Chapter Nine
One Week Later
Bella
My knee bounces as I wait for class to end. Twenty minutes ago, my cell phone pinged, indicating I received an email, but I’ve not looked. It’s probably a spam message or a list of what my mom needs from the store, but it could be the message I’ve been waiting for.
When I applied for Cosmo school last week, I was fueled by alcohol and irritation with Dominic. I wasn’t even sure I hit send until the next morning and almost had a panic attack. But now that it’s done, I want it to happen.
“Be sure to read chapters four and five for the quiz next class, and your research paper is due next week.” Professor Peterson ignores the round of groans as if they didn’t occur from half the class and smiles. “Have a great day.”
There’s nothing wrong with Professor Peterson. He’s a nice older man but I have zero interest in accounting and even less for typing up a five-page paper on the principles of auditing in accounting.
As the students around me stand, grabbing their gear and chatting about the game on Saturday, I scan my phone. The Glamour Institute. My heart lurches into my throat. Please let this be good news.
My hands shake so hard that my phone slips from my fingers. I snatch it inches from the floor, keeping it from crashing onto the tiles. Blood rushes to my ears. This has got to be it.
Dear Ms. Wright,
We’ve received your application for cosmetology school for the spring session. However, if you’re interested, we are immediately available for a full-time position in the fall session. Classes begin on October 15 th .
We look forward to having you in class.
The rest of the words are a blur. I got in. Now. I close my eyes as panic swells in my chest. I’ll figure it out. I made it in. My lips curve upward as the panic is replaced by excitement. I did it.
“What’s wrong with you?” A deep voice penetrates my haze of happiness. Shit. His disturbance draws me back to reality.
I reopen my eyes and shrug. “Nothing but thank you for asking.”
It’s Rick, one of the smartest guys in class. He’s tall, good-looking, and preppy in a nerdy kind of way. But he isn’t the typical accountant guy. He’s also a jock. I’ve never been to a college football game, but if what I’ve heard is correct, he’s the backup quarterback for the team.
And he’s talking to me.
“You look weird.”
“Thanks.” I mentally roll my eyes, stuff my notebook and other supplies into my teal backpack, and stand.
“No….” His face flushes with heat. “I didn’t mean it like that. You just looked different.” He shrugs. “Happy, I guess.”
“I am.” For now, at least, until I share the news with my parents that I’m switching to Cosmo.
“Good.” He straightens his bag on his shoulder. “Good luck on the quiz.”
“Um…. Thanks.” I’m not about to spill my guts to a complete stranger, but what’s the point of returning to class if I’m quitting in a few weeks. “See you around.”
The fact that this random stranger notices that I look happy tells me that I’ve not covered my misery as well as I thought. “I’ve got to go.”
I brush past him and out into the hallway when my cell phone rings. My stomach cramps when I don’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Where’ve you been? I haven’t heard anything from you in a week.”
Dominic. My mouth dries as my steps falter. I stop in the middle of the hallway to catch my balance when a thud knocks me forward. “Shit.”
“Watch where you’re going.” One of the football players glares at me and keeps walking.
“Sure thing.” I step out of everyone’s way and refocus on the phone. “Sorry about that. The hallway is buzzing today.”
“Are you hurt? Was that him?” The frantic tone in his voice sends a ridiculous thrill up my spine.
“I’m not hurt. And it wasn’t Brock. It was one of the guys on the football team. When I answered the phone, I….” Do not say you tripped. He doesn’t need to hear what a klutz you are. “I stopped short and didn’t look behind me.”
“You need to watch where you’re going.”
My back bristles at his tone. Seriously? Like, I’m not smart enough to know that. I grind my teeth together and let out a huff. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. What did you need?”
The phone. He’s paying for the phone and has probably been waiting for me to pay for my share. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked you how much my end of the bill is. How much do I owe you?”
Daisy, the girl I did the makeover for waves and smiles. I’m going to miss her. I need to let her know I’m leaving so we can keep in touch.
“I don’t need any money. I have enough money to pay for your phone and phone line.” The brisk tone of his voice sets my nerves on edge. Why is it that we can’t talk to each other without bickering? It’s like talking to my brothers. Only I want to shut him up by slamming my mouth over his instead of flipping him off. “Have you talked to Xavier?”
“No….” I frown. Right, the tattoo. Saturday night, I told him I would get a tattoo, like Xavier and Ruby suggested. But I’m not about to get kittens and rainbows or whatever we decided. I’ll get something classy. “I’ve been busy, but I’ll talk to him soon. Did you need something else?”
He sighs, “I wanted to make sure you weren’t getting any calls or messages from Brock.”
“Everything’s good on my end. The phone is great. I don’t think he’s going to figure out how to get ahold of me this time.” I lean my hip against the wall. “And now that I think about it, I don’t think it was him at the bar. If it was, one of us would’ve seen him.” The alternative is creepy as fuck.
Outside, the breeze blows the leaves of the large oak tree in the grassy section between the building and the parking lot. One positive thing about the campus is the scenic view. The landscape designer took great care in making an aesthetic and functional place.
“By the way, what number are you calling me from? I didn’t recognize it.”
“Work. I had a break between clients and was charging my phone.”
Great. Rissa is probably drooling over him as we speak.
“I wish I would’ve known sooner that he was bothering you. I would’ve taken care of it.” The regret and conviction in his voice twist my insides.
I fan my face while pretending it’s because I’m standing so close to the window.
“Are you coming over to the house this week?”
“Umm….” I gnaw on my bottom lip. “No. I’ve got too much to do. It’s going to be a while. My nights are going to be booked.” With Cosmo starting in a couple of weeks, I’m going to need to get a job to save up some money.
My stomach cramps. My parents are going to be so pissed that I’m quitting midsemester.
“I see. Well…. Okay.” He clears his throat. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Did you need me to stop by for something?”
“No. Nothing. Your mom’s dishes are piling up from the food she sends over, and I was going to leave them out for you to take back to her if you were coming by. But I’ll toss them into the cabinet for now.”
“Perfect.” I frown and roll my eyes. All he cares about is getting pans back to my mom? Ugh.
“At least the washer is fixed, so you don’t need to wash our clothes. That way, we’re not taking up your time.”
“I need to go.” I hang up and shake my head. Stupid. If he asked me to come over, I’d drop everything and go like a desperate puppy begging for a handout.