Ch 3

Chapter Three

It started with a pie. Then I woke up with feathers and a bunch of pink glop on my window the next morning. The rest of the days that followed was nothing but pure torture.

They threw eggs at my door, they chanted their stupid songs in the middle of the night whilst I tried to study, they banged on my door Everytime they walk past at any time of the day, disrupting every little bit of peace I had. The hockey players of Blake University, bullying a mere freshman, just because she yelled at Jace Carter.

I tapped my feet impatiently as I waited outside the administrator’s office, his receptionist chewing her gum so loud that it irritated my ears. A sigh escaped me as I stared down at my watch, in an hour I was going to be late for Bio class. Just as I was about to give up hope, the door opened.

The administrator was a short, blonde man with weird fizzy hair, and eyes that looked like they’ve seen better days,

“Miss Blackwell. Step into my office, please.” He ushered me in.

I nodded, pressing my lips tightly as I followed him in. I reached into my bag immediately, ready to get into business as I pulled out a bunch of pictures, “Here’s—

“Miss Blackwell.” He cut me off, “I know what you’re here for.”

My frown deepened, “You know what they’ve been doing?”

He chuckled softly, flippantly waving a hand, “The hockey team? It’s like a right of passage. You’re a freshman, they’re just messing with you.”

My frown turned into a scowl, “Messing with me?! They hurled eggs at my door, and my window at any given chance. I can’t afford new carpets so I study with the stance of rotten mucus!”

He nipped his bottom lip, then he sighed, “Look Miss Blackwell, it’s Blake University we’re talking about here. You messed with a star player, it makes sense for them to get you back, I mean you did imply that they were a waste to the—-

“I didn’t imply, I did call them a waste.” I interrupted, my anger seething by the minute.

He raised a brow, “You do know you’re on scholarship, don’t you?”

“Yes?”

“Any derogatory word can revoke that easily. The Blake Peckers have dedicated their lives, even studies to putting this school on the map. It’s because of the star, Jace Carter, the school has enough publicity to keep on running.” Then he reached for his drawer and brought out a pen, “I’ll talk to the team, let them lay off you. Is that better?”

I wanted them suspended, given an academic probation of the sorts, it was a fluke anyways so I sighed in defeat, “Fine.”

I rose to leave and he called out my name, “Miss Blackwell?”

“Yes?”

“You might want to lay low. You don’t want to go around causing any more trouble.”

I snorted in response and stormed out of the room. I stared at my watch and the big clock over the receptionist’s head, brows creased. I sent a death glare at some of the players who hooted at me as I walked past.

The timer was wrong. I was on the verge of getting late for my first Bio class.

*********

The class was half full by the time I got there. I walked down the stairs to the seat at the front which a lot of students avoided for some reason. It didn’t matter to me, as it only meant I had a front row to the professor’s lesson.

Someone snorted out “dork” to the class and a group chuckled in mockery. I rolled my eyes as I took a seat, their cliche behavior had no effect as I’d already gone through enough during my high school years— I was here to succeed.

The professor walked in and I gasped. Tall, handsome, broad shoulders, auburn hair that had specks of golden in it from the sunlight that seeped through the windows. I gulped hard, my heart palpating for some unbeknownst reason.

The others knew it too, how handsome he was, the giggles from behind me was enough proof. Our eyes met for a moment and I almost felt my heart jump.

“Good afternoon everyone. The name’s professor Lincoln, Link for short. I’ll be taking your Bio class in place of Professor David, who has the pneumonia at the moment.”

Professor Lincoln. He wrote a paper on dynamic fusion which I was obsessed with before I came to Blake, for some reason I always thought he was a beat up old man and not a handsome professor. I gulped hard again, watching him go on with his lesson.

Thirty minutes in, “For your first group project, I’ll be placing you in groups of two. Your names have been provided to me, you’re expected to fully work with your partner and produce a report on the given topic in a week. I expect a full cooperation, any issues can be contacted with me directly in my office.” He announced.

Group projects. The worst thing a girl could ever ask for. I let out another sigh as he called out the names, waiting patiently until it got to mine.

“Aria Blackwell?” He called out, those piercing eyes meeting with mine.

I shot up to my feet, “Yes??”

“Your partner seems to not be in class today.” He murmured, still making eye contact.

“Who might that be, sir?” I asked.

I felt a knot in my heart, it was a simple group project and yet I felt like was being pushed into a doomed space.

“Your partner?” He murmured, “That would be Carter, Jace Carter.”