CHAPTER THREE
Natalia
Today’s the first day back from break and I’m beyond ecstatic. The quicker I finish my education, the faster I can get the hell away from Gina and my dad and move on with my life. There isn’t very much diversity here at San Diego State, so my tan skin usually stands out among everyone else. They say your college years are where you build long-lasting relationships, and make some of your best friends, but honestly, I couldn’t disagree more. Some of the students here are complete assholes, which is why I don’t bother befriending anyone. As for the campus, it’s beautiful. Pictures don’t do it justice. With lush green palm trees, white stucco Spanish architectural buildings, and clear blue skies, you almost feel like you’re at a resort somewhere in Latin America.
I take a seat in the center of the lecture hall in my psyche class. As I’m pulling my notebook out of my shoulder bag, I hear someone slide into the seat beside me. I roll my eyes in irritation. I hate it when people take the seat right next to me when a class isn’t even full. Like seriously dude? There are hundred other seats to choose from. Why me?
After pulling the essentials out of my bag, I shift to glance at the annoying stranger beside me, and my mouth drops open.
“Was wondering when you’d notice me.” Luke chuckles, showcasing his dimples. I forget to breathe for a second.
What the hell is Luke Caldwell doing in this class? My class? And that’s exactly what I ask him. “What the hell are you doing here?” I demand with narrowed eyes. “Are you following me?”
That gets a howling, stomach-holding laugh out of him.
“Wow, it’s amazing you even made it through the lecture doors with that big head of yours,” he teases. “I hear being humble is good every now again. You should try it.”
I roll my eyes because, as annoying as he is, he’s completely right. That was a little too assumptive of me to presume he was here just for me.
Wishful thinking on my part I guess.
“And if you must know why I’m here, it’s obviously because I’m taking this class, all semester long—with you.”
I slouch in my seat and groan. Right when I purged thoughts of him from my mind and finally got my head on straight, this would happen to me. Of course it would.
Why me?
Thankfully Luke doesn’t talk much during our first class. I sort of forget he’s even sitting next to me. Aside from my sneaky glances out of the corner of my eye, it feels like an ordinary day of class.
Who am I kidding?
Of course I can’t forget Luke Caldwell is sitting right next to me during the lecture. His body heat radiates off him, and the smell of his cologne will permanently be ingrained in my memory.
Why do hot guys always smell so good? It’s unfair. You can’t be completely gorgeous and smell delicious too. It’s just not fair to the rest of the decent looking population.
My heart nearly explodes out of my chest when Luke’s firm arm lightly grazes mine. I momentarily forget to breathe as my stomach buzzes with what feels like thousands of angry bees. I can’t explain why the small touch has such a profound effect on me, but all I know is, I’m not happy about it. In fact, it makes me angry. I’m not this girl—I don’t trip over myself and fall over hot guys with freaking hearts in my eyes, but for some reason, here I am, close to doing that. He doesn’t ever need to know that though. For all Luke knows, I can’t stand him.
After the professor dismisses us, I gather my notebook, stuff it back in my bag, and get ready to head to my next class. It’s not too far from here, only about a seven-minute walk, so I’ll have a good fifteen minutes to spare before that class starts.
“Where are you heading to now?”
I jolt at the sound of Luke’s deep voice beside me. I thought for sure he would’ve been one of the first out of the door when we were dismissed, so I’m more than surprised to still see him here. I shift my eyes and meet his gaze. I’m momentarily lost in the swirling color there. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with such intricate eyes. They’re gorgeous—more so than my average brown ones. His eyes are hazel, but not like any hazel I’ve ever seen. The brown is so light I can easily make out green and shards of blue.
Luke continues staring down at me expectantly. His Aztecs football tee shirt hugs his muscles to perfection, and his sweats somehow make him look hotter than usual. There’s something to be said about a guy who dresses casually without thinking twice about it. There’s no doubt in my mind, Luke dresses in whatever way he wants, whenever he wants. He doesn’t have to try to look good or dress nice because he obviously looks good in anything. I clear my throat, coming to the realization I haven’t answered his question. Instead, I’ve just been standing here, gawking at him like a mesmerized fangirl meeting someone like Justin Bieber for the first time. For the record, Luke Caldwell is so much hotter than Justin Bieber.
“I, um, I’m heading to my next class over in the EC building.”
He runs a hand through his wayward hair, making it somehow look like he just rolled out of bed, but instead of bedhead, his hair looks like something out of a GQ magazine. How is it that I have to spend a good half hour on my hair and all he has to do is run his hand through his in a matter of seconds and the result looks amazing? Un-fucking-fair.
“I’m headed that way for my next class too. I’ll walk with you.” He leaves no room for argument. Thoughts come rushing in all at once, making my heartbeat speed up.
Holy shit, what if we share another class together? Can I handle being around him again? Why wouldn’t I though? He’s just a guy. A stupid, gorgeous, man-whoring guy, who just so happens to look like the man of my dreams. What if—
“Hey,” Luke chuckles, snapping me out of the wayward thoughts. “Are you coming? You zoned out for a second.”
I plaster a reassuring smile on my face. “Yeah, of course. Sorry. I was just thinking about my next class. You said you were headed the same way?” I try to keep the jittery nerves I’m feeling out of my voice. Luke nods, allowing me to lead the way out of the aisle in the lecture hall.
Please don’t say Abnormal Psych. Please don’t say Abnormal Psych. I repeat the mantra over and over again, even though some sadistic part of me hopes he’ll say the same class.
“Yeah, I’m headed to the speech building for Spanish.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, or maybe I deflate at his answer. I’m not entirely sure. I keep my fake smile plastered on my face as we walk silently beside each other. I can’t tell if this feels awkward or if I’m just acting weird. Probably the latter.
“Why do you keep smiling like that? You look constipated or something.” Luke looks down at me with a perplexed expression and my face heats.
Oh God. Can this get any worse?
My smile falters, morphing into a scowl and I narrow my eyes in what I presume to be a threatening manner, all the while grumbling insults under my breath.
Great, constipation and my face put in the same sentence is not a good thing. Especially coming from a guy like Luke Caldwell.
“I was kidding Natalia. You just looked like you were thinking too hard.” He nudges my arm with his elbow and my lip twitches, ruining the effect of my scowl.
“You do realize girls don’t like to be told that they look like they’re constipated, right?” I raise a questioning brow, and Luke just shrugs with his dimpled grin in full effect.
“Honestly, I couldn’t really care less. I say what’s on my mind, whenever it’s on my mind. I have a no bullshit policy.” The seriousness implied in his tone makes me downright laugh. A few people walking past us on their way to classes look at me like I’m crazy.
“A no bullshit policy?” I scoff. “Good lord, you are something else entirely.”
Luke’s dimples deepen, and he suddenly stops walking, right in front of the statue of Samuel L. Black. I follow suit, cocking my head to the side in a “what’s up” gesture.
“Gotta get to my next class.” He points to the building behind him. “See you around,” is all he says before casually walking away into the building.
He’s so calm and collected. He has this natural swagger about him, no doubt due to the fact that he’s a smug bastard who probably gets everything he wants. But nevertheless, it actually looks good on him. He’s probably one of the only men in history who can pull off being as confident as he is. My eyes shift from the doors he just disappeared through to all the people around me staring as intently as I am. It seems like wherever Luke is, that’s where everyone’s eyes are too. He’s magnetic. It’s almost like they all stop to watch his every move.
I shake my head, ridding myself of any lingering thoughts about him. Instead of feeling happy that he’s gone, I feel the complete opposite. I’ve only spent one class with him, and this is what he’s already doing to my head? How the hell am I supposed to make it through the rest of the semester?
I force my legs to move so I can get to my next class.
Focus, Natalia, focus. That’s the mantra I use the rest of the day.