“He’s here! Come on.”
After meeting Daniel and receiving lots of hugs, Ryder and I make it to campus just in time for me to push through the auditorium doors to English Lit.
“There she is!” Meredith exclaims, causing a few heads to turn my way as I sit down. “I told you she was coming.”
“Huh?”
“Trevor thought you weren’t coming today because you’re never late.”
I bend forward to look at Trevor and he shrugs. “What’s up, Wildcat? Why’d you skip the party Saturday?”
Meredith jumps in, “I told you she was busy with other stuff. Besides, there’ll be other parties.”
“I still haven’t decoded your message,” I tell her, getting my laptop out.
Meredith snorts out a laugh and several more heads turn our way. She leans in and whispers, “I’ll fill you in later.” Sitting back, she returns to her normal voice. “So, we still on for tomorrow night’s study group?”
“I’ve already created the template and graphics, so we just need to type in the words and it’s done,” Trevor says.
I’m impressed. Trevor really stepped up on our assignment. “That’s really cool of you, Trevor. Thanks.”
“No prob. Can’t allow your grade to slip if you’re doing pre-med,” he replies.
“How did you know I was in pre-med?”
Meredith’s head is twisting side to side like she’s watching a tennis match as she follows our conversation.
“You told me during study group.”
I did? I guess I did. We tend to talk a lot during those two hours. Well, Meredith does anyway.
Professor Hallenger and his TAs walk into the room. He springs a surprise quiz on us about the novel we were supposed to have read by this past weekend. Half the auditorium groans and complains. Luckily, Meredith, Trevor, and I finished the book already, so it takes us no time to complete the quiz. The quiz consists of writing a short essay, and once we turn it in, we’re allowed to leave. I text Ryder to let him know that I’m out early and will meet him in the cafeteria. He had a meeting with one of his professors this morning, so I don’t know how much longer that’s going to take.
As soon as we step outside, Meredith does the cutest celebratory dance. “More free time for me! Well, fifty extra minutes but, I’m not complaining. Want to go grab something to eat in the cafeteria?”
“I’m down for that,” Trevor agrees. “Wildcat, you coming?”
I’m supposed to meet Ryder there anyway, so why the hell not? “I’m in.”
You can feel that summer is coming to an end. The air isn’t as humid as it was in August and the leaves on a few of the trees are starting to turn color. I’m looking forward to the cooler temps of autumn and being able to break out my long jeans and heeled boots. The weather in Seattle was much cooler than it is here, not to mention much, much wetter. I don’t think I ever donned shorts the entire time I was there.
I’m listening to Meredith in her usual talk-a-mile-a-minute mode and have to hand it to Trevor. He’s actually listening to every word she tells him, and not once does he drift off, glaze over, or look away. The man’s a saint for that alone.
As we near the cafeteria building, I hear a guy’s voice yell out, “Kitten! Hold up,” and two girls near us say, “Oh, my God! That’s Fallon Montgomery! So freaking hot!”
When I hear them say Fallon’s name, I’m about to turn around, because of course I’m intrigued about this mystery guy who hangs around with Ryder and seems to turn up in way too many conversations.
“Kitten!” Then, “Elizabeth!”
Trevor stops and abruptly turns, almost knocking Meredith sideways. She grabs on to my arm to steady herself. “Holy shit. That really is Fallon Montgomery. You know him?”
“No,” I say back.
“Oh. Right. Forgot,” she says, then snickers when she realizes the pun. I poke her in the side.
I remember him a little from the student center. I didn’t really pay much attention to him, however, as all my focus was on Ryder at the time. I can see why so many of the girls on campus are stupid over this guy. He’s gorgeous. Sandy-blond hair disheveled in a way that says he either just rolled out of bed or he just had hot sex. His eyes are so vibrantly, crystal blue it’s blinding. And he’s got this aura of charisma about him like he rules the world and we should all be glad of the opportunity to bow down at his feet.
He slows as he nears our group of three, but his eyes go to Trevor and narrow before returning to me. “There she is. Ryder’s had you on lockdown. But he’s not here now is he?” He flashes me such a cocky grin, I can’t help but grin in return before I smooth it away.
