I woke up with Austin on my mind immediately. We hadn’t spoken in a few days, not since I had told him it was over. Maybe he had wanted to break up too?
My phone rang as I stretched in bed. I grabbed it off my nightstand, hoping to see Austin’ face on the screen. It was an unknown number. What the hell?
“Hello?”
“This is a collect call from the Buffalo Jail. Do you accept charges?”
“Yes,” I said then sighed.
“Brooke?” Jocelyn asked.
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“Will you please come and bail me out? I’m so sorry about everything.”
“Are you insane? I don’t have the money to do that, but even if I did, why the hell would I do it after you told them I was with you that night?”
“Brooke, I’m sorry. I’m so screwed up.”
“Sober up Jocelyn, get some help.”
I ended the call and turned my phone off completely, knowing she would try to call again, whittling away at my resolve until I felt bad and helped her. She had to learn, and I had plenty of my own problems to deal with.
As I got dressed and ready for my day, Austin kept popping into my thoughts. I missed his body, but I also began to realize I missed his laugh and good vibes too. By the time I left the house, I was running behind, so I didn’t stop to read the campus paper like I usually did.
Walking through the Quad to my first class, a swarm of what looked like freshman rushed up to me, asking questions and shoving voice recorders and cameras in my face. What the hell was going on? I wondered as I kept walking, trying to brush them off.
“What do you think of the letter?” one asked.
“Any comments on the football program here at Buffalo State?” another woman asked.
“What are you talking about? Leave me alone. I’m late for class.”
“We just need a statement…”
“Leave her alone!” Teddy said, appearing out of nowhere.
The others scattered.
“Thanks,” I said. “You’re Austin’s roommate, right?”
He nodded.
“What were they going on about?”
“Damn freshman trying to get a story.”
“A story? What are you talking about?”
“You haven’t read the paper this morning?”
“No. I’m late for class.”
“Oh. You should read it.”
“Tell me while we walk,” I said, taking off toward the medical sciences building.
“Austin wrote a letter to the editor about you and him, professing his love.”