D.

I got a D.

Crap.

We both stare at our papers that we had submitted the previous night right after our 007 marathons. Our professor had printed them off to not only grade them but to show us how bad we all did.

A little harsh if you ask me.

"I thought we were supposed to help each other out?"

I glance down at my accomplice watching those massive blue eyes of hers glare at the paper in her hands. She isn't wearing glasses today and her eye is fully healed. I can't lie and say I'm not appreciating the sight, especially seeing how she's done her makeup to make them pop even more.

My girl Blue is cute.

Really cute.

But she's the kind, guys won't notice.

Want to know why?

Because that's what she wants. Guys around here won't notice a girl who doesn't want to be noticed. They give off that don't bother me vibe and Blue here is the reigning queen of said vibe.

But if she wanted to be seen, she would be. She's the kind of quirky cute a guy can't help but zone in on. So cute that it's hard for me to believe I had never noticed her in Bio last year.

But I had been with Cass at the time and my eyes were devoted to my ex and her alone.

When Blue had told me in the car ride home that we had been in the same class. I had to really think back until I remembered a girl in glasses who sat on the far other side of the room.

Even though I had been in a bad place and was partying like crazy, if I hadn't been with Cass and had bumped into Blue, I would've gone for her in a second.

Which, now that I'm thinking about it, it's probably a good thing. Who I was last year would've tainted her. There's no way I would've appreciated her the way I do now. If anything it would've been a quickie and out the door.

I would've missed out on an awesome friend and that's exactly what she is, a friend. And it will stay that way because I don't deserve her. She's good, pure, and the marrying type. All the things I'm not. I already hate the guilt that's eating away at me for selfishly making her my friend. Especially since I will probably end up hurting her like everyone else.

Am I attracted to her?

Hell yes.

But that's not saying much.

I love women.

Blue though has been the first girl I've ever hung out with and haven't had only one thought in my mind. I actually enjoy her presence and her snark.

She blows her bangs up. "Do you think this is God's way of humbling us?"

"Why would you say that?"

She holds up one finger. "Rasheed."

I laugh.

"Nah! I think this is what happens when two people would rather play one of the best games ever invented."

Her plump lips cock in that half-smile of hers. "We should really work on our lack of self-control then."

"Can't argue with that logic."

Professor B stands in front of the class looking at us with disappointment. "Seeing as how this is your first paper, I'm giving you guys a chance to fix them." Her eyes stop at the perky blonde I've been eyeing since the first day of class. "Apart from you Becca. Excellent work."

Her eyes snap back to the lot of us. "But the rest of you will have to submit them by tomorrow before five if you want a better grade." She walks over to the whiteboard. "You do well and you can go up a letter grade. Now let's talk about the first few chapters."

Blue leans into me whispering, "I don't think we're good for each other."

My hand goes over my heart. "Blue, are you breaking up with me?"

She rolls her eyes. "I'm swinging by later to get my N64."

"We aren't even going to discuss the possibility of joint custody?"

"You have no rights to my baby, Tariq."

"You two." Professor B interjects. "You have something to say about Esther's battle with depression?"

"We were just arguing about that actually." Blue counters, quick on her feet. "Tariq thinks Esther needs to stop acting like a baby."

My fingers cover my mouth as I turn my face away from our audience because I don't know what to feel at the moment.

Irritated or impressed?

"I'm my opinion," Elodie continues with her lie, "Esther is feeling misplaced like she doesn't belong in society and she can't understand why she's unmotivated and unhappy. She puts on a mask for people so they don't see what's going on."

I get control of myself and look back at Blue, while leaning back casually in my chair, ready to devise my vengeance as I watch her intently.

"I think all of us do that to a degree but with Esther, it's bordering on unhealthy for her mental state. And what I was telling Tariq was how depression isn't that easy to manage for some people and how insensitive his comment was." She ends with a smug smile.

Okay, I'm leaning toward irritated.

Clever little minx.

Professor Baker looks impressed. "Well said Elodie. I'm curious why that isn't in your paper."

Blue reddens and I strike. "She was too busy playing video games and distracting me from getting my paper done."

Elodie thrusts her heel into my shin and I let out a grunt, making Professor B raise a brow at us. "Elodie, what's the real reason?"

Blue looks stunned for a moment. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."

Our very pregnant teacher gives a small smile. "The Bell Jar is a hard read not because of the writing but because of the subject matter. A lot of people have a hard time reading something so dark and personal. It makes them uncomfortable reading the thoughts of someone suffering from mental instability."

Blue shifts in her seat. "You're talking about Sylvia Plath."

My elbows hit the table and I give my actual opinion now because, believe it or not, I understand this subject a little too well. "This book is similar to Plath's own struggles with depression and bipolar behavior. I think you picked this book out for us to do first because of the fact it's going to push us to understand such a sensitive topic."

Professor B cracks a big Cheshire cat grin. "You two work well together. I don't think there's a need for a breakup." She winks. "But maybe refrain from video games."

Blue lets out a snort and covers her mouth as I chuckle.

"When you guys go to do a closed reading, don't be shy about stating your opinions. I want to know how the passages make you feel and think. Use examples from the text to drive home your thesis and dive into what the passage you picked out is not only saying in general but also saying to you."

I think Professor B is going to be an interesting teacher. My eyes flash over to Blue who looks at me then shakes her head, her lips lifting a fraction. When she gives those small smiles, they're more a little crooked and sexy.

I like her lips.

A lot.

They're plump and bow-shaped but one side is higher than the other and it's unbelievably hot.

A guy notices how a girl takes care of her lips and Blue definitely does. They always look so smooth and plush, especially when she wears soft red lipstick, which she is tonight. I can't help but wonder if it's because of what I had said. And something about that makes me groan a little, making Blue look over at me with a clipped brow. If I'm right...

Dear God, help me.

Maybe I can convince her to kiss me one of these days?

Experiment a little.

It wouldn't mean anything and our friendship would remain intact. It would be a simple kiss, nothing too heavy.

There's just something about the sexy curve of her mouth that makes me undeniably curious as to how it would fuse with mine.

I'm a guy.

I can't help but think about things like that. Even if they are about the girl who is strictly a friend.

"Well, that was an interesting class," I say as I slide my laptop into my bag. My skin prickles, all too aware of Tariq watching my every move.

"You think you're real cunning don't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He chuckles. "Sure sweetheart."

I cross my arms over my chest. "You were quick to throw me under the bus."

"Ah," he says, waving his finger in my face. "Only because you started the war."

I scoff and am about to retort until a bell-like voice interrupts us, "Tariq?"

We both turn to Becca looking flawless as always. She's one of those college girls that is effortlessly pretty. Eyebrows that don't need to be plucked, gorgeous blonde hair that's obviously well taken care of and naturally shiny. Top it off with big brown eyes, boobs, and bronzed skin and she's the typical girl next door guys drool over.

"I couldn't help but overhear that you didn't do so well on the paper. If you want, I can help you edit it or even read over it before you turn it in. Maybe tonight?" she asks.

Tariq gives her a smirk and his eyes glean with interest, so much so, I think it's time for me to make my exit, and swiftly.

"If you could read it over that would be great, as for helping me out, Blue and I got it covered tonight, but how about a date instead?"

You don't care.

You don't care.

I'm out the door before I can hear her reply. Because of my haste to get as far away from the building as possible, I don't realize another person coming in the opposite direction.

I slam into them and we both bend down to pick up the things I had caused the person to drop. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

"It's okay I wasn't either." A thick British accent ignites my curiosity and there before me, is a man that looks like he descended from the heavens. Milk chocolate skin, shaved head, starling blue eyes that pop against his dark skin, and the most charming smile I've ever seen.

"Hi there. I was actually touring the campus before my first day tomorrow," he says with an amused lift of his lips.

I can't find my voice and I don't notice the books of his I'm holding are sliding out of my hand until it's too late. They crash and I'm brought back to life. "Oh sorry!"

He laughs and it's a beautiful sound. "It's alright. How about you show me where the library is and we can call it good?"

I nod absently like I do when I'm at the doctor and pretending to understand what she's saying. "Yeah, of course." I hand him his stuff. "It's at the center of campus so it's easy to find."

We start walking side by side and I grip onto my backpack straps because I'm nervous. I literally just rammed into a gorgeous specimen and he has a British accent?!

"My name's Ellis."

I tilt my body toward him, awkwardly pointing to myself. "Elodie."

"That's really pretty."

I blush. "Thanks. Where are you from?"

"Manchester, and yes, I am football obsessed. The actual football."

I laugh. "That's cool. What brings you to the states?"

"My parents are divorced, my dad lives in Manchester and my mum is American. She's the Economics professor here and I decided to try out college life in the states."

"Well, I hope it doesn't disappoint," I say as we stop in front of the library steps. "Well, here you are. It's a nice library."

NICE LIBRARY?!

I could smack myself right now.

He chuckles then clears his throat. "I have to be honest with you, Elodie. I kind of already knew where the library was."

"Oh." My brows knit together in confusion.

"I just wanted to walk a little longer with the pretty girl I was lucky to bump into."

I flush and stare dumbfounded. Bump is a nice way of putting it. "Uh, um..."

"Have a coffee date with me tomorrow," he demands playfully.

Uh, okay, is this model GQ guy seriously asking me on a date?!

Say yes!

"I can't tomorrow. I have back-to-back classes."

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!!

His smile doesn't falter in the slightest. "What are your classes?"

Using my index finger I rub at my eyebrow trying to remember what day tomorrow even is at this point. "Early Classroom Organization and Management and then Early Literacy, along with history and speech."

He bobs his head but unlike my stupid earlier one, his bob is sexy. "You're going to be a teacher?"

"Yeah, elementary."

"Me too."

That's it, he's perfect!

He starts walking up the steps. "I'll see you in class tomorrow and then we can talk more about that coffee date."

I laugh slash snort weirdly as he turns around, slipping past a couple leaving as he goes in. "Uh, wait what class?"

But he's gone and I'm left with an open-mouthed smile. I bite down on my lip, walking back to my dorm. But after a few moments of euphoria, I'm no longer thinking about a possible date with Ellis, I'm thinking about Tariq and his date with Becca.

Stupid.

When I get back to my dorm, I realize my N64 is still at Tariq's and I groan in dismay. I really wanted to have a go at the water temple again tonight.

I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow. We have plans to fix our closed readings together anyways.

The jerk better not break it.

SURPRISE!!! So some possible trouble in paradise!!!! How did you all like being in Tariq's head for that small amount of time? I think it's safe to say he definitely is catching something for our girl Blue but denying it. What do you all think? If you want a possible update tomorrow, hit that star button for me :)

I am really in a groove with this story and plan on updating it more frequently!

I can't believe this story already has over 1K reads!!! I am so blessed by you all and your love for my stories! I hope I continue to provide you with fun, steamy and drama-filled romances that you enjoy with good men and strong women!

Much Love,

~LivingRed