Free Inconsequential (J+P series) by D.A. Roach Page A

by looking at them, you basically tell them you are not a victim.  I was still working on doing this but it was hard.  I liked my private bubble.  Just then I heard a faint twittering whistle.  I looked around and did not see anyone.  There were bushes and concrete benches but I could not see anyone.  I quickened my pace and felt panic welling up in me.  It was the same whistle I hear last semester.  Crap!  Was I going to be the next statistic?  Was this guy hunting me?  Would I be using those stupid emergency phones on campus?  Another whistle sounded but this time it was closer.  I began to run.  Chuck might have to come to my dorm for tutoring in the future if I survived this.
     
    I made it to the dorm and didn’t stop running till I got to my room.  All my friends were in their rooms with their doors open and saw me fly past their rooms.  They poured out into the hall and crowded around my room door.
     
    “Perry, what the heck, everything ok?”  Lauren asked.  Lauren was not my friend, but she was still Jen’s roommate so I tolerated her when need be. 
     
    “Breathe Perry, what the heck has you spooked?  You look like you saw a ghost.” Molly said.
     
    “I don’t know, I was studying with Chuck and walked back toward the dorm.  I heard this faint whistling and a few paces later, it was louder.  It creeped me out.  I swear I heard it last semester while walking back too.” I panted. 
     
    “Whistling?  That doesn’t sound too creepy.  Was he whistling the theme to the Exorcist?  Because that would be creepy!  “  Jen joked, but this was no joke.  “Sorry Perry, just doesn’t sound like anything to get worked up over.”
     
    Maybe she was right, but why was I hyperaware of this and feeling on alert?             
    “Too many scary movies I guess.  Time to cut back.” I half-joked.
     
    “Maybe you should alert the R.A.” Mags suggested.  “You know, just in case.  And you should really walk home with someone at night or have Chuck tutor you here.”  I nodded my head in agreement.
     
    “Sorry to scare you guys, but you should all follow the same advice.  Have there been any attacks reported on campus recently?” I asked.  Everyone shook their head no.  “Well, I got a pretty good scare huh?” I tried to laugh it off but I still felt shook up.  Everyone gave me hugs and I went with Mags to report it to the R.A.  She wrote it up and said she would have a staff meeting with all the R.A.’s and inform them so they could reinforce safety on campus at night with the kids on their floor.
     
    I knocked on Jen’s door.  “I need to stress eat - come grab some grub with me downstairs.”
     
    “Gladly,” she grabbed her wallet and teasingly whistled every horror movie tune she could remember.  Jen was the perfect amount of immaturity to lighten the mood.  We ordered greasy grilled cheese sandwiches and diet cokes and found a booth.  “Tell me about the concert you saw with Greg.  Was it fun?”
     
    “The band was great.”
    “I bet you enjoyed seeing him over break.  That was a great present Perry.” Then, as if on cue, Greg walked into the diner.  “Speak of the devil!” Jen muttered.  “Hey Greg!”  She waved.
     
    “Hey Jen,” he nodded her way and purposely did not acknowledge me.  Gone.  And this stupid haircut was probably the final nail in the coffin.  Jen turned to face me and her face dropped. 
     
    “Perry, what the hell is wrong, you look awful.” 
     
    “I think I lost Greg as a friend.”
     
    “What are you talking about?” She asked in a disbelieving voice.  “You guys are tighter than you and me.”  “Greg, come here,” she stood and waved him over.  He stuck up a finger to let her know to wait a second.
     
    “What are you doing Jen?”  I whispered.  “Please don’t do what I think you are going to do.  Please.  It would crush me.”
     
    “What?  I just want to ask him a question,”