Page 43 of Kings of the Campus

As we revel in our victory, I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come. The holiday season feels brighter than ever, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like things are finally starting to fall into place.

Now if I could just get through my last two finals in one piece…

I spend the remainder of the time before the finals feverishly studying, trying to cram as much information into my head as possible.

Jace and Alec tease me about it, since they know that I get the best grades in the frat. I’m not very open about the fact that I’m a good student, preferring to hide behind my jokester persona but with all the time we’ve spent together this year, it hasn’t escaped their notice.

Still, even with everything going on, I can’t help but think about Tessa. We’ve agreed to stop going after her, stop messing with her, and forget about her, but I can’t help that my thoughts turn to her from time to time.

She’s been such a big part of this semester that it feels strange now that she’s no longer around. Part of me wants to talk to her but she’s been avoiding us, and I don’t want to upset the tentative ceasefire we’ve got going on.

So instead I focus on acing my finals and finishing out the semester strong. I’m just walking back from my last one when I end up near Tessa’s dorm. I consider going to knock on her door, just to share the news of the competition.

I dither for a moment, noticing how dark it’s gotten outside. It’s been getting dark earlier and earlier and it’s only four in the afternoon, but it looks like it’s nearly ten at night. I walk forward, picking up the courage to go talk to her when I notice a dark figure loitering near the steps up to the rooms.

My brow furrows. Is that Tessa? What’s she doing lurking around in the dark? I step forward but the figure seems to vanish from sight almost instantly, as though they sensed my presence.

I feel confusion and unease settle over me. Something weird is going on with Tessa lately. Maybe I should go talk to her, just to clear the air.

But then I remember the talk I had with Matteo, and how we discussed seeing things from her perspective. Approaching hernow might be a bad idea. She’s probably still angry with us and she doesn’t owe us anything.

I decide to keep walking, despite the lingering ache in my chest as I turn away. Maybe someday we can be friends again, but today probably isn’t the day for that.

I wonder if things will ever get better between us.

26

ALEC

It’s been days since the Coffee and Cocoa kickoff event, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Tessa since then. Despite my best attempts to ignore it, I can’t shake the feeling of guilt that’s been creeping over me. I keep seeing her face, and the hurt in her eyes and it’s been eating at me.

I might feel guilty for hurting her, but I have to admit I’m relieved that she’s backed off, finally. Still, I probably ought to talk to her at some point, just to make sure she isn’t going to retaliate against us.

As I walk across campus I spot Tessa ahead of me, moving quickly. I call out to her but it’s as though she doesn’t hear me, and she moves faster.

I quicken my pace, determined not to let this opportunity slip away. As I approach, I see her glance over her shoulder, clearly spotting me. She tries to change direction, but I’m faster. I catch up with her and gently block her path.

“Hey, Tessa,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Can we talk for a minute?”

Her eyes widen in surprise, and I can see the tension in her shoulders. “What’s this about, Alec?”

I swallow, feeling the weight of what I’m about to say. “Look, I know we’ve had our issues so maybe it’s best if we just stop antagonizing each other. What if we just both agree to walk away and stop this back-and-forth game-playing shit?”

Her expression softens slightly, and I notice the guarded look in her eyes. She nods slowly. “Alright. If that’s what you think is best, then I agree.”

Her quick acceptance surprises me. I fully expected more resistance, a confrontation, even, but she seems genuinely willing to agree to a ceasefire. As she turns to walk away, I can’t shake the uneasy feeling that settles in my chest.

I’m relieved, but the ease with which she agreed gnaws at me. I can’t help but wonder if there’s something she’s not telling me, or if she’s simply resigned to the way things are.

I head back to the frat house, still feeling a twinge of unease. I need to talk to Jace about all this.

As I walk inside, I spot him lounging in the common room, flipping through Netflix. He glances up when I enter, a lazy smile on his face.

“Hey, Alec. What’s up?” Jace asks, tossing the remote aside.

I drop into a chair opposite him, tapping my fingers on my knees. “I just talked to Tessa. She and I agreed to drop the messing around. It was almost too easy to get her to agree, as a matter of fact.”

Jace raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of mild confusion. “What do you mean? We wanted her to leave us alone. Isn’t that what we’ve been aiming for?”

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