For a Friday, classes are going by super fast and super stressfully.

I've already had Calculus, Honors History, and Personal Finance.

I woke up extra early to study for my History test which was 65 multiple choice questions. The study guide was 6 fucking pages long with a list of shit in 12 point font.

And on top of that, classes are 1.5 hours long.

I begin walking over to Literature but immediately stop when I see Carter outside the building, smoking a cigarette.

How classy.

He smirks when he sees me before taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"Good morning, Mandy," he says with a smile.

"I never took you as much of a smoker," I respond.

Why am I talking to him?

"It's therapy," he shrugs, "plus most girls find smoking attractive."

I keep my face blank, "Lung cancer, how sexy."

He laughs and looks down at the cigarette he dropped, putting it out with his shoe and taking a swig of water.

"May I walk you to class?" He asks.

"I can find it myself but thanks."

He shrugs and pulls his arm out to lead the way to the door.

I walk into the building and sit in my normal seat once i'm in class. The only thing is Chloe's not here. She's always normally right behind me or here before me.

Maybe she took the day off to relax. She deserves a bit of rest.

We discuss the last things on The Great Gatsby and begin to go over things for our mid terms and starting the analysis for Hamlet.

The book arrived at my building yesterday and I threw it somewhere on my messy ass desk.

Mr. Henderson chose to skip Pride and Prejudice because we wouldn't have time. Not that I care. It saves me money.

I tried to focus but all I could think about is my other homework and grades. Or what I'll wear to dinner tonight. Or what I'll eat for dinner.

I wonder where we're going.

My thoughts are interrupted, I hear the chair where Chloe normally sits being pulled out next to me and someone's arms rub against me as they sit down.

Strong arms.

"Hey," Carter whispers and I close my eyes so he won't see the annoyance on my face.

"What?" I ask in the least patient voice possible.

"How are you?" he asks. I look over at him. His blue eyes are bright and his hair is styled in that messy style that looks super attractive. A silver watch - that looks expensive - sits on his wrists and he wears a black skin tight sweater, defining his arm muscles.

His really nice defined arm muscles.

I suddenly remember my thoroughly embarrassing dream of him, and just the memory of it makes my core ache.

Stop. Amanda stop.

"I'm trying to focus right now, what do you need?"

"I distract you?" he asks and a smirk forms on his lips.

The slap I would give this dude to shut up.

A smart ass smile forms on my lips, "yes. With your annoying ass text messaging and moving seats in class, I'd call you a winner for getting on someone's nerves a lot."

His smirk stretches into a smile as his eyes travel up and down my face.

I suddenly feel self conscious, and I'm not sure why.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I ask him. My defensive walls go up.

"Nothing," he shrugs. I roll my eyes away from him and look to the white board.

"So..." he says. "I heard it's your birthday tomorrow," Carter whispers.

Oh. My. God.

"Who told you that?" I whisper back, my eyes staying focused on the front of the room. I attempt to keep myself calm and collected.

"Just someone," he says.

"Someone with red hair and blue eyes who can't keep things to herself very often?" I ask.

"Possibly. But I'm not throwing anyone under the bus," he chuckles.

When Chloe feels better, I'm hiding her hair curler.

"Mm," I hum.

"What is something you want for your birthday?" he whispers to me again.

"Why do you need to know?" I ask, looking back at him with the same annoyed expression he always puts on my fucking face.

"Do I need a reason?" he nudges me.

"Yes," I answer.

"Let's say, hypothetically of course," he says, "if I were to leave flowers or something at someone's dorm for her birthday, would she accept them?"

"I hate flowers," I say.

Lie.

He's taken aback by this newfound information, "really? Chloe said you loved them. Specifically white roses and lilly's."

Of course she did.

"Well that was a phase. I don't want anything from you for my birthday but thanks for the offer," I say in hopes of him finally leaving me alone.

No such luck, because he only scoots closer to me.

"Dinner?" He whispers and I turn my face back to him. I'm completely sick of his shit.

"No," I decline, "stop fucking asking."

He smiles again, "fine. But can I at least learn a few things about you?"

I roll my eyes and bring my hand to my face. I can feel a migraine start to form in my temples.

"One fucking thing and then will you leave me alone?" I ask.

"Two things and it's a deal," he attempts to bargain.

If I could strangle him, I would. I'd probably enjoy every minute of actually.

"Fine," I agree.

"Okay, two things about me then two things about you," he says.

"Okay," I keep quiet as the teacher speaks.

"One: I'm fluent in French," he confesses and I feel my eyebrows raise up.

"You? Fluent in French?" I ask. I don't know why that's hard to believe but it is.

He nods proudly.

"Say something then," I say and cross my arms.

"Je pense que tu es extrêmement magnifique," he says. His voice is somehow like velvet as he says the words, and even if I don't want to admit it, it sends sparks down my stomach.

I stay silent as he appears to be thinking, but his eyes lock on mine as he continues, "je ruinerais le monde entier pour être à toi."

"What does that mean?" I ask. I've never fucking said a word of french other than "oui-oui" or "baguette."

He smiles again, his white teeth showing as he talks, "It means I know you don't like me and you don't care."

My eyes shrink to slits, "your lying," I say.

He nods, "yes I am. Now your turn."

I roll my eyes, "My favorite color is white."

His eyebrows lift in surprise. He picks up his black pen and writes down what I just said into his notebook.

I slap his arm and feeling nothing but tender muscle. I remind myself to keep my voice quiet. "Don't write that shit down!" I whisper shout.

He laughs a deep laugh before turning to me again. Blue eyes sparkling when they meet mine.

"I..." he pauses thinking, "I play guitar," he confesses.

That's actually kinda hot. Damnit.

"Doesn't everyone other guy play guitar?" I ask. His expression looks as if he's offended, but I realize it's just playful.

"No actually. It takes skill to play guitar," he smirks, "and good fingers," he says with a wink.

"Stop," I say putting a hand up.

"Sorry sorry," he says.

"Last one, Mandy make it count," he whispers.

I think to myself. There isn't anything very interesting I could tell him. And it's not like I actually care to be honestly with him.

"Uh," I begin but he shakes his head. "No lying."

I shut my mouth again.

Damnit.

"I don't like smokers," I shrug. I mean, it's honesty.

He purses his lips in surprise, as if to make me laugh, but hold it in and stay neutral.

"Got it, no more smoking," he whispers to himself and proceeds to write down something else in his notebook.

"That's not what I meant," I say with an eye roll. He looks back at me again.

"Now I know a bit more about you, why don't I take you to dinner?" He offers, again.

I huff a heavy deep breath. My patience is completely gone and my migraine is deeply worsened. "Listen," I start, "I already-"

"-will you at least think about it before you give me an actual answer?" he interrupts, his face turning sincere.

He REALLY wants me to fucking say yes.

I stay silent and for a moment we're just looking at each other. His blue eyes looking at me, almost into my soul at that moment.

It brought me an ounce of fear i've never felt before.

"Mhm," The professor coughs, interjecting our conversation and stopping the class. Carter and I break eye contact and I look over to Mr. Henderson, who is now staring between me and Carter.

"Amanda," he says, "I have stopped class multiple times for your conversations. It's extremely disruptive." He appears to me joking because he's giving me a small smile but deep down I can feel he's genuinely annoyed.

"That time was me, Mr. Henderson," Carter says next to me. I continue to stay silent.

"Mr. Osteen you should be in your assigned seat."

"Yes sir," Carter says. His voice smooth as he continues, "Mandy was just helping me understand some things."

The professor cocks his head and I feel all eyes staring right between me, Mr. Henderson, and Carter.

Kill me. Kill me.

"Move back please. You leave in 20 minutes, save the chatter for then," Mr. Henderson says and I nod.

—————-

After class, I am greeted by Carter again.

"You need more time?" he teases. I look over to him, "Carter, what do you want?" I say with my tone cool and unaffected even though I'm burning from the inside out with confusion and anxiety and aggression.

He stops for a second, dropping the teases, and looking at me. He opens his mouth as if to say something, but shuts it just as quickly before opening it again to physically speak, "I just want to know who you are."

"But why?" I ask him. I want to know. I want to know why he keeps talking to me. I don't think it because I'm attractive, because I'm sure he would've made those advances as of now.

He shrugs, his strong shoulders practically bulging out of his long sleeves, "I don't need a reason, I just want to."

I scoff, "Listen, I'm not the type of person you would want to be friends with and I'm sure there are lines of pretty little bimbos who want you. Stop wasting your time with someone like me."

His eyebrows raise, "Well there are, but has it occurred to you that if I really didn't want to get to know you that I wouldn't be trying this hard?"

I stop. I remember what Landon told me about his knowledge of Carter, that he doesn't normally reach out this way unless he's actually interested in knowing me. I feel so fucking confused and so lost in this moment that I've gone speechless.

"Just," Carter starts, his voice growing soft, "text me, okay? I'm always here."

He begins to walk away before yelling, "And be prepared for some flowers tomorrow!"

I roll my eyes and head over to the psychology building.

——————-

Comment what the french sentence Carter says for Mandy translates to w/ your reactions ;)