"Hey Phoebe, wanna hang out with us?" a group of boys loitering at the entrance of the college asked.

I ignored them and walked past.

"Hey, we're speaking to you," one of them blocked my way. He had spiky black hair, gelled and styled with deep fiery tattoos.

"I don't go out with anyone. I'm sorry," I answered, trying to avoid him.

"Don't you know that Phoebe doesn't go out because she is an abnormal girl? She can't do things like us, can you?" another tall, muscular fellow with blackened teeth, blocked my way.

"Yes, I can't. Does it bother you? Hope not. Just go and do whatever you want with your sicko girlfriends. Leave me alone," I snapped.

They yawned in a disgusting way. They smelled like cigarettes.

"Where's your boyfriend, cum trouble- maker come unsocial freak?"

"I don't know whom you're talking about."

"Daniel, that one who sticks to you every time."

True, Daniel had accompanied me and stayed with me ever since we met. We hardly stayed apart in college so I had never interacted with other boys. A few girls did come forth to make a friendship but it was only as much.

"He doesn't stick to me. He accompanies me because I want him to."

My defence was lost in peals of laughter.

"He sticks to you like Velcro and hence we never get the opportunity to talk to you. We're afraid that with his short temper, he would raise a hue and cry if someone upsets his girlfriend by any chance. You ever wondered why he didn't have friends in college?" said the burly fellow.

"No, I..."

"Yeah, he never told you, did he?"

I shook my head in negation.

"He has a reputation for bad behaviour. Got involved with the police multiple times due to his short temper. He punched a boy in high school and the poor fellow needed plastic surgery to fix his nose. He was suspended for days."

"His parents the very strict though and since then they've imposed a curfew on him. He's no allowed to go to parties and drink or go out with girls. I wonder how he's managing with you. Don't you guys go to the disco?" the other added.

"What we do or don't is none of your business," I gave an icy glare.

"It's our bloody business to take care of any girl that falls for his so-called charms. He has already gained a bad enough reputation for us to trust him." Jet hair said fiercely.

"I'm happy with my life and him. Whatever has happened is past and none of it matters at present. You don't have to go all big brother protective on me." I flipped back my hair and walked off.

They didn't stop me this time, but my heart was pounding. I had go to know something which he hadn't told me. True, he had said he won't have friends ever, but he hadn't said why.

But he had never displayed aggressive behaviours for the past couple of weeks we've been together. Did I have a calming influence on him? Was it I that made him who he ought to be?
It was too much to bear.

I wondered where Daniel was. He was studious, though mischievous. He bunked classes, but had never taken a day off unless absolutely necessary? What had happened?

Where are you?

Aren't you coming today?

Are you all right?

I kept on glancing at my phone from time to time. No reply, not even an emoticon. I couldn't focus on the classes as I waited for one vibration of my phone.
The day went by, but no Daniel answered back.

It was near dusk and I was getting a bit uneasy.

What had happened to him?

Alyssa offered me a ride back home for which I was grateful' I never opted for public transport unless it was absolutely necessary. Buses tended to be generally over-crowded.

Just as I bid goodbye to Alyssa, my phone rang with a ping'
Daniel had answered.

Sorry couldn't reply to you.

Doctor had suggested an MRI. It took my whole damn day waiting in the line and running from counter to counter. Want me to come over?

"You're always welcome in my house," I replied, but a nagging worry was forming in my mind.

Though Magnetic Resonance Imaging was a common enough diagnostic procedure but yet there was some sinister feeling I couldn't shake off.

I made up my mind to talk about the day's events as soon as possible with Daniel.

A/N An update as promised...