My ex is my soulmate

Chapter eleven - Project partners

Ally's POV:

It has been a week since the drama between Macy and Toby ended. I am happy that they are on good terms again. I know how hard it was for both of them. It looks like I was right. My dear friend needed to make a mistake so she could realize that her best friend was not a bad person. I'm not saying that he was. I have to say that since Toby got that punch in the face, Macy was taking care of him. Maybe a little bit too much, but he never complained. The good news is that the arguments between them are over, and we can go out with them. They were very happy when Austin told them that they could go out with us again. Our old friends went to their university. I guess their vacation ended. Maybe we can go and see them, but who knows when? Moreover, only one month has left until Christmas, and I am planning to go home. Probably Austin will come too. I wouldn't mind being on the same flight with him. Well, there is enough time until then. I have no problem staying here, but I prefer to be with my parents. I have never had a Christmas without them, so I don't want to do it now. Maybe when I grow up, things will be different.

Today our projects start. On the practical course, we'll be given a task which we have to complete by the end of the semester. For some reason, it's a group one. Well, if you call two people a group. I would love to do it solo, but the teacher won't let me. For my history of art class, I have to pick a painting and talk about it. What type of materials are used, who made the painting and why he or she chose to work with them. Technically, I have to break down a painting and explain everything about it. I won't lie that it's a bit boring, but I won't complain.

I woke up and saw that Austin was not there. Where did he go so early? I got up and went to get ready. Soon I smelled something delicious. It can't come from the bathroom. I opened the door, but there was no one. The smell returned. Ok, I have to understand what that delicious thing is. I quickly washed my face, teeth and bushed my hair. When I was done, I walked out of the bathroom and followed the smell. For some reason, it was coming out of my wardrobe. I have never left the food there. I opened it and saw a bag of food. How did this get there? I picked it up and in that moment, I felt two hands wrapped around me.

- Can you let me go?

- Why?

- Because I want to eat and you make me feel uncomfortable.

With that, Austin let go of me and went to sit on his bed. I lied about being uncomfortable. I just still don't feel ready for this. He used to do that a lot, but now things are different. I gave him part of the food, and we ate it in silence. I don't know why he went for breakfast, but I appreciate it.

- Thanks for the food.

- No problem. Don't get used to this. I won't do it every day.

- I know. You are too lazy to do it.

- No, tomorrow you will do it.

- You wish. I prefer to sleep.

- Why am I not surprised?

After breakfast, we went to our first class. It's my practical course, and now we'll find who will be our partners for the project. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I don't know everyone in our class, so this will be interesting. The teacher came with a bowl. There were little pieces of paper inside.

- Ok, class. As you know today, you will find out who your partner for the project will be. I have decided to divide you into boys and girls. Every girl will have a boy as her partner. Now, who wants to pick? Girls or boys?

- I want to pick. - Toby said

- In that case, the boys would pick their girls. Good luck everyone.

The teacher passed the bowl to every boy in the room. The good part is that the number of boys and girls is equal. When the last boy picked a name, the teacher said that we could unfold them and see who would be our partner. Macy was happy, which meant that she was with Toby. I wanted to see who Austin got, but he didn't show me.

- Can I know who you have got? After all, she will often be in our room.

- You won't like it.

- It can't be that bad. It's not like we are together.

- Well... about that...

- You have to be kidding me.

- I'm sorry.

- From all the girls' names who were in this bowl, you had to pick mine.

- It's not my fault. If I could see the names, I was going to choose someone else.

- Yeah for sure. Don't worry, I can switch. Miss Cheryl, I have a question.

- What is it, Ally?

- Can we switch partners?

- No, I'm sorry. This is why I put the names in the bowl. I wanted you to work with different people, not only your friends.

- Please, I will do anything.

- No, I'm sorry. If I do it for you, I have to do it for everyone, and then there won't be any point in the project.

- But...

- I said no. - miss Cheryl said and went back to her seat

- It's ok. We'll work separately and combine our work at the end.

- For your project, you have to tell a story, but unlike the usual ones, you have to tell it with art. What you have to do is to draw a story. Take, for example, kid's books with fairytales. There we have many drawings. You have to do the same but without words. The reader has to understand what your story is about and imagine what the characters are talking about with each other.

The class finished, and both with Austin walked back to our dorm. It's visible that I am not happy, but I can't do anything about it. I didn't want to work with him. Why do we always have to be together? Whenever there is something that involves us, we have to be together. First, it was the same career, university, and dorm. Now, we have to do a project together. Well, as he said, we can work separately and combine our work in the end.

- Ally, are you mad at me?

I didn't answer. It's his fault. How did he pick my name from all the names that were written? Whoever is doing this, it's better if he or she stops. This is not funny and only makes things between Austin and me complicated. We finally get on good terms, and then something happens to separate us again. Why can't we have good relations? I liked it when we were close. Austin walked up to me and sat on the bed.

- Ally, will you tell me what the problem is?

- There isn't a problem.

- That's not true. Look, I know that you don't like the idea of working with me, but what do I have to do with that? I couldn't know that your name was written on that paper.

- It's not that.

- Then what is it? We finally got close, and now I feel like we are getting distanced.

- It's just... all the time we are together. First, it was the same dorm and now the same project. I don't have anything against you, but I want to be around other people as well.

- If you want, you can ask someone to switch.

- No, I can't do that. Miss Cheryl clearly said that I can't switch. Otherwise, she might fail me and this is the last thing that I want.

- I'm sorry.

- It's ok. I can't get rid of you, so at least we can do the best project.

- And how will this happen?

- I don't know. Do you have any ideas?

- Not yet. We have enough time.

- I know, but I don't want to do it at the last moment.

- This won't happen. Do you want us to go out?

- Yeah, why not? Some fresh air will be good.

Both of us walked out. As usual, we went to sit under a tree. Austin wrapped his hand around me and pulled me for a hug. I won't lie that I feel good. It's not like I don't want us to work together, but this means that we have to spend time together and be close. I'm not sure that I can do this. My feelings for him haven't disappeared and this is what I am worried about. As much as I want to keep it friendly, it's visible that this can't happen. I couldn't look at him only as a friend when so many things happened between us.

- Ally, are you ok?

- What? Yes, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something.

As we were talking, a girl came up to us. She looks familiar, but I don't think that I have met her. For one thing, I am sure. She is not in our class. I smiled at her, but she didn't return it. I guess that she doesn't like that I am here.

- Hey Austin. It's nice to see you again.

He didn't answer. I hope that he won't do something stupid. The last time he was a bit mean with one girl. It's not like she did something to him. Luckily, everything is ok now, or at least that is what I think.

- Hello. I am talking to you.

- Austin, are you ok? - I asked

- Yes, why wouldn't I be?

- Because a girl is talking to you.

- Where? I don't see anyone.

- We met at the party, remember? It's me. Alexia.

Austin continued ignoring her. I don't know what is going on, but that is better. I gave her a sorry smile, but she looked at me like she would kill me. Please don't do it. She was about to come to me, but Austin stretched his hand and stopped her. Alexia looked at him surprised. The same as me. I don't know why he did it, but I noticed that soon he would get angry.

- If you don't leave us right now, I will do something, and you won't like it.

- Why? Because she is better.

- Just go away. I don't want to talk with you. Moreover, you don't want anything from me.

- Why are you so sure?

- Because some people have told me about you. All you want is to hook up or make out. You don't search for a boyfriend or anything serious.

- How do you know?

- I won't tell you. Now, please leave me alone and don't come back.

- Fine. The boys on the third course look better than you.

- Ok, I don't care.

With that, she left. I have to say that it was a bit cold on Austin's side to act like that, but I am glad that she left. For a moment, I thought that she might do something to me. Luckily, my roommate was here to help me. At least she doesn't know that we have to work on a project together. Otherwise, I didn't know what was going to happen to me.

- Thanks for saving me.

- No problem. Do me a favor, and don't talk with her.

- I won't, don't worry. She is not my type. - I said and saw a small smile on his face

I know that it's weird, but sometimes the smallest things make me happy. I always have loved it when he was smiling. This means that he is happy to be with me. Now, we don't do anything, but I know that he still cares for me. Otherwise, he was never going to stop Alexia. I don't think that she will listen to him and stop coming. Girls like her don't give up easily. I have caught Austin daydreaming and smiling. Now, he is doing it too. I don't know what he is thinking about, but at least it makes him happy. His smile is what makes my day better. Maybe I haven't said it before, but it's true. I hope that one day we can get back together because I don't know how long I can stay away from him.