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My R
I hadn't meant for it to start this way. It was my first semester in the new college, a new town and no one I knew was here. For the first time in my short life, I was alone. My roommate had chosen to glare at me if I stayed for any longer than five minutes while conscious. So, I could not stay in my so-called room. Which left me to acquire a nomadic lifestyle out of sleeping arrangements – not that I could sleep with the festering eyes sending my heckles on edge. I learned that the drama clubs used the theatre 30 minutes before they were supposed to so that the glee club couldn't practice. I was able to find out that out social care teacher and the guidance councillor were friendly enough to bitch about students as they unceremoniously smoked confiscated cigarettes behind their classrooms. And I knew that the secure door of the B building wasn't locked at all due to a dare the tech nerds had to do, which left access to the roof. And I knew that after a while many kids found themselves on the rooftop as a way to think.
It was very rarily for a good thing.
But, somehow, it remained the quietest part of the campus. And that was where I'd stay to do my classwork. It was rare to run into anyone there but it did happen, so I tucked myself into the corner and let the AC unit drown out their woes.
I was a bit of a nosy person; I always had been. And when there were two people talking and I didn't know the back story, I was inclined to eavesdrop.
I knew better, but it was a bad habit.
It started with just hearing snippets, and then I began to remember more of the conversations. Before I knew it, I was starting to get a grip on the students and their problems before I ever met them. I would hear the same story from every angle, and feel my heart break along with any ill-fated couple that came up here. But I would stay clear and never show myself to the others.
That was until a voice started to repeat every few days. It didn't seem to like its own vulnerability. That was why I found myself shuffling further into my nook. I waited for her voice to strengthen. And I listened as she repeated her sentences with a slight alteration. At first, I thought her to be a drama student rehearsing her lines. But as the names came through on a couple of her repeats, I realised she was rehearsing, just for a confrontation, not a play. It wasn't done maliciously. I doubted there was a single mean bone in Chloe Beale's body. The girl was a walking smile, I suppose that was why I couldn't recognise her at first. It wasn't a push upon sincerity. She was looking to act simply okay.
"It's okay, I understand." She shook her head. "Donnie needs you. Don't worry about it." Her eyes closed and prolonged before she sighed. Her voice hushed. "I just wish you were here." She slumped against the roof wall, her arms crossed over her knees. "I just wish we could afford it."
She looked defeated.
And I felt my heart break at the sight.
Chloe couldn't believe it. She had come back from work to the Bella house with a stack of envelopes for the girls. Most, admittedly, were hers or Aubrey's, but she still had to track down another girl or two. When she came across loopy writing, calligraphy she didn't recognise, willed her attention towards it. She almost thought it was embroidered from the attention behind it.
She numbly fell into her chair, unaware of the group around her. The envelope fell open around her finger as she glided across the wax seal. Only a single piece of paper sat inside. It was folded equally in thirds.
"Dear Chloe,
You don't know me, but I know you. I know you work too hard for too little. And I know you sacrifice a lot for those in your circle. That is why you hear from me today. It is about time that you got something for your trouble.
With Appreciation –
-Phantom of
Building B"
Her fingers ran across the words as her eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes widened as she looked at the bottom of the letter. There was a small envelope, with two plane tickets. Her mouth fell open as she flipped them over. To Arizona. To see her family. She couldn't stop her gasp as her hand covered her mouth.
Aubrey took the ticket from her hand, her eyes reading over the note. "What does this mean?"
"It means I need to start packing," Chloe said, standing up. She left everything but the tickets and the note on her spot as she skipped her way up the stairs.
I knew I shouldn't be skipping class but there was something boring about intro to philosophy. I can't tell if it is the subject matter or just the foghorn voice of the teacher. Either way, I knew if I was going to survive the year, I would have to sit out of a few classes here and there. I slipped my earphones on as the teacher tried to garner my attention but I didn't turn around, not even as the door creaked a little as I pushed past it.
I was almost at the top of building B when I heard her. Chloe Beale. I was surprised to see her here, it wasn't the first time she had been here but it was the first time her voice was jovial. I slipped myself beside the final door when I realised she was talking on the phone. I was sure her hands would be lively moving as she exclaimed her happiness.
"Ma!" She practically yelled. "I know! Calm down, calm down." I could practically hear her roll her eyes playfully as she ran her hand through her soft red hair. "I was hoping to be able to surprise the others. Could you keep this between us and pick me up in the morning?" I waited for a breath before her jumps of joy could be heard. "Thank you, I love you!"
The door opened and shut as I threw myself further into the corner. I watched as the flash of red disappeared down the stairs. I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I took a look over the banister. Shaking my head, I moved towards the door. Something caught my eye. Pushing open the door for a better view, I walk to the small Tupperware. A small smile played on my lips as I lifted the lid, revealing cookies. There was a note, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Dear Phantom,
These are my mother's recipes, we would all like to thank you.
Love, Chloe"
I grabbed the box and settled myself into my corner, smiling.
The other Bellas had noticed the change in Chloe. Her steps were bouncier and the smile never dwindled, but only Aubrey knew where the newfound energy came from. And the blonde had kept it to herself, despite the lingering looks the others had given them, she remained steadfast in her secrecy. It helped that she was left pondering what was happening.
It wasn't everyday that someone gave away plane tickets, especially with a return attached, to a stranger.
It was why Aubrey found herself in front of the building, the wind whistling against the concrete. She had been waiting for the 'Phantom' to appear. She had hoped they would at least. She wasn't sure what they would look like anyway, and with each ordinary college student that walked into the building, she was starting to reassess her perspective on the person.
The door clicked, and Aubrey turned her head. A brunette had made her way towards the corner of the building, and settled in a ball, headphones covering her ears. Aubrey took a tentative step forwards before reconsidering. The girl didn't seem to pay attention to anyone around her – she had already walked into the side rail for the steps of the building.
Aubrey took her chances.
A tap to the shoulder and a soft smile had the girl pulling her headphones down to her shoulders. Her eyebrows rose as she did so, flexing the stud piercing. "Can I help you?" The girl asked inquisitively.
Aubrey felt the words leave her mouth. She knew she should have planned it out beforehand. Now the girl was looking at her weirdly. She was going to have to kill whoever put this thought in her head. "Do you know of anyone called 'Phantom' in this building?"
The girl's eyebrow remained fixed to its new elevation as she stared at her. "Should I?" Aubrey felt her lips thin. It wasn't the girl's fault that she was trying to find out the person behind the generosity.
"No I suppose not," She muttered as an apology. The girl shrugged and pulled her headphones back on, not giving the other woman another thought.
That day I hadn't meant to fall asleep on the rooftop. It was, thankfully, the middle of summer and I had eaten far too many of those cookies to move. Which left me to sleep in for my classes. That in of itself would have left me scrambling to right myself for the rest of the day. But somehow my legs decided to remain sleeping, leaving me to take longer to get through the quad for my last (first) class of the day.
And apparently, that meant I would be seeing a lot more of Aubrey Posen. The resident Phantom finder. I saw her in a different light today. Maybe it was because I knew she was trying to find me and I was starting to like the prospect of a chase. But she hadn't paid me much attention, opting to walk past me instead. I couldn't help but smile at that.
I knew I would have to be careful if I were to stay anonymous. I couldn't let her find me. So, I kept my head forward like I would have any other day and continued on my trek.
Chloe was grinning from ear to ear when she returned the next day. Her eyes were botchy and red but it didn't dwindle her smile. The redhead threw her bag against her bed as she fell into the plush pillows.
It didn't take long for Aubrey to make her way into the room after her, softly smiling at the colourful bundle on the bed. "Hey," She only received a muffled response in return.
The redhead shifted her head towards her best friend. They stared at each other for a pause. A shared moment of understanding spread between them. "Any luck finding them?" The blonde startled a look of indignation on her face before she continued her line of questioning. "We both know you were too curious to let it drop as a good deed. So, any luck?"
Aubrey scoffed, her head shaking her irritation forward. "No. They seem to stay true to their name; a phantom." Chloe sat upright and nudged her shoulder, giving her a cheeky smirk.
"I thought the point of a phantom was to not be seen,"
The blonde raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't stop people from trying though, does it?" The girl could only roll her eyes.
I was expecting to see Aubrey first. But, as it turned out, Chloe had decided to mention our exchange to others when she came back from Arizona. I could hear the hushed whispers as I walked past their lunch tables. The laughter as they joked about potential culprits behind it all. But I didn't pay head to any of that when I saw the glee residing in her eyes as she recalled all she did over the two days. It was enough for me to know I had done the right thing.
And apparently, enough to let others seek my rooftop for guidance. I had heard many stories. Some asked for help in classes, which I couldn't do without learning how to hack into the school systems – which lead to some anonymous tutor allowances sent to people. Others asked for relationship advice – something I wasn't well versed in. But, with the help of a certain film student, I was able to come up with elaborate to mundane ways of making people's day better. Fresh bouquet of flowers, some embarrassing serenades, even a well-planned picnic date for others. All done without naming a culprit unless the person who had come for my help had decided to admit to the help.
The campus was booming with more life than usual and even I couldn't stop myself smiling at the sign.
It helped that the people gave back certain tokens of appreciation. I didn't do anything searching for a reward, but it was nice that they showed appreciation and helped motivate me to do more. It was small things, mainly food. But there were sometimes nick-nacks and keychains. Pictures or songs. All as heartfelt as the other.
Aubrey couldn't help but be smothered by The Phantom. Everywhere she turned there was a hushed rumbling about The Phantom of Building B. People had roped different departments together to try and recognise the handwriting on the notes. But the closest match they had reportedly found was that of the 87-year-old physics professor who was too grounded in a wheelchair to make it up those stairs.
The blonde couldn't believe she was starting to lose her mind over this. It was a complete mystery and one she had wanted to solve. But as time passed, and her own curiosity got the best of her, she found herself unable to find many answers. Due to the surplus of people making their way to that rooftop she couldn't tell who was desperate for help and who had decided to be listening to other peoples' woes.
What she did hear through the grapevine was the tokens left in almost a shrine fashion for them. She wasn't sure if others wanted to leave things in appreciation or in a last ditch attempt to try and be able to spot them later on. But nothing came of it. Nobody spotted anything different with anyone and just continued on with their day as the mystery was just left as a niggling in the back of their head. As if it wasn't that big of a deal.
It was infuriating.
Even more so when she heard The Bellas discussing using The Phantom to cut corners in their room prep.
I practically skipped my way up the stairs to the roof. I wasn't surprised to see Aubrey there either. I was surprised to see her legs tucked under her as her arms remained wrapped around her knees. She didn't look up, she hadn't heard my steps towards the door. So, I chose to be stupid. I pulled my friend's stained hoodie out of my rucksack and pulled it over my head. The hood hid my hair and I slipped my T-shirt over my nose, thankful it was tight enough to remain fixed in place. And then I pushed the door open, startling her out of her thoughts.
My smile widened as she turned to look at me, her mouth falling open slightly as her eyebrows creased. My fingers ran along the edge of the door as I slipped onto the roof. My eyes watching her every move. "You're the phantom?"
My smile grew wider, and I was sure she could see the upturn of my cheeks as I nodded. I remained quiet as she searched for the right question to ask. Her eyes turned and toiled with possibilities before she settled on two words. "Thank you," She whispered.
I gave her a small shrug. I didn't have an answer for her. Even if I had, it wasn't like I could speak up about it. I was going to remain anonymous. She took a tentative step towards me, stopping when I took one step backwards. I could tell that she had intended to do more than what she was, so I was surprised when she repeated the phrase and moved to the door. Opening it with only a small look back at me before she continued into the building.
I waited long enough to know if she intended to come back to catch me. Nothing out of the ordinary happened behind the closed door. I smiled, shaking my head out of my t-shirt. I kept the hood up as I turned towards my spot, only to halt halfway through.
My shoulders sagged as it dawned on me what remained.
They were supposed to be having a Bella meeting. Well, they were having the meeting. It was just dragging on longer than both Chloe and Aubrey were expecting. Claire, the leader, had decided that they should all hold up in the middle of the cafeteria at lunchtime for this. Aubrey wasn't sure if it was to get The Phantom's attention. She did know it was the only time where everyone was guaranteed to be there. But it also meant that the blonde wouldn't be eating with so many people huddled around her.
It was why she couldn't help but sigh when someone sat on the other side of her. Chloe had already slid a portion of fries in front of her and remained to hover over her as she ate. But she didn't acknowledge the stranger at first. Her attention remained on the plan book that had been distributed throughout the group. But she still picked up the fry and dipped it to calm her nerves.
The redhead was laughing and giggling on the opposite side of the table, her own portion of food forgotten in favour of listening intently. Aubrey was sure that she was the only one to hear the small scoff from beside her. Raising her eyes to level the person with a glare, she startled herself to a stop.
She knew that hoodie. But the person wearing it wasn't right. His shoulders were too broad and his posture was more relaxed. She turned to his profile. A scruff, a poor attempt at a beard covered his chin and jaw, and a small smile played on his lips as he continued to listen to Claire. His dark hair was tussled under a plain navy cap. She looked over the hoodie again. It was the same, an array of paint splatter and glitter hung to its very being to the point she was sure that after a wash it would disintegrate.
"Who are you?" She whispered.
The man continued to look forward, but his mouth quirked to the side as he spoke to her. "I'm Jesse." He said cheekily as if it answered everything.
Sighing, she reiterated. "What are you doing here, Jesse?"
He shrugged his shoulders, the smile never falling from his face. "Just passing through." He reached into his rucksack that lay beside his feet. "But a little birdie asked me to deliver these to you on my way." He slid two items onto the table, one to Chloe and one to me. Chloe's was easy enough to see, her Tupperware box. One she had said she leant out so it wasn't too strange. But as Aubrey looked down in front of her, she could feel her eyes widen.
Her breath caught in her throat. She could recognise her own handwriting anywhere. But it was what followed after that stole her attention.
"Nice try, Posen. While I appreciate it, I didn't do it for the money. But I will heed your warning about the Bellas. Thank you.
- The Phantom"
She felt her face heat up as she was forced to slide the envelope of money into her pocket. She wasn't sure what to think about it. She had just meant to pay them back for Chloe's tickets. Granted she wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing about warning them of being used in the future. Looking back at the man beside her she decided to cut through his charade – and stop her thoughts. "You know the phantom?"
He shrugged his shoulders as he picked a chip from her plate. She didn't even try to swat his hand away when he reached for another. "They asked me for a favour."
"You have their hoodie," She rebutted.
Another shrug. "Said you would recognise it."
The blonde narrowed her eyes. There was something off about him. He seemed too confident and cheeky. Like he was trying to make her smile. He seemed to realise the path her thoughts were going, and his grin only widened.
It wasn't until the next week that I heard her. Her voice was quieter than Chloe's and a lot less sure. I had seen her around the quad before, I fell into the crowd that would watch her as she passed. I hadn't been able to stop the blush when she threw me a cheeky wink as she went.
Now though, once the door slammed shut, I was able to hear her voice. The uncertainty and nerves were apparent. And it made me frown from my perch.
"Stacie," I muttered the name under my breath as I watched the woman talk on the phone. She chewed on her nail as she paced. Her eyes swam with tears that tore their way down her cheeks.
I almost became one with the wall as I pressed myself closer to hear her end of the conversation. "What do you mean, 'you didn't think we were serious'?" She stated, her eyes pinching together at the other's answer. "Of course!" She hushed herself with a breath. "Of course, we were serious. I stopped seeing other people for you. Yes, that is a big deal for me." She chewed her cheek. "Did you ever care about me?" She scoffed. "How many were there?" I could feel her disappointment as she echoed a soft "Eight. You know what, go fuck yourself, Tom." With that, she snapped the end call button as if it were a flip phone.
I was expecting her to curl into a ball like the others but instead, she laid her forearms on the roof's border wall. Her head fell into her hands as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. She didn't try to catch the falling tears before they hit the brickwork.
I wasn't sure what drove me to do what I did, but I was sure the hoodie would work. It had worked the last three times – granted two of those were minor situations concerning vending machine money. But, I made sure the hood was up and that my face was hidden by the shirt. Slowly, I moved my class stuff onto the ground and off my lap before I arose. I didn't want to scare her.
I made sure to take light steps and not startle her. But her head was still in her hands and I couldn't be sure that she hadn't heard me approach. I could hear her muttering herself, and it only served to spur me further. I was careful not to touch her as I placed my hand beside her arm.
I was already looking towards her head, waiting for her to notice.
When she did, I couldn't help but smile at the confusion in her eyes. Her eyebrows pulled together and her lips pursed. I didn't say anything, I couldn't. Instead, I took her hand and led her to the floor, wrapping my arms around and cradling her into my chest. She didn't fight it, opting to curl further into me and release the floodgates.
I wasn't sure how long we sat there. But, the sun had long since gone down. My arm was numb from the angle, and Stacie had yet to move from her position. But it gave me the chance to think about what had happened.
The Bella party was an annual tradition but the whereabouts differed depending on the captain at the time. This year it was Claire's choice to host, and being the control freak she was about their 'image', she opted to host it at the local frat house. Drunken men and trampoline fights were enough to capture everyone's interest as they followed the suggestion blindly. It helped the house was known for their parties. It was one of the reason that everyone at the school was invited.
Chloe had managed to drag her along, despite her protests. But now, as the music reverberated around her ears and the alcohol coursed through her veins, she found that it wasn't too bad. She would have rather of been at the house with a book, but as she was a Bella, she was forced to attend.
It was also the perfect opportunity to ask Chloe about her new mystery man. She was sure he would be here. And she wasn't surprised when the slightly inebriated redhead dragged a brunette by the arm along with her to her spot in the corner.
"Aubrey!" Chloe greeted as she stumbled. She wasn't drunk but she was tipsy enough to find the blonde hilarious. Her blue eyes grinned with mirth. The blonde had to bite her cheek to keep the laugh in. "This…" She dragged out the syllable as she forced the boy beside her. "..is Tom."
She couldn't help her smile. The boy was cute, tall and lean. He had a mop of curls atop his head and a shy grin. Overall, a boy next door. And when he showed of his dimples, she understood just what Chloe saw in him. And, just as she was about to introduce herself, the song changed. With it, Chloe spun around in cheer. "I love this song!" Aubrey had to hide her laugh, she knew very well the redhead did not, in fact, like the song. But she had already started to drag the boy away despite his looks for help she only wished them luck.
Her attention turned back to the drink in her hand. She only had one that night. She was sure it would also be her last. It was cheap beer, diluted with jock sweat. Just as her face scrunched up at the thought, a figure sat beside her. A feeling she was starting to get used to. "Are you stalking me now, Jesse?"
A distinctly feminine laugh rang out instead.
She sharply turned to the other brunette who sat beside her. The laughter had died down into a cheeky smile. But Aubrey could only blink. She didn't recognise her. "Name's Stacie."
"Aubrey," She nodded.
Her eyes turned towards the room as her head tilted to the side. "Why are you here then, if you don't mind me asking? You don't seem to be having any fun."
"I have to be, Bella duty and all that." Looking Stacie up and down, she felt herself ponder the same question. "What about you?"
The woman seemed pensive for a moment. "I was told to be here. Got a letter inviting me and everything."
"A letter?" Aubrey asked in disbelief.
She could only chuckle as she pulled out the paper from.. somewhere. Aubrey couldn't tell where. But she took the offered letter and scanned it over.
“Kappa Beta Theta house, 8pm. I’d recommend a front row seat.
- Phantom of Building B”
"Of course…" Aubrey trailed off, her head shaking at the obsurdity. Looking at her watch she realised it was close to eight o'clock. "You're early."
Stacie smirked. "I wasn't sure where the front row would be."
"And you do now?" She raised her brow.
"You see the guy with the redhead?" Tom, her mind supplied. "That would be my cheating ex. I figure if the person who wrote me the note is who I think they are, then it has something to do with him."
Aubrey's blood ran cold. On the one hand, The Phantom would be here soon, but on the other, Chloe would be hurt.
"Relax, the redhead is cute, I can see why he strayed." Her eyes snapped towards the taller woman, and she was surprised to see that her brown eyes were sincere. A soft blush covered her cheeks the longer she looked.
Soon the music turned softer in volume. More conversations could be heard over the bass beat. Stacie seemed to take this as her cue to watch their 'stage'. Looking back at her watch, it was now time for The Phantom to appear. Not that she could be sure she would see the signature hoodie. She soon noticed the crowd start to part around someone as if they knew what was about to happen. A few phones were already recording, a few others had taken up the role of the photographer. The figure wasn't wearing their signature hoodie. Instead, they wore a well-fitting dress. The material hugged her curves as she walked. The heels were enough to elongate her legs, he hair cascaded down her shoulders and over the black lace mask. She might've been able to see her face, but she couldn't see past the mask.
She paused as she reached Tom. Chloe stood beside him, confused as to why the whole house was watching. "Hey honey, sorry I'm late but I had to pick up that thing you needed." They watched as he stuttered in his confusion. "Come on, baby, you know, the thing you texted me about a few hours ago? It really isn't that embarrassing. Everyone needs to get medicated at some point. But the doctor did say that if the swelling continues they will need to inspect it in person. So, we should keep up with the cream and it should clear up," The Phantom vaguely gestured between his legs, sending a rush of red up his ears as he faced all the on-lookers. "on its own with minimal damage." She turned to look at Chloe, who was equally flustered. All of the alcohol having drained along with her colour. "Good luck with this one, he's a handful." She turned away with only a wink towards the other woman.
With that, The Phantom walked out of the room.
Stacie chuckled. The sound was deep, and she could feel it vibrate beside her.
I couldn't believe what I had just done. It took me a while to come down from my high. The adrenaline pumping through my system had me shaking. I had just done that. In front of the entire Kappa Beta Theta house. It was only when I reached the bottom of the front steps that I let out a breath. My hands trembled as I reached up towards the wig, my mask was pulling it slightly. The pins pulled on my scalp; the extensions weren't the softest but I kept them in for now.
Jesse met me at the front lawn. The hoodie in hand, his eyes staring behind me. "Thanks."
He nodded but didn't look away. "Was he a good guy?"
"Two-timer," I replied honestly. His eyes moved to the house and back again, his chin jutting behind me, in a small warning. I had managed to slide the hoodie on before hands grappled onto my shoulders, turning me around.
"What the hell was that!" Tom roared. I couldn't help but sigh. He had a point with his anger, he didn't know who I was. He was going off instinct, which was why I didn't stop him from pushing me. My back slammed into the small wall beside the handrail for the stairs. I was thankful I didn't hit it face first. But his hands were tight against my shoulders. Both the hoodie and my skin were merging in his grasp.
I didn't try to speak. I waited for him to say something else.
I watched as his face contorted. The anger and the pain were clear in his expression. He was about to throw a punch. But his fist froze mid-swing, a new hand holding it tight.
I watched the struggle from below as Jesse held him back. His body pressed to Tom's. His grip was firm but not tight. He was letting Tom choose whether he wanted to fight or not. I was sure that if he had wanted to, Jesse would be struggling to keep the other back.
It was likely the reason Jesse relented so quickly when Tom nodded and took a step back. But, as he was starting to turn around to go back into the house, he quickly pivoted towards me, his fist raised. He had decided to throw the punch.
I closed my eye in time to soften the blow. I could tell that my mask broke under his knuckles as a sharpness worked its way into my cheek.
Aubrey wasn't sure why she was so eager to see Stacie after the confrontation with Tom. But she looked towards her friend first. Seeing the pain swimming in her eyes. Seeing the pain swimming in her eyes. She noticed her mouth moving and an accusatory finger move to the boy's chest before he all but ran out the door, pushing people as he went.
The blonde had rushed forward, her arms coming up to cradle Chloe's face as the other cried. She had been a mess before she could ask what was happening. A gentle palm landed on the middle of her back. "Come on, let's get her some air," Stacie whispered in her ear. The woman ushered them through the crowd and out the same door Tom had flung off its hinges.
Chloe was muttering as they walked, her hand gripping Aubrey's shirt. The tears were flowing freely down her face, her eyes were puffy and her voice was thick. They lowered her towards the top step, one of them on either side of the tearful girl.
Stacie didn't say anything, not that the blonde could tell. Her eyes were still trained on Chloe. It wasn't until a few minutes had passed and the tears had stopped that she finally spoke. "I'm sorry," The brunette's voice was ladened with enough remorse to turn them towards her.
"You didn't do anything," Aubrey tried when Chloe couldn't get the words out. "You were summoned here, you didn't know what was going to happen."
"Who are you?" Chloe finally choked out.
Stacie looked at her with unjust guilt. "I'm Stacie. Conrad. I am, was, Tom's girlfriend." She rubbed her arms in a nervous tic. "He broke up with me yesterday, or I broke up with him. I'm not quite sure." She rambled to herself.
Something broke behind the redhead's eyes. "Yesterday?" She questioned meekly. Her eyes turning downcast when she received a nod. "Oh…" Something about the news left her to stare straight ahead. Only briefing catching the man in question. And, with a new sense of ire, she moved to her feet and started her pursuit.
Both Stacie and Aubrey jumped forward, each taking an arm and stopping her from getting too close. They managed to wrangle her back in time to watch Tom pin someone to the wall. The signature hoodie sparked something in two pairs of eyes.
Stacie was the first to act.
Aubrey only followed in her wake.
I was glad that the hit hadn't hurt too much. Or I was just in shock from falling to the floor. I wasn't sure if my eye was swollen or not, but I knew it hurt to blink. But I was glad that he was being held back by Stacie and Jesse.
I could hear them talking to each other. It was mostly Stacie muttering dire threats and reasoning into my assaulter's ear. "You know you deserved it after cheating on all of us. Just leave before we get campus security involved." Was the last thing I heard her say before he shrugged them off him and stormed away.
My back was aching from the fall. My eye was still closed as I pushed myself into a sitting position. The hand on my back startled me and I jumped forward only to be pulled back by a familiar pair of hands. "You need to let me see it," Jesse's stern voice rang through my ear, leaving me to flinch.
"But the others…"
"It doesn't matter. You. Are. Hurt. Now let me see." I glanced at the other three women then back to Jesse and let his calloused hand slide the hood back down. What remained of my mask had fallen without its support.
I could feel his fingers ghosting over my face, his touch was soft, barely there. I hissed at the slightest bit of pressure, making him apologise and the others gasped. I was right, there had to be a cut. I opened my eyes, ignoring the slight sting. Stacie had moved to kneel in front of me. Her eyes were wide as she scanned my face. Aubrey stood beside her, her hand covering her mouth.
"It's you," The blonde gasped.
Everyone looked towards her. "You know her?" Chloe cut through. She didn't seem as distraught as she had done.
Looking back at me, Aubrey answered. "Yeah, I asked her about The Phantom the day after you got your tickets. She said she didn't know." I could feel the accusations burn deep into my skull. "You lied to me."
"I was trying to stay anonymous." I had to keep the bite from my voice as the pain increased with each word. Her blue eyes flashed at my tone.
Stacie moved forward and cupped my face, careful of my cheek. The warmth from her hand was a stark contrast to the cold night air. "Thank you,"
I looked between the other two girls before speaking. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you, Chloe," Tears speckled her eyes but nothing more came.
She shrugged her hand towards me. "S'kay."
"Who are you anyway?"
I sighed and slumped against my knees, still too disorientated to try and stand up. I looked at the through my eyelashes, almost squinting as a sharp pain worked through my head. "My name is Beca Mitchell, I'm a freshman." I tried for a cheesy smile, but I am sure it came out as a grimace. "This is Jesse… he's my friend."
"Why'd you help us?" Aubrey had to know. It had been nagging at her for too long not to get her answers now.
I looked at her simply. "Because I could. I would've wanted someone to do the same for me but… Anyway, I heard Chloe when I was hiding on the roof, and it just happened." I nodded to Jesse to help me up. His arm wound up under my shoulder as he leaned my weight onto himself. He was almost buckled at the knees to match my height. "I better go get cleaned up. Please, don't tell anyone it was me…" I pleaded with them until I saw them reluctantly agree. I was lucky enough that no one else had been around for this. But, I suppose, I should be thankful they had left all the kegs inside the house.
"So, that's it?" Stacie asked in disbelief, watching the two friends walk off. "We just leave them to it?"
Aubrey scoffed. She knew the woman was right. She wasn't ready to let The Phantom go just yet. "I can find out where she lives."
The other two nodded their agreement.
They had kept their promises. I had seen them in passing but not one of them had stopped me, nor had anyone been suspiciously nice to me. I knew they had kept this secret to themselves. Even after a month.
But the moment I saw a note pinned to my roof, I knew something had changed. The sight of requests wasn't new to me, but there was something... different about this one. Something which I couldn't put my finger on.
I pulled the paper down and read over it. It had been printed; no telltale signs of handwriting gave away the culprit.
"Phantom,
We heard you loud and clear. It might not be to the same standards as yours, but please accept our appreciation with this;"
Stuck to the paper was a key. A simple dorm key. I played it around in my hand for a moment before returning to the note.
"We noticed you avoided your dorm, we figured you might appreciate this more than your current one. Building C, Dorm 341.
- Your admirers"
I couldn't believe them. The gesture was nice. More than nice, it was considerate.
With a smile, I slid the note into the pocket of the hoodie and turned on my heel. It was time to find my new home. When I entered the building, I stalked my way down the corridors, watching all the numbers count upwards. Until finally, the room. I played with the key some more before sliding it into the lock.
The door popped open without a bother, not even a screech. I was not expecting the sight that before me. Everything was here. Everything I had left with Kimy-Jin was here.
The books on my shelf were here. The sheets were the same ones I had on my bed, the same posters and pictures. The same everything. Even down to my desk setup. My computer and mixing board were identically paired up. Even my records seemed to be in the same order. The only difference was a letter that sat upright against the monitor.
It was the same style as on the roof. But this one was handwritten. Names were scrawled across the sheet with carrying messages. As I lay on my new bed, I let myself glance over the largest one.
"Thank you, Phantom."
That's what they were. Everyone I had helped. Every minor thing I had done was documented in a collection of appreciative notes.
It was enough to bring a tear to my eye. I fell against my pillows with a sigh. My mouth spread wider than I ever had smiled before.