Chapter 9 NORA
NORA
THE WORST PART OF attending classes on campus is carrying these damn textbooks everywhere.
It’s hot, the walk between classes is long and it feels like my bag is getting heavier and heavier as the day goes on. I wipe my brow, trying to pat the sweat off and not rub off my make-up at the same time.
‘The sun is sunning today,’ Cami groans, also dabbing her forehead as we wait at the bottom of the library steps for Anya, who’s stayed back after class. We somehow all landed in the same Academic Writing class, so we get to hang out and work on the assessments together.
Cami leans back against the building, scrolling on her phone. I adjust my backpack, trying to relieve some of the weight as I survey the courtyard before us. The tables are steadily filling, since a lot of people just finished class and it’s nearing lunch time.
‘Tell me why Professor Nirven thinks we’re all working on her class full time,’ Anya complains as she approaches, swirling her iced coffee, which she must have grabbed on the way here.
‘Because she’s a Virgo,’ Cami says without looking up from her phone. ‘Control is her love language.’
I laugh, always learning lots when it comes to astrology from Cami. ‘Honestly! Her expectations need to be adjusted.’
‘She’s tragic,’ Anya says.
‘What’s tragic is her wardrobe,’ Cami mutters.
‘Okay, no need to pick the woman apart,’ I intervene.
‘I’m serious,’ Cami says, peering over her cat-eye sunglasses.
She always has a different pair, depending on her outfit.
She is a fashion icon, whereas I feel like I throw on whatever’s clean and hope for the best. Every time I’m around her, I question why I am wearing the outfit that I am. ‘Double denim? What era are we in?’
I shake my head in amusement. ‘You’re too much.’
‘Never too much,’ she replies, blowing me a kiss. ‘Let’s find a table, I’m parched.’
We locate a table and I quickly shrug off my bag, feeling instant relief.
‘Hey!’ a voice calls from across the courtyard.
All three of us glance over and here they come – Mason, Christian, and of course, Zayden.
Zayden strolls unhurriedly towards us, backwards cap on his head, holding an energy drink. That’s his trademark look. His eyes flick over the group and then land on me. A zing of awareness inches down my spine. His brow inches up, as if to say, ‘We’re still doing this, right?’
After a beat, I nod.
Mason and Christian come to a stop at the table, and Mason leans down, kissing Anya on the top of her head. Christian smiles in greeting and looks around us, as if searching for someone. I’ve seen him hanging out a lot lately with a guy who I don’t recognise. I’m pretty sure they’re dating.
Zayden, however, rounds the table and my heart starts to race. I feel the heat of him as he leans down.
‘Hey you,’ he says, unapologetically flirty, offering me that gorgeous, crooked grin of his.
‘Hey,’ I murmur back, tilting my head so we can meet eyes.
Reaching down, he grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, securing me in place. I don’t dare to breathe as he leans in and kisses me. Right here, in front of the whole courtyard, but more importantly, in front of all our friends.
The kiss is more than just a peck, and my toes curl as he kisses me quite deeply before stepping back.
He adjusts his cap, his biceps looking way too damn fine as he does, and peers out beyond the table, like the others aren’t gawking at us with wide eyes and open mouths.
My eyes shift towards a table near us as Leasa stands beside it, eyes widened in shock.
My chest tightens as we awkwardly meet gazes and I quickly glance away, back to my friends.
Anya is frozen mid-sip, iced coffee hovering in front of her mouth like she’s forgotten how to drink. Cami’s eyebrows are halfway to her hairline and her phone’s tilted down in her lap – a rare occurrence.
‘Want anything for lunch?’ Zayden casually asks me, looking unfazed as ever.
‘I just ordered,’ I manage to get out.
‘Sweet,’ he replies, before heading off towards one of the food carts located to the side.
Slowly, I face the girls in front of me, then lift my gaze to the boys, who look just as shocked.
‘Did I – did we – just see what I think we saw?’ Anya’s voice is high as she blinks at me, still holding her iced coffee midway between her and the table. ‘Did that just happen?’
‘I mean … unless they happen to kiss as a way of saying hello,’ Cami snickers, glancing at Anya.
I feel heat flood my face, like my cheeks have decided to spontaneously combust.
‘Since when is this happening?’ Cami asks at the same time that Anya starts talking.
‘Did I skip a chapter?’ Anya asks in confusion, glancing around her like she can’t quite believe what she’s just witnessed.
I reach for my coffee and take a sip, even though it’s still too hot. I just need to do something with my hands; they’re all still staring.
‘Ohhh,’ Mason says after a moment, clicking and pointing at me. ‘You are the girl who he’s been all distracted with. Makes sense now.’
Anya shoots him a sharp look. ‘Excuse me? You knew about this and didn’t tell me?’
‘Not exactly,’ he explains quickly. ‘I just knew he was obsessing over someone.’
My name is called and I practically leap to my feet and hurry to the cart to grab my salad roll. Zayden lifts his chin in greeting.
‘Hey there,’ he says, looking far too pleased with himself at the chaos he just caused. ‘Too much?’
‘No, no, it was fine. Just took me – and everyone else – by surprise.’
‘That’s why it was so fun.’
I smile, unable to hold it in. I loved every second of that. It felt like I was reading a scene out of a romance novel, except that it was happening to me. ‘True. It was fun.’
‘Can’t wait to do it again,’ he winks, and my blush deepens, crawling down my neck.
I return to the table, Zayden joining me, and he sits down beside me.
‘So how long has this been going on?’ Cami asks again, clearly not satisfied with my lack of answers.
Zayden looks calm. Way calmer than me. He neatly unwraps his own sandwich and shrugs.
‘It’s new,’ he supplies.
‘Obviously,’ Cami retorts.
‘Didn’t realise we needed to give you a play by play on our lives,’ he quips, giving back the same tone she gave him.
‘I think we’re just a little surprised,’ Anya explains cautiously, still looking puzzled. Both girls are very confused. I’ve never mentioned anything about liking Zayden so they likely feel blindsided by it.
‘It happened quickly?’ I say, but it comes out more like a question.
‘Well, this has been a lot of fun.’ Christian smirks in amusement. ‘I’m going to find Travis.’
He lopes away, and when I look back, both girls and Mason are still staring at us. Zayden is oblivious, digging into his lunch, nonchalant as ever.
‘I have to get to class,’ I say, getting to my feet and curling my empty wrappers into a ball.
‘Bye babe,’ Zayden says, pulling me down to his level and kissing me again. My cheeks burn as everyone stares at us.
‘Bye,’ I mumble.
He then slaps my ass as I walk away and I bite my lip to stop myself laughing.
Several pairs of eyes watch me walk away.
I’ve not only got the attention of my friends, but the others around us, too.
They’d be just as shocked and curious, since everyone knows who Zayden is. It’ll be a hot topic on campus.
A part of me is worried about the attention, but the other half of me doesn’t give a crap because this is fun, and what they don’t know won’t hurt them.
‘He what?’ Cami exclaims, her mouth dropping into a giant ‘O’ as I give her the recap from the date from hell with Jake/Jack/John.
Both she and Anya have been blowing up my phone all day demanding answers, which I assured them I would give tonight.
Anya’s face stares back at me from Cami’s screen, her phone sitting on my phone mount.
She’s in the car with Mason, but has her headphones in, meaning what I’m saying is only being heard by her.
Jake/Jack/John’s profile reappeared on the app the other day – under a new name – but I recognised his photos.
The first, of course, was him holding a fish, the second was him with his back to the camera looking at the sunset and the third was from years ago when he was obviously a lot fitter than he is now.
Red flags all over. Another red flag, the ‘recently single’ opening line on his bio, which I think is a new addition.
Another new addition? ‘I like a feminine woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to make the first move. ’ Ergh.
‘Yup,’ I reply, finally able to laugh about the disaster now that some time has passed. ‘I truly couldn’t believe it.’
‘That is wild. What an ass!’ Cami shakes her head.
‘Agreed,’ Anya says.
‘Did you go home and drink an entire bottle of wine to yourself? That’s what I would have done,’ Cami states.
‘Well …’ I trail off, checking my mirrors before switching lanes, my fingers lightly tapping on the steering wheel as a pop playlist softly plays in the background. ‘Funnily enough, I ran into Zayden. He sort of saved me from the date.’
Stealing a glance at Cami, I see she’s already staring at me, a smirk on her face. ‘Oh? This is how it all started?’
‘Mmhmm.’
‘I see,’ she says, looking down at her nails, not hiding her smile in the slightest. ‘What happened then?’
I pause for dramatic effect, enjoying dragging it out. ‘We hung out.’
‘And …?’ she probes.
Anya clears her throat impatiently. ‘Details, woman!’
‘We had a drink, talked a bit, then he invited me to a party he and his friends were going to.’
‘Oh my God!’ She twists in her seat, basically rocking back and forth with excitement.
‘So you went?’
‘Nah, I had better plans,’ I retort sarcastically, smiling playfully at her. ‘Of course I went. You don’t turn down an offer like that from a guy who looks like him.’
‘Touché.’ She nods in agreement. ‘How was the party?’