All about you, part 1 (Love & Hate series #1) Read Free Page B

breeze ruffling my hair. Hopefully it will stay like that for the rowing trials. The campus is full of students who are enjoying fresher’s week; subconsciously I know that we should join them. Today we’re starting our first year of university, at the age of nineteen and I suppose we need to have some fun, too. Dora suggests that we grab a quick takeout from the local shop.
    While we’re eating, Dora chats away with the group of girls from Essex. Her father lives there and she practically thinks that she is an Essex girl now. I’m amazed at her ability to make friends so quickly. They aren’t particularly bright, but Dora already has them swirled around her small finger, throwing a bunch of complements. It takes her a while to introduce me, but that’s just her and I’m used to it by now.
    “India, listen, Louise is telling me that there is a party going on, like ten minutes walk from here.”
    “Dora, come on, I’m not in the mood,” I complain, knowing that I would be the one that would have to take her home. She doesn’t know her limit.
    “It’s fresher week, we don’t have to wake up early tomorrow.”
    I shake my head, but Dora is right. My Internet is not even hooked up yet, the TV is still in the car, and I left a lot of my DVDs at home. There is nothing to do in the apartment.
    “Fine, let’s go then,” I mutter. She squeaks, jumping up and down.
    The Essex girls are giggling. Shortly after that, I’m introduced to Louise and Nicole who are studying nursing. They are also freshers just like Dora and me. My friend talks about everything and anything assuming that her new company is willing to listen. She knows that I know everything about her and I’ve already heard all of her unbelievable stories.
    Ten minutes later, we walk through the alley, hearing the loud music from the semi- detached houses. A group of people are outside holding bottles of beer. One of the guys is puking. I think about that evening with Oliver just before Christian died and tense automatically. I tell myself it’s just another random party, that there is nothing to worry about. And I feel better—right until I step inside the house notice him there.

Past
    It was just after the funeral that I realized that it was Oliver’s fault. He could have stopped Christian if he would’ve shown up like we arranged earlier. After Christian’s death, I started pouring my hatred down on people that I cared about. I was popular at high school; everyone wanted to hang with me. It took me two years to get on the cheerleader squad and five to gain a scholarship. My mum used to laugh that I was born under a lucky star. Although things were great from the outside, inside I was rotten. My soul had been infected by Christian. He loved me, cherished me—and he destroyed me. The worst part was that he was dead and I couldn’t get my revenge.
    Dora and I and our posse were walking through the corridor laughing about same lame joke that Dora told us. We had a little break between classes, so we were just about to get lunch, when I saw Oliver standing by the vending machine. His long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He was staring at me.
    Whenever I looked at him I remembered everything from that day at the party. His posture, his hands, and his long hair reminded me of Christian. Two guys from his year passed him and pushed me towards the wall. He didn’t react. He allowed people to get away with whatever they wanted by acting weak, We’d drifted apart after Christian’s death, after the funeral when I told him that I didn’t want to be part of his life anymore.
    He took the can of coke from the machine and started walking towards the stairs.
    “Hey, Ollie, is it true that you couldn’t get it up with Marisa?” I shouted. I didn’t know what came over me then. It was like I became a different person. As soon as those words left my mouth, a warmth filled my stomach and the pain eased. I’d found a new way of dealing with those