Chapter Eight

~Sayd~

"Hey Sayd, are you done with my statistics assignment? " Mera asked while combing her hair.

I put the bunch of papers stapled together on her dresser.  "You know, it'd be nice if you participated in your own homework. "

"You know I can't count."

"Mera—," I hesitated deciding not to argue with her. " You know what, let's just get to class. Mr Atwell already hates me, I don't want to get on his bad side today. "

She got up from the dresser and paused when she looked at me.

"Aren't you going to get dressed for class?" She asked giving me a once-over.

"I already am."

"Jeans and a T-shirt, typical Sayd."

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Oh nothing," she said adding another coat of mascara," just that ever since Kace stopped coming to class I've noticed.....this." She gestured at me up and down.

"Mera..."

"I understand though, no one to impress."

For the past three weeks, Mera has been on my case about Kace and how he rescued and defended me. She was right about him not attending Psychology classes, but that wasn't any of my business, and I didn't care.

"Mera, it's been three weeks, don't you think it's time to let this go? Besides I didn't even notice his absence until you mentioned it. "

Lair.

"Okay, whatever you say." She waltzed past me and stood at the door.

"Who knows he might show today—."

"I said drop it!"

____________________________

Neither Mera nor I had a car, so we either walked or took a bus. I kept my fingers crossed on my eighteenth birthday but it came and went without a car and here we are today. By the time we got to the campus grounds, we had only five minutes left for classes to begin. We walked quickly along with other students who were racing for their classes and I spotted Kace walking casually nearby.

Immediately I looked at him, his head turned and looked at me. He held my stare for a short while and I thought it was only reasonable to wave hello but instead of waving back he turned away and proceeded towards class. What a jerk!

As expected the lecture hall was almost full when I walked in, My favourite seats in the front row were all occupied but for Mr Atwell's classes, I avoided the front by all means necessary.

"Ms Pierce, " Mr Atwell called my name before I could find a seat. " You're late again. "

There were literally other people walking into the room but as usual, he chose to come after me.

"I'm sorry sir," I said finding a place in the second last row.

"Of course you are. "

Mera walked in behind me and tapped my shoulder to try to cheer me up. Ever since my first year here I would always study my hardest for Mr Akwell's course, just like the rest of the courses and I would always get the best grades too, except for his no matter how hard and long I studied. It didn't take too long to realise that he was grading me unfairly. When I approached him on the matter he proposed to exchange fair grades for sexual favours. I immediately reported him to the school board but unfortunately, he wasn't fired because I didn't have valid evidence. After that, he started grading me fairly but made my life in the classroom hell at the same time.

"We're all waiting for you to begin Ms. Pierce. "

"Yes sir," I walked to my seat and he made the entire class look at me as I sat down.

At least I got the A's I deserved, right?  He wrote the topic of the day on the whiteboard and I noticed it was one that I had studied beforehand. Ten minutes into the lecture, it became boring because I knew everything he was going to say. So I took out my AirPods from my bag and plugged them in. I turned up the volume because I was sure he wasn't going to ask me a question or point at me, he never did. RnB was my go-to genre anytime I felt bad about something. It had a way of bringing me back to life.

As I continued to listen to different songs playing I felt a hand in my ear which caused me to jump in my seat making one pod fall to the floor. Before picking it up I looked behind me to see who and my brows furrowed when I saw it was Kace. I then looked at Mr Akwell praying he didn't notice anything. My hand went underneath my seat and picked up the airpod then put it back on.

Again Kace reached for it taking it out. I wanted to turn back to him but he leaned forward and spoke in my ear.

"This is the junk you listen to? "

I removed the other AirPod and whispered to him. " Give it back. "

"Ms Pierce," Mr Akwell called my name making me jump in my seat. " Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?

"No sir," I immediately said.

He went on lecturing and spared Kace a side glare.

"Try listening to this," he spoke in my ear again. 

He took off my other airpod making sure Mr Akwell didn't notice anything and gave me his pair.

He played a song that was contemporary R&B but had a pop rhythm to it making me want to nod my head in approval.

"It's good huh?" he asked as the song was coming to an end and I nodded.

When the song ended I didn't give him back the AirPods instead the next song began to play. Like the first one it was good and I listened to every word of the lyrics as I pretended to pay attention to the class.

All of a sudden, a loud song played that sounded like something like heavy punk rock played making me yelp and jump in my seat.

"Ms Pierce!"

I looked at him with wide eyes then my face turned red when I noticed the entire class looking at me. Others were trying to hold back their laughs and others like Mera, were completely perplexed.

Before I could say anything he pointed at the door signalling for me to leave.

"Out. Now," he said firmly.

Deciding not to argue I nodded and got up from my seat facing the floor and begging it to swallow me whole.

"Mr Cohen," I heard him say again. " You may kindly join her. "

When I got to the hall I stopped and leaned my head against the wall letting the embarrassment sink in as I came to terms with what just happened. I heard the door open and close again and saw him from the corner of my eye. 

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I turned to him furiously. " Are you trying to make me fail this class?"

He didn't look apologetic at all, if anything he looked like he was trying to hide amusement when the corner of his mouth twitched.

"It's a playlist, I didn't know what the next song was. Besides you're better off not attending his classes. "

I slapped my hand against my forehead and shook my head. "I still need to have good attendance. That's why I — you know what, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time here when I can use this time to study at the library or something. "

"I could drive you there if that'll make you less annoyed."

" I'm good, I'll just use the twenty minutes walking there to think about the misery I wake up to every day that is my life."

He shrugged and this time he smirked exposing his perfect set of teeth. "Okay."

He began to walk away then I called him back.

"Here are your AirPods," I aggressively grabbed his hand and stretched out his fingers then put them on his palm. 

"Now can I have mine?" I stretched out my hand. He stared at me first then shook his head and reached his hand into the pocket of his maroon racer jacket. Instead of putting them on the palms, he took a step closer to me eliminating the distance between us. My eyes widened a bit and my back was against the nearby wall as he slowly raised his hand to my face pushing my hair aside. His fingers brushed against the skin of my ear causing me to expel a breath. I wanted to ask what he was doing until I felt the AirPods fit perfectly in my left ear. He then proceeded to my right ear for the slightest eye contact with me his ever so remarkable eyes looking down at me.

"That's how you do it," his minty breath touched my skin and goosebumps appeared around my neck along with it. I tried to look away, I wanted to look away but I couldn't. He then took a step back. " Gentle. "

I cleared my throat and removed them from my ears feeling the need to breathe from any outlet possible. "I —."

"Sayd?" Kace and I both turned to look at the person who called my name.

"Timothy," I responded when he began walking closer to us.

"Are you okay?" he asked me looking concerned. " I could hear you arguing from the parking lot. "

He stood next to me then looked at Kace, then Kace looked at him. Then Timothy looks at me and then back at Kace. Then Kace also looked at me and then back at Timothy.

"Is this guy bothering you?" Timothy finally asked.

"No," I immediately answered. They both had the same height and a similar build. I already knew how physically strong Kace was and I also knew how Timothy could be given his protective nature. I wasn't going to spark another fight. " Kace, ......is my friend, " I looked up at him, " and he was just offering me a ride. Right, Kace?"

"Right. "

I had no idea why they were scowling at each other. It was like they were having some kind of mental conversation.

"Well, let's go," I grabbed Kace's arm to pull him along with me but Timothy stopped me.

"Let me just talk to Kace for a second."

"About what?" dear lord I didn't need this right now.

"Just wait for me in my car," Kace handed me his keys. 

"What do you guys want to talk about? You just met." At least I hope they just met.

"I just want to make sure I know who's driving my sister home. "

Crap.