"Alixandria Ross?"

"Here." I rose my hand. Mr. Sullivan marked off my name and moved to the next person.

Lecture went by tediously slow. I found myself zoning out more often. My nerves driving my foot to tap impatiently. I tried to pry my eyes from the clock as every minute ticked by slower than the last. I doodled. I counted down from 100. Tried to say the alphabet backwards in my head, but nothing could distract me from the irregular beat of my heart.

Not this lecture that would've once been fascinating to me. Not the distractions I had taught myself. I felt a wave of lightness and I grabbed my stuff. Not bothering to shove it in my backpack. I just took it all and practically ran out. Stepping into the nearest bathroom and falling to my knees in the nearest empty stall.

I took deep breaths and felt for my pulse. My hands were in my hair and I felt like I was going insane. Why was this happening to me? I was so tired of it! So emotionally drained.

I took out my heart beat monitor and waited patiently. 160bpm. I scrambled for my medication. Took it with a gulp and waited. Taking my phone out, I shot Henry a text

'Had another attack.'

Almost immediately he replied. 'Baby, I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Did you take your medication already?'

'Yes, but u know how I get.' I felt the tears in my eyes. I hated going through this. Especially without him by my side.

'Skip class. Come home, relax and I'll take care of you as soon as I'm off work.'

~

When I was finally feeling myself again, I stood up. I finally organized my things in my bag. I pulled my hair in a ponytail and fixed my makeup. I was thankful I hadn't worn any mascara today.

Although Henry wanted me home, I knew I had an obligation to my education. I had been skipping class regularly and that made it hard to do my homework when I wasn't there for lectures.

I set off toward the tutoring center. Even though all I wanted was to go home and sleep. Nothing sounded better than laying in bed while Henry took care of me. I sighed.

When I entered the tutoring center, I signed in. I looked around the room for Francine, but she was nowhere in sight. She was my favorite tutor.

"Excuse me, could you tell me if Francine is working today?"

"Of course." The girl behind the counter spoke into a walkie system. "Sorry, looks like she's no longer tutoring, but Idris is covering for her. He's great at human anatomy. He should be in room 4." She turned, pointing at the rooms to the far corner to my right.

"Thanks." I smiled and went in the direction she pointed. I entered the small enclosed area and found a couple of my other classmates in there.

Though this space was a little small, the building was wide and open with good air circulation and lots of noise. I'd be okay here.

"Dude! Where'd you run off to? You just booked it in class again." Camilla came over to me. She had been my lab partner until I started skipping class. She was kind. A tall girl with long straight black hair, a golden complexion, honey colored eyes hidden behind light curled lashes, a thin figure and heart shaped face. Camilla was my savior. Texting me the class notes and helping me study.

"Sorry I-"

"Excuse me?" I heard a low male voice interrupt. "Who are you?" I turned my attention to the person beside me.

My heart picked up again, but for different reasons. It was reacting on its own to the man before me. His body was definitely taller than mine. How had I not felt him beside me sooner? He must be at least six foot three. He might as well have been eight feet tall because that's how I felt standing beside him. The top of my head didn't even reach his chest. A chest that was prominently displayed by a soft gray shirt that clenched tightly to his biceps.

Was he a fitness coach? Or the human anatomy tutor?

He stood there watching me patiently with dark green eyes. His lips pressed into a thin line. Jesus, I had never seen a jaw so strong in my life. This man was pure desire and I stepped away. Disappointed in myself by all the dirty thoughts that popped into my head the moment I saw him. This man gave Michelangelo's sculptures a run for their money.

"She's also in Mr. Sullivan's class." Camilla butted in when she noticed I was stuck in place. "We usually study with Francine."

His eyes went to Camilla. Her cheeks visibly flushed, but I had to admire the girl for keeping her cool under such an intense stare.

"Then take a seat." He backed off, but his eyes were on me again.

I ignored his stare and settled in the seat beside Camilla. On the desk sat the bones of the pelvic girdle and the sacrum. For some reason, that immediately calmed me. Perhaps knowing that my mind was going to be completely distracted for the next hour.

~

"The iliac crest! The ischium! Oh-My favorite, the obturator foramen."

"God damn your good memory." Camilla set the bones down. "No wonder you can skip all that class and still manage A's. Wish I had your memory."

I laughed. Camilla was such a positive energy. "Okay come then. Your turn. Close up your book and give me your paper."

Camilla made a funny face then handed it all over. We studied like that back and forth for a while. I felt more confident about the upcoming test in two weeks. I'm sure Camilla did as well.

"Where'd you get that page?" I handed her back the paper of the anterior and posterior view of the pelvis with blank fill-ins.

"Idris. He handed them out at the start."

"Great," I rolled my eyes, turning to find Idris surrounded by a group of girls. He seemed happy enough. "Wouldn't wanna interrupt that and get another death glare."

Camilla giggled. "I'm pretty sure that's the fifth time I hear that girl ask him where the pubic symphysis is."

"Maybe it's cause she wants him to find her pubic symphysis." I chuckled while Camilla laughed hysterically.

Our laugh must've caught his attention because his gaze lifted to meet mine with those heated green eyes. I gulped.

"Oh shit." I heard Camilla curse beneath her breath.

Idris was stalking his way over here. "Something I can help you with?"

"Yes actually." I smiled. "I was wondering if you knew where the pubic symphysis was?"

Camilla burst into laughter beside me. I half expected dark and moody Idris to be glaring at me but instead he smirked, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Jerk." He chuckled.

Oh god. That chuckle was heaven to my ears. I had goosebumps.

"Seriously, do you need anything? I think you two are the only ones studying in here."

"Can't say I blame them when they were expecting Francine and got you instead." Camilla blurted out. I could tell she regretted saying that instantly, but Idris laughed it off.

"Well can't say I'm not having fun at Francine's expense."

I was genuinely surprised by Idris's mood change. Perhaps he wasn't the asshole I expected him to be. Once he sat with us, helping us with the model bones the rest of the girls seemed to get the hint.

I was glad I hadn't gone home and came to study instead.