Hot hands close around my throat. My breath comes out in wheezes as I try to scream for help. The walls start closing in and black spots dot the edge of my vision.

Not again. Not again. I won't survive this time.

My heart jackhammers in my chest and I fear it will burst out of my skin.

He looks down, eyes blazing with anger and as he opens his mouth...

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"No..."

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"NO!!!" I shriek, sweat dripping off me.

My eyes fly open in shock. My heart begins to slow as I remember where I am and where that incessant beeping is really coming from.

I stretch my heavy arm from underneath the covers blindly searching for that damn alarm clock Lexi must have snuck into my bedroom while I was sleeping.

Smart-ass, but God I love that girl. I know she's just looking out for me like she has since we first met in the guidance councillors office on the last day of high school.

My dreams have been surfacing again since college orientation.

Stress, it's just stress triggering it.

And I make a mental note to cut out all creepy shows from now on.

After successfully knocking over both my guitars and stack of vitamins my fingers finally find the annoying alarm clock and switched it off.

Peace finally, thank the Lord tap dancing Christ!

I'm usually up at the butt crack of dawn but today's different. Today is the first day of college and I'm dreading it with every skerrick of DNA in my body.

"Quinn?" Lexi taps on the door.

"Are you up or did you turn that fantastic alarm off in your sleep?" I could hear the slight smirk in her voice.

Maybe if I just pretend I'm still asleep she'll leave without me.

"Quinn?" the door opens with a little creak and I lay still squeezing my eyes shut, willing them not to twitch like they do when you pretend to be asleep, jiggling around like they're dancing underneath your eyelids.

"Up and at 'em! We've got classes to go to and people to meet... and by 'people to meet' I mean some seriously hot college boys to gawk at." She says in sing-song as she jumps on my bed and starts tickling me until I have no choice but to start laughing.

"Okay, okay Lex I'm getting up." I sit up in bed as she takes the edge and puts her hand near mine.

She knows I don't really like to be touched so she's careful to keep a little distance. She doesn't know everything about my past but definitely knows more than most.

"You okay? Are you nervous or something?" I didn't want to worry her because her over protective instincts would kick in and she'd be smothering me all day long. She can't help it though, she was the oldest of 3 girls so it was in her genes to be nurturing.

"Only a little bit. I'll be fine though, really." I try to put on my happy face as she squints her eyes to determine whether I'm bluffing or not.

"Seriously Lex, I'm okay. First days are always a little nerve racking, especially in a totally different state. I'll be glad once I settle into the rhythm of things." I playfully punch her shoulder.

"Plus, we have to check out the gym. I'm dying for some proper workout equipment. No offense, but your resistance bands and door handles aren't a good mix." I giggle as I remember over the summer when she was working out with the bands wrapped around the door handle and they slipped off and came flying at her face. She had a swollen lip for a few days. Her face scrunched up into a scowl but her face doesn't stay straight for long.

"You have a point there girlie." Flicking her dark brown, shoulder length hair at me. She smiles as she leaves the room, shaking her head.

"Make sure you wear something cute. First impressions and all." She turns back and winks, insinuating to dress well for the boys.

Ha... boys. Not on my radar for this year. I want to focus on school and earning my way into a well paying job. I don't have time for distractions.

"We've got an hour. Chop chop Quinnie."

Ah Lex, always the maternal organiser.

After much debate I settle on a black slacks, knee-high socks, converse, a long sleeved top paired with my scarf and of course my finger-less gloves.

I quickly run a brush through my tangled mop of hair and apply my usual amount of eyeliner to my eyes. I don't want to attract any unwanted attention today. I am just like every other student here. I am invisible. This is my new start. I can do this.

As I'm preparing my morning shake Lexi moseys out of her bedroom in the girliest outfit possible. A bright pink sweater with a white floral tulle skirt, white strappy heels, smattered with gold jewellery and her dark hair straightened to her shoulders

"Ahhh you look so cute!" she squeals, then does a spin so I can complement her.

"The guys aren't gonna know what hit them Lex." I smiled.

"Yay!" she clapped excitedly.

"You finished? We better get a move on babe." Grinning, Lexi grabs her car keys and starts towards the front door.

"Here we go." I mumble, throw my cup in the sink and follow her out of the dorm clutching my dog tag around my neck nervously.

CHAPTER 2

I don't know where to look first. There's so many people in the hallway I can't even walk without getting a shoulder to my boob or a knee to my thigh. After about the fifth elbow my books are knocked out of my hands and all over the filthy floor.

You know how in the movies they make the girl look all graceful and some hot guy comes and helps her with her books, giving a little smile and from there on out sparking romantic-ness between them?

Yeah, no... that didn't happen.

I crouched clumsily picking up my books and not even one guy offered to help.

To be fair, I did want to be unnoticeable today. I guess I did a pretty good job.

Carefully rearranging my books in order of the classes I was having today I stood back up.

The bell rings and the couples stop making out to say goodbye. A group of guys punch each other playfully and go their separate ways. The barbie girls in their butt cheek bearing shorts give each other air kisses, pop their legs and make their way to class chattering along the way.

I finally find Lexi through the dissipating crowd since we got separated when we were signing in. Waving I make my way to her, weaving around people.

"God Lex I was starting to freak out! I have your class schedule, here." I hand her an A5 piece of paper, highlighted and underlined in all the correct places.

"You're just a tad anal retentive, you know that?" she laughs, amused.

"Haha, Okay bitch... We even each other out." I tease. She knows I don't actually think she's a bitch. She actually likes the nickname when I say it. She finds it endearing, weirdly enough.

"Come on, we have English together first, it's this way." I lead her to the lecture room we're in, following the map I printed out the night before.

Unfortunately, we're of the last few people making their way into the class so all the seats have been taken apart from the front few rows. It makes me a little nervous knowing that the lecturer usually picks on the front rows first to answer questions.

It's fine. I'll just have to listen extra hard so I don't embarrass myself. Oh, God I hope I don't embarrass myself. Calm down.

"Quinn Eden?" Mr Robinson calls. I stare, wondering what question I was just asked. Lexi elbows me and whispers

"Role call dummy."

"Oh, ah, yep." I raise my hand and lower it pretending to scribble on the book in front of me. A girl in one of the middle rows giggles.

"Awake much Eden?" She sniggers popping her gum loudly. I look back and she's one of the 'barbies' from the hallway. I brush it off and turn back around trying to concentrate on the lecture. Mid-lecture Lexi was tapped on the shoulder and passed a note. It felt like high school all over again.

I was the ugly duckling and Lexi the beautiful swan. We didn't speak much back in those days, but that's because I wasn't very social. I was the nerd who spent her free periods hanging out with the teachers discussing extra credit assignments.

After high school finished I thought the note passing days were over but by the look of Lexi's face, she was ecstatic to open up that past time again. Smiling like a giddy little school girl, it's hard not to be happy for her. She's the most bubbly thing, you can't not love her. Nudging my arm she passes the note to me.

Just wanted to tell you that you look gorgeous today.

I saw you at orientation a few months back and never got a chance to introduce myself. I'm Zach =)

I glance at Lexi and give her a big smile. She beams, light brown eyes wide, fanning herself with her worksheet to cool her sudden flushed cheeks. I try to stifle a laugh and pretend to stretch as I look over her shoulder.

Not bad, blonde crew cut hair, blue eyes and a killer smile. I give her a wink as my silent approval and she starts writing back like a mad woman.

She's going to fall for him hard, I just know it.

Lex is one of those girls that is easily trusting and falls in love at the mention of a compliment. I make it my duty to be the sensible one, always grilling her dates to make sure they're good enough for her.

Once over the summer break while Lexi was getting ready in her bedroom, her date arrived early so I sat him down and played 20 questions.

"What are your intentions with my friend? Did you bring protection? Do you have a girlfriend?" I kinda felt sorry for the guy because by the time he and Lexi left for their date he looked like he was ready to run out of the apartment.

She was so furious with me after that, but it turned out that he was a major double timing douche bag anyway so she forgave me. Trust doesn't come so easy for me. Both a blessing and a curse.

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