Willow
After a long night of sitting in bed, trying to find anyone who can fix my laptop, a feeling of sadness washes over me when I notice the light through the window. I spent the entire night looking for a solution, but I couldn't find any.
My phone rings, and I stare at Chloe’s name before taking the call.
“What do you want?” I hiss.
“That’s a nice way to speak to your favourite sister.” She says nonchalantly.
“What do you want, Chloe? If you don’t tell me, I’m going to hang up.”
“Sheeesh! I always thought you were a morning person.”
“Chloe!”
“Okay. We will be scattering Marcel’s ashes next week.”
I sigh, and fresh tears sting my eyes. Marcel was going to come to my presentation and cheer for me from outside the auditorium. “And you are telling me this to brag?”
“No, I want you to come.” She responds.
“Oh! You want me to face Ella so that she can humiliate me? You know she hates me.”
“You calling mom by her name?” She titters.
“She is your mother, not mine.”
“You are so dramatic,” she chuckles. “I’ll be there to make you get along, I just want you to come.”
“Does she know?”
“No, but I know you want to be there.”
“Thanks, I’m going to have to decline that offer.”
“Just think about it. I’ll text you the details.”
I hang up and take a cold shower before hurrying to the police station.
When I walk in, I find the mean officer, focused on some paperwork. I decide not to even bother to ask how far they are with the investigation or retrieving the videos.
“I need my laptop. I don’t know where I’m going to get help, but I will get help. I’m not going to sit around and wait for you to try to solve the case.”
“But we are doing all we can, I promise. Your case is our first priority.” He looks up at me.
“Are you okay?” I eye him suspiciously.
“I’m fine. What do you mean?”
“You were so rude to me last night. What happened to you?”
“So, that’s why you told your boyfriends? It must be nice, dating a professor and that other rich guy.”
“And you doing it again.”
“I’m so sorry, please don’t tell them. I’m begging you.” His voice shakes a little.
“Tell who?”
“Your boyfriends.”
I decide not entertain his weird remarks. “Will my videos be ready by tomorrow?”
“I’m not sure, I’m trying to make everyone work faster, but unfortunately you can’t get the laptop, it’s the law.”
I walk out of the police station with my shoulders sagged, and feeling more powerless.
“I heard what happened to you. Are you okay?” Lucy looks at me with fake sympathy.
“Don’t act like you care. I don’t have time for this.” I walk past her.
“But I care. When I get the funding to continue with my project, you are going to say if your work wasn't stolen, you would've gotten the funds.” She follows me.
“You witch! You thought I was going to give up? Forget it, I’m going to the Dean’s office right now.”
“To do what? To whine?" She chuckles." They will think you are using this little break-in as an excuse to get more time to finish your research. Everyone who uses technology knows that they have to back up important information.”
“Lucy!” We both turn to see Liam approaching us, and glaring at Lucy.
“Willow and I were just talking.” She brushes his arm, but he pulls away. I stare in confusion.
“Let’s go babe, she is not worth it.” Liam pulls me by my hand, and I walk with him.
“What’s happening? Did you have a fight?” I glance at him.
“No. People in love are the ones who have fights. She is in love with me, but I always remind her I love you.”
“Really?” I eye him skeptically.
“I will always protect you, Willow. You are mine!” He growls strangely, like an animal.
“Are you okay?” I glance at him, confused by this renewed sense of protectiveness. He hasn’t been affectionate since I witnessed that wedding at the park. My lips curl up, and I throw myself into his arms for a hug. “I almost thought I was losing you,” I whisper.
“That would never happen,” he kisses my forehead. “I promise to try to be a man who deserves you from now on. I will do everything in my power to prove myself.”
“Babe, you don’t have to prove anything.” I hold his hand as we walk to his dorm room. “But I need your help, nonetheless.”
“With the videos? I had to hear this from people around campus. Why didn’t you come to me?" His face falls. It’s my fault for not being a good boyfriend.”
“It happened last night, I wanted to see if I can do it myself first.”
“That sounds like you. You should always come to me for anything. I’m doing all I can to ensure they speed up the process. They already retrieved half the videos.” He unlocks his door.
“Thank you. I was going to ask you to help me steal my laptop, so that I can take it somewhere to get fixed.”
“I have people in the IT department, and a PI is investigating this case.”
“Thank you, babe.” We sit on the couch and I lay my head on his shoulder.
He kisses my forehead, and then he suddenly flinches.
“What’s wrong?” I look at him in confusion.
“Can’t you smell it? The strongest cologne on Earth? He probably bathes in cologne.” He winces.
“Who?” I look at him, and around, wondering if he is crazy or seeing a ghost.
“Who else? Leo.”
The knock on the door follows almost immediately. Liam opens the door, but he doesn’t let him in, and they speak in hushed voices. I get up to see what is going on.
“I see you got back together with this dufus.” Leo raises his eyebrows and I notice his jaw tightening.
“Leo, please. I can explain.”
I recoil at the look of shock that Liam gives me, but I also get confused by why I said I would explain to Leo. He is not my boyfriend.
“Explain what? What’s going on? Why do you suddenly have to explain yourself to him?” Liam’s angry voice bombards me with questions.
I stand still between Leo and Liam while they glare at each other without saying a word.
“What do you want?” Liam snarls at Leo.
“I wanted to help her retrieve her videos.”
“That’s what I’m doing. I’m working on it, I found people to help us out.” He puts his arm around me.
“Oh! Really?” He chuckles. “And how long is it going to take for her to get it?”
“It will be before the presentation, so back off.”
“Guys, come on.” I anxiously look from Leo to Liam.
“The presentation is in two days. How sure are you that your people will be done by then?” Leo's focus remains on Liam.
“I said I’m working on it!”
“You forget one thing, as much as you have money and connections, I have more money and more connections. I know more people than you.”
“I see what you trying to do. I can’t believe you want to buy her love. She is mine, and we love each other.”
“Wow! Why are you not an actor? You are really doing a good job.” He chuckles.
“I’m really still here.” I interject.
“I expected better from you.” Leo’s gaze on me is soft, he gently pulls my hand and places a memory stick on my palm. Then he gives me a faint smile before walking away.