India
My first class was…I loved it. There are no words to describe it, apart from it went a lot smoother than I expected it to go.
As I step outside, I smile when I think back to an hour ago when I walked in telling myself I’ll get it over and done with so I can call Leo, and now I’m stepping out and I’m happy.
Searching my bag, I’m busy looking for my phone when someone taps me on the shoulder.
I spin around, and I’m faced with a solid chest in my face. Quickly taking a step back, my hand lands on my phone and I look up to a beautiful guy standing in front of me. His dusty brown hair flops over his bright blue eyes and his full lips stretch across his face as he smiles down at me. Beautiful in a much different way to Leo, not that there is a competition. This guy is beautiful in a way that makes you look twice, my Leo is beautiful in a way that I never want to look away.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t, you’re just a little too close,” I tell him.
His laugh catches the attention of people close by and I notice his friends are lingering around nearby.
“I’m Sean,” he introduces himself.
He sounds kind enough and he sticks out his hand. I shake his hand, it’s warm and strong, and completely swallows mine.
“India,” I finally reply.
On closer inspection, his friends look a lot like a football team, and they’re currently all staring at me and Sean like we’re the only thing around to see.
“We’re having a party this weekend, you should come,” he tells me.
“Oh.”
I think quickly and hope I don’t look like a stuttering fool.
“I can’t, I have plans this weekend.”
I’m going to spend every minute I can with Leo. He promised me visits and I promised him I’d keep myself free.
“No problem.”
He shrugs his bag on his shoulder and joins his friends. Forgetting about him, and his invite, I sit down on the nearest bench and call Leo.
I have two missed calls from him and he answers on the third ring. I can hear him moving around before he speaks.
“Hey, I just got out of class and saw you called, twice.”
“Yeah, I was calling to say I can’t make it up this weekend. Something has come up at the club and my dad has called everyone in.”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing for you to worry about, babe. I promise I’ll make it up to you soon.”
I go to ask him how soon, but I swear I hear…
“Is my cousin Harper, there?”
“Yeah, she showed up with your aunt yesterday. Your brother is keeping her away from us,” he chuckles.
“Well, he doesn’t need to worry about you with her, does he?” I ask, a little too sharply.
I hear him sigh before he says a word.
“He doesn’t know about us, does he. Don’t go getting jealous on me, you have nothing to worry about while you’re gone.”
Leo is Harper’s type. I don’t think he’s not anyone’s type.
“I’ve got to go; my next class starts in five minutes.”
It doesn’t, I have half hour to spare.
“Hey, don’t do that. You sent me a copy of your schedule, I know you’re lying to me right now.”
Shit.
“I love you, I’m loyal to you, I don’t want anyone but you. Are you catching what I’m telling you?”
“What are you going to do if she tries it on with you? Everyone knows you don’t say no, how are you going to explain it?”
“Are you fucking crazy? I haven’t been with anyone in months because I’ve been with you. Why would they think any differently now?”
I don’t have an answer for him. I keep my mouth shut, like I should’ve done in the first place and squeeze the phone in my hand.
“Babe? You still there?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you thinking straight now, or shall I call you back when you’ve come to your senses?”
“I…I’ll call you at lunch.”
I hang up on him and shove the phone in my pocket. He won’t be happy with me, but right now, if I stay on the phone with him, I’m going to drive us both crazy over nothing. Or, it won’t be over nothing and that will hurt a lot more.
Harper loves attention. She’s just like Aunt Lily, and she loves anyone who will chase her around, hell, she loves to chase when a guy doesn’t show her any attention, she takes it as a challenge.
My plan to study hard throughout the week and spend weekends with Leo to get me through have already messed up. Now I have Harper crawling around, this is going to be long.
The footballer breezes by and I remember I’m now free this weekend. I will drive myself crazy if I stay in my room alone.
“Hey…Sean?” I call out, thinking I’m remembering his name correctly.
He stops, and I wave when he looks around for who called out for him.
“My plans just cancelled on me, is your invite still open?”
His mouth stretches into a wide grin, and he nods, “For you…sure.”
The party will be a good distraction, I feel a lot better and as he walks over, a strange sense of guilt sets in. I don’t need to feel guilty for going to a party, Leo parties at the club all the time.
Sean grabs my hand and with the pen from his pocket, he writes an address down and tips his chin up at me before walking off again.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I ignore it for all of ten seconds. Digging it out, I answer, and Leo doesn’t miss a beat speaking first.
“Don’t hang up on me again, we’re not kids.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Leo. I’m allowed to be pissed that you’re not coming to see me…”
“Which I can’t help, you know the club comes first when there is trouble.”
“Maybe I don’t want to live like that anymore.”
Dad was always the same and it drove mom crazy and they’d argue for days about it.
“What the fuck, babe? What’s wrong with you today?”
“I had plans, and then I didn’t. Do you know when you can make it here?”
“I’m hoping next week. I’m sorry, but don’t talk like that. I can’t handle it if you’re there and I can’t speak to you properly about it.”
“Sure.”
“Come on, I can’t help it. Shit is sliding sideways and if my dad is concerned, so should we.”
“Shit you won’t tell me about though.”
“You don’t need to know. Anyway, tell me how your morning went.”
And like that, the fight comes to an end, although I still feel the fight brewing inside me.
“Okay, I do need to go now. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Love you, babe.”
“Love you too.”
Walking into my next class, my bad mood lifts when I see Sean sitting at the back. He sees me too and waves me over. The chair next to him is free and I slip into it before anyone can take it.
I haven’t had chance to open my bag when I catch the girls in class glaring at me over their shoulders.
“Why are they staring at me?” I whisper to Sean.
His laugh is carefree, and I soak it in.
“They want to be sitting next to me.”
“What’s so special about you?” I blurt out, not thinking about how rude I sound.
He mocks being hurt and holds his hands over his heart.
“I’m the star quarterback. You’re sitting next to royalty.”
“I’m sitting next to a douche if you refer to yourself as royalty.”
He barks out a laugh and it bounces off the walls and gains more attention as everyone looks around to see what’s so funny.
“I could tell you were funny, this year is going to be a blast next to you.”
“As long as you know I have a boyfriend, and even though I’m pissed with him right now, I’m not interested in anyone else.”
“That’s cool. I don’t go for hot blonds with banging bodies anyway, it’s no big deal.”
I shouldn’t but I can’t help the grin that cracks my face wide open. College is definitely not as bad as I originally imagined.