CHAPTER 5

ALLISON

“Ugh! He gets me so mad.” I huffed, dumping my backpack onto the floor. “Who does he think he is?”

“Oh my God.”

“You show up to class for the very first time in the whole semester… and he’s already manipulating everything to suit his whim.” I paced round in circles, my hands glued firmly to my hips as I did.

“I won’t work with his arrogant attitude. I won’t.”

“Oh my God!”

“He thinks I’m one of his fans dying to be paired with him like he’s the breath of life?”

“Allison!” Sienna shouted.

“What?”

“Can you stop talking for one second?” Her face lit up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “He likes you.”

“What?” I stared at her, confused. “Who?”

“Hayes… Carter.” She practically bounced where she stood. “He’s into you. Oh my God, it’s so obvious.”

I screwed up my face in disgust, only to burst into laughter when she continued staring at me with a completely straight face.

“The annoying, self-centered dick?”

Sienna rolled her eyes.

“Can’t you see it, Ally? He’s never… and I mean never, gone out of his way to initiate a conversation with a girl before—ever in his life.” Her eyes stayed on me, smiling wider. “He’s into you.”

I scoffed. “Am I supposed to feel like the Queen of England because Carter Hayes spoke to me? Si, I don’t like the guy. He’s obnoxious, self-serving and unbelievably egotistical. It’s honestly laughable to think there’s a universe where I’d ever like him.” I snorted, dissolving in another round of laughter.

“So what? You’re just going to brush the whole thing off?”

“Exactly.” I walked over to my wardrobe, stripping off my school uniform and changing into my usual comfortable clothes—a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie.

“I don’t like Carter, I never will.” I tugged the hoodie over my head.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you.”

“I’m not upset, Si. I’m just… annoyed, but not at you.” I sighed. “I still don’t know how he managed to charm his way into convincing Mr Turner to switch partners.”

“Because he’s Carter.” Sienna did a dramatic eye roll, dragging out his name. “Ally, the guy practically owns the school, he’s a beast on the ice, and he’s beautiful. Who is going to say no to him?”

I only shook my head and huffed. Shuffling to the bag rack, I unhooked my satchel and slung it over my shoulder.

“Going somewhere?”

“Yeah. I’m meeting the student I’m tutoring in…” I tilted my head to the side, glancing down at my watch. “… twenty minutes.”

“Alright. I’ll make something for dinner.”

I rushed towards her, squeezing her in a suffocating hug before peppering kisses all over her face.

“You’re the best.” I made an attempt to walk away but her voice stopped me to screeching halt.

“Not so fast… I make us dinner you go with me to a house party.”

Scrunching up my face, I adjusted the bag strap around my shoulder.

“Sienna, it’s Monday. Who throws a house party on a Monday?”

“The people hosting the one I’m going to.” She grinned. “And you’re coming with me. You know, at a point you’d have to actually get out of this room and have fun. Life isn’t all books.”

“I can’t go. I have to work on my debate thesis.”

“You’ll do that after we get back.” She waved me off. “Live a little, Ally. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

I threw my head back with a defeated groan.

“Go.” She nudged my side, pushing me onwards. “Go… you’re going to be late.”

I worked my legs into action, jogging to the exit.

“Oh, damn. See you later.”

“And make yourself a male friend today, Ally!”

I turned around, facing her. “They’re all time wasters, Si. And I don’t have enough of it to waste.” She rolled her eyes at me. I fobbed her off, stepping outside.

******

After going through a number of books in the library, I flipped. Literally tired from waiting. I checked my phone for the umpteenth time and let out a frustrated sigh.

Thirty minutes late.

What was keeping them?

Mr Branson had assured me the student would show up. Had they suddenly changed their mind without informing him about it? I was going to wait another twenty minutes and then I was going to leave. I needed the money, but I wasn’t about to let someone waste my time.

Twenty more minutes. That was it.

I buried my face in a random psychology book, killing time, only to instinctively lift my head at the approaching footsteps.

I shifted in my seat, completely taken aback. Was he deliberately following me around? This was getting ridiculous.

“Well… this keeps getting more interesting.” He chuckled, biting down on his lower lip. I gulped. “Allison, right?”

“Now I know you’re the real stalker.” I closed the book and jumped up, crossing my arms over my chest. “How did you know I was here, Hayes?”

“Look, I’m anything but a stalker, Ally. I came here—“

“That’s Allison to you.”

“What?”

“Don’t call me Ally. You haven’t earned the right.”

A smirk spread across his face, his gaze falling on me.

“I’ll call you Lis then.” He shrugged casually. “I practically invented it, so I think I’ve earned that one.” A cocky smile washed over his face, before he ran his long fingers through this thick hair. I looked away, releasing a slow breath.

“You won’t call me that either. And I need you to get away from me. Right now.”

He took a step forward closing the huge distance between us.

“One. Ally, Lis… this is a public place. That means you don’t get to tell me where I can and can’t stand.” He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. I sucked in a sharp breath as goosebumps raced across my skin. “Two…” His voice dropped lower. “As disappointing as this may sound—and trust me, I mean it… running into you was purely a coincidence.” He pulled his face from mine, grinning. “I’m here to meet my tutor.”

My brows furrowed. Was this some sort of a joke?

“What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I’m here to meet my tutor.” He chortled. “And judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing you’re her.” He studied me for a long, agonizing minute, smacked his lips together before finally talking. “I’m Carter Hayes.” He extended his hand toward me. “It’s nice to meet you.” His smile deepened. “And you are…?”

I eyed his outstretched hand suspiciously, keeping both of mine firmly pressed around my body.

“It’s just my hand Lis, it won’t burn.”

“Did you know about this? That I’d be your tutor?”

He dropped his hand, slipping them into his pocket before rolling his head back.

“No. I just told you this is a coincidence. I hired Mr Branson to get me a tutor and he did. I didn’t ask any questions, I didn’t ask his process for getting them and I definitely didn’t ask the name of the person tutoring.” He cocked his head.

“Enough details for you?”

Our eyes locked, his warm, perceptive eyes focusing on me. For a bizarre, confusing second my breath faltered. One… two…three seconds, before I tore my eyes away, clearing my throat.

“I’m not tutoring you.”

He scoffed. “Why the hell not? What? Scared you’ll fall for me?”

I let out a soft laughter. “Don’t flatter yourself, Hayes.”

“Then tutor me, bookworm. Prove to me you’re really immune to my charm.”