Chapter 16
I could finally contact IK! My new laptop had been delivered.
I had just enough time to download COTSA and respond to his message about meeting tomorrow for the final rare boss battle in the Shadows of Forgotten Lords quest. I had to leave for class soon.
It would be my last chance. My plan was to meet him under the willow afterwards, give him the Dragon’s Eye opal, and ask him if he wanted to video call.
The classroom wasn’t even half full when I found a seat. I settled in, readying my supplies, but dropped my pen in my haste. As I leaned over to pick up it up, my fingers brushed against a larger hand. Once my hand grasped the pen, fire spread from my fingers and up my arm.
I lifted my gaze but stopped when I recognized the square chin and lush lips. I swallowed hard, unable to meet his eyes. “Do you mind if I sit next to you?” Ni asked. “I brought a peace offering.” He set a grape soda on the table between us. He remembered.
Ugh. I was a terrible person. No better than all the guys I blamed for only caring about looks.
Ni wasn’t a bad guy, just the opposite, and he didn’t really know anyone in these classes either.
I was sure he was just drawn to a familiar face.
Though I had plans to take my relationship with IK to the next level it didn’t mean I couldn’t be friends with Ni.
I just had to control my reaction to him.
I could appreciate a well-crafted game for its aesthetic beauty, so why not a person?
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Sure.”
With Ni sitting next to me, seeking me out, the classroom talk, which I could normally tune out, seemed to be all about him.
Apparently, he was the first freshman in years to have plenty of field time as the quarterback.
His football skills, in addition to his looks and his kindness, would make him a target of every girl that ever existed.
From what I’d seen so far, he treated college girls as he had those in high school.
If they gave him little presents or love letters, he’d politely refused them.
I would have thought he was gay, except I’d also seen him reject—just as graciously—those advances as well.
Which left him with tons of friends. And I was left in a quandary.
The TA called the class to attention, made announcements, and called the roll while I ruminated on the problem.
How could I have such a strong physical reaction to two different guys?
I was seeing my dad’s worst traits rearing up inside me.
Was I really like him? Just as easily misled from my true feelings by a pretty face?
I mean, Ni was more than just a pretty face, but he wasn’t right for me.
How long would it take before I too fell into temptation? Not that Ni would acknowledge my feelings. I would be respectfully rebuffed, just as hundreds of others had been. But I would know that I hadn’t been true to IK.
It all came down to choice. I had decided to put my efforts into a relationship with IK.
I turned my attention back to the teacher.
The information covered was always in a document on the class page, but sometimes it was explained differently during class.
So I still wrote down the important things the teacher said.
I compared the two guys as I wrote my notes.
Both IK and Ni were kind and thoughtful. Both had forceful personalities without being abrasive—just commanding. IK knew my deepest, darkest secrets and accepted me for them. Ni was undeniably attractive, but I didn’t know what IK looked like. And there was the rub.
I knew how I could solve that dilemma, and I felt the pressure building for our meeting tomorrow.
Dare I call it a date? Maybe IK didn’t want to.
That would be ironic if I were in RogueStriker’s shoes.
Though I wouldn’t behave as childishly as he had.
My teacher continued his breakneck pace as if he could never cover everything unless he talked a mile a minute.
Good thing I was used to it. I wasn’t sure I’d written down everything, distracted as I was by my thoughts about meeting IK, seeing his face, and him seeing mine.
I looked down at myself. I had gotten brave.
I often wore one of the pretty blouses to school instead of my worn T-shirts.
I was even wearing one of the long skirts today.
They were more feminine than my usual clothes, but they were just as comfortable and covered just as much of my legs as my jeans.
Today, I was wearing my denim jacket, but that was because of the cloudy threat of rain and not my self-consciousness.
I swallowed as I thought of meeting IK for real—in person.
Could I do it? Would I like him if I did, or would I discover that I really was a shallow person?
And would he like me? I had untamable, frizzy red hair.
My eyes were too big and set too wide for my face.
Every inch of me was covered with freckles, and my nose was too small.
At least my teeth were straight because I had worn braces during junior high.
I knew most guys noticed my hourglass figure, but I played it down because it embarrassed me and I didn’t want IK to like me for that. But if he met me...it wouldn’t be because of that. It would be because he was interested in who I was inside, right? Ugh.
Deep inside, I knew IK was a good person, but people had been tricked before into meeting someone they only knew online, only to end up being killed, sold into slavery, or confronted by a scumbag. My luck had been iffy lately. Nervous butterflies tried to escape up through my throat.
I listened and typed about different programming languages and their uses. A warmth spread in my chest. Just thinking about IK and meeting him had diverted me from Ni, while he was sitting right next to me. A resolve built within me.
I finally had something to focus on that could keep my reactions to Ni in check. The bell rang and I could smile at Ni as I took the soda on my way out.
The day was sunny. A cool breeze whipped a few leaves off the tall oak, and they fluttered down. The first hints of autumn in the air. A tiny brown bird flitted from the tree and off to who knew where, and I felt as if I were flying with it.
“JUST GO ALREADY,” I huffed to myself.
My irritation levels were through the roof.
I wanted to get ready and calm myself. Tonight was the non-date with IK where we faced off with the final boss of the quest before I spilled my guts.
Instead, the room looked as if a tornado had come through.
Things were still flying—the heavy stuff falling to the floor with a thump while the gauzy light clothing floated softly down like colorful leaves.
Charisse was an impossible mess to live with, and I couldn’t wait ‘til I had my own room.
That is, if we could evict the dragon from the premises.
As much as she complained about having to live with us, I think she enjoyed being able to make our lives miserable in such an intimate way.
I swear Stephanie was dragging out her escrow and laughing about it.
Charisse slunk out of the room, making wounded noises, dramatic until the end, and slammed the door behind her.
We’d make up later. I cleared a path to my desk.
I would have more sympathy if she actually liked this guy, and this hadn’t been the fiftieth first date she’d gone on.
She tore through the guys at the school as if she wanted to date every single one of them before the end of her freshman year.
Yet she acted this way every time. Which brought me right back around to wanting my own room.
Stephanie’s house was set to close by the end of September. Not much longer now.
I tossed things aside so I wouldn’t step on them.
I had learned quickly that as much as I loved Charisse, she was good in small doses—otherwise I went insane.
Case in point. I’d apologize to Charisse when she got back.
I just didn’t have the real estate in my mind right now.
First, there was the fact I was about to take on one of the rarest and strongest bosses in the game.
Not to mention I had a gift to give IK, and I needed to reveal my feelings to him tonight.
I was ready to burst; I just didn’t have time for her theatrics.
I took a deep breath, then a second, then a third, and imagined standing with IK under our willow tree, just talking about whatever came to mind.
And peace entered my soul. I opened my eyes and looked around.
Quickly I cleared my desk and the space under my bed of all clutter, putting papers in drawers and throwing away wrappers.
I set aside a bag of chips and my favorite grape soda for a snack later.
I had even done some eye makeup and shimmery colored lip balm, not that Charisse had noticed my own preparations.
I straightened the pretty peach blouse with bows tied at the sleeves and the blue skirt with white and peach flowers.
The clothes were more comfortable than my jeans for sitting for long periods, but not as comfy as the T-shirt and leggings I longed for.
I scolded myself for dressing up. It wasn’t like IK was going to want to meet immediately, tonight.
But what if he did, and what if I had to stand up during the video call?