Page 8 of Weak Side

“Perfect.” Theo looked down at me, seeming pleased with himself.

I mumbled a thank you to Angie and quickly went to the back and grabbed my keys and phone, mentally preparing myself for the awkward meeting.

I was in the middle of relishing in the cool air against my sweaty skin as I came to an abrupt stop. Theo turned around with his keys dangling in his large hand, apparently waiting for me. “Do you need a ride?”

“I really don’t think I need to be present for this meeting,” I said instead of answering him. This time, my voice held a wealth of conviction in it.

Theo’s head tilted slightly as if he were trying to figure me out. “Why is it an issue? If it gets you into a different dorm room, who cares?”

I walked over to my car, leaving Theo standing behind me with his question lingering in the air around us. “Because I’ve already tried once to change rooms. What’s the point in trying again? It’s not going to make a difference if I’m there. You’re the one who is used to getting their way. Remember? You havepullin this school.”

Another smooth chuckle left his mouth, and I centered in on his lips before looking away and putting my key into my car door and opening it. The creak of my hinges cut through the tension, and I breathed out through my nose, trying to calm down. Theo said nothing as he watched me climb into my crappy Toyota.

“Are you done with your fit?” he asked, putting one arm on top of my car and his other on the door. He leaned down and raised his eyebrows at me, waiting for my answer.

My car rumbled to life, and I nodded curtly, tucking a loose hair from my ponytail behind my ear. He tapped the top of my car twice before winking. “Good. I’ll follow you. You know where the dean’s office is, yeah?”

“Mmhm,” I said before he shut my door.

I glanced in my mirror and watched as he jogged back to his car, which, surprisingly, wasn’t some hot rod. It wasn’t nearly as old as my car, but it wasn’t anything spectacular either.

Unfurrowing my brows, I pulled out of my parking spot and prepared myself for the absolute and utter embarrassment that would soon follow after walking into Dean Chiffon's office and coming face to face with him again.

5

Theo

Coach’s carwas already parked off to the side when Claire and I arrived at the administrative center which had Dean Chiffon’s name centered on the sign in gold lettering. Claire’s door of her rusty Toyota screeched loudly as I shut mine and walked up beside her.

She carried herself well. Her determined chin was pulled up high, showing off the soft curve of her jaw. Her hands were a little shaky as she pushed a couple of loose pieces of hair away, showing off the smallest diamond studs in her ears.

“You nervous or something?” I asked, curious as to why she was so tense. Maybe it was just her personality, but when I watched her at The Bex, she seemed relaxed—and a little mesmerizing, if I were being totally honest.

When I had walked into The Bex, I spotted her before the door even shut behind me. She was talking with one of her tables after placing their food down, and there was a softness that came with her interactions. She smiled as she talked, and then she winked at the woman, and it somehow had my feet moving toward her as if they had their own agenda.

“I’m fine.”

Her answer was clipped as I opened the door for her. She walked in first, and I followed closely behind. Coach’s gruff laugh snagged my attention, and I suddenly took the lead, letting Claire follow me the rest of the way.

I rapped my knuckles on the dean’s open door, and both men turned their attention to me, faces lighting up like a scoreboard. “Theo. Come on in. Coach Lennon just sat down. We were talking about the schedule of games this year.”

“Ah, yeah. It’s going to be tough, but I’m confident.”

The wrinkles along the dean’s face deepened as he laughed, but his laugh quickly faded when Claire stepped in behind me. Her chin was tilted down, and her eyes were locked on the shiny floor. I switched my attention back and forth between her and the dean, and my thoughts began spinning.

Did it suddenly just get cold in here?

My question was, who had the vendetta with who and why?

“Claire.” The dean nodded to her, and her lips smashed together as her arms crossed over her chest. I took note that she stayed by the door instead of sitting down beside me in the other chair at the foot of his desk.

“So,” Coach started, “the reason I called for the meeting is because there has been a little bit of a mix-up.”

“A mix-up?” the dean asked, glancing at me for a moment before moving back to Coach.

I leaned forward and took charge. “Admissions messed up Claire’s name, and they have her as my roommate in Dorothy Hall.”

“Ah.” Dean Chiffon placed his elbows on his tidy desk and steepled his fingers together. “Yes. I am aware of the issue. I hadn’t realized it was your room, Theo.”

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