You’re the Reason, стр. 30

I laughed. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

She laughed. “Oh, I have it in me.”

***

I walked into History through Film Monday morning, keeping my eyes on my seat and not on Chase who was already there. I slipped into my chair and pulled out my laptop.

“So,” he said, turning his body to face me. “When are you gonna let me take you out on a real date?”

My eyes cut to his. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you say something? My underage ears didn’t quite hear you.”

He sat back and crossed his arms, a soft chuckle leaving his lips.

Professor Irons began his lecture.

I focused on him, trying to ignore Chase’s eyes boring into the side of my head for the remainder of the class.

When the professor dismissed us, I tried to get out of there as quickly as I could, but Chase caught up with me outside the building. “You trying to avoid me?”

“Yup.” I shot him a sideways glance as I kept walking toward my next class. “Friday sucked.”

“It was the only way I could keep an eye on you,” he said, keeping pace with my strides.

“You’re really starting to scare me,” I said.

“I’m not the one you need to be scared of,” he said.

“Yeah. Chantel’s pretty scary.”

A flicker of amusement lit his eyes.

“She says she has eyes everywhere,” I said. “I’d be worried about being seen with me if I were you.”

“I told you. I’m not scared of her.” His eyes grew serious. “I’m sorry it took me so long to end things.”

“You claim the two of you were never together, so…” I shrugged.

We arrived at the building where I had my next class. Chase stopped and I kept walking. “See ya,” I called as I climbed the steps, not bothering to look back.

I wouldn’t lie. Chase asking me out created that warm fuzzy feeling inside me that usually came whenever he was near. But, if he thought for one second that I’d drop everything because now he’d finally broken things off with Chantel, he didn’t know me very well.

***

On Tuesday, I arrived to Art History right on time, inwardly groaning when I spotted Chase in the seat behind mine again. The lecture hall had five hundred seats. Why did he need to sit behind me? I slipped into my seat without looking at him.

“Go out with me this weekend,” he said from behind me.

The professor began speaking, so I ignored him. Halfway through her lecture on Picasso, the girl next to me handed me a folded-up sheet of paper. I stared down at the paper then looked to her in question.

Her eyes flicked over her shoulder.

Of course.

I took the paper from her and covertly unfolded it in my lap so Chase couldn’t see over my shoulder.

Put me out of my misery and go out with me this weekend.

I fought the urge to smile, tucking the note in my bag and continuing to listen to the lecture.

He was going to have to work harder than that.

***

I arrived to History through Film right on time on Wednesday. Chase, again, was already there, playing on his phone. He didn’t glance up when I slipped into my chair.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Professor Irons said. “Today we’re going to discuss the difference between the bombing of Pearl Harbor as depicted in 2001’s Pearl Harbor and 1970’s Tora! Tora! Tora!”

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. As soon as Professor Iron’s turned to cue up the first film, I slipped my phone into my lap and peeked at the screen. I can’t be held responsible for my actions when he shuts off these lights.

I sobered my features and responded to Chase’s text. Would you like me to leave then?

The raspy sound of his chuckle carried my way, but I focused on the front of the classroom where Professor Irons had started the movie right at the bombing scene. Intense echoes of explosions and gun fire on-screen reverberated off the walls of the small classroom.

My phone buzzed again in my lap.

I fought the urge to look, keeping my eyes on the film. I knew Chase was watching, and it made it even harder to resist looking.

As Professor Irons stopped the first film and called up the next, my phone buzzed again in my lap, reminding me of my unread text.

I finally peeked at my screen.

I’m sorry things between us haven’t been easy.

Another text popped on my screen. I plan to change that.

I closed my eyes, praying for the strength to walk out of that class when we were dismissed and keep Chase Reed at arm’s length. At least until I knew for sure if he was even someone I wanted to invest time in.

He was right. Nothing about us had been easy.

My phone buzzed again.

I never should have allowed her to speak to you the way she did.

I could feel my strength wavering. I responded to his text the only way I could. Yup. You suck.

I didn’t peek over to see his reaction. And, he left me alone for the remainder of the class.

When Professor Irons dismissed us, I stood. I expected Chase to do or say something. He didn’t. I walked out into the hallway and toward the stairwell. Once I stepped outside, I realized Chase hadn’t followed me, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Was he giving up that easily?

On Thursday, Chase was back in his regular seat at the other side of the lecture hall. He didn’t pass me another note; he didn’t even acknowledge that I was there. Was he trying a new approach, or did he not like having to work so hard?

On Friday,