CAMPUS HEARTS

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

I gasped and nearly choked on my drink.

"What? No, I don't want you to take off your clothes." I rolled my eyes. What was wrong with this guy?

He chuckled. "Really? Girls usually do. And judging by the way you stared at my body yesterday, you seemed to enjoy the view." He winked with a little twitch of his lips.

I stared at him for a second before laughing. Then another thought hit me and I laughed again.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing. It's just that ever since yesterday, I've been referring to you as 'the naked guy.' I figured I should probably learn your actual name."

He laughed, revealing a pair of dimples that honestly should've been illegal. The guy was ridiculously attractive, and I didn't like the effect he was having on me. I had always had a thing for hot guys.

"Henry," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "The name is Henry."

"Well, mine is Katherine. And Henry, I know your type."

His eyebrow lifted. "My type?"

"Yep. I've met plenty of guys like you." Unfortunately.

I remembered the club guy from last year. The one who had charmed his way into my room and disappeared before sunrise. I'd cried to Molly about him afterward.

It was really stupid and Embarrassing now that I thought of it.

Henry smirked. "And what exactly is my type?"

"The charming player type." I stated matter of factly.

He laughed. "Can I at least buy you a drink?"

"Of course You can," I said, smiling, "but just so we're clear, it won't end with us sneaking off to a private room or your apartment." I decided to make sure he got my point.

"I guess you really know the drill."

The bartender returned with my refill. I took the glass and pointed at Henry. "He'll pay." Henry groaned dramatically before pulling out his wallet.

I left him there laughing and headed back to my friends. The moment I sat down, Ruby leaned forward. "That is one hot guy."

Rebecca immediately smacked her arm. "Don't call him hot. He's a douchebag."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "And you know that because?"

"Because I know all the basketball players. Perks of dating one." she told her.

Ruby groaned. "Please stop reminding all the single people at this table that you have a boyfriend."

"Okay, okay." Molly raised both hands. "We're not here to talk about boys. We're here to celebrate Kathy."

Ruby still looked like she had several arguments prepared, but thankfully she kept them to herself.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of drinks, gossip, and complaints about school. By the end of it, Molly was practically dragging our drunk selves to the car.

"I'm never drinking on a school night again," Ruby declared dramatically.

Rebecca snorted. "I think that's the tenth time you've said that."

Ruby ignored her. Once everyone was inside, Molly drove us back to the apartment building. The second I got to my room, I collapsed onto my bed.

The room spun slightly. The next thing I knew, my alarm was screaming in my ear.

I groaned and slapped at my phone until the noise stopped. My head felt like someone had hosted a rock concert inside it.

Definitely not drinking on a school night again. I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the shower.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in baggy jeans, a fitted top, and sneakers. I stretched my hair, packed my bag, and rushed out the door.

Molly had already left. I was late. Again. It was the third time this week. Some things never changed. I practically flew down the stairs, jumped into my car, and sped toward campus.

By the time I got to class, the lecture had already started. I slipped into a seat at the back. The professor had been talking for at least twenty minutes.

The only thing I managed to catch was: "In conclusion, this class won't hurt your grades if you fail it, but it will definitely help if you pass it."

Wonderful. I had absolutely no idea what the rest of the lecture was about.

After class, I headed toward the cafeteria. Halfway on my way there, I ran into Ruby, or she ran into me. Anyone goes.

"Hello." She dramatically flipped her hair at my face.

It was then I had noticed the hair. It was bright pink and it was like a really hot pink. I stopped walking. "Oh my God."

She grinned. "I know."

"That's one hot pink hairstyle." I complimented.

She practically glowed. "Right? I'm even thinking about dyeing my eyebrows pink too."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Sure. Maybe get a pink tattoo while you're at it."

Ruby gasped. "That's actually a fantastic idea." We both burst out laughing.

We grabbed lunch when we arrived at the cafeteria and tried searching for where to seat. we then spotted Rebecca waving us over.

She was sitting with Maxwell. Ruby groaned. "Ugh. I hate sitting with couples." We joined them anyway.

"Hello, sexy ladies," Rebecca said, wiggling her eyebrows.

Ruby immediately flipped her hair again. Rebecca's eyes widened. "You dyed it pink."

Ruby sat up straighter. "Yes, I did."

Rebecca nodded. "Cool. Anyway, Maxwell wants me to come to one of his games, and I want all of you to come too including Molly."

"Molly hates basketball," I reminded her.

"Good point, okay..."

"I'm painting my nails," Ruby announced as she stared at her nails poking at it.

Rebecca pointed at me. "What about you, Kathy?"

I shrugged. "Sure. I don't have anything else planned."

Ruby sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll come too." She smiled. "I'd like to show off my hair to the hot basketball players." She flipped it again.

---

The game was packed. Rebecca managed to get us seats close to the court. Unfortunately, I had made the mistake of drinking three milkshakes.

My bladder was threatening violence. "I'll be back," I muttered. I hurried off toward the restroom. When I found a cubicle, I rushed in and emptied the contents in my bladder out of my system.

A few minutes later after I was done, I washed my hands, dried them, and headed back.

As I passed a hallway, voices caught my attention. One voice sounded familiar. Very familiar.

"I have a girlfriend, Dad. I'll bring her to dinner on Monday." Charles. It was Definitely Charles.

Another voice chuckled, the voice was much Older. More mature. "You don't need to hire someone, Charles."

"I have a girlfriend."

"You don't."

"I do."

I frowned. Had he actually found someone to fake date him? Or maybe he has a girlfriend now? As I wondered about it, my elbow accidentally bumped a decorative vase.

It crashed onto the floor. The sound echoed down the hallway. Crap. Both men turned toward me.

And I instantly froze. Charles stared at me then he smiled. And that smile immediately worried me.

Before I could run, he walked over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and pulled me against his side. My eyes widened.

His father's eyes widened.

My soul practically left my body.

Then Charles spoke. "Dad," he said smoothly, "meet my girlfriend, Katherine Jones."