I’m finding Troy’s an easy guy to like. Even when he’s struggling with school, there’s a lightness to his personality. He’s dedicated to the hockey team by the way he’s making his studies a priority. Even when he could coast and let some student do the work for him.
As our time winds down today, I’m finding I’m excited to see him again. Want to work with him again.
I don’t want to admit it, but I have a crush on Troy Hollins.
What am I going to do about it now?
Chapter Seven
TROY
“Can you break it down in hockey terms?”
“Hockey terms?” Angie looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I know she’s frustrated with me because I’m not understanding it.
We met at the food court between classes today. Her half-eaten sandwich sits between us by the remains of my own lunch. It’s loud in here, making it hard to think. It’s the only place we could meet before our next class.
We’re tucked away in a back corner behind a pillar covered in flyers. It gives us privacy so no one bothers us.
I’d hate for people to see how far behind I am in studying.
“Yeah. It might be easier to understand if I can think of it in hockey terms.”
“Calculus doesn’t equate to hockey.”
I point at her. “That you know of.”
“Troy…” Exasperation laces her tone. Yup, she’s going to drop me. I’ll get cut from the team if I’m not careful.
“Okay, fine. Not hockey terms. But there has to be a way to understand derivatives.”
“Let me try again.”
I try to keep my own frustrations at bay. Who the fuck needs calculus? It’s a freshman level class, but I waited too long to take it and have to cram it in now.
I hate that my entire future hangs on something that I should have taken my freshman year. So much for coasting my senior year.
This is the third time I’ve met up with Angie to study now. Her help on the astronomy paper helped me get a C. I can’t stop there, though. Now my focus has shifted back to calculus. Then it’ll have to go back to astronomy.
A never-ending cycle that I hate.
“Wait, stop.” I cover her hand with mine. It’s warm. Soft. Completely enveloped by my much larger hand. Something I like.
“It’s the slope there that I need to be focusing on, yeah?”
“Yes! That’s it exactly.”
“Oh, thank fuck.” I slump back into my chair. For once, I don’t feel like an idiot.
“I told you you’d get it.”
“Admit it, you’re thinking I’m some dumb jock that was hopeless.”
“I did not. Not ever.” Angie’s voice is firm. I like the confidence she has in me.
“Well, I’m glad you don’t think I’m some idiot hockey player.”
“I have other opinions about hockey, but you’re not an idiot.”
