For next week, I carry on with my life as normal. Attending classes, doing homework, sleeping, and repeating.

Chloe has only seen me once since the party. She's been busy with classes, so I haven't been bothering her.

I told Abby I couldn't call this week because of my work, and I honestly feel like shit for using that excuse because I could really use her right now.

I spent the day after the party laying in bed and catching up on homework. I barley ate and I didn't check my phone.

Now, I'm sitting in calculus trying to decide if this should be my 13th reason or not.

I fucking hate math. And I mean hate it.

I only know how to pay my bills. That's the only shit I know about math other than the basics.

Thankfully, I have my air-pods in so instead of listening to my professor, I'm listening to music as I scribble what I can see on the board in my notebook subconsciously.

Given y=sin 2x, dy/yx at x = 3 is most nearly...

What. The. Fuck.

I fix my hair into a bun - letting two strands fall out the front - as the professor turns around and looks to me.

"Amanda, do you know the answer?"

You've got to be shitting me.

"No, Mrs. Woodworth, I do not," I plaster a pretty, fake smile on my face.

"Well maybe if you took out your air-buds you'd know, take them out," She points her pencil to my ears as her glasses fall further down her nose.

I roll my eyes as the guys behind me "ooooh" in my direction.

My phone lights up on my desk with a text.

C: Hey. I'm starving, want some waffles?

M: I'm in class.

C: So? Would you rather graduate or starve?

M: Is that really a question, Chloe?

A long pause.

C: Good point. Meet me at Wakin' and Bakin' for lunch. ♡

I put my phone face down on my desk in an effort to actually pay attention.

————————————

"I have class in an hour so can we make this quick?" I ask Chloe as I sit at our little table. The huge window next to us shows the busy streets of Times Square.

"Yes. I just wanted to make sure you ate," She adjusts her glasses as she scans over her white, laminated menu.

"Thanks for the invite and I have eaten. Why breakfast for lunch by the way?" She only raises her eyes, not moving her head in the position she was reading the menu, "Because why not and don't change the subject. You've been extremely off this past week. How am I supposed to know if you've eaten or not?"

I only shrug, "What do you mean?"

She rolls her eyes, "What do you mean what do I mean? You've been super weird since Saturday and you know it, don't bullshit me right now. What's going on?"

The waiter - a petit, short haired brunette - walks over to us, "Hi guys! What can I get started for you?"

Chloe orders orange juice and I order a water, "I'm fine, okay?"

Her expression becomes sad now, "Mandy, I know we're not as close as I'd like us to be but we're getting there. I want you to be able to tell me things."

"I told you I'm fine, Chloe. Can we please just eat?" I insist. I feel like shit for not telling her but I can't put a burden on her right now. She'll feel so bad that she couldn't be able to help me and I'd feel horrible because she feels horrible. I'm saving her time of worry.

"And I haven't been avoiding you, you've been busy all week," I confess. Her green eyes look tired and I can see some of her blended concealer under her eyes. She still looks as stunning as always though.

"Okay," she sighs, putting her hands up defensively. I scan my eyes down the menu and catch strawberry waffles listed on the menu.

Holy shit those sound so good.

We tell the waiter our order and change the subject to school. Chloe is an education major. She's wanted to teach little kids for as long as she remembers. She's told me stories from her mother's time as a teacher about how funny and sweet kids are to teach, and I think the education field is perfect for her.

I, on the other hand, just want to help people get rid of their problems.

Which is ironic, considering I have way too fucking many of my own.

We finish "lunch" and head back to campus.

"See you tomorrow?" Chloe pulls me in for a hug and I smell her sweet apple scented shampoo, "yeah, sure. Thank you for lunch." She smiles and walks off toward her building.

-------------

"Can anyone explain hypervigilance to me please?"

The class stays silent.

I raise my hand. "Yes, Amanda," my professor points to me.

"Hypervigilance is the state of your brain caused by trauma. It perceives things that trigger memories of traumatic events like threats so it locks away your memory and impulse control and traps you in a constant state of strong emotional reactivity."

I'm amazing.

My professors eye brows shoot up, "amazing job."

I smile.

God, I'm so good at this.

Understanding the brain may not seem like my thing, but believe it or not, it is. After my mother gave me no freedom, I wanted to know how I could avoid anymore shit affecting my life.

I understand why my mother is the way she is but then again, I don't. And I think it will always be that way.

After class, my phone rings from a random number. I decide to answer. I like playing pranks on spam callers.

"Hello?" I ask in a weird voice.

"Hey, Mandy?" The voice on the other line says.

"Yes. Who's this?," I stop walking, confused now.

"It's Landon."

Oh my god.

"Landon. Hey, I wasn't expecting you to call. How did you get my number?"

He chuckles on the other line, "You gave it to me remember?"

Dumbass.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," I open my door to my dorm and go to open my curtains.

"What are you doing tonight?" He asks.

I freeze.

"Um. Nothing." Is he asking me out? Oh my god.

"Would you like to go to dinner with me? It won't be fancy or anything but I want to hang out with you again," He says and I think I almost dropped my phone out of shock.

This guy is really cute don't get me wrong. Like cute as in drop dead gorgeous, but I don't think a relationship is the best move for me right now.

I mean, it's a free invite to dinner? And who knows, he may not even be asking me out.

"Is this a date?" I ask him.

Fuck, I shouldn't have done that.

"No don't worry," he laughs, "I just think we should see each other again." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Okay, perfect. See you when?"

"Eight thirty."

"I'll squeeze that into my schedule."

I just got myself a date that wasn't a date.

Maybe the universe is on my side this week.