Five Lovestories

"Wait, you're what?" I asked confused.

Obviously, Bim wasn't excited to be back, since she refused to answer. Our impatient principal Anne stomped har heel in the ground as a sign that told us "I don't have all day, let's just get this overwith". I stood up and shoved the blankets off me. Finally my pulse was diminishing, and I wasn't shaking anymore.

"Where did you.. how.. when.."

I had so many questions, I just didn't know how and in which order I would ask them in. But Bim was still mute, so Anne sighed and filled in with a harsh stare at her

"I found her outside the college, under a small roof, with food, blankets and God knows what.. I don't know what has happened between you two, or what got her there, but if this ever happens again, you will be expelled." She said and looked at Bim.

"Expelled?!" She winced. "Only because I can't agree with this fucking bit.."

Anne looked shocked at her, and Bim probably figured that she was going to have to use a more mannerly language to win our principal over, so she went silent in the middle of her sentence, and cleared her throat before she could continue in a nicer way.

"Me and Kathleen here had a fight, or well, she was the one that started it, but whatever, and I just couldn't stand the thought of us.. sleeping.. in the same room.. I needed to get out of here, and well.. I'm just.."

"You're just what?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"I.. I still don't know if I'm ready yet.."

A new lightning followed by a close thunder came next, which only meant one thing, that the storm was very close now. The rain was still pouring down, and I didn't know if it was depressing, mixed with the silence we now had in the room, or cozy, since rain still was rain.

"No. This is your dormitory, you're staying here, and I don't give a single care about your personal issues. Fix it, talk out, get a therapist, do whatever you desire to solve this. But don't let it affect on others, students, teachers, your work here, your schedule. Have I been clear?" Anne asked.

Bim rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Fine.. Whatever.." She mumbled.

Bim walked in, dropped the bags on the floor and shook her head in obvious dislike. I realized that I didn't even know how to describe my own feelings, but my final conclusion after a few seconds of thinking was that it was a mixture of happiness, excitement, confusion, fear.. Of course I was thrilled to have her back, but how would things go? I mean, we had had a pretty mature conversation in the hallway earlier that morning, but was her kindness just an act? Maybe she still was as pissed when she left.
Just when I thought our principal was about to leave, she locked my eyes.

"And you.. I need to talk to you, abou-"

She was interrupted by a signal that started to play in the middle of her failed attempt to talk without screaming. I knew it wasn't mine since I didn't recognize the tone, and Bim didn't bother to look if it was her cellphone ringing either. That only left us with..

"Yes, Anne Kimberley? Yes. No, the large ones that we discussed. Yes. So, fix it?! I don't know, somehow! Okay, thank you."

I couldn't help myself to ask, even though it would basically mean that I sounded like I was snooping in her private life.

"What was that about?"

But she didn't snap at me, or even sound mad. She just sighed and squeezed her phone down in her purse again.

"A few clients." She said. "It.. it has been a break-in, in a students dormitory, the other night.."

Both Bim and I gasped.

"What? W-what happened?" I asked.

"Nothing really, the theif got caught and ran out."

"Did he get anything?" Bim asked.

"Yes, he got a pretty valuable neckless."

I gasped again, but Bim tried to remain calm.

"Do you guys know.."

"No, we don't know who it was. And the victim has already told us that she was fine, and that we didn't need to make a big deal out of it."

"So let me guess, you decided to buy new security cameras?" Bim asked, which caused me to smile.

But Anne didn't like the sarcasm, her face got even more tense than it already was.

"Yes, we have decided to buy new, tech security cameras, to cover up every corner with. But now, there seems to be a problem with the delivery.. It's hopefully solved by tomorrow.. Anyways, I was on my way to inspect a place outside the college to put up one of the cameras on, and that's when I found you, which leads me back to this.."

She took a step closer to both of us, and just like in the movies, a new flash of light lit up the room, and as she started talking, the thunder rolled in in the background.

"Do not screw this up, girls. You're very lucky to be here, so don't blow it on a stupid fight. Take this chance."

I nodded, and to my surprise, I looked over at Bim, and she was doing the same. Anne looked a tiny bit happier, before she quickly brushed her tight skirt and her white blouse, to straighten them out. She was just about to leave, when she opened the door again.

"Girls, you have nothing to be afraid of. This college is a safe place."

And with that, she closed the door, and left us. Together. In the same room. Sure, it was a few awkward seconds, but Bim quickly took up her bags and threw them at the bed.

"So.. where, exactly, have you been? When did you get caught?" I asked.

But apparently, Bim wasn't up for my questions. It might have been the "spooky" weather outside, but when she slowly turned around, I was scared.

"You know what? You stay out of my life, and I'll stay out of yours. Deal?" She said and held out her hand.

I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, but something like a quick chuckle came out of my mouth after I denied her handshake.

"Wow, what happened to you? You were so nice this morning, and now?.." I said.

"Nothing happened, Kath. I wasn't being nice, I was being polite. I didn't know that that bitch would find me tonight, but if I did, I would've gotten out of there sooner!"

My eyes widened. What was wrong with her?

"You really hate me so much? Still?"

She opened her mouth, but slowly closed it as she saw my honestly heartbroken expression. It wasn't like I hadn't been sadder than just that moment, but still, hearing her say that, which forced me into answering that.. It was pretty tough.
But then something weird happened, a miricale if you ask me. Bims angry face softened and she sighed, and she plopped down on her bed. Slowly, she slided her hand along the soft blanket on her bed, and her face was priceless. It looked like she was remembering everything, taking it all in. It almost looked like she was.. happy to be back.

"I don't hate you, Kath.."

A shiver went down my spine. Oh my God, what did she just say?

"I just.. simply don't like you."

Well, I thought, that's better than being hated. Despite that she just said that she didn't like me, I still felt happier than ever.

"I.. I gotta go to sleep.. Haven't slept properly since I left." She said and practically crashed in the bed.

She might go to bed, I thought. But I knew one person who wouldn't sleep tonight.

Notes