Chapter 1 - Face off on Campus

Lacey's phone kept buzzing, and she had to stop ignoring it. She turned over in bed and reached for the nightstand next to her. She still had thick, blurry eyes. She made no effort to identify the potential caller. She picked up the phone reluctantly and swaps the icon to the "accept call" position.

"Hello…" her voice sounded groggy.

"Hey, Lacey," Detective Carl Jones responded from the other end. "Don't tell me you are still in bed," he added.

"Carl, is that you?" she asked in a low cracking voice like one with hesitation in her voice.

"Yes, it's me…" Detective Jones replied hastily without hesitation. "We need to talk it's very…"

Lacey emits a sharp sibilant sound. She couldn't let Detective Jones finish what he had to say. He hung up the call on him and tossed back her phone on the cabinet. She was still upset with Detective Jones from last night.

Detective Jones is over-protective since he met her. He couldn't help but call once more but before Lacey's phone would buzz and buzz repeatedly, she declined the call sending Detective Jones' call straight to voice mail.

Her hands were extended as she sat up. She sighed. Suddenly, her attention was pulled to the wall clock. "Fuck!" she cried out sliding down her bed.

It's past 10 in the morning and she was supposed to be up before now. She didn't get to sleep early last night. Having a lot of fun is what she can't get to miss on her 22nd birthday. Too bad she forgot to set the alarm for her morning class that was meant to start by 9:30 Am.

Lacey Williams was admitted into the University of New York to study Psychology. She got her acceptance letter two nights before her parents and older brother were murdered in their mansion. She needs to keep up with a good grades if she must retain her admission.

She couldn't help but did what she could to get ready for her morning class.

*****

Lacey moved furtively. Her footsteps were stealthy that no one even heard her walk through the back door of the lecture hall. She slowly took her seat at the back pew and quietly placed her backpack on the floor.

She bends and held the zipper of her backpack. As the slide goes over the zipper, the zipper makes a zipping sound drawing the attention of a Cat.

Cat turned around and glanced at her with both eyebrows raised to her hairline. "When did you arrive?" she whispered.

Cat is a close friend of Lacey. Although she missed Lacey's 22nd birthday, she has always been there for Lacey especially helping her to solve complex theories in their field of major.

Lectures have begun an hour ago before the arrival of Lacey. Prof Wong was taken them in a Sociology course for the semester which is one of Lacey's electives to pursue a major in psychology.

Lacey slightly raised her head and whispered, "Just now."

"Don't you make a sound when you move?" Cat whispered once more.

"Not always." Lacey snickered under her breath. She brought out her laptop from her backpack and placed it on the desk.

Cat turned once more rolling her eyes at Lacey. "How was the birthday?"

"You missed it." Lacey sneered.

"I'm sorry… I will make it up to you."

"Don't forget my gift you know I can't…"

Lacey's words were silenced as the sound of a dominant footstep echoed against the concrete walls of the lecture hall. When she raised her head, she saw Prof. Wong approaching.

His face wasn't bright. Standing next to Lacey, his shadow hovered over her. He cast a condensed gaze on her, "Why interrupting my class with your whispering?"

"I'm sorry Prof. Wong," Lacey silenced her reply. She lowered her head and started to pick her fingers.

Prof. Wong switched his attention to Cat, "I don't want to…"

The loud buzzing sound from Lacey's phone interrupted Prof. Wong. Before Lacey could silence her phone, Prof. Wong angrily snatched it from her. "You know the rules." He turned and started walking down the pews.

This has never happened to Lacey. Yes, she isn't a freshman anymore and College isn't a High School where classroom teachers will get to seize the phone of their students until their classes are over for the day. But Prof. Wong's rule is simple: 'silence or switch off your phone before joining my class. Failure to comply will result in confiscation.'

Lacey hissed silently as she watched Prof. Wong walked down the pew.

Cat turned and whispered, "You will get it. I assure you that."

***

Finally, Prof. Wong was done with his class. He packed his review materials into his laptop bag. As he was about to put his laptop inside the bag, Lacey walked up to him and politely demanded her phone.

"I know you still have two more classes for today. Come to my office and have your phone once you're done."

"This isn't a high school," Lacey blurted out.

Her response pissed Prof. Wong off. It's written on his face. He giggled with a fake smile that can't even get to Lacey as he opened his mouth to speak. "You're right. This isn't a high school and I would have loved to invite your parents to discuss how to discipline you. However, as you can see, no one has the time to host parents' and pupils' discussions in the principal's office because you know what? This isn't a high school. And you know what? I can't reach your parents where there are. They're too far from our world. And you know…"

Lacey couldn't let Prof. Wong continue to disrespect the memories of her late parents. She gnawed at the bottom of her lips and lashed out in anger. "You better watch your mouth!"