Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
ELIZABETH
I rush across campus, walking at a fast pace—because let’s face it, I couldn’t run now if my life depended on it since my legs are two limp noodles—hoping to make it to Contemporary American Literature on time.
I begrudgingly climb the stairs to Mason Hall and sigh in relief when I get to the main auditorium doors with five minutes to spare.
There are a few clusters of seats available, and I choose one nearest to the aisle and plonk down.
“Is that seat taken?” a dark-haired girl asks.
“Not at all. Be my guest.”
I check my phone before muting the sound and putting it on vibrate. There are texts from Elijah and Ryder, and another one from Daniel checking in. I click on Ryder’s.
Hellcat: Want to grab a coffee after class?
Me: Yes. Meet you outside Mason Hall?
Hellcat: thumbs-up emoji
“I’m Meredith,” the girl happily says, taking out a laptop from her bag.
“Elizabeth.”
“Nice to meet you, Elizabeth. Maybe we can do a study group or something together. I heard this class is pretty hard.”
“Mm-hmm,” I mumble, not really paying attention.
My morning started out great but then turned to shit, so I’m not in the mood to be sociable, even if it does make me appear standoffish.
I open my notes app on my tablet and fish around in my bag for my stylus pen.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” Meredith says.
“What?”
“It’s okay if you don’t want to do a study group,” she says, wearing the same lost, sad face Jayson had this morning when I yelled at him.
“I’m sorry, Meredith. It’s been a crazy morning. It’s very nice to meet you.”
She beams at me, and I notice how pretty she is. Dark brown hair cut in a pixie bob, chocolate brown eyes, and a heart-shaped face with a creamy complexion. And she’s tiny, around five feet tall.
“So, you in?” she asks.
“Small world. I told you we would run into each other again, Wildcat.”
I look up, and the guy I met at the beach weeks ago is grinning down at me. He’s dressed about the same as when I met him on the beach, except this time I can see his eyes, which are a very unnatural shade of ice blue.
“Trevor, remember?”
“The hermit crab guy.”
Twin dimples pop when he grins. “Should I be offended by the fact that’s the only thing you remember about me?”
“Do you know each other?” Meredith asks from beside me.
Trevor aims his dimpled smile at her, and I can literally feel her sigh.
“In a way. I’m Trevor.”
“Meredith. Nice to meet you. I was just asking Elizabeth about doing a study group. Do you want in?”
Trevor shuffles past me and sits down in the seat next to Meredith.
I stutter, “Wait, I never said that I would?—”
“That sounds great. Count me in,” Trevor replies. He takes out his phone. “Here’s my number and email.”
He and Meredith look at me expectantly. Well, shit. I guess I’m going to be part of a study group.
“Welcome everyone,” the professor vocalizes as he walks across the raised stage, a wireless mic clipped to the collar of his dress shirt. “This is one of the larger classes on campus, so please bear with me. My name is Professor Hallenger, and this is Contemporary American Literature. If you did not sign up for CAL, you are in the wrong room.”
About seven people stand up and walk out.
“Because of the class size, I have three graduate teaching assistants to help me, and they are also here for you to ask questions if I am not available. Terry, Francine, and Sasha, please hand out the semester syllabus to each row.”
For the rest of the class, Dr. Hallenger goes over his office hours and what books we will be reading this semester. We also have a major paper to write that will be worth sixty percent of our final grade. Since this is a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class, it’s only fifty minutes long, and Dr. Hallenger dismisses us early.
“I hope every class is like that,” Meredith says as she and Trevor follow me out.
“Hallenger has a reputation for being a hard-ass. Expect every paper you turn in to drip red ink.”
That doesn’t sound good.
“If he’s so hard, why are you taking his class? You said you were a marine biology major.”
Trevor shrugs. “I like a challenge.”
“What day do we want to do the study group?” Meredith asks us.
“I’m available Wednesday or Thursday evening,” Trevor replies.
“Me, too. Elizabeth?”
“I can work in a Wednesday or Thursday. Nothing too late, though.”
“How about Wednesday at seven? I can reserve one of those study rooms in the library.”
We have to push our way through stalled people loitering around the main doors. The summer sun scorches my cheeks as soon as we step outside, and the humidity is high. Beads of sweat instantly pop along my hairline.
“I’ve got a ten thirty class, so I need to bolt if I’m going to have enough time to grab something to eat. Talk to you guys later.” Meredith gives me a giant hug, and I’m forced to bend way down to reciprocate. “I have a good feeling that this is going to be a great year!”
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I wind up smiling with her.
“Where are you headed?” Trevor asks the moment Meredith disappears from view.
“I’m waiting for someone,” I reply, glancing around.
“I can stick around if?—”
“Elizabeth!”
The moment Ryder jogs over, I react instinctively, closing the space between us and wrapping my arms around his waist. His familiar warmth floods over me as he presses a kiss to my hair, much like he did earlier.
“How was class?”
“It was good.”
Trevor clears his throat. “Hey, man. I’m Trevor.”
“Ryder.”
There’s a curious silence as the two of them size each other up.
“See ya around, Wildcat.”
Ryder takes my bag and hooks it over his shoulder. Raising an eyebrow, he says, “Wildcat?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in later.”
Without thinking, I reach for his hand, and our pinkies intertwine, almost like muscle memory. There’s a rush of comfort and nostalgia, familiar yet profound. The connection feels…right. But when I notice his sudden, startled look, I pull back.
“Sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”
Ryder catches my hand again, threading our fingers together firmly. For a moment, all the noise around me fades into the background. Holding his hand seems somehow monumental, like a promise of something deeper, and a flutter of excitement takes flight.
“I’ve got a few hours free until my next class. Want to grab a coffee and sit outside?”
His question breaks me out of my reverie. “Food?”
With an incredulous chuckle, he says, “You can’t still be hungry after all those donuts.”
I raise our joined hands and give him a playful punch. “I ran ten miles this morning. Ten. I need another five thousand calories just to survive the day.”
“Student cafeteria?” he asks, pulling me gently along beside him.
“I could go for some chips and salsa. Better yet, I’m craving sweet potato fries. Oh, and a chicken lettuce wrap. Scratch that. I want cheesecake.”
Ryder grimaces at my food choices. “I can’t wait to see you try and eat all that.”
“Challenge accepted. You have no idea how hungry I am.”