Page 15 of Love, Academically
Becoming increasingly frustrated, Rhys headed outside and took a long look around.
She was definitely at work today, it was a Wednesday and she’d been in her office when he’d passed it that morning on the way to a lecture.
He stalked toward the middle of campus. Where was she? The university was nice at this time of year, fresh and crisp, hopeful and clear, full of new undergrads and dreams. But Rhys didn’t see any of that as he stormed past the Engineering Department, sweeping his eyes across the lake on his left. A lone figure sat at the other side of the water, and Rhys would recognise that blonde hair, barely kept back in its bun, anywhere.
Finally, Lila. Her sky-blue coat bright against the dull autumn mist.
Rhys wished he’d brought his jacket as he strode around the lake towards her, because being outside for longer than three minutes on this dreary day was chilling his bones. Why was she out here by herself staring into nothing? And why did she look so morose, so lost? He slowed his steps.
Should he ask her? Should he comfort her?
Yes, they’d spent a few hours last Friday night being ‘friends’, if you could put it that way, but they weren’trealfriends, and he certainly wasn’t qualified to offer any help, unless she was contemplating Richard I’s capture in Austria.
But he should check that she was okay before he asked for a favour. That’s what people did. But it wasn’t a favour though, it was her end of the bargain, her part of the deal.
“Hey,” he said, when he was close enough. “What are you doing out here by yourself?”
He was more brusque than he would have liked, but it was chilly without his jacket and he was scouting outside like a truffle pig.
Lila turned, her usually playful eyes hollow and dull. When she saw who it was, she plastered a smile on her face, but Rhys wasn’t fooled. He may not be great at reading people, but he’d seen… yes, despair.
“Oh, hey Rhys, what are you doing here?” she asked, shufflingup to make room for him. He eyed the old wooden bench carefully, before perching in a space that looked the least damp.
“Looking for you,” he said.
Lila had chosen a good spot. It was nice out there with the ducks paddling lazily, away from the bustling university.
“What do you need? I’m due back at two, but I can help now if it’s urgent,” she said, all signs of sadness gone.
“Oh, no, nothing work-wise.” He paused. This stuff really was not his forte. What would Dan do? Dan would ask. “What’s wrong? You don’t look very happy.”
“It’s nothing, it’s just I always start questioning my life choices when I see Jason.” Lila sighed and her shoulders slumped. Definitely not happy. “I’ll be all right in a couple of days.”
He’d asked what was wrong, and she’d told him, but Rhys had absolutely no idea what to do with the information. He nodded.
“Anyway, if it’s not work, what do you need me for?” she asked, her real smile back. How did she pull that brightness from the depth of her soul when she was feeling so down?
“Uh, well, I’ve got this thing coming up and I,” he hesitated, “well, I need a girlfriend, and since I was your boyfriend last Friday…” Rhys trailed off. This was harder than he thought it would be. Why was he nervous? It wasn’t like he was asking her out for real, this was just her ‘anything’ part of the bargain.
“Oh, right! Yes, I can do that, you just tell me when and where.” She smiled warmly, putting him at ease. “What kind of thing is it?”
“It’s dinner and drinks with my family.” Rhys swallowed, trying to keep the distaste from his face. It’s not that he didn’t like his family, it was more that he didn’t want to socialise with them. Actually, not the family, it was just his father. And Seren.
“There’s a story there, and I can’t wait to hear it.” Lila checked her watch and stood up, eyeing him shrewdly. “Walk back with me?”
Rhys was chilly and set a brisk pace, forcing Lila to hurry to keep up.
“So,” she prompted, “why do you need a fake girlfriend for family dinner? I’m sure someone would love to go out with you, for real.”
He shot a look at her, wondering if she was making fun of him, but her eyes were fixed on the damp ground. It had been a long while since he’d had a real date, not just a quick roll in bed to release some frustration.
Thinking of an excuse was taking too long.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not a big fan of people,” he said wryly. “I find it hard to trust, especially with—” He cut himself off with a snap of his jaw. She’d have to find out sooner or later anyway, he was just so used to hiding this part of himself. He didn’t want to be tarred withthatparticular family brush. People treated him differently when they found out he had money. Or, at least, his family had money and were (there was no sugar-coating it) extremely influential.
“Especially with what?” she said, waiting patiently for him. It was nearly a minute before she huffed dramatically. “Good lord, Rhys, it’s like trying to do origami with tissue paper.”
What did that mean? He looked at her blankly.
