Pay Off

What are the chances?

I was woken the next morning by banging on the door. I opened my eyes and was blinded by the light, just catching a glimpse of the TV. Damn, I fell asleep on the couch I need to move before Cole catches me still out here. I put my arms beneath me to push myself up but felt something hard beneath me.

I peeked one eye back open and turned to look at what I was lying on. Staring straight up at me, I found Cole. His blue eyes shining brightly and his signature smile lighting up his face, “Morning Roomie!”

“Ugh do not be a morning person! How on earth did we end up here?” I grumbled.

Suddenly the banging on the door returned, “Cole, wake up and open the door!” Travis Talbot’s voice boomed.

“Crap!” I stood up quickly and ran to my room slamming the door shut behind me and leaning back against it.

Through the door I heard Cole letting his father in, not offering any form of greeting. From Cole’s assumption his father had a deal with me, and his lack of mentioning or talking to him since I moved in, I figured their relationship was strained, if it was even a relationship at all?

“First day of classes Cole, that is not what you should be wearing” I could hear the displeasure in Travis’ voice.

“Yeah, I overslept a little. I was about to get ready when you arrived. I’ll make it on time, don’t worry” Cole sounded strained. I’d never heard him talk to anyone like that.

“And where is Miss Wyatt?” His father asked as I could hear him walking about.

“Amelia? I think she already left. I don’t see her much. You know dad, you never mentioned why you didn’t move her in to one of your other campus properties. Why did you choose here?” I pressed my ear closer to the door. Cole had asked a question I’d been asking myself for the past few weeks.

“I need her where I can keep an eye on her. She’s been through a lot and I need to make sure she’s doing as she should. It’s easier to check up on her here when I visit with you. In time, as I bring you into the family business, you will learn more about our family connections. But for now, give her space until I say” There was no friendliness in Travis’ tone and was said with finality. It left me wondering where Cole got his gentleness from. Would Cole remain the same after he started his training at Talbot Industries?

“Right OK Dad. Listen I gotta get ready for class. Speak to you soon, yeah?” I didn’t hear any more chatter just the closing of the front door.

The next moment I heard knocking on my door. I stepped away from it and gently opened it. Smiling nervously at Cole.

“Hey” he spoke first smiling at me with a shy wave

I smiled back, “hey yourself. I’m sorry about last night. I really have no clue how I fell asleep on you. And also, thanks, for not letting your dad know I was here. You don’t have to cover for me”

“Pfft no bother on the Dad front, I’d hide from him too if I could” he let out a nervous laugh. “And no problem on the sleep too. I think I must have fallen asleep same time as you and I guess we must have just ended up like that! What time is your first class, want to walk in together?”

Right now, Cole wouldn’t have much of a reputation at this school, but it wouldn’t last long. If I’m seen with him here, there will be questions asked about me too. And I wasn’t sure if I could handle that. “Thanks, but I’m not in till a little later and wanted to get caught up on some reading before I go so I’ll just catch you later, yeah?”

His smile dropped slightly, “ yeah sure, maybe see you at lunch if you’re in the area!” Was it just me or did he seem nervous?

He turned and walked away, presumably to his room. I slid down the door to have some breathing time before I got ready myself.

For my first day of classes I chose to wear simple Mom jeans with a plain white tee and pulled my hair into a high ponytail with slight waves running through. It was simple and wouldn’t make me stand out.

I walked into my first class at eight fifty am and was surprised to see I was first there for a nine am class. I picked a row near the middle and sat down at the end, pulling out a pad and pen ready for class to start.

I was doodling in my pad a moment later when I felt a body sit down next to me. The class was empty and someone just had to sit next to me. “That seat is taken sorry” I muttered without turning.

“Yeah, by me. Thanks for saving a seat Little Lia” Cole happily replied.

I turned to look at him then “ Your taking this psych class?”

“Yes, should I feel insulted by your surprise to see me here? Do you not think me intelligent enough to be in this class?” I thought I had insulted him for a moment but when I noticed his classic smile I realised he was just teasing me.

“I just thought you’d be in all business classes or something is all. I’ve not known you very long, but from what I do know, your very capable of being in this class”

Cole held his hands to his heart, “oh my, I think that may just be the first compliment you ever gave me” in his best impression of a southern accent.

“Now who is the doofus” I muttered lightly punching his arm, leaving us both chuckling as the professor entered.

It was hard to focus with Cole next to me, so I was relieved when the professor called an end to the lecture an hour later. I know I was doing an awful job of staying away from Cole as per Travis request, but I was getting worse by the day. As we were sitting next to each other, we were now by default project partners for this semester. I may aswell just be digging a hole for myself.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. No one else spoke to me, as I expected they wouldn’t. I wasn’t exactly NBU material. So I shouldn’t have been surprised that evening when Cole came barrelling into my room (I must have missed the part where we agreed we didn’t need to knock anymore) and flopped onto my bed announcing we had a party to attend Friday night.

That’s typical Cole. He makes friends without even trying. I on the other hand was very socially awkward. I really couldn’t attend a party with him but I wasn’t so sure he was the type to let me stay at home either. What’s the chances I could hide from him?