 21| Popcorn and Gummy Worms
Hours later and after what felt like one of the longest days since my life turned upside down, it was time for our movie night. Hannah and I had the futon folded out into a bed, with every single pillow and blanket we owned bundled around us. In front of us were bags of assorted chips, chocolates, and of course, the promised popcorn and sour gummy worms. I liked this- and I definitely needed it. I hadn't had a night like this since I lived with Mel, and I missed her. I missed her so much. I liked Hannah though. She was bubbly and nice, and she really was a good friend to me when she's around. Normally, she's working or hanging out with her boyfriend Draedyn, but given what happened in class today she wanted to stay with me. Hannah poured us both a glass of Rosé, which only added to the cozy atmosphere set with the dim lighting from the string lights and glow of the TV. We couldn't decide on a movie, so eventually we just put on "New Girl," — one of our favorite shows— so that we co
Witness 22| Night Owl (pt. 1)
"Are Mason and Blake coming with us?" Hannah asked, sifting through her closet in search of the perfect outfit.I set my straightener down, running my hands through my light blonde hair. "I don't know about Blake, but Mason isn't. He said he has a big paper due that he has to work on. Nerdy, I know," I lied. I felt a pang in my chest. I was ditching my bodyguard, and I knew it wasn't smart, but it still wasn't going to stop me. This party wasn't going to be dangerous. I'd prove it to him. "What do you think of this one?" Hannah asked, pulling out a black cocktail dress. It was simple and form-fitting, and when she put it on to show me, I knew it was perfect. I stood up once I finished with my hair, sifting through my new wardrobe. I hadn't realized it before, but the WPP didn't provide me with anything that resembled party attire. In fact, the only dresses I had were sundresses... flowy ones at that. I huffed. "You look amazing. I just don't think I have anything that's close to t
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Witness 67| Wake Up Call
I fixed my gaze on Jaxon’s. "Alright. Out with it." He sighed, running a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath as if to keep his cool. "What the hell were you thinking picking a fight with that guy?" I blinked at him. He really thought this was my fault? "I didn't pick a fight with anyone. He was the one who started it." "You should have just let it go! He was a drunk idiot, and you let it bother you!" "Me!? You can't be serious," I seethed, "He started it when he grabbed my ass! In case you forgot, that wasn't the first time someone's touched me like that against my will, so yeah, it bothered me. So what if I called him on it?" "We're supposed to be keeping a low profile," Jax said, placing a palm on his head in a frustrated gesture. "If you would have just walked away, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have needed to step in." I glared at him. He was getting on my last nerve. How dare he place all the blame on me? "You didn't need to step in. I had it handled
Witness 66| Fallout
I was stunned looking at the man's unconscious body, but looking at Jax's expression, he was even more stunned than I was. He hadn't meant to do that. "We gotta go," he said, "Now." There was commotion starting around us, and I could see some of the man's buddies trying to push through the crowd to get to us. Jax was right... we needed to move. Jax grabbed me around the waist, guiding me quickly and somewhat forcefully to the front of the bar, walking out past the bouncers before they caught wind of what was happening inside. Unfortunately for us, Blake's friends were no longer on shift. On the bright side, as we exited, it appeared that we were in the clear, as one of the bouncers hit us with a very bored sounding, "have a good night." Once outside, Jax grabbed my hand, pulling me along with him at a sprint. "Mason, slow down! I can't go that fast in these heels!" I said, stumbling along after him. I was too drunk and too in shock for this, and these heels certainly weren't
Witness 65| New Years Eve (pt. 2)
"Why did you leave Hannah and Blake?" He asked, sounding kind of annoyed. "I needed another drink," I said. "You should have waited for me," he growled. "Sorry. I guess I didn't think it would be an issue," I said, taking a few big swigs of my new drink. I felt I needed it after what was an oddly sobering experience. Once we got back to Hannah and Blake, Jax grabbed my hips, spinning me so that I was facing him. I wrapped an arm around his neck while the other one held my drink, and took another sip. I could feel the tension of his shoulder muscles, and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed; his chisled jawline clenched. "Are you mad at me?" I asked. He shook his head. "No, sorry. Just annoyed by that asshole at the bar." I leaned in, placing a gentle kiss at the corner of his full lips. "He doesn't matter. Let it go, please." He nodded, leaning forward and placing his lips on my straw, taking a sip of my vodka lemonade. I giggled as he grimaced. "That's gross," he smiled
Witness 64| New Years Eve (pt. 1)
New Year's Eve has always been one of my favorite holidays. Mainly because it was one that I celebrated with my friends, not my family. The death of my mother and sister always loomed over me like a dark cloud, but I always knew they wouldn't want me to stop living either. And boy, did I plan on living tonight. Of course, I still missed Mel and my group of friends back at my old college, and I wondered briefly what they would be doing to celebrate. But, the wondering wasn't crippling me tonight. Tonight, I was surrounded by people who had become just as important to me as Mel was. Hannah was always so supportive and always knew how to make me smile, Blake always knew how to make sure everyone has a good time, and Jax? Well, I loved him. I wasn't sure when or if I was going to tell him, but I knew I loved him. I also wasn't sure if we would even be able to get in to the bar tonight, but once we arrived, I realized that Blake's basketball buddies worked here as bouncers, and the
Witness 63| The Perfect Outfit
We were not fast. 2 hours later, and Hannah and I still hadn't found an outfit. I was in the changing room, dealing with an exceptionally stubborn zipper when Jax texted me. Mason: 30 minutes in the dressing room? What are you guys doing? Sewing the dresses yourselves? Skyler: Is someone getting a little cranky? Finally, the zipper moved and and I shimmied out of the shiny, silver monstrosity. Only one more dress to try on. Mason: Correction, HANGRY Skyler: I'm almost done. I would be faster if you stopped texting me. I pulled the last dress off the hanger. I had high hopes for this one. It was a fitted, gold, mini dress that was covered in tiny little sequins. The best part was that it didn't even come with a zipper. I pulled the stretchy material over my head, giving myself a once-over in the mirror. Oh yeah... this was the one. My phone dinged again. Mason: Just pick something. I'm bored. I'm sure you look great in anything. I smiled. Last time I wore something even m
Witness 62| The Mall
"Happy New Years Eve, bitch!!!!" Hannah shouted, whacking me with a pillow to wake me up. She was back much earlier than I had anticipated; I didn't even hear her enter the room I had been sleeping so hard. I glanced at my phone, noting it was only 8:30. "Hey," I yawned, "you're home awfully early." She smiled, "I know! That's because we have a lot to do today to prepare for tonight." I sat up in my bed. "Oh yeah? Like what?" "Like going to the mall to find the perfect New Year's outfit, getting our nails done, and then we need to take a very thorough shower! Then, we will get ready, drink alcohol, and go to the bars to ring in the new year!" "Sounds exhausting," I yawned again. "Sure does," she agreed, "but we're doing it. Now get up, and get dressed! I'm gonna run to the dining hall quick and grab us some breakfast." I chuckled. I generally didn't have her energy this early in the morning, but still, it was contagious. I eagerly got out of bed, quickly changing into a pair
Witness 61| Christmas (pt. 2)
“You should slow down," Jax chuckled, watching as I finished my second glass of wine.We actually had a really nice Christmas so far. We went to the dining hall and ate our weight in bacon, then, on our walk back, it started to snow. Normally, I wasn't really into snow. It can be pretty... but after a while, it's just cold, wet, and turns to brown slush. But... I liked it today. It felt festive. Plus, Jax had kept a warming arm around my shoulders as we walked back to the dorm, and the large snowflakes were getting caught in his dark brown hair. I liked the look on him; he was just so beautiful. The soft, bright snowflakes softened his hardened features and made his ice-blue eyes look even more striking, if even possible. Then, when we were home, we watched Elf, and two other ridiculous Hallmark ones that I forgot the names of. Now, it was nighttime, and I was on my second glass of wine and halfway through my chicken Alfredo. "Oh come on; it's a holiday," I said, holding
Witness 60| Christmas (pt. 1)
Well.... it was that time of the year again. Christmas. I was prepared for how I would feel today, given how I felt on Thanksgiving. And, if I was being totally honest, I never felt like celebrating Christmas anyway. Nor did my dad. We actually made Thanksgiving a bigger celebration... Christmas was always too hard for us after the car accident. So, given that my dad and I often ignored Christmas anyway, today sucked, but I was feeling okay. At least, I was definitely feeling better than I did on Thanksgiving. Hannah and Blake had already gone home again, so Jax and I were alone. I knew he'd probably be coming in here to check on me soon, and I didn't want him to find me like he did last holiday. Instead, I pulled myself out of bed, grabbed my shower caddy, and headed to the bathroom. I took my time in the showers today, letting the hot water cascade over my body. It was quiet in here since everyone had family to visit during our two weeks off. Well, everyone but Jax and I. I
Witness 59| On the Ice
“You need to lace them tighter, Sky, or your ankles will wobble," Blake told me as I just finished my last knot. I cocked an eyebrow at him; they felt tight enough to me, but then again, what did I know about skating? "I'll help you," Jax said, walking over and kneeling down in front of me so that he had access to my skates. He hadn't put his on yet because the workers had a hard time finding a pair large enough to fit him. I thanked him, taking a moment to survey the ice rink while Jax retied my skates. It was a surprisingly nice space, and the large rink of ice looked smooth and shiny under the overhead lights. Despite it being indoors, there was a cool breeze coming from somewhere. I pulled my grey beanie hat further over my ears, smoothing my thick braid that hung loosely over my right shoulder. "You should be good now," Jax said, pulling me from my thoughts. He offered me his hands, holding tight as he pulled me up off of the bench. My ankles tried to wobble, but were
