Present time - March 3, 2017

Alaina Harding

"I'll see you all next week." The professor said and a few people muttered goodbyes before exiting the classroom, all in a rush to head somewhere other than school. I picked up my books and held them in my arms before walking down the steps towards the door.

"Have a nice weekend," I told my professor for my medical Neurology class.

"You too, Alaina." He said looking up from his computer to give me a smile. I easily returned it before I headed out of the room. My books were hugged tightly to my chest as I made my way out of the building. Part of me was relieved to have that as my last class for the day since today was one of the days I had back to back classes.

I frowned as I dug one of my hands through my purse, trying to find my cell phone. Where did I put it? I wondered curiously as I tried digging through my purse with my right hand while my books rested in my left hand. As soon as my fingers tightened around the device, I felt a body run into me.

I winced at the impact but immediately apologized. "I'm so sorry," I said sincerely, raising both of my hands in defense as I looked at the male figure. I couldn't help but feel surprised as I made eye contact with him. "Talon?" I asked slowly, almost unsure that was him.

He didn't say anything at first as he stared down at me with a blank look. My eyes skimmed his face in surprise only for a second before I decided to bend down to pick up my books that fell. I felt my cheeks start to heat up at the thought of it possibly not being the guy I thought.

Maybe he didn't remember me.

It wasn't until I went to pick up my last book that a hand reached out and grabbed it. He simply glanced over it, letting his eyes skim the title of the Family medicine book before he stood up. I quickly followed his lead and stood up once again.

"I, uh, didn't know you went here," I tried again awkwardly, silently cursing myself for being like this with him. It had to be him. I would recognize that face from a mile away as I've only seen them a thousand times. Talon Cavell wasn't just a random person, he used to be my best friend. We grew up together and we're closer than ever, that is until he moved after his brother's death.

"Well, it is college." He said jokingly making me sigh in relief.

I felt the conversation die and I quickly continued talking, part of me not wanting to end a conversation with him already. "Yeah, but I never expected to really see anyone from home. I mean, Maryland is a bit of a distance from Chicago." I said and he shrugged. I let my eyes briefly skim over his figure.

He looked so different. His once long brown hair was shorter and even held a slightly messy look now. His brown eyes that use to be filled with a playful spark and his t-shirts and shorts were now replaced with buttoned up shirts and nice looking shoes and pants.

Talon Cavell was a special human being. He once was the person I confided in, the person I would jump for if asked to. If he wanted to jump off a bridge I'd be there to hold his hand or I would be the person to catch him at the bottom. He was the beating in my heart, he was the secrets I'd hide from my parents. He was the person I needed to live. Needed to breathe even.

That is until he wasn't.

I felt my cheeks warm up again as he raised an eyebrow as if expecting me to say something else.I let my eyebrows furrowed as I looked slightly up at him."Sorry, what?" I asked confused, feeling slightly unnerved now at his presence. How was I suppose to act around him now? He was different. He had a dark aura around him even with his bright clothes and I'm not even some aura reader either. He just gave off this bad vibe. He was different than last time I saw him, he was darker, yet on the outside, he was the same.

"I said, it's the closest college to my house." He stated slowly as if I was stupid. My cheeks heated once again as I shifted around my books.

"Oh, I feel so stupid. I forgot you moved to Maryland." I said with an awkward smile.

Not that he ever actually told me that.

"I'm surprised you moved so far." He said as I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"You know it's always been a dream of mine. I should be the one surprised that you'd even stay close. You always said how you wanted to go far from your parents."I told him and his face changed slightly.

"Yeah, that was before everything happened." He said and I chewed on my lip, unsure of what to say to that.

He suddenly chuckled, "What are we doing?"

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"You're Alaina. Alaina, who I practically grew up with. Why are we making this so weird?" He asked and I smiled slightly as his handsome figure.

"You're right." I nodded.

"I'm heading into class now, but how about we do something after and catch-up?" He asked and I easily agreed. I handed him my phone and had him add his number under a new message. Without looking at the new number, I locked my phone and put it in my purse.

"See you later?" I asked, slightly worried it would be like last time where he would just suddenly disappear again.

"See you later, Harding." He said sending me a wink.

I smiled slightly as I watched him head into the building. I pulled my bag up my shoulder more, about to head off. I was excited to go back to my quiet dorm before my roommate and also, best friend, Layla came back to the room. But more importantly, I was excited to see Talon again.

"Alaina!" A familiar voice yelled causing me to pause and not have enough time to think over my encounter with my oldest friend. I didn't think too hard on the matter and only looked to the right where the yelling came from. There I saw Layla running towards me with a wide smile. I sighed, I guess no nap for me.

"Alaina!" She repeated shaking my shoulders.

"Yes, yeah, I'm listening." I ensured as I broke out of my thoughts.

"You're not going to believe what Seb got me for our one year."She said with wide, dramatic hand motions. I smiled slightly, that was Layla for you. "Look!" She suddenly shoved her hand in my face, surprising me. I grabbed it and looked at the diamond ring that was attached to her finger. No, it wasn't an engagement ring, but it was some type of promise ring.

"Holy-" I muttered stopping myself as I stared at the rock in front of me.

"Right?!" She squealed pulling her hand back so she could look at it once more."He's so sweet."

"He's so rich," I said shaking my head as I looked at her ring once again with wide eyes.

"Loving, hot, and rich. What more could a girl ask for?" She said with a dreamy sigh as we started walking toward the dorms again.

"Sleep," I added causing her to roll her eyes.

"Oh, do you work tonight?"She asked and I shook my head already knowing she was going to ask for me to go to another party.

"I'm just having a nice night in," I said causing her to raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"You're kidding, right?" She said glancing at me as we headed up the stairs."C'mon, Lain, don't be a stick in the mud."

I held up a hand signaling her to stop. "Nope, no peer pressure. I'm not going, that's final. I've been going to different classes all day and it's already six o'clock. I promise I'll go to the next one."

Layla sighed, "Fine, I'm holding you to that." I lightly bumped her hip as she slid the key in, unlocking the door.

"Brighten up. You still have Sebastian to go with you."

"Yeah, yeah."

We entered our small dorm room and I immediately set my books on my desk before flopping back on the futon we had in here.

"I don't know how you just sit in here. I get bored after five minutes." Layla groaned turning in a circle in the spinning chair.

"That's because you, my friend, can't ever sit still," I said with closed eyes causing her to only grunt in response.

"What are you going to do anyways?"She questioned making me sigh. I sat up and looked at her.

"Two words: Netflix and Read."

"I really thought that was going to go somewhere else." She said disappointedly. A knock on the door sounded throughout the room making me smile slightly. I loved Layla, but she had a mild case of HDHD and it could get slightly annoying at times. I knew it wasn't her fault, but it was the terrible part of me that just couldn't put up with it at times.

"Alaina, get that! It's probably Seb." She said in a rush as she slid on a pair of jeans and a cute shirt.

"Why is he here so early?" I asked as she changed.

"We're going to get some food before the party." She explained and I nodded, doing as she asked.

"Hey, Sebastian." I greeted and he sent me a charming smile in return.

"I take it that she's still getting ready?" He asked and I nodded.

"No, no, I'm done." She insisted as she ran over to the door, hopping on one foot as she tried to slip on her other shoe. "Bye, Lain, see you later." She said blowing me a kiss. "Feel free to join us later if you change your mind."

"I won't, but don't hesitate to call me if you need a ride, no drinking, and driving!" I yelled down the hall, but she only waved me off. I shut the door and leaned against it. I slid down the door and finally took the time to think about what exactly happened today.

I passed my test today in neurology. I got to all my classes on time and I left all of them at the usual time. It was a normal day, yet somehow Talon Cavell ended up in it. Did I imagine it?

I shook my head, I couldn't imagine him like that even if I tried. He looked so different. He no longer had that jock look, he didn't look like the boy who use to run around with all the guys playing football. My head couldn't wrap around it and the worst of it all, his image was already disappearing from my brain unwillingly. I needed to look at it more, grasp this fact more. Talon was here.

My best friend was, here again, the only difference is, now his brother wasn't.