Chapter 9 Nine

"Is it just me or has Nathan Hunt been staring at you since we sat down?" April asked in a hushed tone, nudging me.

"Huh?" I peered behind, looking at the sandy-haired, broody-eyed guy, Captain of the basketball team, leader of the most infuriating group of guys, a typical playboy, sitting a few seats away from us.

Crazy enough, our gazes met. His lips thinned into a smile. I looked away instantly, slightly repulsed by the attention.

I mean, I'm generally repulsed by male attention. It always seems lusty and superficial. The only one giving me a fever is a man way out of my league. Of all the guys in the world, why him?

"He'll get over it," I mumbled, trying to focus on the professor who was scribbling on the board.

"Girl, c'mon. You need to loosen up a bit. Being uptight and strict won't get you a boyfriend."

"Who says I need one?"

"Be for real, Willow. Everything about you screams 'I NEED A BOYFRIEND'."

"You're crazy," I chuckled. But it faded quickly. I've never really laughed or genuinely smiled in the last week.

I could say I was low-key depressed but it had nothing to do with my family issues. I'd love it more if it were about that, but it wasn't.

It was about him. Mr. Joe Anderson. After that night in my room, he never really spoke to me again. Not at home and not here in school either. It was like we went back to the way we used to be.

And I should love it. I should love the sudden normalcy. But instead, I found myself wishing he'd talk to me again. I wished he'd creep up on me like he used to do. Whisper those words to me while his fingers wreck me-

Yeah, no, I feel damn dirty. But I can't help it. It feels like my body got used to his assault and the sudden pull away is slowly driving me nuts.

"Listen, if you want, I can arrange a meeting between the two of you. Who knows? You might get lucky enough to date Nathan Hunt, one of the sexiest guys in school."

"I do appreciate your willingness to hook me up, but I don't have the time for that. And my God, a guy like Nathan? I'm not his type."

"And what is his type?"

"I don't know. Cheerleaders, those exquisitely and provocatively dressed bimbos, you..."

I hate that I was sounding a bit grunchy but yeah, I'm not his type. And I don't care. So...yeah. It's whatever.

"But he's been staring at you. There has to be a reason."

"I'm not interested in finding out that reason, thank you."

Good thing the class just ended. I packed up my books.

"I'll see you later," I said to her before leaving. My next class was Chemistry. April was an art major. So she has no business with chemistry.

I got into the slightly empty hall. There were just a handful of students. I picked a seat at the back and settled in, waiting for more students and a professor.

My thoughts wandered. My mind conjured an image of Mr. Joe Anderson leaning against that kitchen door and giving me the most intense erotic stare.

I hate how slowly obsessed I'm becoming. I hate that he's all I'm thinking about whenever I'm alone, and not in a healthy way.

What is this? What's happening to me?

I shook my head, forcing myself to snap out of it. I patted my cold cheeks.

Wake the heck up, Willow.

The husky laughter behind me forced me to stop. I glanced back and it was Nathan.

Right. He's yet to choose a major so he just attends whatever classes he wants. Except this was the first time he ever tried sitting close to me.

I looked front, refusing to pay him any attention. Guys like him just wanna have lousy fun and I'm not up for that. The professor walked in just about the same second and I was thrilled.

Halfway through the lecture, I felt a finger sliding a note down my shoulder. I hated stuff like this the most. You know, boyish jokes. Distractions during lectures.

With a disgruntled face, I picked up the note and read the content.

-We could talk after class?-

Was that a question, a request, or a demand? Either way, I wasn't up for that.

I crumpled up the paper, fixing my gaze back on the professor.

He slid another down my shoulder.

-I promise I don't bite-

Nah, you just fuck and dump. Geez. Mum's gonna kill me if she knows I say nasty words like fuck.

I crumpled it up again. I felt him sliding down another and I just couldn't take it anymore.

"What the heck do you want?!" I snapped at him. He was shocked at my outburst. And then that cocky grin stained his face.

He seemed to be doing all that to get a reaction from me. And he fucking got one. Geez. I'm so stupid.

"Willow Smokes. Nathan Hunt. I see you two are having a little moment over there?"

"No, Ma'am." I turned to face the professor.

"Class is over." She announced. I was gonna stand but her voice stopped me. "Oh, not you both. You'll be spending an extra two hours here. I hope that'll be enough time to finish up your little bonding. Maybe next time, you'd be a little quieter in my class."

That sounded like detention. My God!

Everyone left the class until it was just me and this devil spawn. Why did he choose to bother me when there's a ton of girls who'd appreciate his little Playboy tricks?!

"I'm...really sorry about this," he cleared his throat. I glared at him.

"Yeah, you should be. So next time, don't ever bother me. I'm not interested in whatever games you're playing."

"What games, Willow? I just wanted to say hi to you."

"What?" That's the most incredulous thing I've ever had. "When did we start saying hi to each other? We're not even friends."

"We could be, if you weren't so uptight and unapproachable."

"I don't need to be approachable to your likes."

"What are my likes?"

I stood, ready to blast him to his face.

"Fuck boys. Miscreants. Rich and stuck-up. Unserious. Oh, did I forget to mention fuck boys?"

He cackled, throwing back his head.

He was manspreading, too, which made him a bit hot, not gonna lie. But I'm not one of those girls who'd be swooned easily.

But I get it. I get why they all lose their minds for him. Honestly. He's annoyingly hot.

"Whoa, really now? And what are your likes, Willow?" He raised both brows with a taunting smile. "Oh, I'll tell you."

I folded my arms, ready to hear whatever nonsense he had to say.

"Up-tight, but not because you're so strict. It's just a defense mechanism. Because beneath all that thick skin of yours, you're one hell of a judgmental, insecure bitch."

That word 'insecure' made my throat clench so hard. But I gulped it down, refusing to give him any reaction.

"And that's why you have just one friend because no one else can put up with your cold and brash attitude."

"It's the other way around. I can't put up with y'all's nonsense."

"You're too damn arrogant and you reject the few guys who try to get close to you despite all that arrogance. You bullshit them and treat them like their feelings are shit."

"Because those feelings are just lust. And I'm not interested in that."

"And you're fucking boring too. You're always with your books, judging everyone else with your damn blue eyes, which are fucking beautiful by the way. But that's not the point. You're always defensive and shutting everyone out. I've known you for a whole year, and this is the first time we've talked to each other. Except we aren't talking, we're arguing."

"I don't wanna talk to you. I don't wanna be your friend. I don't even want you to notice me. At all. Do you understand?!"

"But why?! You can't shut everyone out."

"I'm not shutting everyone out. I have my best friend. That's more than enough for me."

"What is your problem?" He laughed, leaning back. "Why do you treat everyone else like we're so unfit to be seen around you?"

I took a deep breath, exhausted with this silly argument. It's leading nowhere.

"Just, stay away from me. Don't repeat what you did today again." I ended calmly, grabbing my bag.

I know I'm not supposed to leave this hall until two hours have gone by. But I can't stay here with this guy.

He held my hand before I could walk out of the seat. He was standing now, and God, he's tall.

"Fine. I apologize. I didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted to talk to you. I didn't know you'd react like this."

His apology seemed too sincere, and that was even more suspicious. A guy like him was anything but sincere.

"Willow."

I turned around at the speed of light. Mr. Joe Anderson was standing at the door.