Party invitation.

Cole’s POV.

“I…”

I dried my wet hair lazily with a towel.

My eyes moved from her then back to the file on my desk.

“Oh shit.”

I tossed the towel aside and hurried to the table.

“The fuck are you doing snooping around in my room?"

I picked up the file and tossed it into my desk drawer.

My fingers slipped through my hair. I walked briskly to the door and shut it. I couldn’t risk the other guys listening in on my conversation.

“It was open," she muttered.

I glanced at her, annoyed. "And that gave you the permission to read it?!”

“I am sorry, okay?”

I sighed.

“You weren’t supposed to see that.”

I walked to my wardrobe and slipped on a white shirt. I hadn’t heard her come in, though I had been expecting her.

This was the last thing I needed right now.

I didn’t look at her.

“You’re going to get kicked out?”

Great, there she goes.

“That’s none of your business.”

Silence.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I scoffed. “What news, Cole Ravenscott? He's a dumbass. That’s what you will be discussing with your nerd friends.”

“Firstly, ouch.” She moved closer and stood besides me, so I had no choice but to turn to her. "Secondly, I would never do something like that. I thought you would know the kind of person I am by now. I want to help. I don’t like anybody being left behind, especially if I could do anything about it.”

I arched a brow. She's being serious?

“How long has it been this way?”

I shrugged.

“Cole?”

“A couple of semesters, I don’t know.” I looked everywhere but at her. "Doesn't matter, does it?"

She let her bag slip to the floor.

“I know this looks really bad.”

I looked at her.

“It does.”

She frowned.

“I’m serious, Cole.”

“So am I.”

She took a deep breath.

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend this is nothing. You have one more chance.”

I looked away.

“I know.”

“And I honestly want to help you.”

I glanced at her.

“You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

I scoffed.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

She folded her arms.

“I know you’re annoying. You’re always late. You don’t listen in class. You’d rather joke around than take anything seriously.”

“Sounds like you’ve got me all figured out.”

“I don’t.”

She paused.

“But I know you don’t want to be left behind.”

I stared at her.

She wasn’t wrong.

“I can give you extra hours,” she continued. “We can meet whenever you need to. I’ll go through everything you missed, help you with your assignments, and prepare you for your exams. Whatever it takes. But you have to be cooperative.”

I stared at her.

She actually meant it.

“You’re willing to do all that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She shrugged.

“Because I know what it’s like to feel like you can’t keep up with everyone else.”

Silence.

Then I glanced away.

“I’m kind of scared.” The words slipped easily out of my mouth.

She went quiet.

I scratched the back of my neck.

“Happy now?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I’m glad you told me.”

I looked at her.

“I don’t know if I can pull this off, Sally.”

“You can.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know you’re capable of more than you’re doing.”

I scoffed.

“That’s a very optimistic thing to say about a bloke with a final warning sitting in his drawer.”

“Then prove me right.”

I stared at her.

Bloody hell.

She really wasn’t going to let this go.

“Fine.” In as much as it looked like I didn’t care, I did care. A lot more than I cared to admit. I didn’t know when things had gotten this bad.

Her eyebrows lifted.

“Fine?”

“I’ll try.”

“Not try.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“You have to do it.”

I laughed under my breath.

“Bossy.”

“You need someone to be.”

She picked up her bag and pulled out a notebook.

“Sit.”

I looked at the chair.

Then at her.

“You really enjoy telling me what to do, don’t you?”

“Sit down, Cole.”

I shook my head, but I sat.

She pulled the chair besides mine and opened her notebook.

Within seconds, she was explaining something I’d completely forgotten we’d covered in class.

She spoke quickly when she got excited.

Her glasses slipped down her nose every few minutes.

She underlined things.

Made little notes.

Asked me questions.

Then stopped whenever I looked confused and explained them again.

I leant back in my chair and watched her for a moment.

What kind of girl was she?

She had walked into a fraternity house she’d never been inside before, found out the guy she was supposed to tutor was practically on the verge of failing out, and instead of laughing at him, she’d decided to help.

She didn’t even know if I’d let her.

Yet here she was.

I placed my palm on the page just before flipping it.

A yawn stifled its way out. “All this studying makes me so tired.”

Her shoulders dropped. “Come on. We haven’t even gone halfway.”

Her phone flashed on the table. Justin’s name appeared at the notification bar briefly before I looked away.

That’s a whole lot of emojis.

She reached for it and the corners of her lips curved into a wide smile.

Interesting.

I leant forward.

She turned the screen off immediately I was close.

“The installation party is happening on Saturday, which is next tomorrow. You are coming.”

“Mmhmm… I don’t know about that. It’s really not my thing.”

"Oh, you are coming, Sally," I smirked and leant back in my seat. "Justin will be there.”