My hands were shaking as I reached for my coffee cup. My phone sat on the table, looking at me, and I felt the judgment from it even before I told the others what had happened.
Was it a coincidence? He had turned up too many times now, the bar, the theater, and now outside where I had been sleeping. Wherewehad been sleeping? Had he seen Ash leave? Was he really there for a check? My mind was racing, and I realized I was scared.
Who did I tell? Ava? To warn Quinn that he was on campus? Or Ash? Because . . . because I needed him. I took another drink of coffee. There was no choice: I lifted the phone and created a group chat. When I had added Gray to the chat, I looked at the five names. This was right, they needed to know. I needed to own my actions.
Me:So I left the room early, I wanted coffee. I got accosted by the janitor, the one who messed about with Quinn. He wasn’t exactly threatening, and I don’t know what he actually wanted, I think he just wanted to be mean. But he grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go, called me some names, I screamed in his ear, mybest high-pitched scream and ran away. I’m sorry, I’m not brave like Ava and Quinn, I ran. I’m in the coffee shop, I’m fine. Just a little bit shaken. I wanted to let you all know, he’s on campus. Quinn be careful when you go to class. He said he wasn’t hanging about or following me, and it probably was just a really bad coincidence, but he’s rattled me. I’m sorry to message you all but I thought it would be easier.
I put the phone down after I pressed send. Picking it up, I reread it. It was maybe too much information.
Ava:I’m coming, don’t move!!!
Quinn:Are you okay? We’re coming, stay there.
Ava:I’m so sorry Mee, don’t leave, I’m on my way right now.
Quinn:Are you okay?
Me:I’m fine, the heart rate is back to normal and I have coffee. I’m okay, tell Ava not to panic. I’m okay.
I felt the tension ease as I picked my coffee up. My friends were coming; I was fine. The phone lit up, and I read the message.
Quinn:We’ll be there in ten minutes x
I got anXfrom Quinn Lawrence. I think I’d officially been friended, and I smiled at the ridiculous thoughts in my head. Sitting back, I drank my coffee as I waited for them, keeping an eye out the window for shady ex-janitors.
Ava and Quinn were out of breath when they came in, and I had the brief thought that Ava may actually have run to get to me. She flung her arms around and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe.
“I’m okay,” I told her gently as I extracted myself from her. As she stepped back, Quinn hugged me, too.
“I’m so sorry, Mia. This is all my fault,” Quinn apologized.
“No, it isn’t.” I shook my head as I sat down, with Ava close to me. “He’s an adult and made his own crappy choices. You didn’t say go scare the redhead, did you?”
“Why was he even there?” Ava demanded.
“He said he was collecting his last paycheck.” I shrugged. “I mean, he probably was.”
“It’s not even eight.” Quinn glanced at her watch. “The office isn’t open.”
“So, he was waiting outside and saw Mia and thought payday? Of another kind?” Ava demanded angrily. “I thought Onyx had taken care of this?”
“I did too,” Quinn murmured. She reached out and grabbed my hand.
“Tell us everything that happened,” Ava demanded, and I went through it, telling them what he had said.
“What a dick. You’re okay though?” Quinn asked me.
“Yeah, although I am a bit nervous,” I admitted as I looked at them both.
“Hopefully, we don’t see him again,” Ava said as she hugged me to her.
“Yeah, I hope so,” I agreed, but I looked at Quinn, and she grimaced. “Will he be very upset?”
“You left before you were supposed to?” Quinn said carefully, which wasn’t exactly a reprimand, but it had a slight accusatory tone. I knew now that I deserved.
“I thought he was overreacting, and the whole locker thing from last night, I didn’t want another football player . . .”
Quinn nodded as Ava dropped her head on my shoulder. “We’ll protect you,” Ava promised. “There’s three of them and three of us; it’s a level playing field.”
