First Day of college

I have been dreading this day. I never had to be in a situation where more than 2 males are present. But today there will be hundreds of them surrounding me everywhere I go.

That alone is enough to give me sleepless nights. I haven't been sleeping well for the past few days, because every time I close my eyes I feel like I am surrounded by men.

I wake up screaming which alerted Beth and Jace came running down from the stairs in the garden. He has a key to my sliding glass door which he uses to open it up.

He immediately switches on the lights and come towards me. But he never touches me. I had sleepless nights for 3 years after that incident.

I managed to overcome that and now it's all coming back again.

I was so frustrated, one night I shouted at Jace to send me back.

"Will you give up so early? Will you give up without a fight? won't you make your parents proud? I promise I will not let anyone touch you until and unless you want them to. Ok," every time he encourages me more.

Every time he promises not to let anyone come closer to me.

Repeating the same thing over and over again makes our brain think it's true and we believe it. That must be the reason why I am not having a panic attack yet.

We are sitting in the car for the past half an hour, Jace, Beth, and Natalie waiting for me to make a move or have a panic attack. I am doing neither.

Finally, Jace opens his door and got out. He comes to my side opens the door for me. I come out slowly and hesitantly.

Taking that as a cue both Beth and Natalie gets down too.

"It's showtime," Natalie says from beside me.

"Remember, I will not let anyone touch you, let it be a male or a female. Ok" Jace encourages softly.

I take a deep breath and nod my head. Indeed it is, I have a doubt she knows about my phobia.

We make our way towards my first class, I know Beth is taking the same classes I do until she decides on her major. Natalie volunteered that she is sharing the same classes as us too.

I wonder who she is to Jace. He shared with her about my phobia which is my issue.

She might be his girlfriend. I remember Aunt Joey's shocked high pitched voice when she asked him about his girlfriend.

She must have known about Natalie too. I don't know why, but this gives me a burning sensation and I don't like Natalie.

I don't know the root cause of my dislike towards her. But I don't like that she caught Jace's attention. I don't like that she became friends with Beth, my bestie. I don't like that, she is pretty.

I hate myself for that though and immediately scold myself. How insensitive of me. She seems to be a nice girl that's why Jace likes her and Beth seems to love her company.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I bump into someone. This must be my worst day, because that someone is a guy.

He was holding a to-go coffee cup in his hand which accidentally spilled onto his redshirt.

"Shit" he curses and glares at me.

"Are you blind?" he snaps at me.

Then his eyes roam around my body. He gives me a creepy smile.

"Norman" he calls his friends. Where a group of guys surrounded by barely dressed girls look in our direction.

"Hot" one of them gives a catcall, all of them making their way towards us.

"Bad move Dude, really a bad move" Natalie comes and stands in front of me blocking their view.

"Who are you. Her bodyguard?" he mock her.

Everyone's attention is on us. My palms become sweaty and start to shake. My breathing becomes labored.

I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. I started to hyperventilate. But I recognize this perfume. It's Jace.

My blurred vision clears, and I feel like it's easy to breathe now.

That's when I notice, the guys who were coming towards us are walking backward without taking their eyes from Jace.

The guy on whom I spilled coffee is standing there his mouth agape with wide eyes fear evident in them.

"What's happening here" his deep voice penetrates through the crowd and they scramble away from the place.

Even those guys too are running away as if they have seen a ghost.

"Sir.. sir.. sh..she spilled coffee on my shirt sir" he explains the situation while pointing his finger towards my general direction.

"Hmm.." Jace hums with a calculated look on his face.

He takes a few steps towards the guy, who becomes pale looking at Jace.

Jace tears the guy's shirt into two halves.

"Here, now problem solved. If you don't have a shirt, you don't have to worry about coffee stains" he hand over the now torn shirt back to the guy.

That guy takes it without any complaint.

"This girl belongs to me. No one is allowed to touch her. If anyone dares to come even a touching distance of her, then I have to come again. It's not good for you, now is it" Jace warns that guy with a possessiveness even I am surprised to hear it. That guy nods his head vigorously.

If he doesn't stop nodding his head, he might suffer a neck injury.

"Now go and spread the news, that I am back and not to mess with what's mine. If anyone doesn't understand what it means to offend me, make them understand In whichever means necessary. You understand" he instructs that guy.

"Yes sir" he salutes like a soldier and scrambles away from there.

"You alright," he asks me gently.

The mean and cold Jace from a second ago vanishes completely.

"I am fine. I thought you left" I whisper.

"I promised you that no one touches you. Didn't I" he teases me.

I smile a little. But curiosity gets the best of me.

"Why are they scared of you," I asked him.

"I studied here too. I used to participate in illegal fights. I was the champion then, undefeated. No one ever dares to cross me. I was quite popular. I still am. Good to know" he said amused.

"Oh" I responded lamely.

"You don't have to talk to them. If you find anyone offending her again, first punch them and ask questions later" he says to Natalie.

"Yes sir"

"Sir? Why are you calling him sir? " Beth chimes in.

I was confused too. Isn't she his girlfriend?.

"I am her bodyguard," she says matter of fact.

"Her what?" Beth asks shocked.

Shock is not the only feeling I get.

Relief is the most prominent feeling I recognize first, which I don't understand. I don't know what I have to be relieved about. Then comes shock.

My bodyguard?

I have a bodyguard now. Why I need a bodyguard is beyond me. But, Jace must of felt like I would feel much safe with one. Which is true.

I am swimming in deep and I know waters here. I need as many alleys as I can get.