"Thanks."
A cup of coffee later and he had given me the dorm number of where she was staying.
"I'll see you later," I told him as he dug into his second bowl of cereal.
"Later," he said with a mouthful of food.
The dorms were close by so I walked. It would also give me some time to prepare before I saw her again.
This is not a good idea, I reminded myself but I ignored my own warning.
Something beyond what I understood drove me forward.I'm just making sure she got back to her dorm safe. It was a blatant lie. The truth was I wanted to see her again and I couldn't explain why.
Slater had told me she was rooming with Jordan so I knew I wouldn't be getting a friendly reception if Jordan answered the door. Surprisingly Slater had never met her before. It was a good thing because his reputation was as bad as mine so she would detest him as much as she did me.
I took the stairs to the second floor. A couple of girls passed me on the way and gave me inviting smiles. I nodded politely but I was only there to see one girl.
I searched for the right room as I walked with my hands shoved into the front pockets of my jeans. There was no mistaking the tightening in my stomach. I was nervous. It wasn't a feeling I liked at all.
A few doors down I found the right room number and knocked. Jordan answered with a glare.
"Whoever you're looking for isn't here," she said with her usual hostility she always showed when dealing with me.
I looked over her shoulder and found Taylor sitting on her bed with an open book in her hands, looking a little surprised to see me. Her blue eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly open.
My visit was unexpected. Most girls would be fawning over me, but she looked like she would rather be anywhere else but here. She blushed at my direct gaze and Jordan noticed. She stepped back and looked between us.
Jordan's reaction told me that Taylor hadn't told her about last night. It confirmed that she was embarrassed and that did nothing for my growing feelings of inadequacy when it came to her. She didn't do anything like other girls, which made me feel like I was out of my depth.
See, she's fine,I told myself.You can leave now.But I didn't move.
Taylor stood and dropped the book onto her bed. She walked over to the door and her roommate moved back. She paused in front of me. Our eyes met for a moment before she stepped past me. I followed her down the passageway. She was probably looking for somewhere more private to talk.
A few girls walked by us as I trailed her but my full concentration was on her and the other girls passed in a blur without any acknowledgement from me. Taylor opened the door to the stairway and I followed in behind her. The door closed behind me as we faced each other.