Ecstasy

Chapter 4
Anthony picked up his tray after paying for lunch and waited for Dawson to pay for his. He scanned the main dining hall, noting all the little groups of people who seemed all busy in conversation with each other. One person in particular caught his eye, a young woman sitting alone at the far end of the hall. She was blonde, and wearing all back, the handkerchief ends of her velvet top hanging at the side of the table as she read her book and ate alone.

“Where are we sitting oh genius of contemplation?” Anthony snapped back to reality from his daydream, as Dawson waved a hand in front of his face trying to get his attention.

“Oh sorry, anywhere you like I guess.” Dawson scanned the room, and fixed his eyes on a small table outside in the sun.

“How about out side, means you can smoke.” Anthony nodded and started to make his way through the crowds of people in the dining hall. He was just about to walk into the sunshine when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Hi, I’m May Abey. You’re the roadies aren’t you?” Anthony took a step away from the woman’s face as she stood up straight in front of him.

“Hi, yeah I guess you’d call us that.” Anthony replied a little cautiously just incase she’d got the wrong people. Her face lit up at his reply, she glanced down at her friends, giving them little hand gestures.

“Would you like a seat?” She gesture towards two seats around the table, that the other girls had pulled up from another table.

“Well actually I was kind of hoping to have smoke outside.” She smiled up at him coyly, as Dawson leant over his shoulder and smiled seductively at the young woman.

“Excuse my friend he gets quite attached to his fags, you’re welcome to join us though.” Anthony glared at Dawson as they made their way out into the courtyard. Dawson just blew him a kiss as they sat down, around the table, Anthony lighting up and taking a well-earned drag.

“So do you have names?” May asked as she crossed her legs over and relaxed back in the chair, her friend turning the chair around and sitting on it backwards.

“We do indeed, Dawson Paige nice to meet you May and…?” Dawson put on the charm as he looked at May’s friend who was staring at something inside. May rolled her eyes and jabbed her friend in the ribs.

“Oh sorry, Jessica Jacks or Jess or JJ what ever suits.” Dawson laughed and shook both their hands before taking a swig of water out of his glass.

“You must be the famous Fox then?” May looked across at Anthony who was half chewing on his sandwich and smoking his cigarette at the same time. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he tried to swallow so he could answer.

“No I’m not famous just well known, and it’s Anthony Fox.” Anthony finally replied before ing ing his attention back to the woman inside, who was now intently sketching something on her book. He was far to interested in the mysterious woman inside to bother about the two little miss preps in front of him. Dawson sighed and smiled at the girls as the table fell silent. He knew that Anthony wasn’t interested but he could at least acknowledge their existence at least for the sake of a quick fuck later on.

“So where are you staying on campus?” May inquired feeling a little uncomfortable herself.

“Masters house….” Dawson was stopped as the girls both gawked at him, like many other people had done when he’d mentioned their accommodation.

“My god you poor things, there’s a room free next to our dorm if you ever want it.” May jumped in quickly, causing Anthony to return to the conversation at hand.

“Excuse me?” Anthony inquired at what she’d just said. All this secrecy was driving him mad.

“What you haven’t heard the stories?” Jessica looked across at May who swallowed hard and leant in further to the table.

“They say it’s haunted. Some scary shit happens at that place, last year some guy committed suicide in one of the bathrooms, he cut himself up. Now if you ask me that’s not suicide, that’s murder.” Dawson swallowed hard and looked across at Anthony who was just nodding and not taking any notice of what she was saying. “They’ve got all these freaky rules, to protect their guests, but between us most of the guests never leave. No one’s allowed up stairs because they say it’s stained with the blood of the massacre that happened just after the UNI was first opened. They found seventeen slaughtered bodies up there. All this freaky stuff happens as well, like moving knifes and appearing figures.” Anthony shifted in his seat, as he remembered the knife in the banister. He glanced across at Dawson who was a white as a sheet.

“Any more little ghost stories?” Anthony bit back sharply putting out his cigarette with his foot, trying to act calm. May smiled at him and shook her head, he was so naive.

“Yeah and nearly all the people who have stayed there, only a handful have stayed more than a week. Either run out of there a mumbling wreck or killed themselves. The weirdo’s that live there are freaky, they seem to be the only one’s who can handle it. So what does that tell you?” May bit sharply back at Anthony who continued to eat his sandwich now aware that Dawson had his hand firmly attached to his knee under the table.

“It tells me that until I get proof I’m a skeptic for idol bullshit.” The two girls leaned back in their chairs, smiling at both Anthony and Dawson.

“You’ll get your proof then you’ll be next door to us in no time.” Anthony laughed and shook his head, these two had gotten to him already. “Fuck, she’s on the move.” All of a sudden the two s sts stood up, as did most of the people in the dinning room, only a few remained seated. Anthony looked across at Dawson who just shrugged his shoulders.

“What’s going on?” Dawson inquired as the young woman that Anthony had been watching, walked past the table. Everyone’s eyes firmly on her as she all but floated around each table and bag in the dinning hall. Once she’d gone everyone went back to talking again, and sitting down relaxed as if nothing had happened.

“That’s the devil incarnate, as she’s affectionately known.” Anthony looked at Jessica a little confused by this statement.

“Doesn’t look like it to me, quite a cute little thing.” Anthony smiled at Dawson who laughed, Anthony had already chosen his desires.

“Yeah, looks can be deceptive. She lives in the house with you, they reckon she sleeps in a coffin with blood red velvet lining the walls. She never talks to anyone, only when she talks to the freaks in the house she calls friends.” Anthony sighed and finished off his sandwich.

“Just because she doesn’t talk to anyone doesn’t mean she’s the bastard spawn of Satan.” Anthony mumbled as he took a swig out of his soft drink bottle. Dawson looked sideways at Anthony, who was staring out towards the river. It was obvious to Dawson that Anthony had already taken to defending the woman. Dawson should have known better, Anthony was not one to go passing judgement on people before he knew them well.

“So what’s with all the standing then?” Dawson changed the subject slightly, to take the pressure off his friend. May and Jessica smiled at each other before pulling out a little cards from their pockets.

“It’s protection society, if we all stand it shows to her that we’nitenited and she can’t touch us.” Anthony mouth fell open at Jessica’s comment. If he wasn’t mistaken that would be classed as discrimination, in a court of law.

“You know safety in numbers.” May added for good measure as Dawson glanced across at Anthony, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

“So you’re all members then?” Dawson inquired gingerly as he patted Anthony’s knee comfortingly, in an effort to calm him down.

“We are in deed. Apart from the select few who consider it safer to stay clear of everything and just stay out of her way rather than rebel against her.” Anthony shook his head again, his disgust at their judgement getting to him already.

“What has she done to you all, because if she hasn’t done anything you can’t hate her?” Anthony snapped harshly towards the two girls who smiled at him sweetly.

“That’s none of your business what she’s done to us, all you have to know is that she’s evil and if you don’t look after yourself she’ll have you like she had the rest of them.” May stared directly at Anthony, her deep hazel eyes piercing through him, like a dagger. He shivered and she smiled pleased with herself before looking back at Dawson who was sitting silently aware of the tension suddenly created between May and Anthony.

“Well it’s nice to meet you two but we’ve got to go finish unpacking. So we’ll see you around.” Dawson smiled at both women before standing up and picking up his bag. Anthony was quick to stand up as well, relived at being excused from the situation before he said something more.

“Ok it’s nice to meet you as well. We might have some lectures together.” Anthony rolled his eyes as Jessica smiled seductively at Dawson and shook his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you to Anthony.” May smiled gingerly up at Anthony before they reluctantly shook hands. Anthony was not even a little interested in getting to know these two better. From what he’d just seen, they weren’t worth the effort. However from the way Dawson was acting towards them both, he’d at least have to talk to them once more. Dawson and Anthony watched as both women walked back inside to their friends.

“Well the stories have started already.” Dawson sighed as they began to head down towards the riverside. Anthony smiled and shook his head in repute.

“Yeah, that’s just what they are is stories.” Dawson nodded as Anthony placed his hand in Dawson’s, entwining their fingers together as they walked along the boardwalk by the side of the river. Anthony was still a little angry at the way the treated the young woman, he knew all to well what it was like to be an outcast because people didn’t approve of your life style choice. Dawson smiled sadly down at Anthony who was deep in thought, his forehead creased with frustration. They’d known each other since the start of UNI, and they shared everything. Dawson knew how hard Anthony had done it, in high school what with the comments and gestures from everyone and the beatings from his father, things had just gotten to much.

“We’ll be fine Anthony.” Dawson whispered, as they dropped each other’s hand as they walked past a large group of people. Dawson knew Anthony’s concern about being treated the same as the young woman if things got out, but if Dawson had anything to do with it they’d be fine.

TBC.................