"I know but unfortunately my flight was held back." I lied and I got the idea that she knew this,
"Oh, I've heard that one many times before. I'm told you left in a bit of a hurry no?" She reproached with a sarcastic laugh, "Be aware to be punctual next time mademoiselle, this is a professional establishment, not a charity."
"And I'm a student here and this isyourjob," I replied with an equally sarcastic grin and she was left utterly dumbfounded.
I rolled my eyes and made my way towards my dorm and knocked on the door so Keomi didn't know it's me. Once I heard her chirpycome inon the other end I opened the door slowly and Keomi leapt off the bed and jumped up to eagerly wrap her arms around me.
"Armani!" She exclaimed, "I've missed you so much and I've sent you thousands of texts and called many times, when I heard you left in a rush with your mom I assumed the worst and thought you wouldn't be coming back."
I hadn't texted any of my friends back while I was in Jacksonville because it was all too much, I didn't know if I would be returning therefore I didn't have the heart to tell them. And I knew that they would ask if I was okay and I couldn't bring myself to tell them I was not.
"Yeah oh God, I know I'm so sorry, I had a lot of family stuff to sort out but I'm back now." I tried my best to assure her,
"What happened with your mom?" Keomi asked sitting me down next to her at the foot of her bed,
"She saw me and River uhh...together and she kinda lost her shit. She put me on a plane back to Florida and threatened to not bring me back to St Kathrine's because she thought I was getting distracted from my purpose and throwing my life away." I explained and I realized how truly ludicrous her assumptions sounded saying them out loud.
"What the hell, that was so wrong of her to do that, you're literally turning nineteen in two months and she's still coddling you." Keomi scoffed, but her eyes softened before wrapping her arms around me again, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, and I'm so happy you're back now."
"I missed you too Keomi, I just wish I could've known she'd be here." I figured and her expression shifted to confusion,
"I was going out but Ididtell him to tell you." She reckoned and now I was just as confused,
"Told who to tell me?" I asked and then her expression changed to one that was all-knowing,
"Fabian, he was supposed to tell you and River when you got back didn't you see him when you arrived?" Keomi asked tucking a strand of her straight dark hair behind her ear,
"We did but he just ignored us as per usual—waitso you're telling me that all this could've been avoided if Fabian just warned me?" And just like that, all my confusion dissolved into frustration and anger,
"I'm so sorry Armani I guess he's just not as over you turning him down as you thought." Keomi reckoned, "That was really shitty of him."
Fabian knew how unaccepting my mother was and he knew exactly what would happen if she knew about River and I, but he saw us walk past him that night and he didn't say anything. He did it all to spite me for not choosing him, to what ends would he go to get revenge? I was beyond furious and I decided that this was enough and I had to give him a piece of my mind.
I got up from the bed jet-lagged and all and decided enough was enough with this ridiculous grudge he was holding.
"Where're you going?" Keomi jeered and to which I confidently said,
"To end this shit."
I made my way across and over to the boys' dorms which was always incredibly awkward and unpleasant, probably being the only woman in the building. I didn't even knock on the door I just pushed it open and his scrawny roommate Karl answered.
"Hey what's the big idea!" He whined but I shoved past him to find Fabian seated at his desk studying. He looked up at me with surprise and awe, but then saw my angered expression and began to shift awkwardly in his seat.
"What the fuck Fabian?" I yelled and I shut his textbook for him because I wanted answers and I was going to get them.
He remained silent and simply watched me.
"Is your hatred for me so strong that you'd put my place at this school and everything I've worked for on the line to spite me?" I jabbed and he swallowed hard, still not saying anything. "Aren't you going to say anything, aren't you going to at least try and deny that you set me up? Of course, you're not because it's true, isn't it? You hate the fact that River and I are finally getting to a good place and you wanted to see us apart."
"You'd be better off without him." Is all Fabian said in a tone I didn't recognize from him,
"This isn't the Fabian I know, this isn't the Fabian who was there for me when no one else was. This isn't my friend— I don't recognize this- this-coward." I spat, "And as for what you said before, you're simply going to have to learn to deal with it because River isn't going anywhere. And as for you, you can go to hell, Fabian Lyon."
"Armani I-" he began but I cut him off,
"And I'm not going to be the one to tell River that one of his best friends set up him and the girl he likes. You're going to be the one to tell him and if you don't then I will, and that will bewayworse for you." I seethed and I slammed the door shut.
I was way too tired for this bullshit.
