Page 19 of Only With You

“Oh, he won’t say no. I mean, look at me, of course he’s going to say yes.” She sounds so self-assured.

I smile, but it slips when Professor Roberts walks in the room and sets his bag down next to the podium.

He was my professor the first time I took Calculus II and why I failed so miserably.

Everyone simultaneously looks at each other, probably wondering like me why he’s here and not Ellis.

“Professor Ellis will be out for the rest of the semester due to a family emergency. So, I’ll be taking over.”

My heart drops and my brain struggles to register the words coming out of his mouth.

“What did he say?” I anxiously ask Bre.

“We’re fucked,” she whispers.

The optimism I was doing my best to hold onto has completely slipped from my grasp.

Without a doubt, I’m going to fail.

Professor Roberts was all over the place with his notes, and ten minutes within his lecture, I got lost.

When he finally passed the tests out, all the hope I was holding onto disintegrated. In a red, messy scrawl, a56was circled at the top of my paper.

I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do, but I’m desperate to pass and only a miracle is going to make that happen.

Pacing my room back and forth, I consider my options, but there aren’t many.

I could speak to Professor Roberts, but knowing what a pretentious asshole he is, that won’t work. He has office hours, but they’re usually at odd times, and even if they weren’t, he’s really my last resource.

He wants us to use all the available resources before going to him, and when you finally decide to go to him, he makes you feel stupid for not understanding. Just thinking of his condescending tone and belittling remarks makes my stomach knot.

My next and only other option is getting a tutor. Getting one won’t be the issue, because there are many here on campus. Theproblem is finding the right one. I’ve been through a few, and while they’re really smart, sometimes it’s hard to follow along.

They’re not even the problem. It’s me. I’m the problem.

When a formula has letters, my mind goes blank.

My grumbling stomach brings my pacing and consuming thoughts to a stop. I haven’t eaten since this morning. I’d lost all my appetite after I saw my grade and still don’t feel like eating, but my stomach grumbles again, protesting that it needs food.

As I open my door, I pause at the doorway when Polly’s voice echoes down the hall that leads to mine and Gabby’s rooms.

“Come on, she won’t say anything and he won’t either,” Polly whines.

“It’s not our business. Just let it go. And stop being so loud. Juls is probably sleeping,” Gabby chides.

“Aren’t you curious as to why they don’t get along?” Polly counters, her voice a tad bit more quiet. “Landon hardly ever comes over, and when he does, Juls never leaves her room. And don’t get me started on what it’s like when they’re together. I don’t have to remind you both. Just look at the jar. It’s halfway full.”

“Okay…” Jagger heaves a sigh.

I shouldn’t eavesdrop. I should walk out there and pretend I didn’t hear a thing.

I never told them or anyone why we don’t like each other. I’m kind of surprised Landon didn’t tell them, considering how close he is to Polly and Gabby.

Stepping back into my room, I leave a sliver of the door cracked and hold my breath.

“She hit Roxy.”

They both gasp, but my brows knit in confusion.

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