Time is a funny concept when you stop to think about it. One second your with 'them', the next your chugging cheap booze with pointless tears. The safety, security I suppose. That's what Madeline craved: his touch, just his presence. As she looked down at the bottle, her phone vibrated aggressively. 

Alex: " Hey, wyd? "

Me: "Doing the sociology essay atm"

Closing the conversation with Alex, she checks her Instagram messages again. She hadn't made a move yet in the 'physical' way you could say, her unopened bag with black and dark red lacy Ann Summers PJs delicately laid out by her desk in her safe haven: her university accommodation. Whilst in a fairly shitty place in terms of noise when all the freshers stumble back from the weekly club nights, the conditions were decent with the room forming a more rectangular shape than her friend's prospective box room at a locally based uni.

Bryan was supposed to meet her in a couple of hours, he had gone home for Christmas as well so they hadn't seen or properly heard from each-other for a while. Well 3 weeks, felt like 3 months...

Taking a complimentary shot of Apple Sourz before checking up on him, anxiety started to fill her bones temporarily freezing her in place. Taking a deep breath, Madeline sent off the text before starting to get ready. He always replied within 20 minutes, he'd never stood her up, this couldn't be any different, right?

(40 minutes later)

Time slowly ticked by, every passing second sending nerves down their spine. Her new  black velvet dress hung neatly outside her wardrobe with some slightly scagged fishnets, idly dangling. Picking up the dress and wrapping it tightly around her frame, a small smile lit up her porcelain face. Just in time, her phone illuminated with his name.

Instantly picking it up, she clicked on the notification. The butterflies in her stomach went manic, eating at her insides as tears filled her sea blue eyes.

" What? I'm working now."