Unexpected

Chapter 3: The Run In

LOGAN

With arms crossed I wait for Kristen in front of the lecture hall. I debate on whether my time is best spent here in the presence of the enemy or perhaps it would be better spent beating my head against the wall. Again, dramatic, I know but come on. This was torture.

“You’re here!” I hear her screech.

I roll my eyes, “yeah yeah. I told you’d I’d be here. Come on, let’s get this over with”. I say letting Kristen lead the way.

I keep my eyes down as we slide into seats near the middle of the hall. I look up and see Cade counting everyone.

“Guys, since there are only about 10 of you let’s go ahead and fill out the first two rows. It’ll be easier to discuss if you guys are closer” he says clasping his hands together in front of him.

“For him maybe” I mumble under my breath, Kristen giggles.

By the time we make our way to the front there are only two seats available and they’re front and center.

Fuck my life.

As the study session progresses I occasionally glance up. I can’t help but try to make out the build of Cades body. He’s slim but doesn’t look scrawny. He’s always wearing jackets or sweatshirts.

My phone vibrates and I stare down at my phone. It’s a text.

Mom: Grandma Kay is being moved in today.

Logan: Okay..

Mom: Room 16

Logan: Thanks

I still don’t understand why she thinks I care. I don’t want to be rude but I’m just not interested in..

“If this is too boring for you, you’re welcome to leave” I hear a voice say, snapping me out of my thought.

I glance up and see two piercing green eyes looking at me. “Excuse me?” I say knitting my brows together.

“You heard me. If you’re not going to even pay attention then you might as well leave. Or, since you’re so confident in your knowledge that you don’t even need to pay attention, maybe you can show us how to correctly complete the problem on the board” Cade says, his hands planted on the desk in front of me.

This son of b***h thinks he’s so much better than everyone. I didn’t want to have to deal with this today. I should have never come to this. I’m tempted to just walk out right now but I refuse to give him the satisfaction.

Instead, I slam my phone down on the desk shoving my chair backwards.

“Logan..” Kristen says but I ignore her.

I keep my gaze fixed on Cade, he watches me intently as I make my way to the front. I pick up the dry erase marker and work the problem. In less than 30 seconds I complete it and place the cap back on.

I slam the marker down and push past Cade. His solid form doesn’t even budge. I grab my things and leave with haste.

I make my way through campus, feeling like a furnace. I cannot stand Cade Adams and I’ll be damned if I ever speak to him again.

CADE

I stood there as I watched Logan storm out of the lecture hall. I knew that I had pissed her off majorly this time by calling her out in front of everyone. Although it backfired on me. I honestly didn’t expect her to know the answer.

I bite the inside of my cheek and glance around at the rest of the group. “Well, uh..yeah, that’s exactly correct. Uhm, let’s continue” I say trying to gather my bearings.

Chuckles erupt around me but I barely notice. I keep thinking of that assertive look in Logan’s eyes. She looked like she was about to eat me alive.

At this point you’d think I’d learned to keep my mouth shut but there was this certain feeling that always egged me on when she was near. This need to banter and go toe to toe with her was way too much fun.

LOGAN

I spent most of Sunday nursing a hangover from the night before. Now it was Monday morning and I was running late.

“Two cafe Americanos for Craig” I shout over the crowd. I quickly glance at the clock. s**t! I’m going to be late for my calculus test.

“Sam! Sam! I have to go” I yell trying to get my bosses attention.

“Just go, I’ll cover” my co-worker Will says. I quickly grab a coffee and make my jog across campus. This time I’m a little more frantic. I glance at my phone again and I’m already a few minutes late.

I walk into the building and hurry toward the lecture hall. As soon as I turn the corner the door swings open and my hot coffee dumps down the front of my shirt.

“f**k! f**k! f**k!” I yelp as the hot liquid soaks into my shirt.

“Holy s**t, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” A voice says.

I don’t even look up. My first instinct is to remove my shirt. I throw my backpack down and lift my shirt over my head, exposing my black silk bra. I fan my chest and look up.

Could this day get any f*****g worse?? Two light green eyes stare back at me and I realize that I’m still in public. His eyes go wide as they travel down my to my chest.

“I..I’m so sorry. A..are you okay?” Cade says quickly looking away.

I cross my arms over my body trying to hide my exposed skin. Before I have a chance to say anything, Cade lifts his sweatshirt off his body and pulls it over me. I try to fight him,

“no, I’m fine. I don’t need your help” I say pushing against him.

“Will you just stop for a minute? I don’t want everyone staring at you while you’re in your bra..” he says. I knit my brows together and give him a confused look.

“I mean.. your shirt is soaked and you don’t seem to have a jacket with you.. are you okay? You should probably go get checked out at the clinic” he says with his hand on my arm.

I jerk my shoulder up, moving out of his grasp.

“I’m fine. I have to get in there so I can take my test” I tell him trying to move around him.

Cade grabs my wrist and pulls me with him, “No, you need to get checked out. You could have third degree burns”. Getting frustrated I pull out of his grasp again.

“I can’t miss this test” I say picking up my shirt and backpack.

Cade presses my back against the wall. “Will you stop being so damn argumentative for once. I will make sure you can take your test later. This is my fault, let me take you to the clinic” he says, his green eyes staring right into my soul.

I feel my shoulders relax. I nod, taking a deep breath.