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“Make it quick,” I greet.
“What the hell is wrong with you? This is like the third day in a row you've been like this.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you so fucking happy?” I ask with as much irritation I can muster.
Dave glares at me, knowing as good as I do that I'm being ridiculous. “I was going to ask for a favor, but I think I'll wait until you're in a better mood.”
A favor? I raise an eyebrow at him. “What kind of favor?”
Somehow, I manage to withhold a groan as he answers, “I called Maddie for my monthly checkup, as per my parents. She mentioned something about needing to study more for one of her classes, one I'm pretty sure you took and aced.”
“What do you want, Dave?” I grit.
“Calm down. It's not like I'm asking you to give her a kidney. I'm asking you to help her study and make a better grade than what she's doing right now.”
“Why does it have to be me? She can go get a tutor or form a study group. That's what you should have told her to do.” Not make me be around the girl invading my dreams. If they weren't so damn good, I would call them nightmares.
“Because then you can keep an eye out for her. God knows what college guys could talk her into.” He shakes his head like she's this innocent child.
“Get a grip, Dave. She's not five.”
He glares at me. “Are you going to help her or not?”
“Yeah. You owe me big time.”
Dave grins at his victory. “Thanks.”
“Whatever. I gotta go.” I end the call and finally groan. Fuck. Seeing Maddie is the last thing I want to do. I'm torn between wishing she chose a different university and hating myself for how I destroyed any second chance I had with her. Since I'm on campus, I might as well go ahead and see her now. The walk doesn't take long, and it isn't until I'm opening the door to the building that I consider the fact that she might not currently be in her dorm. Only one way to find out. I knock and wait. No answer, so I knock one more time before I give up.
“Winston? What are you doing here?” Maddie glances down the hall, like someone is going to notice I'm standing outside her room and actually care.
“Dave said you needed help with a class and I'm going to help. We need to figure some things out first though.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Maddie starts to shut the door, but my hand flies out to stop her.
“What?” She's turning me down?
Maddie sighs, but makes no further move to open the door back open. “I don't want your help, Winston.”
Leaning against the doorframe, I fold my arms over my chest. “Why didn't you just come ask me for help yourself? I told you that-”
“Yeah, right.” Maddie laughs harshly. “Like I would come ask you for anything.” I don't realize my mouth parted until she reaches out and pushes my jaw back up. “Go home, Winston.”
I'm surprised and a little hurt, but more disappointed in myself that I caused this reaction from her. I lose my defensive stance and plead with her. “C'mon, Maddie. At least let me come in, so we can talk.”
She watches me for a moment as she decides. “There's nothing to talk about, but if you want to waste your breath, feel free.” She turns around, going back into her room, and I follow her. The other bed belonging to her roommate is empty and made. We take a seat on her bed, Maddie up by her pillows and me at the foot with our legs folded as we sit across from one another.
“Can't we be friends, Maddie?” I ask. “Let's focus on that.”
“Let's forget that anything ever happened between us basically?” she says, but there's no anger or annoyance in her voice. Only sadness. “I can't believe you would want to pretend we never happened, secret or not.”
“I don't want to forget, Maddie. I couldn't if I wanted to. All I meant is I want us to be friends now. I can help you with your class and we can still hang out some if you want. Maybe then you won't get homesick again. You could meet more people that way too.”
“I get it, Winston. That sounds great.” I don't think she really means it though.
My phone beeps from my pocket and I pull it out. It's a text from Grant asking if I want to go with him and Lucy to a game Wednesday and that maybe I could ask Maddie to go too. He'll explain more later, but he thinks Lucy will have more fun with other people there.
“Hey, Grant's inviting me to go see a game Wednesday with him and some chick. Want to go? I don't know why, but he wants people to go with them.” I look up from my phone to gauge her reaction.
