Chlorine

What Alice hated the most was when she combed her hair because her ebony hair was slightly frizzy and just annoyed the hell out of her. She checked the clock on her blue painted wall and noticed she almost likely to be late to her first class that day. Grunting, Alice pulled up her messy hair into an apathetic attempt and grabbed all of her things from her desk. Quickly locking her room, she plugged her headphone and played some song from her music player.

Darn it. She glanced to her watch and she’s running late, it took like five to seven minutes’ walk from her dormitory to her faculty, and she better be hurry. She couldn’t risk missing her History of Art class that day because she had to give her assignment. She was glad she chose to wear sneakers so she could easily run. Alice rushed and didn’t care if she repeatedly bumped shoulders with people that gave her glares and complaints. As she almost reached her building, she ran across the road and was sure nobody drove her way, yet mainly because she forgot to take off her headphones and didn’t care if anyone was on her way. She was running late!

Meanwhile a motorcyclist was driving on his above normal speed and unexpectedly saw a stupid girl with headphones was running into the street. He horned angrily at the passing girl, yet she probably didn’t hear anything. In order not to strike the girl directly, he hit the brake so sudden, it made the motorcyclist lost his balance and couldn’t help but jumped off his motorcycle. He quickly pulled his motorcycle down on its side on the pavement, scrapping it. The motorcycle skidded and flipped, hitting a shuttle bus near to the traffic lights.

Alice dropped her messenger bag to the ground with jaw hung widely open. People gasped and gathered around to the poor motorcyclist and asked if he’s okay.

Alice cursed and noticed that the motorcyclist was injured while he was pinned by his big motorcycle.

“Holy hell!” she said again and figured that it happened because of no one but her.

Shit! Alice inwardly cursed when she saw people huddled the poor motorcyclist. Alice hurried to them, watching with widened eyes at the mess she just caused. People around him helped him to lift the motorcycle off from his body, his clothes were torn and Alice was sure there were tons off bruise on his body. The poor guy took off his helmet to reveal a guy in her age with disheveled blonde hair as he threw his hostile look at Alice.

“YOU!” he barked as he pointed out to Alice. “You fucking did this!” his voice was hoarse and Alice was sort of afraid with the death look he gave to her. People turned their head to Alice while she just stood there deadpanned.

“I’m… I’m really sorry… I don’t know what’s happening. I’m truly sorry.” Alice whispered, she approached the motorcyclist and kneeled in front of him.

“You came from out of nowhere! Didn’t you see that the traffic light is still fucking green?!!!” the guy supported his body with his left hand and tried to get off but the attempt failed as he let out a loud painful cry. “Fuck! My arm!” he gripped his left arm and grunted.

“I think you need to get to the hospital, young man.” A man advised as he helped the guy to stand up.

“No way, man. I don’t have insurance and can’t afford the doctor.” He hissed as he rubbed his arm.

“Here, let me help you to the student health center. I’ll take care of it.” The guy lifted his head and turned to Alice who offered to help. The guy growled and helplessly leaned on Alice as she supported him to walk.

“But, my bike,”

“Ryder? What the hell happened with you, man?” Alice and the guy turned their head as they saw Teddy Sheldon jogged to them. “Oh, hey Alice…” Teddy smiled weakly and he looked uneasy when he saw Alice.

“You know this chick? Good. The chick needs to pay the damage.” Ryder blurted and glowered to Alice.

“Look, I’m taking you to the health center, am I not? I said I’ll take care of it,” Alice scoffed cynically and lowly muttered ‘jerk’. Being late to her first class had already put her into a sour mood let alone to babysit a whining brat of a guy. She was trying to help, yet the guy keep pushing her buttons.

“I mean my bike, you seriously need to pay all the damage on my bike.”

“Oh that’s it? I don’t need to bring your sorry ass to the clinic? Fine, I’ll get your ugly bike to the garage and I’ll let you die here.” Alice pushed away Ryder’s body and let him wobbled on his feet while he threw his profanities at the irked Alice.

“Whoa.. whoa..whoa, guys? Chill, will ya? What happened, seriously?” Teddy came in between Alice and Ryder and tried to separate their childish fight. Ryder gave Teddy the detail about what happened while Alice tried to explain that she had already said her sorry and would pay the damage yet Ryder always lost it when Alice opened her mouth and so their argument didn’t end there.

“Guys!” Teddy stopped the bickering Alice and Ryder, “Listen Ryder, don’t worry, I’ll take your bike to Omicron. No need to worry, it’ll be safe there. And Alice, you need to bring Ryder to the clinic now. We’ll sort this out between you two, mkay?” Teddy assured as he skidded to Ryder’s busted bike.

Ryder muttered his ‘whatever’ as Alice sighed in defeat, she walked to Ryder and helped him to walk by slinging his right arm on her shoulder. Ryder hissed when Alice gripped his left arm, “easy,” followed by Alice’s low sorry.

The student health center wasn’t really far from where they were. It just took three minute walk to there but what made it harder were Ryder’s complaints along the way, besides he’s also heavy to drag. Alice was aware that she missed her class, it sucked for her because she put huge effort on finishing the assignment that due for that day. Yesterday, she pulled the all-nighter just for an idle faith. Alice inhaled and exhaled heavy breath as she reminded herself.

Once the clinic came into the view, Alice felt relieved. She just wanted to get away from Ryder soon, because his presence made her mood turned worse.

“Y’know, I missed a class because of you,” Ryder started again when they finally walked inside the clinic.

“Tell me about it, psh.” Alice rolled her eyes and dropped Ryder on the seat in the waiting room. Luckily, it didn’t take long until a nurse came to them and asked about their problem, which was obvious since dried blood spilled on his face, bruise on his face and his torn clothing. After the registration, with the help from the nurse, Alice brought Ryder to the examination room.

The doctor greeted the two of them and quickly let Ryder to sit on the examination bed while the doctor examined him and asked questions. Alice sat in front of the doctor’s working desk and folded her arms over her chest. The doctor examined Ryder’s arm, checked the swelling on his left arm that caused Ryder cried as the doctor took a note of his observation.

“We’ll be running x-ray test for you. You will follow the nurse to have the x-ray test, Mr. Cooke.” The doctor helped Ryder to get off from the bed and led him to the nurse who was waiting.

“Is it bad, doc?” Alice asked when Ryder was out with the nurse.

“I think it’s not as bad as it seems, but we have to wait for the result.” The doctor stated calmly and took some notes again.

Alice checked her watch and sighed, it’s been ten minutes she waited for Ryder. She was sure that having the x-ray test would cost quite expensive, and she must pay for it. Suddenly, she felt a headache, because she wouldn’t just pay for his medical treatment, but she would be responsible with Ryder’s bike.

Damn it, what would she tell her mom about it? Her living expenses were already expensive, and she couldn’t ask for more because it would just make her feel bad. Ugh, she seriously needed to get a job for this.

The door opened with Ryder walked staggering. The nurse who walked by him handed the doctor the x-ray result as he examined it.

“Mr. Cooke, you have dislocated elbow here…” the doctor pointed what it looked like Ryder’s elbow’s x-ray picture. “There’s no major bone injury, I’m afraid you will need nonsurgical treatment.”

“Whoa whoa whoa… what did you say? Dislocated elbow? You gotta be kidding. Sure, it hurts like a bitch, but I don’t think it will dislocate…” Ryder interjected as he rubbed his left arm.

“I’m afraid yes, Mr. Cooke. We will give you nonsurgical treatment and after that we shall arrange appointments for physical therapy to avoid future problems.”

“Can you fix it fast, doc? Because I’m going to swimming match next month, so that means, I gotta train and use my arm, both of them.” Ryder gulped as he tried to explain his situation.

“I’m afraid you have to step down from the competition, Mr. Cooke. You cannot compete with your condition.” The doctor explained and took a prescription note as two man came into the examination room. “We are going to give you nonsurgical treatment, Mr. Cooke, can you stand next to the bed, please?”

“Doctor, please. This match is important for me, I can’t bail on it.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you, Mr. Cooke. Can you stand there, please?” the doctor said as he ignored Ryder’s pleas. Alice swallowed the lump on her throat. She felt bad for Ryder, it’s all because of her that he couldn’t join the competition. When Alice watched Ryder, he threw a dirty look at her as if he’s ready to murder her from where he stood.

“Mr. Cooke how do you choose your payment method? Do you have insurance?” The doctor said as the two practical male nurses injected Ryder with pain medication.

Alice’s ears perked up, “I’ll take the payment, doc. Can you send the billing to my student account?”

The doctor nodded and gave Alice the detail what treatment and the cost that Ryder would take in the future. It would need a hell of money.

---

Alice sat on the waiting room as she heard Ryder’s moan and painful cries meanwhile she was crying inside because 200 bucks just went to her student account’s tab. She really needed to find a job because she was sure as hell, Ryder’s physical therapy session would cost a lot too, and don’t forget the damage on his bike.

Fuck! Alice inwardly cursed and raked her fingers on her scalp in frustration.

Abruptly, she felt her cellphone vibrated and Anita’s text popped up on the screen.

‘Where R U? Im at cafeteria, get here ASAP’

Alice rapidly tapped a reply to her sister, ‘Cant do ryt now.’

‘U will tell me what guy gave U the ride last nite. Is he hot?’

Alice groaned and rolled her eyes at the text, she decided to ignore her and waited for Ryder to come out. She didn’t hear his cries again, means it’s already ended. Alice thought about the text and her mind came to Gustav’s face. Yeah, he totally had the face.

Someone walked into the clinic and his face looked familiar. Alice jerked up on her seat when she saw Gustav slowly sauntered to the receptionist. At the same time, Ryder got out from the examination room with pained face and had already worn a sling on his left arm. Gustav moved from the receptionist to Ryder as Ryder greeted Gustav.

Great, Gustav knew Ryder. Alice silently groaned.

Alice listened to their conversation that went along with ‘what happened?’, ‘sucks for you, man’, ‘my bike’s busted’, and ‘I hate my life’. Alice scoffed, she thought Ryder was such a cry baby. Ryder pointed a finger to where Alice sat and there Gustav turned his head and recognized the poor younger Waterville with defeated look.

“We meet again, Alice Waterville.” Gustav crookedly smiled and took a seat next to her meanwhile Ryder sat on the other side.

“I guess everybody knows this chick but me, yeah?” Ryder piped in.

“Yeah, the chick has a name. Alice.” She glowered as she gathered her things into her messenger bag.

Ryder muttered cynical ‘whatever’ while Gustav laughed. “You know, I don’t peg you for the person who would do such things to Ryder. I mean look at those nasty wounds, you look badass, man.” Gustav reached for Ryder’s face and patted the bandage on his forehead.

“Fuck off, man. It hurts like a bitch.” Ryder swung his left arm and whined when he felt the pain through his body. “Remember Alyssa, you’re the one who caused this damage on my arm. You will pay for it because I can’t join the swimming match and don’t forget about my bike!” he proclaimed and stood up.

“Whoa, you bailed out, Ry?” Gustav joined and got off from his seat.

“I have a fucking dislocated elbow, dude! Ugh! And you know what’s worse? I’m a fucking leftie. How the fuck I will manage to take notes from the lecture? How the fuck I eat? How the fuck I jerk off?”

Alice made a face at the last one and followed the boys out from the clinic. Sure as hell, Ryder’s a sicko. Ryder kept going with his hard life being a temporary disabled person while Gustav tried his lame speech to encourage Ryder that it’s gonna be fine.

“Hey, I’m gonna head out, will it be okay?” Alice asked and made the two boys stopped at their track and turned their head over the shoulder.

Ryder frowned and fished out his cellphone, “Give me your number,” Gustav snorted and couldn’t help but laugh it made Alice burned in embarrassment. How she hoped it was Gustav who asked for her number instead of Ryder.

Effortlessly, she gave Ryder her number and sulked when she walked away from the boys. She turned her head over her shoulder for a moment to cherish the way Gustav walked and sure as hell she got a nice view of his ass.

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Alice just strode out from her class when she saw Anita was sitting with her Kappa friends under the umbrella tree. That day was cold and a bit windy so Alice put on some light cardigan to keep her warm. Alice quickened her pace, hoping that Anita wouldn’t pester her about the initiation ceremony and the guy she’s curious about.

Her name was called, she knew she failed to blend with the crowd so Anita wouldn’t notice her. Instead of stopping, she kept her pace meanwhile Anita caught her.

“Sissy! Hey, what’s the rush?” Anita asked while Alice made a face to her. Anita zoomed to her younger sister with wide smile plastered on her remarkable pretty face.

“I..uh got to go to the library, I’ll catch you later.” Alice lied to her brown haired beauty next to her while she walked.

“Oh come on, you haven’t told me anything about the initiation ceremony, and the guy, and the incident with Ryder Cooke. Tell me everything!”

Alice’s eyes widened when Anita mentioned about Ryder, “how do you know about Ryder?” the day hadn’t ended yet and her sister had already known about the accident. How did the news spread so fast?

“Everyone knows! You gave the poor boy disabled arm!” Anita giggled and pulled Alice so they could sit on the bench next to the fountain that Alice was about to pass. “Tell me! Dear God, it’s only two weeks and you’re already being a hot-boys magnet!” Anita added and patted Alice’s shoulder proudly.

“He’s not disabled, it’s temporary and it was an accident! What do you mean hot-boy magnet? You think Ryder hot? Go date him and see yourself that he’s a whiner, an annoying one at that.”

Anita let out a girlish giggle, “Well, he’s hot. Do you like him?”

It made Alice let out an automatic disgusted sound, “Ew, no way. No, thank you.” Alice wasn’t lying, he didn’t like Ryder, their first encounter was a huge turn off for her but he couldn’t lie that Anita was right. Ryder was attractive, but only when he shut his fussy mouth.

“Okay, so how about the guy who gave you a ride at initiation ceremony? Who was it?”

At this, Alice’s heart beat leapt up Alice needed to calm down. Just by remembering Gustav’s face, it could make her face turned red. “Just some nice guy,”

Anita suddenly let out a squeal, “oh my God, you like this guy?!”

Alice’s eyes bugged out, “what? No! I just met this guy like what, two or three times.” Yet, it already made Alice smitten, but Anita couldn’t know that. It’s just a juvenile crush that felt like high school puppy love. Gustav was fine, nice and charming wouldn’t begin to cover it. The first time he rescued Alice from the drowning had given her butterfly on her stomach. It’s just a silly crush, but who could be blamed? Gustav was just gorgeous. Girls must be lining up to get into his pants.

“Can I have the name, please?” Anita pressed with twinkle on her eyes. It was evident that Anita knew something was happening with Alice.

Darn it, Alice. Pull yourself together! It was just some guy. Alice told herself.

“Gustav,” when his name rolled down from Alice’s mouth, Anita’s eyes widened and gasped then she let out his infamous squeal. People who were passing by threw a look at Anita and it made Alice embarrassed, sometimes Anita just lost herself and it’s embarrassing.

“Gustav Ricci gave you a ride in the middle of the night? That’s romantic!”

Alice groaned and couldn’t hide her flushed face, “it was a pity ride. He was just being nice, that’s all.” Alice told Anita calmly. She knew that if she told Anita she had a slight crush on Gustav, she would flip out and would embarrass her in front of Gustav which was a big no-no.

“Well, he’s kinda cute. I’ve never talked to him, but let me tell you, girls go crazy for him. He has the look but not my type though. Did you ask him for a date?” Anita’s tone oddly toned down and sounded calmer.

Alice rolled her eyes, “I don’t like him, Anita. I just met him and he’s just being nice to me.”

“Oh Alice, you’re such a freshman. When a frat boy being nice to you, he has an agenda, maybe not every frat boy does that. But Gustav Ricci has reputation. Besides, he’s really out of your league, you’re not his type. I know exactly what his types are,” Anita explained but then her cellphone rang and quickly picked it up.

Alice couldn’t believe that Anita could say something like that. Gustav was out of her league? She wasn’t his type? Sure, it kinda left a pang on her heart and she realized that she still looked like a high school girl, she didn’t wear anything fancy like any other girls, but did Anita really need to say that aloud? She’s practically implying that Alice was hideous.

She wasn’t hideous! She was in normal height for girls, she had breasts in normal size, though her hair was kind of frizzy and messy, she still could pull it off right. She wasn’t sure if her smile was attractive because of her unordered teeth but she realized that she had wonderful hazel eyes. She knew that her choice of clothing was ordinary unlike Anita, but at least she was comfortable with it and her clothing was just casual. She didn’t go goth, skimpy, nerdy, or anything, just casual.

What made Anita think like that? It’s like name dropping your own family, though she’s half related to Anita.

“I love you too, Logan.” Anita ended the line with a click. Did she just say the ‘L’ word on the guy she told Alice like a week ago? She said they weren’t dating.

“You’re dating that Logan guy who I met at Omicron’s party?” Alice couldn’t help but wondering.

“We’re not, we’re just… y’know…” she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as Alice let out a disgusted sound. She seriously didn’t need any details on Anita’s love escapade.

“But you just dropped the ‘L’ word to him? Are you sure, you two aren’t dating?”

“Oh come on, Alice. The guy needs ego boast, it will make the sex better. Trust me,” Anita winked as she hoisted her bag on her shoulder and stood up. Anita checked her watch, “I’m gotta go to class, you will give me details about Gustav, kay? I’ll ponder your door tonight and let’s have sisters’ quality time!” Alice got off her feet as Anita crushed her into a hug.

Alice rolled her eyes, sisters’ quality time, her ass! More like snooping around on Alice. Anita pecked Alice’s cheek and ran back to her Kappa friends as they walked to their class.

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