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She doesn’t respond, but then again, I didn’t expect her to. This is just what we are to each other, and one of these days I’m going to need to come to terms with that.
Chapter Seven
The restaurant I take Bree to isn’t anything fancy, but it’s enough to be called a date. This whole ‘trying to be an actual boyfriend’ thing is still new to me. I’m trying though, and I guess that’s more than I can say about how I’ve been in the past. Still, I don’t think undressing her roommate with my eyes constitutes as being a good significant other. Speaking of her roommate…
“Hey, can I ask you something?” I start. Bree looks up from her menu and nods. “Why does Kayleigh hate me so much?”
She smiles sadly. “She doesn’t hate you.”
“Yes, she does. If looks could kill, she would have been charged with my murder at least twenty times by now.”
A small laugh bubbles out of her mouth. “Okay, fair enough.” She places the menu down on the table. “I don’t know, babe. I guess some of the things you’ve said and the way you come off, it just makes her think you’re an asshole. She just doesn’t know you like I do. Give her time, I’m sure she’ll come around eventually.”
I nod and leave it alone, not wanting to make myself seem too invested in the topic. Bree may look like your typical ditsy blonde but she’s the furthest thing from dumb. One question too many and everything I’ve worked so hard to hide will unravel right in front of my eyes.
“Do you want to sleep at my place tonight?” I could really use a chance at taking out my frustrations, but I don’t tell her that’s why I’m asking.
She smiles. “Of course. You just have to bring me back for class.”
“That’s fine. I have sociology at 7:30 anyway.”
The rest of the night goes as planned and as I hover over Bree that night, I do my best to not think about caramel brown hair being splayed out on my pillow, instead of the blonde that lies there. And well, if I don’t succeed in that – no one has to know.
I WALK INTO CLASS the next morning with Jordan at my side. For a moment, I completely forget Kayleigh is in here. I’m not sure how, being as she has taken over my every thought lately, yet somehow, I manage. And of course,
I make a complete fool of myself.
“Look, I’m not saying she’s a slut.” I tell him about a girl he’s considering hooking up with. “I’m just saying her vagina could use a delete history button.”
Everyone in the room laughs, except one. Even though I had only said it to advise Jordan against being with her, the reactions boost my ego. When I notice Kayleigh’s face though, my smile drops. Why can I never manage to say the right thing around her? I swear, at this point I’m going to graduate before her glare even begins to soften.
“Alright, alright. Settle down.” Professor Bradley says loudly as he comes into the room.
He messes around with a few things and then turns on a projector. Before I can even read what it says, Kayleigh jumps up, mumbling a quiet apology to our professor before shooting out the door. I perk up, looking around for anything that would tell me the reason for her haste exit. Her computer is still open on her desk, with her bag lying on the floor next to it. I glance back up at the projector and then I see it.
Social Observation Project! Worth 30% of Your Grade.
Partners Will Be Chosen For You.
Before thinking anything through, I stand up from my desk and run down the stairs. It doesn’t take long before I’m standing in front of Prof. Bradley. He looks at me strangely, obviously not ready for any shit at this hour in the morning.
“How would you like to make a hundred bucks?”
His eyes narrow. “Mr. Rivers, you can’t buy a grade, not that you would need to. You’re an excellent student.”
“I’m not asking to buy my grade.” I reply as quietly as I can manage. “I’m asking to buy my partner.”
“I’ve already chosen partners for this project. You’ll be with Jordan. I figured you’d like that.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to be with Jordan. I want to be paired with Kayleigh Jacobs.”
“I wasn’t aware you and Miss Jacobs knew each other.”
“She’s my girlfriend’s roommate, but that’s not important.” I wave the topic off. “Do we have a deal?”
He thinks about it for a second but then winces. “I don’t know. I already have all the partners chosen.”
“Two hundred. Put whoever was partnered with Kayleigh, with Jordan instead, and put me with Kayleigh.”
