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“You okay?” CJ asks, once we’re outside. It’s raining, so I pull my hood over my head, hoping to cover my facial expression from him. He’ll be able to tell that I’m lying. He always does.
“Yeah.”
“What was all that about in there, then? You seemed uncomfortable.”
I sigh, moving closer to him to get warm. “He wanted to talk about my work. I’ve been struggling a little with the subject so he offered to help me. I was also late for class.”
He chuckles. “You, late?”
I gently nudge his shoulder with mine, grateful he believed my half lie. CJ has a tendency to act first, think later when it comes to someone being hurt. I don’t want him to get into trouble over something that is probably nothing.
“Yes, late. I got distracted watching the news.”
“And I can help you if you’re struggling, but I’m pretty sure they do study groups you can attend.”
I shake my head when I notice he’s watching me. “I can’t. They meet up on the day I’m working at the library. I’ve asked them if they would consider having it there, but they said there would be too many interruptions with people coming and going. Honestly, I think they just didn’t want to add one more student to their list.”
He scoffs. “Sounds about right. But I can help you.”
I arch a brow at him dubiously. “How? You aren’t in that class.”
Sending me a smug smile, he pulls me into the dining hall. “No, but I got bored last year so I did some online classes in my spare time. Historic Literature was actually one of my favourites.”
Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Here is the thing about CJ. He may seem like some careless, easy-going, kind of clueless student, but he’s not. Not only does he ace every subject, but he also has a high IQ that he doesn’t put to any use. He loves sports and wants to get a degree in sport news. He’d be good at it. He’d be good at anything he wanted to do.
“If you don’t mind, I could really use the help. I’d rather not be called to stay after class again.”
We step into line and he turns to face me, pulling my hood down, grinning. He kisses me, pulling me against him, before his hands roam my back and backside.
“My little rebel,” he whispers as he pulls away.
I can’t help but smile. “Shut up.”
I jump when Jordan steps up beside us, her lower lip jutting out.
“Are you okay?”
“No, did you see the news?”
“I did. It’s terrible.”
“What is?” CJ asks, after ordering us enough food to feed an army.
Jordan turns to CJ, startled, as if she didn’t notice him standing there. “Oh, hey, CJ. A girl is missing. She went for a run and never returned home.”
CJ seems unfazed as he shrugs. “Probably a runaway, or she’s out partying with friends.”
As much as his answer pisses me off, he’s entitled to think that. It’s what anyone would think, given the circumstances. She’s a teenage girl.
Jordan shakes her head at him. “No, it’s not like that. Her parents did a press conference this afternoon and explained this is out of character for their daughter. She’s never run away before, she doesn’t party with friends, and also lets them know when she does go out. Plus, she was dressed for a run, not to go clubbing. She had leukaemia as a child, so she doesn’t do anything that could risk her health again. She’s been training to do a charity run to raise money for the cause.”
We take a table in the back by the window. We’re barely seated when Willow and Cole join us.
“What are you all looking so serious about?” Willow asks as she opens her water.
I answer, watching her closely. She seems so much happier now that we’re back here. “A girl went missing whilst out on a run Sunday. Her parents are worried because it’s unlike her. It’s been all over the news today. I’m surprised you haven’t seen or heard about it. She lives five minutes away.”
