The Italian Catalyst -CASTELLANO SERIES: ALEXANDER’S STORY

Chapter 2

“Bryan’s here.” Scott said, pointing his chin towards the man who was walking towards us from across the football field. Okay, here’s a little physical description of that person, need I remind you I’m a dude and I’m not big on describing a man’s physical features and don’t ask me whether I thought he was good looking or not.

A prominent jaw line, sharp nose, piercing blue eyes with a good set of toned muscles—it better be able to withstand those body slams and throttles I was about to give him. Oh yea, and he’s got some cheerleaders gawking at him as he walked by. Wonder what my twin sisters thought of him…

“Sup ‘E’ boy, you didn’t tell me you were having practices today.”

“The hell did you just call me?”

“Just according to your grades. Alexander’s way too long.”

“Longer than your d**k, I hope.” I stretched my arms behind my back as I had the ball under my arm. “What brings you here to Harvard? Surely you don’t expect me to believe you got in because of your good grades right?”

“Good grades?” he scoffed. “What do you think I am? Some nerd? Course not, your Coach begged me to be on your team and I was trying my luck when I applied. Who knew this time college application took more heed on extra curriculum activities?”

This kid was the star Linebacker on his own football team, the team that always ended up in the finals alongside with ours

Jokes aside about the nerds from Harvard, we weren’t just brains, we were brawns too—but of course, excluding me since I was getting ‘commendable’ results. Not too worry, I’m have gotten myself a tutor, well, I was about to.

“So you’re just gonna ditch your team and play for ours? Seems a little low for a captain, don’t you think?” Scott asked him and Bryan smirked like he wasn’t the least bit ticked.

“Do I really need to explain myself to the both of you? Besides, your best friend’s position over here as Captain is about to be mine—it won’t be long when that happens. I suggest you’d better start clearing out your locker for the new sub.” Bryan said confidently while the rest of the team broke out in not-so-subtle murmurs about someone challenging me for my spotlight.

“And that’s supposed to intimidate me?” I raised a brow. “Surely you’ve really underestimated me. You’ve only seen me play on the field—from afar, you don’t know jackshit about me. So I suggest you shut your trap and start practicing. Don’t think just because you were captain of the Hawks, you’re gonna be Captain here as well. I run the rules here in Harvard, don’t get too cocky.” I smirked, passing the ball to Scott.

Did I forget to mention I have a bad habit of being arrogant and overly confident? Not once did I ever falter and no one ever made me waver. I get my head in the game, I win. That’s how it was every single time. No one here in Harvard intimidated me and its sure as hell won’t happen now. 

“Huddle up everyone, we’re running a practice round. Split yourselves into teams of 2, subs that includes you as well. Scott you’re referee, Bryan, you take the lead on the other. Play it like you mean it, on my count…”I began.

The game started off intense, with two teams on each side of the field, one captain who’s been getting straight ‘E’s and the other who ditched his team to join the Panthers’ in Harvard. Bryan was a worthy competitor for Scott and I, I had no doubts about that but I knew an over-achiever when I saw one. 

You see, Football was all about speed and agility, how quick you are on your toes, how strong you are in knocking the wind out of your opponent’s team, how far and accurate your throw was and how sharp you catch. The sports itself had an exciting thrill to it—always.

I remember when we were younger, dad taught us everything we need to know about football. Two versions: the kicking kind of football and the American one. Here in Harvard, it’s the latter. My fratello—Martin was the best at this game, he used to play from high school all the way up to Varsity but pretty much declined a football scholarship because he wanted to stay close to home and a multi-billion dollar company waiting for him. And then, there was me and my younger brother, Elijah who took over my position as Quarterback, super proud of that mama’s boy.

Where was I? Oh yes.

“On your left Sam! Eyes sharp” I shouted, putting a straight hand out and he got my instruction, quickly dodging one of our teammates and caught the ball, running towards the goal and did an over exaggerated touch down. Which begs the question, if Sam was here, Andy should be here too. Those two never went anywhere without each other before she left to London, think it was pretty much the same now.

Bryan did not look pleased, I could easily tell by the way he pointed to my teammates that played for him aggressively, shouting orders. 

“Alright, recover! Offense team, huddle up.” I circled my fingers and jogged to our original starting position on the other side of the field.

The game went on for at least 15 minutes until it was time for the first quarter break. “Dude, results are a tie, this Bryan kid has some serious skills.” Scott threw me my bottle and I caught it. “I know, I don’t deny it at all. Although I’m not sure if he’s gonna fit in well on the team.”

“I didn’t know O’Brien had a spine injury, what the hell did he do to have caused him that?” I asked, wiping the sweat off with my shirt.

“Fell off the wrong foot off a balcony while sneaking out from a chick’s place, that’s what I heard.”

“Seriously? All that football training for nothing?” I chuckled as I popped open the cap of the bottle and took a big huge greedy chug of the plain liquid and that’s where the sight of the yellow crocs caught me. Dear god, remind me to throw those horrible shoes away before she wears them to another social event here. 

“Quit staring at my sister!” Scott nudged me and I flicked my sweat droplets at him. “f*****g hell Castellano, you are so disgusting.” 

“Really? That’s what those girls say.” I countered. “Also, I was staring at her crocs, not her per se.” I argued as I tried my best not to let my eyes trail further upwards. The red head was talking to another girl who I vaguely think I have messed around with some time ago and then her boyfriend now ex found out. In my defense, I never knew she had a boyfriend. Sue me, there’s not exactly a list on the bulletin board that tells you who’s dating who.

“She told me it wasn’t hers to begin with, the girl who slept over at my place stole her shoes instead and left those behind.”

“So basically you’re telling me you’ve slept with a girl, wearing crocs?” I tried my best not to laugh. “What were you two doing? Pretending you were in some crocodile farm? Or the zoo at least? I didn’t know you were into that kinky s**t Bennett.”  I teased nudging him.

“Hey shut up. I don’t judge who you’ve slept with.”

“There’s nothing to judge because my chicks were f*****g hot and you, my best friend would know that.”

“If there’s one other way to describe the both of you, it’s the word ‘disgusting’—that’s what you both are, talking about your conquests in broad daylight.” Her voice rang behind us and I turned my head around slightly, a lazy smile graced my lips as I watched her stand behind the both of us. “Too bad you’re not gonna be on the list…sweetheart.” I whispered the last word under my breath, not wanting her brother to hear at all.

“Hey hey, she’d better not be on that damned list of yours. What are you doing here? If you’re waiting for Sam, he’ got another hour of practice to go.” Scott turned to his sister. “Not today. I need the keys to the apartment, I forgot to bring mine.” She said, holding out a palm. 

“I can’t give them to you, I told you, Julia’s coming over tonight.” Scott mumbled the words to his sister. “So? Do it in the balcony for all I care, I need a nap so bad I haven’t slept all night because I was too busy counting how many times your girl was screaming your name next door.”

“How many times Andy?” I asked, glancing at a red faced Scott.

“16 times and that’s just way too much to take in, I swear to god, having you as my brother is the worst form of punishment I could ever have in all 20 years of my life. You need to sound proof your walls.”

“Four rounds then?” I asked Scott who nodded thus confirming, “I was too tired for round 5.”

“Oh dear god, enough of that. Keys or I’m thrashing your room and I’m telling the Kelsey twins you slept with both of them sisters.” She threatened. 

“Damn Scott, the Kelsey twins? What the hell were you thinking? Doing them both dirty like that?”

“Hey not my fault when they were identical twins, it’s wonder I didn’t call them both by the wrong names—that wouldn’t have turned out well.” He said, thinking for a bit.

“Hey, you know what, you can just come on over to my place.” I said and Scott looked at me wide eyed. “Dude if you’re trying…”Scott began and I held up a finger.

“I’m not and I will never touch your little sister here.” I said, squaring my palm on the crown of her head and she smacked my hand right off. “Off limits to Alexander Castellano, understood loud and clear, not that I’m even remotely interested in this feisty brat.”

“Oh trust me Castellano, the feeling’s mutual. I don’t ever want your contracted diseases from all those tramps you slept with anywhere near me.”

“Scott, get over here!” Sam shouted from across the field. “Hey, at least 3 inches away from each other, you got that.” He warned the both of us with 3 fingers pointing at the both of us but we were too busy having our stare off to notice him.

“You just jealous you ain’t one of em’, baby.” I winked and I swear I heard her gulp. I knew, as much as she always tried to put up a cold frontier just for me—and only for me, she always had a soft spot for dear young Castellano and I knew just how to drag it right out of her. 

“Oh yes, pleasure would be mine if you were ever to sleep with me Castellano.” She said sarcastically and I leaned into her, watching her staring at me back at me wide-eyed. “You’re lying.” I said simply.

“And you…”she poked at my chest, “have your nose up in my personal space.” 

I straightened my back and squared my shoulders. “I’ll see you later baby.”

“I have an actual name you know?” she hissed. 

“I prefer that over Andrea.” I blew her a flying kiss and she rolled her big green eyes at me. Oh we’ll see, two can play at this game tesoro.

**

“Sit wherever you want, don’t worry, you’re not gonna contract herpes just by sitting on my couch.”

“Are you sure?” she said unsurely, eyeing the sofa before taking a seat. 

“I prefer to take my private affairs into the bedroom.”

“Ah, at least I know one place I’ll never wanna go.”

“I wouldn’t allow you in there at all, at least, not until you ask me.”

“The day when you score straight A’s, I actually might consider.” She made a face and I scoffed. “Now that’s a low blow baby, I’m not sure if I actually appreciate that.”

“Never occurred to me you were that easily butthurt.” She shot back. Damn this girl was impossible to have a decent conversation with. “What would you like to eat?” I asked, going through the contents on my fridge. Despite being Captain of the Varsity team and the hottest guy on campus, trust me when I say I appreciated little things like having a fully stocked fridge or some book reading time.

If there’s one thing that doesn’t add up to my personality, it was cooking. Whoever said boys were bad at cooking was clearly busy buried neck deep in their takeout containers and cereal boxes. Men can cook too, not all of them burn down the kitchen or cause an explosion in it, anyone can cook, well at least that was what that rat from the French animation movie said.

Andrea knew I could cook, it wasn’t a myth, nothing new to her. She was the first and only girl that wasn’t my family or my twin siblings that I ever cooked for, yes just because she was my best friend’s sister, I made an exception for that.

“What’s on tonight’s Castellano menu?” she asked, flipping over my textbook that I had scribbled all over last night black and blue. Every Professor in Harvard told us that it was good thing to highlight the important stuff, so I took it upon myself and highlighted probably every line in there but why the hell am I still getting ‘E’s? I have no clue.

“Probably an old Italian dish I haven’t made in a while, it’s my mom’s favorite.” I said absent mindedly.

As if reading my mind, Andy cleared her throat showing me the thick textbook. “You do know highlighting every single thing in this textbook doesn’t actually guarantee you’re gonna memorise all that’s in here, right?”

I scoffed. “Yeah I know that.”

No, I didn’t know that.

“You sure you’re not having any company over? I don’t wanna be caught in the middle of your booty calls.” She said, flipping through my textbook like it’s some fashion magazine. “If I had one coming, there’s a rope by the balcony, you can let yourself out from there.” My chin pointed towards the balcony.

“You live in the penthouse Castellano, it’s at least a three days climb from here to the ground.”

“Then by all means, you can just stay behind and watch me while I get down to business.”

“Oh god, I’m suddenly reminded as to why I hated you in the first place.”

“Because I’m the hottest, most respected, most desired hunk you ever know?”

“More like pompous, egotistical, deluded, disrespectful and horny.” She shot back. I clicked my tongue against my teeth, making my way over to her with the long French bread stick I found sitting in my bread basket. 

“What did you say?” my voice was light and teasing.

“Oh what a pity it is for you to have lost your hearing at the age of 21.” She said, scooting further into the edge of the couch while I backed her up against it. Oh that god awful tie dyed shirt, all I wanna do is just rip it away and….

Wait, did I honestly just say that?

“Pompous, egotistical, deluded? I mean, I’m not wrong am I? I am what the girls on this campus worship and what, disrespectful? Come on, all I said was just how ugly your yellow crocs were and how badly I wanna toss it out of my window right now and the last one although…” I pointed at her with the bread twist, holding it just a couple inches from her face.

“What sort of excuse are you gonna come up with for that term?” she raised a brow, taunting me as I took in a good look of her features. Those big green eyes and perfect little nose, god her lips although, it’s been a year and more but it still drives me just as crazy.

“Not that I’m big on being nosy, but when’s the last time have you ever got laid?” I asked, quirking a brow.

I watched her cheeks flush red and she glared at me a little more defiantly now. Ah, gotta love a girl who wouldn’t break eye contact even when she’s backed up to a corner. “And why would I even bother sharing my personal life with you?” she pushed the bread away with a finger but I used an equal force, pushing her finger back with it and I heard the sound of bread breaking.

“My guess is never, right? At least not for a full year.” I smirked and she squinted at me. “Why? Do you perhaps wanna break that streak of celibacy for me?” she said in a low voice.

“Baby, I wouldn’t even if you begged me too. At least, not in those crocs I’m not.” I said, leaning in closer towards her and I heard her breath hitch in her throat. “What if I were to take them off?” she asked in a smooth voice and it almost, almost got me convinced that this red head wanted me to sleep with her. 

“Take it off and I’ll make sure that’s not the last thing you’ll be taking off this evening.” I barely spoke as I felt myself bending lower and lower until..

“f*****g hell Andy! Why did you do that for?” I grunted, dropping the loaf into her hands as I clutched my groin, my veins popping at my neck and I groaned in agony. “Perhaps that’s the only way I could ever get it to your head that I do not intend to ever sleep with you.”

“Wasn’t even thinking about it.” I bit out every word as I put a hand on her leg, balancing myself, only to get swat on the hand by the bread twist. “Hands off perv.” She said, stifling a laughter. And when I wouldn’t budge, she lost that smile on her face and she looked more concerned now.

“Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? You just dead ass kicked me in the baby maker. If I can’t have kids, this would be all your fault Andrea Bennett.”

“Hey, not my fault when you’re all up close and personal in my space.” She said as she watched me straightened. “Eat cereal for all I care, you don’t deserve any homemade dinner.” I said, walking away.

“Oh come on, I’m sorry. I won’t ever do that to you again, I think” She apologized, jogging towards me. 

“You think? Andrea…” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Not unless you give me a reason to.” She said, I could feel her rolling her eyes at the back of my head. “Fine, I’ll do the cleaning after the cooking, call it even?”

“Fine, and you’re toweling them dry, every single last bowl.” 

“Okay mom.” She teased and I smirked a little, arranging the ingredients I pulled out from the fridge. Andrea’s mom was a chef so she knew how to create a handful of decent dishes and she was the one who taught me at least three different ways I could cut, chop and dice even faster—she did the chopping and marinating while I did the stir frying—the one time we do not ever fight is when we’re cooking.

We sat at the kitchen counter, eating in silence. “How do you know Bryan?” I couldn’t resist anymore, I just had to know.

“How’d you know about that?”

“I saw you two at the cafeteria, hugging.” I said flatly as I sliced up the chicken breast, popping it into my mouth. “Wow, and you said you weren’t big on being nosy.”

“Like I said, it was your crocs that stood out to me in the crowd of chics.” 

She rolled her eyes as she pushed around her vegetables before answering. “I met him in London when he was interning at this publishing company, I too, happened to be on my final three weeks at that company when he came in—we were in the same department.”

“And what a coincidence it is that you both end up in the same University.” I said, hoping she didn’t sense the bitterness in my voice. Even if she did, I think she played it cool. Andrea Bennett, the only girl who’s never a fan of my charms, in fact I think she did a pretty good job in resisting it.

“Yeah it was pretty cool to be honest. Bryan and I hit off pretty well in London and I brought him around since it was his first time there, really sweet, decent guy.” I couldn’t help but notice the small curve of her lips when she said his name.

“Decent?” I repeated. 

“Yes, I believe that’s what I said.” She pointed at me with her fork.

“You do know there’s a reason as to why he’s here in Harvard right?” I asked and she looked up, completely clueless. “Well I haven’t gotten around in digging deep into the reason why he’s here but no, I don’t. All I know is that he has a pretty good score in his curriculum and Harvard accepted him in a heartbeat.”

“I don’t think that’s all that is to it. He’s vying for my spot as Captain of the Varsity team, and if I don’t do well enough on my studie…” I trailed, leaving the rest for her to figure it out.

“Is that why you’re asking me to tutor you? So that you can keep your spot as Captain? What happens if say that position was taken away from you?” she asked.

“Then your little friend here will replace me as Captain, simple as that. I’ll be downgraded into a status of a commoner here in Harvard.” I said sternly.

“What did you say your status here was again?” She pressed her lips into a thin line. 

“A god.” I finished. 

“Yes sure, I assume aside from your hearing failure, perhaps you fried your brains as well?” She asked, picking up a cherry tomato, holding it between her teeth before sucking it into her mouth. Man, that was hot. 

“So my preposition still stands. Be my tutor and I’ll do anything and everything you ask of me—but that should equal to only one favor, no more, no less. So tell me baby, what is it that you desire the most?” I asked and she didn’t even look like she was thinking because we both knew the answer was right at the tip of her tongue.

“I kinda of, well, I…” she trailed and I leaned in closer. 

“What is it baby?”

“The thing is, I have the fattest crush on Bryan but the reason why I’m telling you is because I trust that you’d keep your mouth shut about it…”

“And just what makes you think I’d keep quiet about it?” I smirked. 

“Because if you don’t, the whole campus will know by tomorrow morning that their star Quarterback is getting straight, smooth ‘E’s , as smooth as stripper pole, whose a big dummy.”

“How’d you know those poles are smooth? Have you been on one before?” I asked, clearly interested in where this conversation was going.

“Castellano, stop straying from the topic.” She scolded and I chuckled before saying.

“We both have something that we want from each other baby, so trust me enough that I will keep your dirty little secret as mine and mine as yours, do we have a deal?” I held out a hand from across the kitchen counter.

She hesitated before taking it. “We have a deal.” She shook it firmly and I took the time to run my thumb in circles around her knuckles. “You might wanna let go before I smack that silly smirk off your face.”

“You wouldn’t.” I said, challenge her.

“One…” she counted and I immediately let go. Andrea Bennett never goes back on her word. “We’ll start your lesson tomorrow morning, after my class.”

“No, tonight.” I pressed, insisting. “Since well, you’re already here anyway.” I said, rubbing my hand behind my neck. 

“Fine, and in return for that, you’ve gotta at least bring my name up once so that he remembers me.”

“He does remember you.” I said, frowning. “I mean, you two hugged and shit.”

“Yeah well, I’ve been really interested in that guy since I left that publishing company and I hardly ever saw him ever since. He’s really nice to me but I’m afraid well, he’s just being his usual self. Like what if he’s nice to everybody in general and I was just overthinking it?”

“You’ve gotta stop calling him that, he’s nowhere near that word. I think he’s a scene stealer,  I mean he was doing fine as Captain for his team, why the hell would anyone transfer to Harvard just to be a Captain of his rival team?”

“You’re just threatened because finally there’s someone out there who plays ball just as good as you. If I’m not wrong, I think you, Alexander Castellano are intimidated.”

“No I’m not.” I argued.

“Denying only makes it worse Castellano. You should get to know him before you judge him, you two might even be friends.” She said, taking a bite of her chicken. 

“Friends? How does rival Captains become friends? God you girls are so gullible. Why don’t you try being friends with the head cheerleader of the team? You two seem to hate each other’s guts.” I poked a carrot cut-up and placed it on her plate since that was pretty much her favorite vegetable. 

“Hey, that chic and I are a no-go. She’s f*****g crazy, once she tried to rip my hair out just because she saw you talking to me by the bleachers after your big game.”

“Because we were dating and she was a jealous type.” I tried. 

“Still doesn’t give her a reason to yell at me and call me a w***e when all we did was just talking.”

“Yeah but I had an arm around you, also why didn’t you tell me she did that to you?”I raised a brow at her and she looked down at her the carrot I gave her, forking it into her mouth.

“Why would I? You’d deem me as petty and would have laughed it off anyway.”

“No I wouldn’t.” I argued. “No one is ever allowed to do that to you, not even my future girlfriends or whoever I’m seeing. You hear me?”

“Yeah yeah, now you’re just nagging.” She smiled and I heaved a sighed of frustration. “I just don’t understand why didn’t you tell me or your brother.”

“Again, what difference would it make telling either of you? She’s gonna hate me even more or just make my life more miserable in general. You don’t get how jealous girls function Castellano, and you certainly don’t wanna be around one.”

“I would have told her off, break up with her or something.” I tried but honestly I would probably give her a piece of my mind if anyone laid a hand on Andrea. 

“That’s sweet of you to break up with your w****s for me. I don’t deserve that kind of honor.”

“Quit being sarcastic, are you done eating? If you are, then let’s get straight into tutoring. I have a test this Friday and I need to get anything else other than an ‘E’.” I gathered my used utensils and started the dishes.

“Would a ‘D’ suffice?” She smirked. 

“Hey now, if I’m gonna get a boy talking to you, the least you can do is help me push my grade up to a ‘C’.”

“Why? So it’d match your surname?” She tried as she brought her plate into the sink, standing next to me.

“No, so my grade can match my co…”

“Okay!” She suddenly exclaimed, covering both her ears immediately. “I believe I’ve heard enough of your s****l innuendos for today. I’ll be right in your living room with a textbook and some holy water if you have any because I think you’ll need it.” She dashed away without removing her hands from her ears and I threw my head back laughing at her silly antics.

Damn Andrea, you’re really one of a kind.

So this evening was my first tutoring lesson with Andrea. I watched her explain the technical terms of Advanced Calculus and how to navigate my way around it by full utilizing the equations. But first, she told me I needed to understand the question and knowing what it’s asking of me.

She still had that long bread twist in hand and would smack my arm whenever I got a question wrong. I was so frustrated I took a big bite out of the bread twist, instantly regretting it because it made made my jaw and teeth hurt while she got a good laugh out of it. 

By the end of the night, I was able to finish at least a whole assignment and practiced some easy questions she had given me. And I in return, gave her tips on how to talk to a boy without looking like she was trying to hard.

“Try not to stutter and when he talks to you, always…”I grab both her arms and tilted her chin to look at me. “Always give him eye contact, a man digs confident girls—works like a charm.” I said while she nodded, as if taking down notes mentally.

“And seriously baby, you’re not obligated to laugh at every joke he tells you. When it’s not funny, seriously, don’t laugh at all. Knock knock jokes aren’t funny, pickup lines lame…” I knew I was saying it for my benefit because for some reason, I didn’t like it when I saw her laughing with other guys,

“But you always… she protested, grabbing that finger that was under her chin and shaking it in frustration.

“Do not interrupt the love guru when he’s preaching.” I tutted, holding another finger out to her lips causing her to release her grip and smacking my hand away. “Even though his jokes aren’t funny, please don’t make him look stupid.”

Tell me why the hell was I actually helping this guy again?

“If I’m not supposed to laugh at it and if I don’t want to make him look stupid, the hell am I supposed to do?” She asked, her brows furrowing together, looking more confused than ever.

“Smile and look the other way, but don’t roll your eyes.”

“What in the hell are you even teaching me?” She protested.

“Try it then, okay, let’s do a test run shall we? Did you fall out from a vending machine?” I began and she made a face at me. “The hell?” She began to sound annoyed.

“Just answer the question baby.” I shook my head, trying my best not to smile at the girl in front of me.

“No, why?” She played along, not forgetting to roll that beautiful green eyes of hers.

“Because damn girl, you’re a snack.” 

She leaned her head back before looking the other way, rolling her eyes as she suppressed a laugh. “There you go.” I said, watching her prove my point. “Also, rolling your eyes isn’t gonna magically help you find a brain back there.” I added and she laughed out loud. 

“Okay, I get it. You proved a point. What’s next?” She sounded excited. 

“Let’s see. Guys love a girl who’s able to keep up with a conversation, whether it’s a simple thing like having a disagreement in proving a point, or they get what one is talking about and let me tell you that it is not a myth that we boys do love it when a girl texts first as well. It gets tiring when we always have to initiate the conversation first, you know what I mean?”

“But what if he’s not interested? I mean, I don’t wanna seem like I’m desperate by texting him first, god this is all so confusing.”

“If you play your cards right, you’ll know if he’s actually waiting that one text from you. And trust me, when you text him first, it’s probably gonna be the only action that he gets all day.”

“Play my cards right? How do I even tell? I mean, what am I supposed to even say to him?”

“First thing’s first, you don’t even have his number, do you?” I pressed my lips into a thin line, taking a seat on the couch and patting the empty space beside me.

“I don’t.” She admitted, taking my seat offer.

“3 weeks being in the same company and yet not once did it ever occur to you to ask for his number?” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

“He should be asking for my number first! Isn’t that how it works? No? I didn’t wanna come off as too desperate hence why I didn’t ask.”

“Oh baby, you gotta lay your pride aside and ask that boy for his damn number if you liked him so much. For all you know, he might be the one who didn’t wanna come off as the desperate one and hence, why he didn’t ask for your number, f**k why am I even helping him look decent?” I asked myself, stretching my neck from one side to another.

She thought for a bit before turning to look at me again. “Okay fine, I guess you’re right.” 

“I am always right.” I said as a matter-of-factly. “Alright, I can’t possibly teach you everything at once tonight, but be sure to actually get his damn number first and don’t let me catch you hugging each other in the cafeteria again.” I mumbled.

“Why the hell not?”

“That is a topic for another day. You sleeping over tonight right?” I asked getting up from the couch. “I don’t have a choice now do I? My brother is busy w*****g himself tonight and I need a good sleep with zero disturbance.” She stretched her body, one of her legs lifting up in the process— it was a cute yawn.

“You can take my bed, I’ll take the couch tonight. Be right back, gonna get you a towel and a some clothes.”  

“Okay.” She said as I went upstairs and dug through my wardrobe for towel, some sweats and a old jersey from last year. 

I would never let a girl go near my wardrobe or even wear any of my clothes even if they stayed over, so what was it that made Andrea Bennett an exception?