Chapter 3: Chapter3
#Chapter3
Cousin Cole
Elena and Marissa checked out an unfamiliar part of the campus, and I wanted to take a break from all the walking. My feet were hurting from the constant walking we had been doing. I found a bench and sat down; then, I pulled a book out of my bag and began reading it. It had been a while since I could get lost in an enjoyable book. Ryan made it impossible when we were together. That gave me a chance to catch up.
Off in the distance, across the quad, two guys stopped and were watching me.
/"Damn, who is that beauty?/" One guy asked the other guy.
/"I don’t know, but she seems familiar,/" the guy answered while trying to figure out where he had seen me before.
/"We should find out that beauty’s name,/" the first guy commented.
/"Max,/" he yelled at the guy as he walked in my direction. I was reading until I noticed a pair of sneakers in front of me. I lifted my head, looking at him, squinting to keep the sun out of my eyes.
/"You know, I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you new?/" Asked Max. I looked at him, and he looked like your typical jock type with sandy blonde hair, which was messy looking. He had a medium build and cocky attitude to match. He wasn’t Ryan because Ryan was more muscular and always kept himself a particular way. He had more confidence in himself.
/"Yes, and if you don’t mind, I’m trying to read,/" I said, returning to my book. I hoped this would tell the guy to go away. Nope, he sat down next to me, so I hurried away from him.
/"Aw, come on, sweetheart. I want to talk./" This guy was creeping me out. I was getting agitated with him, so I moved my legs away from him, turning my back to him. Can’t a guy take a hint?
/"You know, it’s not polite to ignore someone who is trying to be nice,/" he breathed into my ear. This guy was making me feel uncomfortable. Since ignoring him isn’t working, a more direct approach would work. I stood up. /"Look, I’m not interested. I don’t know who you are, and I don’t want to know. So, if you don’t mind leaving me alone, that would be great./"
Max stood up and leaned into me, inches from my face, /"Listen, sweetheart, no one and I mean no one turns down Max Hastings. I always get what I want./"
I balled my fists up. The other guy stepped between us and investigated Max’s face. In a calm, collected manner, he looked him in the eyes and muttered, /"If I were you, I wouldn’t do that./"
/"Excuse me, what are you doing?/" Max asked the guy.
/"Keeping you from making a fool out of yourself,/" he answered.
/"Dude! Why are you defending some bitch you don’t even know when you’ve known me longer?/" He exclaimed.
/"Because we don’t know this girl. Do you want to get kicked out of the house for harassment?/" He asked him.
/"Whatever, I’ll see you around, sweetheart, and that’s a promise,/" he said, storming off. Ugh, now I need another shower to clean off his sliminess.
The guy turned around, and I looked at him. He had black hair, blue eyes, and the same height and built as Ryan. If I didn’t know better, I would say I was looking at Ryan’s twin except for the hair and eye color. The resemblance was uncanny.
/"Thanks,/" I said to him.
/"No problem, Max likes to run his mouth. He’s harmless most of the time,/" he assured me.
/"What is he, some jock?/" I asked.
/"Worse, he’s a Frat guy,/" he smirked.
/"Are you a Frat guy?/"
/"I’m in a fraternity, but I’m not a frat guy,/" he reassured me.
/"There’s a difference?/"
/"There’s a sizable difference. I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Cole Jones,/" he introduced himself.
I looked at him, shaking his hand. /"I’m Alex Hartley./"
Elena and Marissa walked up with Elena yelling, /"Cole? Oh, my God!/"
She hugged him, and he hugged her back. /"Elena, it’s good to see you again. I heard you were coming here. Where’s the idiot brothers?/"
/"Well, the big one, waitlisted. The other two are helping dad out, getting his hotel opened on time,/" she explained.
/"Figures,/" he chuckled.
/"Cole, this is Marissa, Frazier’s girl, and I guess you’ve met Alex, Ryan’s girl?/" She introduced him.
/"Wow. I never thought Frazier would ever find someone to handle his crazy ass, and yes, I’ve met Alex,/" he told her.
/"Meet my cousin, Cole Jones, Alex,/" she introduced us.
I took a step back. Wow! I can’t believe how much they look alike.
/"How’s Amy doing?/" Elena asked him.
/"She’s good. She has a couple more years; then she’s done./"
/"Who’s Amy?/" I asked them.
/"Amy is my girlfriend for the past four years. We plan on getting married when she graduates,/" he said.
/"They’re a typical Jones boy. Once they meet their first girlfriend, they become hooked,/" Elena teased.
/"Are they all like this?/" I asked.
/"Yeah, if it’s one thing I know about the guys in this family, they are loyal to one girl. Once they claim you, you’re theirs forever,/" she said.
Well, that was reassuring. If I dismissed a thought ever crossed my mind of Ryan cheating it after what Elena said. Cole had to run but said he would see us soon. We headed back to our dorm room.
I wanted to relax before having to deal with the Dungeon and Dragon boys. I missed Ryan, and after today I missed him even more. I called him, but he couldn’t talk, and I heard yelling at his end. We hung up, and I lay there. At this moment, I felt homesick, which was never right.
Over the next few weeks, I stayed in my room. The girls went out. But after my encounter with Max, I figured it would be better. I called Ryan every day, but he always cut it short. Then the calls became less frequent. The girls got more into college life going to parties, and I felt like I was becoming more isolated. I was losing everyone, and the classes haven’t even started.
I laid on my bed reading, glancing at my phone now and then. The same thing, it didn’t ring. I finally gave up waiting. He was busy. Then there was Jules, who could pre-occupy his time, and here comes the thinking too much. I tried the other guys, and they didn’t answer either. Marissa and Elena were hanging out more and more, leaving me alone.
The few times they invited me to go with them, it was out of pity. It relieved their guilt of having fun without me by including me. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed a bag. I didn’t belong here, and I’m leaving. I did what’s best, and that was to run. I packed enough clothes to fit into one bag. I need to pack light since I would move on foot.
After making sure I had everything, my phone screen lit up. It was Ryan. So now he makes time for me. I was angry, and I let it show when I answered my phone. /"What?/"
/"Alex?/" I could hear the confusion in his voice. /"What’s wrong?/"
I couldn’t control the wave of emotions overtaking me as I cried into the phone. /"I can’t do this!/"
/"What do you mean?/" Ryan asked me.
/"I’m here, and you’re there! I can’t handle it here, and no one is talking to me! The guys are ignoring my calls! The girls leave, and I feel so alone!/" I sobbed into the phone.
/"Alex, I’m so sorry. It’s taking a lot longer than expected, and everyone is driving me up to the wall. I didn’t want you to feel like this. I wanted you to have fun until I can be there./"
/"I can’t stay here, Ryan,/" I sobbed.
/"Alex, listen, I know things are rough, and you’re homesick, but I sent you a surprise. I need you to dry your eyes and answer your door. Can you do that for me?/" He asked me.
/"Yes,/" I croaked.
/"Good, call me back after you answer the door./" With that, the line went dead. What did this idiot send me this time? I got up and walked over to the door and opened it. It shocked me.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone