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Shit, I was going to be late for my first class if I didn’t wrap this up quickly.
“What’s up?” I asked her, slinging my book bag onto the table.
“We should talk.”
I winced. “About?”
“Ella.” She sighed. “I know you’re involved with the Chapter President of Delta Sig. Cameron Edwards.”
As if I hadn’t seen this coming. I exhaled roughly. “Yeah. We’re seeing each other.” That was an understatement, but I didn’t think she needed to know how many nights I’d spent in his bed in the last month.
More than I’d spent alone.
“I know I overlooked him staying here when you were sick last semester, Ella, but the house rules are rules. Even for the Chapter President.”
As if that reminder didn’t sting. “I’m aware.” It wasn’t like I’d been trying to sneak around with him. I didn’t want to break the rules.
“You should put a stop to this before it gets too serious,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Guys like him are all the same.”
I frowned. “You don’t even know him.” Not like I did.
And maybe the part of it I didn’t want to admit—not to her, or to myself, was that it already was that serious.
If the butterflies that never seemed to go away were any indication, I was already in too deep.
I’d let him meet my parents, for goodness’ sake. And I’dnever introduced my parents to any of the guys I’d been seeing before.
“Ilene.” I rubbed at my forehead. “He’s not going to hurt me.” No matter what else I believed, I knew that. He cared about me. The way he was so tender and caring with me, like he was protecting my heart?
He’d chased after me. He’d spent months proving how much he wanted me. That couldn’t all be a lie. Not when he’d told me he’d wanted more. More than just sex. I believed him.
“I have to get to class,” I muttered, grabbing my bag and swinging it over my shoulder.
“Ella.” Her voice stopped me, and when I looked back, her expression was almost… sad? Disappointed? Whatever it was, I hated it. “Just remember the rules.”
I gave her a brief nod before hustling out the door and heading towards campus, needing the crisp walk to clear my head.
To keep that creeping doubt out of my thoughts.
Thankfully, I hadn’t been late to my first class of the day, and I’d survived my schedule, barely fitting a quick lunch in the middle of my classes.
My last class of the day had been a last-minute addition to my semester, and I left feeling way better about it than I’d ever expected to.
Vocal lessons weren’t something I’d ever really considered taking, but when spot had opened up in the beginner vocal class this semester, I hadn’t been able to say no. I’d gotten lucky, and despite what I’d told Cam—I really loved singing. Maybe I didn’t want to perform or be on stage, but I wanted tosing.
I’d gotten lucky that there was a spot since someone haddropped out, meaning a few days a week, I’d be here, in the music studio classrooms, with Professor James as my instructor.
A smile curled over my lips as I closed the door behind me. I’d always worried about not being good enough. But she’d given me pointers, and worked with me, and for the first time since I was a kid, I was genuinely excited about singing in front of someone else.
A redhead peeked her head around the corner as I hummed to myself.
“You’re fantastic.”
“Oh.” I flushed, not realizing that I wasn’t alone. “I didn’t realize anyone was listening.”
“No, I wasn’t—I’m next,” she explained, pointing at the door. “I promise I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop…” Her freckles dotted her entire face, her sheepish expression somehow making them stand out more. “I’m Arielle Thomas. You can call me Ari, though.”
“Ella Ashford,” I offered with a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
