11:20 PM
The hell with this research. Ever since I got back to the student parliament room, I haven't been productive. I couldn't help but feel anxious. My thoughts began to wander to the outfit she wore. The skirt itself wasn't the issue; I've seen plenty of girls in them, but it was the way her thighs seamlessly transitioned to her legs that I found unsettling. There would be a lot of predatory upperclassmen in that area. I'm sure that looking out for her would be just one of many things James would engage in, while her friend seemed completely indifferent. These are the concerns Mr. Berkeley would have; more reasons he wanted me to keep an eye on her. He was wary of her social circle. I already felt a sense of duty towards her; it wouldn't hurt to check in and ensure she's alright, right? It's just her first day, and she's already got me on edge.
Fuck it.
I quickly powered off my laptop, packed away the books I had been using, and the takeout I hardly touched. I tossed the empty coffee can and made my way to the parking lot outside my department.
"Hey man," Axel waved. I ignored him; we'd definitely talk later, and my ears would ache from his nagging. At the moment, I had somewhere to go, and I sped off to Oaks pub, the place where the party was happening.
I pondered what people found enjoyable about college parties when all they seemed to do was drink, hook up, and press their sweaty bodies against one another. The strong smell of alcohol irritated my senses as I tried to locate Anne in the crowd. The booming music annoyed me; fortunately, a law had been enacted to make all pubs and taverns soundproof, since students turned them into nightclubs. It would interfere with other nearby businesses, and the dorms were not very far from the pub. One of the few things I appreciated about Seleby's was having diners and cafes in close proximity to every dorm building.
Ah. There she is. She appeared to be having a good time, chatting with some guy; I suppose she's adjusting quite well. What could he have possibly said to make her laugh like that? The way her eyes sparkled while she talked to him. She has never looked at me like that, not that it matters to me.
Wait. Something feels off. I noticed this as I observed them from afar. I moved closer to where she was seated when I saw him offer her a drink. There might be something in it. He seemed harmless, but you can never be too sure with Seleby's men. She was fragile; she didn't belong in this environment. My legs quickened as I saw him moving nearer to her.
He touched her.
"I'll handle it from here." That sounded more like a command. The guy who appeared to be around James' age looked confused.
"And you are?" He stared directly into my eyes as he tightened his hold on her shoulder. The audacity of this guy. He didn't appear to be scared of me at all.
I was???
"Her brother, I'm her brother."
"I don't buy that." Who is this kid?
"Do you even know her name?" I inquired.
There. His face was puzzled. Like the guys at Seleby, they wander around kissing girls without bothering to learn their names. It's so disrespectful. I found it disgusting.
"I assume you don't, so like I mentioned earlier, I'll handle this from here," I said coldly as I pulled Annabel away from him, and she held onto my shirt for stability. She could barely stand; just how much had she consumed? I propped her up with one arm and used the other to grab her bag. She was so small.
"Don't you want to know what happened?" Why is this guy still talking?
I was already aware of this type of situation; she either had too much alcohol, consumed a spiked drink, or he had spiked her drink.
"I'll definitely get the story from her, but if I find out you tampered with her drink..." I locked eyes with him.
"You'll soon be receiving an expulsion letter." I wasn't in the student council for no reason. For incidents like these, offenders typically face indefinite suspension, but I would ensure he gets expelled from Seleby's; I couldn't care less if I abused any power in the process.
He stumbled over his words trying to clarify, but I had no intention of listening; my only goal was to get her out of there. Her safety was my obligation. She was my responsibility. We walked away from him before he could even utter a single word.
She struggled to navigate through the crowd, so I realized I might need to carry her if we were to leave quickly. She remained calm. She didn't say anything and didn't resist when I suggested taking her outside, or rather, when I took her out forcefully. She still held tightly to my shirt. She looked exhausted. I lifted her up onto my shoulders and hurried through the crowd towards my car.
I opened the back door and laid her down on the seat. As I did, her scent enveloped me. She smelled sweet, like a watermelon-flavored candy. It was unexpectedly pleasant.
I was already familiar with her dorm. Her father had practically involved me in selecting her dorm. I thought about that as I drove to her place. I carried her to her doorstep.