Why Do I Feel Like This?

CHAPTER 6

Eleanor's POV

I walked into the cafeteria expecting nothing more than lunch. After the morning I'd had, food was exactly what I needed. My headache had finally disappeared, and I was starting to feel like myself again. I had already survived Economics, and Professor Gina had given us another assignment that was now sitting somewhere in the back of my mind.

I just wanted to eat. I stepped through the cafeteria doors, scanning the crowded room for Amaya. Then I stopped. Completely. My eyes had landed on someone I recognized. Frat Stranger. Ethan. I didn't know his name yet, but somehow, seeing him again made my entire body react before my brain could catch up. He was sitting at a table across the cafeteria. And he wasn't alone.

A beautiful blonde girl was sitting beside him, practically attached to his side. She had her arm wrapped around his, leaning close while they talked. I stared for a second longer than I should have. Something strange tightened inside my chest. A small, sharp pain. I frowned. Why did that bother me? I didn't know him. I had spoken to him for approximately five seconds. He'd spilled a drink on me.

He'd apologized. Then he'd walked away. That was literally the extent of our relationship. So why did seeing another girl holding onto him make something inside me hurt? It wasn't my place to feel anything. I didn't even have the right to be jealous. I quickly looked away. Get yourself together, Eleanor. I continued toward the food counter, pretending I hadn't seen him.

I picked up my tray and got my lunch. Then I spotted Amaya sitting at our usual table. Thank God. I walked over and dropped into the seat beside her. She looked up. "You look distracted." "I'm not." She narrowed her eyes. "You definitely are." I took a bite of my food. "I'm fine."

Amaya wasn't convinced. She followed my gaze across the cafeteria. Then her eyes widened. "Oh." I looked at her. "What?" She leaned forward. "Is that him?" I hesitated. "Maybe." She looked again. Then she turned back to me with a grin. "Ohhh." I rolled my eyes. "Don't." "He's hot."

"Amaya." "No, seriously." She glanced toward him again. "He's really hot." I tried not to look. I failed. My eyes drifted back toward him. He was still sitting with the blonde girl. I immediately looked down at my food. Amaya laughed. "Now I understand." "Understand what?" "Why you were so flustered last night."

I groaned. "Please stop." "No." She laughed. "He's cute." "Okay." "Very cute." "Okay." "I can see why you couldn't stop thinking about him." I stared at her. "I wasn't thinking about him." She gave me a look. "Sure." I tried to focus on eating.

Then Amaya suddenly laughed. "Girl, even I feel flustered looking at him." I nearly choked on my drink. "Amayaaaa!" She burst out laughing. "Why would you say that?" "I'm just saying!" "You have no shame." "None whatsoever." I shook my head, laughing despite myself. For a few minutes, we continued eating and joking around. But my eyes kept betraying me.

Every few minutes, I'd glance toward Ethan. And every time I did, that strange feeling returned. There was something about him. Something I couldn't put into words. It wasn't just that he was attractive. I'd seen attractive guys before. I'd dated before. This wasn't my first time liking someone. So why was this different?

I didn't have an answer. Eventually, I finished my food. "I need to work on that assignment." Amaya looked at me. "Already?" "Professor Gina gave us work." "You're too responsible." "I like passing my classes." "Fine." I stood up. "I'll see you later." I grabbed my bag and left the cafeteria.

I thought leaving would help. It didn't. Because the moment I stepped outside, I could still feel that strange awareness in the back of my mind. Like I knew he was somewhere nearby. I shook my head. That was impossible. I headed toward the campus café. It was quieter there, and I figured it would be the perfect place to work. I ordered a matcha and a donut before finding a table near the window. I opened my laptop.

Professor Gina's assignment appeared on the screen. Finally. Something to focus on. I started typing. For several minutes, everything was normal. Then I heard a voice. "Stalking me, freshman?" My fingers froze. I slowly looked up. Brown eyes. That same face. That same impossible feeling. Ethan.

I stared at him. He was standing beside my table with a faint smile on his face. I raised an eyebrow. "I'm definitely not the one doing the stalking." His smile grew. "Really?" "You're the one who keeps appearing everywhere." He laughed softly. "I was here first." "I highly doubt that." He pulled out the chair across from me.

"What's your name?" I paused. So he didn't know my name either. "Eleanor." He repeated it quietly. "Eleanor." Something about the way he said my name sent another strange sensation through me. "And you?" He looked at me. For a second, he didn't answer. "Ethan." Ethan. Finally. I had a name.

I didn't know why that made my stomach twist. "Ethan," I repeated. His expression changed for the briefest moment. Almost like hearing me say his name affected him too. Then he smiled. "Nice to officially meet you." "Same." There was a strange silence between us. Not awkward. Just… intense.

I couldn't explain it. He looked like he wanted to say something. I wanted to ask him why he had acted so strangely at the party. Why I felt like I'd known him forever. Why seeing him with that girl had bothered me. But before I could ask anything, a voice called from across the café.

"Ethan!" He turned. A group of guys were standing near the entrance. One of them waved. "Come on, man!" Ethan sighed. "I'll be there." His friend shook his head. "No, you're coming now." Another guy walked over and grabbed Ethan by the shoulder.

"What are you guys doing?" Ethan asked. "Boy stuff." Ethan looked back at me. I smiled. "Go." He hesitated. Then he nodded. "I'll see you around, Eleanor." "Yeah." His friends pulled him toward the door. I watched them leave.

Then I looked down at my laptop. What just happened? I hadn't even spoken to him for five minutes, yet my heart was beating faster than it should. I picked up my matcha. "Get a grip." I took a sip. Then I opened the assignment again.

Professor Gina's questions stared back at me. I sighed. "Focus." I began typing. But every few minutes, my mind drifted back to Ethan. His voice. His eyes. The way he'd said my name. And the strangest part?

I still couldn't understand why being around him felt so familiar. I had never met Ethan before the party. I knew that. At least, my mind knew that. But something deep inside me seemed to disagree. And I had no idea why.