Chapter 3

AUDREY

I woke up to the blaring of a ringtone, disturbing my precious sleep.

"Yes? Hello. What is it?" I asked quickly, feeling my mood and any trace of happiness descending to the bottom pit of hell.

"Woah. Audrey, aren't you just a ray of sunshine." I hear the familiar, energetic voice.

"Libby, it's six in the morning and I just got to bed three hours ago. What could you possibly want at this hour?" I groan upon looking at the numbers on the clock, huffing with distaste when I notice the sun's absence.

"I just want to remind you that today is the first day you make an appearance as Sebastian's girlfriend." She replies giddily.

"Libby." I pause.

"Hmm, yes?"

"You woke me up at six in the morning to tell me that." My voice sharp, clear and full of anger.

"Yes? I'm sorry? Look, I know you don't really get sleep because of work, the business and family issues, not that you get to sleep anyway considering you have insomnia and all."

I interrupt her before she could finish, "Stop blabbering. I got it, goodbye." With that, I hung up.

Sighing and letting my head drop onto the pillow, I try to go back to sleep, and then cursing out loud because I can't. With that, I pull myself out of bed and I prepare myself for the day. Putting on my uniform (a navy pleated skirt, a crisp white shirt, a blood red tie with the Academy crest and my navy cardigan - we also had a navy blazer but it was way too hot outside) and brushing my hair, I make myself as presentable as I can.

I hear a pounding on the door, a little too loud for six thirty in the morning. I hauled open the door, greeting the happy face on the other side. " What do you want? First, you disrupt my sleep, waking me up at six, now you come to my apartment and knock so loudly those in the Rowell Dorms can hear you." I scold, pulling Libby in.

"I'm sorry, I just felt bad so I went and got us some coffee." She admitted, holding the coffees in front of my face like a white flag, surrendering to my morning rage.

Sighing I ask, "Have you had breakfast?"

"I had a yoghurt, a banana, even some cheese!" She stated proudly.

"That. That is not a breakfast. My goodness, you don't even know what a basic meal looks like." I walk to the kitchen counter, gently setting the coffees down.

"Yes, I do, I've seen the plates when I had-"

"Sit." I interrupt, crossing my arms and watching her plop on the sofa, switching on the TV.

"I am sorry you know. I know your life isn't exactly easy but I'm just so excited about this case. We haven't had a case together in two years and we finally do. I finally get to see you in action, after all, your job is harder." Her hand gestures getting wilder by the minute.

" Honestly I just don't understand how you do it. You have the business, your obnoxious family, university and you're able to do the work of Cupid. All at the same time!" She throws her arms out wide dramatically, her face a mixture of confusion and admiration.

"I don't understand. I mean, it's hard work, yeah, but." I shrug. "I work on a daily basis, what's one more thing to my list. At least it actually makes a difference to someone's life." I conclude, setting down a plate of French toast with the coffee in front of her.

"That was quick." She smiled as she took the plate and coffee, an excited look on her face. "All you do is work. Ever since I've known you, you work and work and work. Do you ever have any fun when you're not with me?"

"I know I should be angry at you right now, but, no. All I know is work. But is that so bad?" I give her a sheepish smile, laughing at her reaction of the French toast.

"But, there's so much to do. There's so much out there! What about the relation-"

"Hold up. I'm gonna stop you right there. Look, like you said, I'm always working. I don't have time for relationships, there are more important matters in the world and I need to concentrate on those first."

"But, but!" She cries exasperatingly.

"Eat up now," I say, sipping my coffee.

"Okay, mum." She gives me the eye roll of the century before continuing to eat.

We eat in silence, watching the TV and making the occasional comment before leaving for the Academy. We walk silently to my car, the birds chirping echoing off the trees and buildings. Once we get in the car and the doors close, that's when hell breaks loose. The music is loud, the singing is bad and we are as carefree as can be.

"We have a busy day ahead. We need this to go well so make sure you keep on top of your tasks. Make sure you always know your next move. Keep focused and do your best in your studies okay." At this point I could see her getting overwhelmed, "And also, have fun, and make it a good day Lib." I add, giving her a big smile as we pull up to the Academy.

She breathes out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, Drey, I'll do my best."

Upon parking, I hear a tapping at the window on the passenger side. Looking up I see James smiling brightly at Libby. Although I'm not sure what my expression was, it must have been the picture of complete boredom as he saw me and smiled shyly at me.

"James!" She screams, embracing him in a tight, energetic hug.

"Morning Libby." He greets quietly, burying his head in her shoulder. "How are you? Did you sleep well? You look beautiful, how was-"

"James. It's nice to see you too." She giggles, kissing him on the cheek.

"Heh, I was blabbering again wasn't I? I'm sorry, I just, I'm nervous" He chuckles, scratching the back of his neck, his cheeks aflame.

"James, we've been together for five years, surely I can't make you nervous anymore." She ruffles his hair as they walk off. "Bye Drey!" She waves, smiling widely before leaving.

I move to the boot of my car, opening it to get my bag.

"Audrey?" I see a pair of black shoes, then navy trousers, a white shirt with a red tie and a navy blazer. Finally, a face that one could call, Sebastian.

"Hey. What's up?" I close the boot, giving him a small wave.

"Nothing really. Just can't stand the thought of sitting in that lecture hall and listening to Dr Vilas drone on and on." He chuckles, waving his hand in a circular motion.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. At times, Dr Claire can make me fall asleep even if I drank an energy drink." I laugh, hurling my backpack on my shoulder.

"Wait, Dr Claire? Isn't he a physics lecturer in Rowell Uni?" He asks, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Yeah. I'm in my second year of Uni, doing my physics degree." I reply. Apparently, this confused him even more.

"What age are you? I thought you were in high school."

"I'm eighteen. I should be but I was too academically advanced apparently. I ended up being moved up to university. " I shrug, waving at a couple of people I knew along the way.

"You say that like it's no big deal! You're so smart. Holy crap, that's awesome!" He shouts, his arms shooting up in the air.

"I don't see the big deal. I may be smart but I won't lie, it's a whole lot of work." I warn.

"That would explain why I've never seen you around." He comments as we walk up the stairs, entering a sea of sleep-deprived students.

We continued talking until we split to go to our respective lectures. I groan at the thought of how much talking I've done this morning, so much useless dialect has been spoken that most reality TV shows wouldn't even hold a candle to what I've been through this morning.

By the time the first lecture had finished, it was time for lunch. It was at the moment I entered the dining hall, my stomach decided to growl at the sight of food like a starved dragon. I caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye, turning to see Libby frantically waving at me. But, it wasn't her way too energetic waving that froze me in my tracks, it was the person accompanying Libby that shocked me. I walk over to the table, weaving in between the students of all ages.

"Margo, what are you doing here," I ask blankly, setting my packed lunches on the table.

"Awe! That's no way to greet your sister." She pouts.

My sister is a tall, thin woman at twenty-two, with beautiful clear skin and a complexion to die for. Her good genes are the reason she's a famous model, although, she is in her last year of university and should be getting a doctorate soon and will inherit the medical branch of the family business, doing occasional modelling jobs on the side.

"You normally don't come to see me at all. Usually, you are so engrossed in your studies that you don't have time to do anything else apart from modelling." I state, taking a seat and handing Libby one of the lunches, and receiving a gasp and a small 'for me?'

"Not everyone is as naturally genius as you Audrey sis. Uni is practically a breeze for you." She blurted in exasperation.

"See? I'm not the only one who thinks that." Libby hummed, pointing her spoon at me with her eyebrows raised. I roll my eyes jokingly, digging into my own lunch.

We spent the next hour chatting, well, it was more Libby and Margo doing the chatting. Somewhere along the way, we were joined by James, who presented a glorious box of chocolate, in which Libby almost started crying and gobbled them up.

At the point when they were most engrossed in conversation, I felt it, the deep dark pit in my stomach, growing. The numb pain in my chest, sinking further into my heart, all the way to my back. Suffocating, drowning in discomfort.

I faked looking at my watch, "Guys, I have to go." I claimed, standing, waving, and leaving. Luckily today I didn't have any more seminars so I drove straight to my apartment. I entered the reception, walking past the restaurant that is connected to this room and walking straight to the elevator. Upon reaching my room, I switch the TV on, make some coffee and I rest on the sofa.

The silence was deafening, despite the TV being on. The voices of my parents, my family, they bounced inside my head as if my memories were a trampoline. I stood at the window, watching the world outside, well, the small part of it that I can see. Maybe, if I work hard enough, they'll accept me. Maybe if I always put my time and effort into work, I can forget what they said. Why should it matter, I'm numb to the point that I don't know what a real smile is anymore.

SEBASTIAN

"Dude! I am so happy to get out of that room. You have no idea." Marcus beamed, doing some weird dance to stretch out his legs.

"If you hate being in that room then maybe you should consider taking online courses instead." His friend Logan advised, laughing at the dance Marcus was currently performing.

"You look like a crow." I mocked, holding my fist in front of my mouth to hide my laughter.

"Shut up! It was cramped and we have been sitting down for ages." Marcus exclaimed.

"It's been an hour and forty minutes." Logan piped, "With a ten-minute break every fifty minutes."

"Whatever. Let's just head to my apartment, my sister brought me a cake from her shop and as much as I like it, I don't wanna eat it alone." Marcus tempted, smiling brightly when we both agree.

As we neared Marcus' apartment block I noticed an apartment with a girl standing at the window, a mug in her hand. It turns out I wasn't the only one who noticed as Logan also looked up to her.

"Who's that?" He blurted, nodding to the apartment.

"I have no idea," Marcus began, "But, she's a beauty, isn't she. Everyone in the apartment block thinks so, I've seen her around a couple times but I never got to see her up close." He pouted, looking up again.

I felt a pang of recognition before dashing towards the elevator, slamming the button. From what I worked out, she must be on the sixth floor, but her expression was so lonely in contrast to her usual expression.

"Dude, what's up? You all of a sudden just dashed to the elevator and abandoned us. You okay?" Marcus asked, not pressing any further when I don't reply.

When the elevator got to the sixth floor was when the guessing game began. I walked to the third door, praying I was right. I knocked and waited, hearing hesitant footsteps on the other side. The doorknob creaked and the door was opened.

"Sebastian?" She whispered, "What're you doing here?"

"Holy schnitzels she's so much more beautiful up close." Marcus breathed, Logan nodding in agreement.

"Guys, you go on without me." I waved them away, taking a step into her apartment. I gave them a stern look as they protested, they understood and left.

"You can't just walk into my apartment, Sebastian." She declared, nevertheless closing the door behind me.

"Audrey, what's wrong? Why were you crying?"