Page 14 of The List of Things

“I’m not giving it back,” His voice is matter of fact, as are the stern features on his already structured face.

“Fine, keep the list, but if you tell anyone it’s mine I’ll deny it. I’ll see you tomorrow, now go away,” I help gather his things, and shove them in his hands.

“And this weekend for our first date.”

“I don’t do dates. Especially not with you.”

“That’s offensive,” He puts his hand on his chest like I’ve hurt him.

“Your ego will survive, I promise… If not I know a few cheerleaders who would love to stroke it back to health, which is a perfect job for them, not me, now go away so I can sleep,” I point to the door.

“Fine, but this isn’t over Hart,” He grabs his backpack from my hand, the list still in grasp.

“My name is Kamryn, and it is over. Don’t bring up the dumb list again,” I raise my eyebrows at him, knowing good and well that Bellamy Archer isn’t going to be intimidated.

“Sure,” He loosely agrees and opens my door. “Thanks again Ryn,” He winks. I close the door behind him, and press my back to it, slowly sliding down until my butt hits the cold tile flooring. This is what I get. I did it to myself.

CHAPTERFIVE

PERFECT BY ONE DIRECTION

I wentto bed early last night just so I could walk leisurely to class this morning. I’m not late. I’m actually early, for once in my life. I sit at my desk and pull at the sleeves of my sweater. I’m practically drowning in the material, but it’s warm. I tend to get cold easily, especially in these classrooms that feel more like a hospital than a learning environment.

I look over the notes in my hands, not worried at all about this final. I know I’ve got it covered, but there’s no harm in one last look. I see Vans walk past, my eyes still looking down at the paper in my hands. I know Bellamy is behind me now. He seems to always choose the desk behind me. We have never had assigned seats. There are always plenty of empty desks around the room. Despite all of that, he still chooses this specific chair every.single.day.

“How’d you sleep, Hart?” He tugs on a strand of my hair, starting to wrap it around his finger like he’s done in the past.

I take my hair, and pull it over my shoulder, making it harder for him to touch.

My mind wanders to the list he now has in his possession, and I feel embarrassment burn through me and the heat that flushes my cheeks. Luckily he can’t see me. I’ll never admit it to him, but that list hasn’t left my head since the moment he walked out of my apartment. My mind reels over what he’s thinking about that damn list.

“It would have been better if you would have given me my list back,” I tell him, keeping my head down.

“Oh yeah, about that... I was thinking about the ferry boat date first. That’s a good first date, isn’t it? You got it from Grey’s Anatomy, didn’t you?” I clench my jaw.

Don’t get angry, he’s joking around. It’s just a joke.

“Bellamy, you might have lost your mind if you think I’m going on a date with you. It’s not happening.”

He taps his pencil vigorously behind me.

“Why not?” He asks.

“You don’t get to know that. All you get to know is that the answer is no, and there’s no point in asking again because the answer won’t change,” I tell him.

The rest of the class has slowly filed in, and our professor is now standing at the front of the class, holding a stack of finals.

“At least let me plead my case. Just once, and if you say no again then that’s fine, I’ll leave it alone,” He whispers now, not wanting to draw attention.

“Fine, just shut up,” I catch his smirk before I turn back around. It would be very hard to miss at this point.

The tests come out, and my mind leaves Bellamy and turns to equations, and math. Every question feels like a breeze, my mind faltering on only a few, but coming right out of it. I work hard, and diligently for what feels like ever, but when I look up, It’s only been about 45 minutes. I check, and then double check and I’m the first one up, and out of my chair, turning my test in to Professor Gallen, and he doesn’t question it. I walk out of the class, my bag on my shoulder. I make my way down the hall, and outside, the sun hitting me as I walk down the steps of the science building.

“Kamryn!”

I clench my jaw, my eyes rolling automatically as I hear his voice calling after me. I turn slowly and face the tall football player.

“Don’t look so happy to see me,” He jokes, slowing his jog down as he meets me in the grass.

---