Chapter 5

Adina’s POV

“He’s staring at you,” Aurora chirped by my side, making it a point of duty to walk me to my first class today even if I told her I was fine and that I’d already eaten an apple this morning.

“No, he is not,” I countered, resisting the urge to look in the direction where they always parked their car. It didn’t help that we would have to pass right by them. I was dreading it.

“He is,” my best friend insisted, her hair bobbing all around her. “Giovanni doesn’t just drop anyone off at their dorm in the middle of the night, Adina. I think he likes you.”

I stopped in the middle of the parking lot and turned to face Aurora.

“You know the kind of person he is. Giovanni is the most popular player on campus. He has a line of broken hearts littered behind me. I cannot believe you want to add me to that list.”

“That isn’t what I am saying, Adina,” she shook her head insistently. “I mean, I have known Giovanni longer than you since I used to go out with Alessandro.”

“A relationship that should never have happened,” I muttered under my breath

If Aurora heard me, she ignored it completely.

“He doesn't give anyone rides, don't you get it?” she said exasperatedly. “The only people he lets in his car are Lucia and Nathan. Not even Dario. But he willingly gave you a ride home without complaining. That is unlike Giovanni.”

“That doesn’t change anything.” I started walking again, leaving Aurora no choice but to fall into step with me. “Maybe he is just changing the way he operates. I am going to stay away from him. Last night was just a one-time thing. It just shows me more reasons I need to avoid his group.”

Aurora looked like she was about to say something else, but she decided against it. We approached their group in the G-wagon, and despite my decision, I found myself scanning the interior, looking for that one face.

He wasn’t there, but his friend from last night was.

Dario.

And he winked at me.

Ignoring him, I continued my way into the building and down the hallway. This was where Aurora and I parted ways. She was taking a Philosophy class to increase her units after failing a course last semester.

“See you at lunch,” I murmured, pulling her into my arms.

“Stay away from drama,” she chuckled as she pulled away. “And if it finds you, you'd better stall and run across the school to get me. I cannot miss out on it this time around.”

“Bye, Aurora.”

I found my way to my first class of the day. Chemistry. Professor Koa had already arranged the equipment on our tables. I made my way to mine, sliding onto the stool and leaning over to place my bag against its legs.

“Shit!” I yelped when I got back up, my hands flying to my chest.

Sitting beside me was no other than our campus player, Giovanni. Even though I knew he'd returned to the party last night, he looked like he'd had at least eight hours of sleep.

And then, there was I, with my heavy eye bags.

“Sorry,” he murmured, pulling the microscope over to himself. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought I told you Professor Koa assigned us as partners.”

“And I thought I told you to stay away from me.”

A sigh escaped his lips as he looked into my eyes. That one act was all it took for the rest of the room to fade into oblivion. I couldn’t blink. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like he could read into my soul.

“I’m sorry about my friends yesterday.” His lips finally moved. “You are right. I shouldn’t have invited you to that party yesterday.”

I narrowed my gaze in his direction. “What are you up to now, Giovanni?”

He looked away from me, grabbed the specimen, and placed it gingerly on the microscope slide. So he knew how to do that? What exactly did he need me for then?

“Must you always think that I am up to something?” he questioned in a low tone. “How about me just trying to be a decent person?”

“Did you hit your head on the side of your bed this morning?”

“I wish I did,” he muttered. “I couldn’t sleep in there.”

“Why?”

“My sheets smelled of you.”

I look away sharply, hating my porcelain skin for the first time in my life. The heat patches on my cheeks burned through my skin, and of course, Giovanni noticed.

Every part of me expected him to mock me about it. Instead, he pushed the microscope back to me.

“Allium cepa,” he murmured, scribbling it down in his notebook. “You can confirm.”

Eyeing him warily, I closed one eye and peered into it.

“You are right.”

It was very surprising.

We went through the remaining specimens in an odd quiet. The bell rang, signalling the end of the class, but Giovanni didn't move an inch. He watched me, with his arm propped on the table as I packed my bag and slid off the stool.

“Did you have anything to eat today?”

“An apple?”

“I know I am not in the right position to tell you anything, but you should have your dizzying spells checked out. It is probably low sugar and stress, but still, see a doctor.”

“I will when I have the time.”

I walked towards the door, just as the Dean walked up to me.

“Miss Rivera, a word, please?”

I could still feel Giovanni’s eyes on me as I pushed out of the classroom, following the Dean until we were in the hallway, devoid of students.

“I saw your application to be the Chair of the Committee for the School’s Dance.”

I nodded. “Sir, before you think I am not a great fit…”

“You got it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He handed me a document. “These are the students you have to work with. Reach out to them and fix a meeting. I expect a report before the end of the week.”

“Thank you so much, Sir!” I called after him, so happy to have been given the opportunity.

I thought I would have to do a lot to wipe off the grin on my face, but it disappeared in under a second when my eyes took in the names on the document.

Last on the list was no other than Giovanni fucking Malvetti...