Page 2 of His Reckless Freshman

Ugh!

It took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to let my disappointment show. Instead, I forced a smile and thanked Kieran for the opportunity. Then I left that office determined to write the best damn article ever.

Until I put my big fat foot in my big stupid mouth!

Stomping up the stairs of Buckley Hall, I storm to my room, trying not to think about my royal screwup and how I’m going to fail this test and Jax’s article will get published and mine won’t.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know how to talk to stupidly tall, too-hot-for-their-own-good college guys. Why did I think I could approach them and suddenly be cool or smooth or elegant in any way, shape, or form?

I caught Darian Gomez coming out of Athletes Hall. I’d been loitering there for the past thirty minutes, waiting for the tallest people to come out. I’d already approached one guy assuming he was on the basketball team, but he just snickered, shook his head, and walked away without even talking to me.

But then I saw Darian, and I could just tell I was in luck. He was heading to his next class and obviously running late, so I jogged beside him. His legs were so long that I had to run just to keep up with his walk.

“So, I work for the Nolan U Star, and I’m writing a feature on the basketball team, and I was wondering if I could interview you.”

“Oh yeah?” He slowed, giving me an interested smile.

Eeeep, he was so good-looking and so tall. My stomach got all jittery. I liked the way his brown eyes sparkled as he gazed down at me. It made me kind of flustered, and I started jabbering away like I always do, getting way too excited.

“So, I’m not sure what angle I’m going to take yet, but I figured if I interview a few of you, I can find something good. Something that will make the team look better, you know?”

“Better?” He actually stopped walking to frown at me then.

I blinked, pretending not to notice his shift in mood, and tried to brighten my voice.

“Well, you know, you’re currently the worst team in the school, and I just want to highlight your good points. Change people’s perception of you. It’d be great to get more people coming to your games and⁠—”

“The worst team in the school? Are you fucking serious?”

“I-I-I…” My voice petered out as I finally let myself take in his thunderous expression.

Plus, he just said the word “fucking,” which is ringing in my ears because I was never allowed to talk like that. My parents were pretty strict on language, and so was the school I went to. This one time, the girl next to me in class wrote the word “shitty” on a note and got busted and spent the rest of the day outside the principal’s office writing lines. She wasn’t even allowed a lunch break.

“You know what?” Darian spat. “No, you can’t have an interview. Wouldn’t want you wasting your time on the sucky Nolan U basketball team, right?” With a sharp huff, he spun away from me and charged off.

I stood on the path, chewing the end of my pen until I nearly got knocked off my feet by a bunch of burly giants who didn’t notice my skinny, insignificant self standing there.

But I couldn’t give up, right?

So I maybe worded things a little badly. I’d do better next time—which came about within minutes, because I saw Jimmy Li walking my way. At least I thought it was Jimmy Li. He was a tall Asian man, so it had to be him, right?

I ran toward him with an enthusiastic smile, and he jolted away from me like I was a charging bear.

“Hi.” I waved, trying not to notice his reaction. “I’m Jolie. I work for the school paper, and I saw that you play for the basketball team. I’d really love to…”

My words trailed off after he mumbled a quick “No thanks” and picked up his pace, actually breaking into a jog to get away from me.

“Like any of us are gonna talk to you. Not happening, lady.” That’s what the next guy said. He was tall with dark skin and spiral curls. He told me in no uncertain terms that none of the team will talk to me after the way I spoke to Darian.

I just had to stand there trying not to cry as he calmly dressed me down in this voice that was almost tender. Yet each word still felt like a brutal blow.

And now I’m standing in my dorm room, wrecked and… so alone I want to crumple into a ball and cry.

Clicking the door shut behind me, I stare at Julia’s bed. It’s naked, not even a sheet to cover the bare mattress. It’s like a slap to the face.

Because on a day that I desperately need someone to vent to, she’s not here.

I would call her or text her, but I’ve already done that twice since she left and still haven’t heard back. I can’t believe she’s ghosting me.