You Saved Me Once Book 1 novel Chapter 45

“How are you feeling Alex?”

“I’m fine.” I say.

I’m driving to Adam, and Rochelle’s in the passenger seat. I feel her gaze on me.

“I’m worried for Adam.” I say.

The heater blows loud, I turn it down.

“Thankfully he’s not too far.” She laughs to lighten the mood.

“It’s kind of far. Thanks again, for coming though.” I say, she nods as a “your welcome”.

“You know, I’m glad you asked me to come. I haven’t seen you in almost two weeks.” She says, and I nod.

“Yeah, things have been crazy.” I say.

“How’s college prep going?” Rochelle asks.

“Good.” I lie.

“How’s Jeff?” She asks.

“Better.” I say.

“How’s Hayes?” I ask.

The car’s quiet again. I turn up the music to balance things out. It doesn’t take long for us to reach the university fraternity houses.

They’re big, loud, but not abandoned. There are a few people on the front lawn. They wave at us, some yell. Without the music, the fra-ternities would look gloom.

I can hear the music spitting out from each frat. I park at Ad-am’s fraternity house. The bass shakes my car.

Rochelle and I get out and walk up to the front door. There are people everywhere, touching, kissing, having fun.

We walk into the house, there’s warmth everywhere. Everyone’s so close, touching. The bass pulses our touching bodies and connects us all. The lights are dim, a dirty green. A group of shirtless guys bolt past us, they’re cheering. Everything smells like cheap alcohol; it burns my nose. The music is too loud to carry a conversation. I try anyways.

“Call me if you find Adam.” I say to Rochelle. She nods.

She flashes her bedazzled phone in the air. The dirty green lights bounce off of her phone. She smiles through the bass. Then we split up.

She starts downstairs, secretly following the shirtless guys that passed us not too long ago. I go upstairs.

There are three levels in this fraternity, I’m on the second one now. This level is still packed. The only difference is the music, and the light.

It’s now a dim, dirty purple.

I scan the room, each time I regret not bringing my camera, or polaroid.

Still no sight of Adam.

Someone hugs me from behind. It feels familiar.

“Alex.” His voice is heavy. I turn to him.

It’s DJ guy from Adam’s party. He looks sedated. His hair is greasy, some parts hang over his face. The purple light makes his dewy, pale face, look vibrant. The intensity of the purple almost hides the dark bags under his eyes, it could pass as eyeliner.

He keeps a lit cigarette in his mouth, it’s buzzing red. I watch the smoke float around, then disappear in the purple light. When I keep staring at him, he blows his cigarette smoke in my face. I nudge him.

“Do you smoke?” He asks.

“No!” I laugh.

He tries to grope me again, I allow it. One of his friends jerks him away from me. He disappears with the cigarette smoke.

“You still owe me a dance Richards!” He shouts. I can’t see him anymore.

My feet start to move and walk around the second level looking for Adam. I pass lots of doors, most locked, some unlocked, and even doors wide open.