AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, that’s mine.” I pout.
He ignores me, taking a huge bite out of the pizza, eating half in one bite. “Yum,” he mumbles around the mouthful of food.
I shake my head and lean down to kiss him before taking a bite out of my own slice.
“Well, here’s to putting two dickheads away for a very long time. May their arses be sore for life, and may they be made to shower twice a day,” CJ toasts, raising his can of pop in the air.
I choke on my bite of pizza, earning a pat on the back from Cole. Once it’s swallowed down, I stare at CJ, in shock, before bursting into a fit of laughter, along with everyone else. I can’t believe he just said that out loud. In a room full of people.
“I cannot believe you just said that,” Allie muses.
“What? Everyone was thinking it; I just said it,” he says, eating his pizza with no shame.
“Well, cheers,” Rosie toasts, holding her can up to CJ. He smacks his own against it.
“Cheers,” he hoots.
“Not normal,” Cole mutters.
“You can say that again,” Allie comments, watching CJ like she has no idea what she’s doing with him. It’s cute.
“Ah, what the hell, cheers,” I toast, joining in, making Cole laugh into the back of my neck. It doesn’t stop him from holding his can up, toasting with us and everyone else.
“Put the tele on,” Jordan says, suddenly serious. “Now,” she barks. Allie jumps up from the floor, turning the TV on.
“ITV,” Jordan whispers, horror in her voice.
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I ask, but she doesn’t answer. Her eyes are transfixed on the television.
I turn my attention to the tele when the news reporter’s voice carries across the room. Everyone is silent, watching the screen in horror.
“Breaking news! A brutal stabbing took place earlier this morning between 2am and 7am at Whithall University’s private halls. Christie West, aged nineteen, was found dead by her roommate. Sources confirm the roommate stayed out at her boyfriend’s, not returning until this morning, when she found the young woman deceased.
“The victim’s last known whereabouts were at club Sin, located in Whithall town centre. We’re advising anyone who may have witnessed anything, who can help with the investigation, to get in touch with the police using the helpline at the bottom of the screen.
“Over to Henry, who is live at the university right now…”
The sound of Henry’s voice trails off when Allie turns the volume down. All of us sit completely stunned, none of us speaking as we watch the police swarming the university, yellow tape everywhere.
“She’s one of the girls who drugged me,” Alex announces, his face pale when a picture of Christie pops up on the screen. She’s a little younger in the picture, but not by much. Maybe a year or two younger. My own face pales as I take a look around the room at everyone else’s stricken faces, Rosie’s more than anyone.
“Are we safe in the halls?” Rosie shakily asks, her gaze flittering from person to person.
“I don’t know,” Becca admits, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.
“Isn’t that your hall?” Allie asks, as the reporter shows the front of their building block.
“Yeah,” Rosie replies, shivering. This must be hard for her. It just seems to be one thing after another. I’m beginning to wonder if this place is cursed.
“You can both stay here for a few nights, if you’d like? I’ll stay over at Cole’s so you can share my bed,” I offer, smiling gratefully when Jordan sits next to her, comforting her.
Rosie glances at Becca, seeking that approval or advice thing again, breaking my heart. It reminds me of everything the poor girl has gone through.
“You don’t mind? We don’t want to put you out,” Becca asks, glancing down at her phone when it beeps. “Ellie said we can grab our things. The police have closed our floor down for a few days, pending investigation. We’ll have to be escorted by the police while we grab some things.”
“Where will everyone else on your floor go?” Jordan asks, glancing over her shoulder at Becca.
“The university is putting them up in a hotel nearby and paying for travel fares. They’ve only closed our floor off, so I guess it’s what, forty people, give or take?”
