Dinner.

Sally’s POV.

My blood boiled under my skin.

How dare he!

He leaned back with that annoying, cocky smile of his still plastered on his face.

My palm flew to the table instinctively.

I flinched. I didn’t intend it to be that loud. Everyone’s gaze raised.

“I am done!”

My eyes met with a girl a few feet away from me, probably surprised at the exchange going on.

His brow lifted. "No, you are not, love."

He cackled.

My eyes narrowed. “Watch me!”

I packed up my food and books and swung my bag over my shoulder. My chair scraped against the hard floor as I pushed it backward.

“Sorry, Miss Whitney," I whispered to the librarian as I walked towards the door.

She looked at me over her glasses and gave me a brief nod.

The afternoon sun shone hot on my face immediately as I stepped out of the building.

I squinted, shielding my eyes from the sun.

“Jerk” I muttered underneath my breath, "He knows nothing about me. I can’t deal with his attitude.”

“Sally!” I heard him call from behind me.

“Great!” He is following me.

I quickened my steps.

“Where are you going, Sally?”

I stopped and spun around.

“This!” I said, gesturing between us, “won’t work.”

“Why?”

He folded his arms across his chest and leaned on one foot. The tattoo on his left arm contracted with the movement of his muscle.

I rolled my eyes.

There he goes with those armless tops.

“Why?” I scoffed. “I don’t tutor spoilt adults with a terrible attitude and no sense of urgency.”

He straightened, moving forward to close the distance between us.

“First… ouch, and second, I was only joking.” He flipped his hair back. A habit of his I have taken note of.

My jaw tightened.

He let out a slow breath, the smile finally slipping.

“Look, I really need this, alright?”

I folded my arms tighter.

“Need what?”

“To pass.”

His answer came so quickly it caught me off guard.

“I know I joke around a lot.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But this isn’t one of those times.”

I said nothing.

“I’m not asking you to like me.” His gaze met mine. “Just honor your end of the deal, and I’ll honor mine.”

I arched a brow. “Meaning?”

“I’ll show up on time.” He held up a finger. “I’ll actually study.”

“Actually?”

“I’ll try not to drive you mental.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “No promises, but I’ll try.”

Despite myself, my lips almost twitched.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed.

“There she is,” he said. “I knew you could smile.”

I glared at him again.

“Don’t ruin it.”

He chuckled. "Well, there goes today’s study session.”

“We could still head back to the library."

“Nah. Not after that little performance.”

An awkward silence settled between us for a beat.

“I could drive you home.”

I glanced at my watch. It was a little after five. I really was not in the mood to catch the bus today.

"Sure," I hissed. "Why not?"

I followed him to the school's parking lot.

“Hey, Christabel." He flashed a perfect set of white teeth as he walked along the fountain.

“Hey Cole," Christabel replied, twirling her fingers in her hair. Then her eyes landed on me and her smile faded. But she said nothing, just whispered to her red-haired friend beside her and walked past.

I lowered my head and clutched my book tighter. This is what I get for walking with a hayman brother.

The stares.

I didn’t sign up for this.

I spotted his May batch around the corner and quickened my steps.

The door was unlocked.

I slid into the passenger seat and exhaled. Letting my shoulders drop a little.

Cole slid in next to me and turned on the engine.

He grinned widely.

“What’s so funny?"

He shrugged.

“You keep pushing your glasses up every time people look at you.”

“I do not.”

“You’ve done it four times in the last minute.”

I straightened, pushing my glasses that now rested on my nose back up with my index finger.

Damn. I did it again.

He laughed. “You see?”

My lips moved up in a pout.

Silence.

“Hey,”

I turned to him, he didn’t look at me.

“Could you not tell anyone about my failing grades? This would be between us”

“Ummm, sure. You don’t have to worry about that”

A horn blared beside us as a car drove past. Cole poked his head out of the window.

“Hey Richie!”

Richie gave him a Thumbs up as his car dispersed behind us.

Cole pulled his head back in. He was smiling so widely a dimple was evident on his left cheek.

“So… where am I dropping you?”

I called out the address.

“Wait…” He glances at her. “You live with your parents?”

“Yes.”

“As in… both parents?”

“Yes.”

“And they let you stay out till…”

I checked the time.

“Six.”

He nearly missed a turn.

“Six?”

“Mmhmm.” I remembered my burger and brought it out from my bag where I had stashed it in anger.

He turned to face me slightly.

“Wait… “Who picked you up from Justin’s party?”

“My brother.”

“He has to?”

“My parents prefer it.”

I took a big bite of the burger.

My eyes closed, savoring the delicious flavors in my mouth. I loved burgers so much, and Justin knew it.

“Love…” Cole muttered, squinting his eyes at the road.

I gazed at him. “What?”

He shook his head.

“There’s no chance Justin notices you if you’re living like that.”

I frowned.

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve got a curfew. Your brother chauffeurs you around. You disappear after lectures. You’re home before everyone orders pizza.”

He laughed.

“Your mum and dad have probably scared off every bloke who’s looked your way.”

I stopped chewing.

“Let me guess…”

He glanced sideways.

“Never had a boyfriend.”

“I have," I lied.

He smirked.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

"Who?"

“I…” I froze. I hated that he could see through me. I hated that we were even having this conversation in the first place.

I suddenly didn’t feel like eating my burger anymore.

“Justin…” He tapped the steering wheel absentmindedly. “He’s used to girls who are always around. Campus events. Football games. Parties. You vanish the second classes end.”

I looked out the window.

“Honestly?” he said. “You should move into campus housing for your last year. You’d loosen up.”

“I like living at home.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But you’re missing half of university.”

My house came into view.

“Here?” He asked, pulling up in front of the white and brick-colored building.

“Yeah.”

He looked up at the family house, then back at me.

“See you tomorrow."

“Yeah.”

I climbed out before he could say anything else.

As I walked toward the front door, I couldn’t stop hearing his words.

You’re missing half of university.

*****

By evening, I had tried to convince myself to push everything Cole said earlier behind me.

Grilled chicken and roasted vegetables usually made Wednesdays my favorite day of the week.

Mom always insisted we eat together whenever everyone’s schedules allowed it.

No phones.

No television.

Just dinner.

Tonight, the table was set with grilled lemon chicken, roasted potatoes, garden salad, and warm garlic bread.

Normally, I’d have been halfway through my second helping.

Instead, I spent more time pushing lettuce around my plate than actually eating it.

“You’re missing half of university.”

The words wouldn’t leave my head.

“Sally?”

I looked up.

Mom was watching me from across the table.

“You’re awfully quiet today, sweetheart.”

“I’m fine.”

Michael snorted beside me.

“She’s lying.”

“I am not.”

“You’ve stabbed that tomato seventeen times.”

“I have not.”

He reached over dramatically and counted the marks with his fork.

“Eighteen.”

Usually, I would have kicked him under the table.

Or stolen the last piece of garlic bread just to annoy him.

Tonight…

Nothing.

Michael frowned.

“…Okayyyy.”

Dad glanced up briefly from his plate before returning to his food.

"Are you feeling alright?”

I nodded.

“Just tired.”

Mom wasn’t convinced.

She set down her fork.

“What happened at school?”

My fingers tightened around my glass.

Cole’s voice echoed again.

“You’re home before everyone orders pizza.”

“You’re missing half of university.”

I swallowed.

Then, before I could lose my nerves, I blurted out.

“I want to move into the dorms.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Michael stopped chewing.

Dad’s fork froze halfway to his mouth.

Mom blinked at me.

“…Excuse me?”