I start to run after her, but Arlene peels out and takes off. I want to run after them, but I need to handle pressing charges for the vandalism of my car.
I stop and close my eyes, tugging at my hair once again. This day fucking sucks. Suddenly, my father’s voice plays in my ear.
See the positive, Bent. Never allow the negatives to take over the good moments.
I reach to touch my lips and smile. I kissed Zariah and it was amazing. Once I clear things up, she’s going to be mine.
“This isn’t over, Zah,” I mutter to myself as I stand in the middle of the street.
CHAPTER 7
We Need to Talk
Zahirah
The student centeris alive and buzzing with chatter as Arlene and I walk in. I look around nervously. I haven’t been around this large a group of the student body since the frat party.
My classes have been small, but more students are filling them up each day. The campus has been lively, but nothing like this with such a concentrated group in one area.
This is my first time having dinner in the student cafeteria. I’ve been eating takeout in our room to avoid running into Bentley. I didn’t tell Arlene what happened up in his room. In all honesty, I’m still processing that entire day for myself.
“Let’s get our food and find some place to sit,” Arlene says.
“Sounds good,” I murmur.
“I wonder if they have that pasta dish I was telling you about. That was so good. I wouldn’t mind having that again today.”
“I hope they have some fresh fruit. I need to get back on my diet. I felt a little sluggish out there yesterday,” I reply.
“Girl, if that was sluggish, I need to think about my life and my diet. I’ve broken wind slower than that.”
I burst into laughter and shake my head. “You’re a mess.”
We grab our food and go to find a table to sit at. There aren’t many options. A group gets up from one of the larger tables and we rush to take it.
“Hey, look. There’s Terry. You remember him from the party, right?” Arlene says as she waves him over.
“Not really.” I shrug.
It’s been two weeks since I arrived on campus and went to my first frat party. Totally overrated in my opinion. I’m in no rush to go to another.
Though Arlene hasn’t stopped trying to talk me into going to several parties over the last two weeks. I haven’t had time for that. Between orientation and learning my way around the campus, as well as training with my new team, I haven’t had much time for anything else. Which is how I’ve avoided Bentley since the party.
There are several rumors flying around about what Carly did to his car. Some say she did it out of jealousy because he was at the party flirting with others. Others say they broke up and she wanted revenge because he hooked up with someone else.
I don’t know what to believe and at this point, I honestly don’t care. Bentley is allowed to do whatever he wants to do. I’m done with my stupid crush; he’s not at all the person I thought he was.
“Nickels,” Corey croons as he comes over with Terry to sit with us at our table.
“How do you know my last name?”
“One of my best bros is interested in you. I made it my business to find out everything I could,” Corey says.
“Your best bro? Who’s your best bro?”
“Coswell, of course.”
I groan and roll my eyes. “Bentley is not interested in me. We grew up together, that’s all.”
