“You’re smiling,” Laura shoots back.
“I’m smiling because I’m excited about being friends with Callum, which will help me to stop having a tiny, unrealistic crush on the concept of him,” I assure them. “Give me a week, tops. That’s all I’ll need.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
CALLUM
Je veux une café.
Or is itun café?
The internet says it’sun café.
Whatever. Ineeda coffee, but I don’t know how to say that in French yet, so I’m stuck with wanting one, in addition towantingthis lecture to finally be over. We’re learning about the weather, and while I’m trying my best to pay attention, I’m way too tired.
One thing I found out in the month since I got here is that I could probably stay asleep for five days straight. Now that nobody’s policing me, I’m getting a solid nine hours a night, and sometimes, it still isn’t enough.
Okay, shoot. I need to focus.
Froid. That means cold, not fraud.
I feel like a fraud in this class. The drop deadline came and went last week, and I only got my first disastrous test back on Monday.
Sure, sixty-seven percent isn’t terrible, but it’s still worse than what I hoped for.
Oh well.
Class finally ends, I make a mental note to review the content that I didn’t absorb, and I head out for a much-needed coffee. I don’t know what I’d do without my meal plan. It works across campus, and it’s a lifesaver for my rapidly snowballing appreciation for coffee. It tastes so much better when it’s made with grounds, not the powder that my parents restricted me to.
First, I stop by the too-short bubbler for some water. I bendover, kicking myself for forgetting the sturdy water bottle Ian gave me the first time we gymmed together.
“Hey, Callum?” a voice calls out behind me.
I cut my sip short and turn around to see one of the girls who was at Ian’s place last week, trying not to dwell on the fact that my butt was poking out for everyone, including her, to see.
“Yeah.”What’s her name?“Laura, right?”
“Yup! Good memory.” She narrows her eyes a little. “Did you just get out of French 107?”
I nod.
“Nice, I thought I recognized you in there.”
“That’s cool. What do you think of the class?”
Laura’s face sours. “I’m dying, and I regret my choices. Anyway, do you wanna grab a coffee or something? I’m done with classes for today.”
“Did you read my mind?” I ask, and I cross my fingers, praying for my joke to land.
“Maybe.” She smiles and flicks her eyes to the coffee stand nearby. “Let’s go.”
We place our orders, and without thinking, I scan my ID at the register to pay for both of our drinks.
“Oh, this one can be on me,” I say. “I have a ton of credit on my dining plan, anyway.” It’s not like I’ll ever run out, not with how basic my orders usually are.
Laura’s face lights up. “Thanks. That’s so sweet of you. No wonder you and Ian are friends.”
I tilt my head, and my face must be giving everything away because Laura snickers.
