Page 12 of Good Girl

I waved her off with a polite smile and tucked my ankles together. No way in hell would I ever trust Paul with buying my food, and Haley’s excuse for him just seemed weak. After the stress of shopping and now facing down Paul, I just wanted to go home.

Home to my bed where I could let the dreams of Derek soothe me to sleep.

6

CHARLOTTE

Two days later, my confidence in Haley’s stylistic advice hadn’t strengthened.

Sitting in class, the jeans clung to my legs like a second skin and every shift of my ass on the chair seemed to drive the button a little deeper into my stomach. My feelings on the halter tops weren’t much better as my arms tingled with the anxiety of being on display more than usual. While the brighter colors were a nice change, every time I caught a glimpse of someone staring at me, I couldn’t stop the prickling flushes of heat that would wash over my shoulders and cascade down my spine.

Haley seemed none the wiser to my discomfort. She was relaxed back in her seat, chewing gum, her empty notepad in front of her void of any notes, and most of her attention was fixated on Derek Hansen at the front of the class as he gave his lecture.

Her eyes were narrowed, shooting daggers down the rows, and every so often, she would sigh dramatically and switch which leg was crossed.

Sure, her fixation was based on hatred and irritation, but I shared that fixation with Derek for my own means. Every class he taught, he exuded this aura of complete, calm control. There was rarely any rowdiness in class, and with a few simple questions, he could get other students completely engaged with him and the topic he was presenting. Most lectures were just the professor droning on and half the students intending to look it up online later.

Not here, though.

Derek could enthrall everyone.

And still, like every other class for the past week or so, helookedat me.

Sure, I was in the middle row aisle seat and sitting where the natural eye could land when giving a lecture, but that yearning part of my heart fluttered every single time he glanced my way. As class wore on and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, I entertained the idea of what he might think of my new look. He was dressed so smartly today in a charcoal grey shirt with the top few buttons undone. His black pressed slacks were neat and smooth, flowing as he strode over the stage delivering his points in that forever calm, gravelly voice of his.

And just like the first day I had seen him, a curl had escaped his neatly styled hair and brushed over his forehead with the same excitement as his hands while he talked. He seemed so at ease and completely comfortable, stylish enough that I had to reason he would like Haley’s changes. If anyone knew fashion, it was her.

“Charlotte,” Haley hissed suddenly, and I flinched slightly at the unexpected noise. I glanced over to her and her daggers were now fixated on me. My heart sank.

“What?”

“Stopfidgeting,” she snapped. “I swear, I can’t think with how loud you make that chair creak!”

My heart leaped painfully into my throat, and warmth rushed over me from head to toe as if Haley had just dumped a bucket of scalding water on my head.

“I’m sorry,” was the only thing I could think to whisper back.

Haley rolled her eyes and slumped back in her chair, returning her attention to the front of the hall. I did the same, but my focus on Derek and the lesson he was giving had melted into nothing. Did everyone else around me share the same irritation Haley had? Was I really causing such a racket with my shifts? The urge to move suddenly grew hot and urgent in my legs, but I fought against it. There was no way I was going to draw further attention to myself.

By the time the bell rang signaling the end of class, I was anxious and desperate to get back to my dorm room. Haley gathered her items quickly, shoved them into her bag, and stomped away without a word. Logically, I knew her irritation had nothing to do with me and it was likely because of Paul or something else, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. I was always taking the brunt of her bad moods, and today, when I was already feeling uncomfortable, it just heightened everything.

“Miss Lark?”

I froze, my notepad shoved halfway into my bag as that smooth, calm voice drifted up the steps to meet me.

Derek Hansen was talking to me.

Tome?

I turned and glanced down the lecture hall as it emptied to see Derek halfway up the steps, a light smile on his lips.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Would you mind staying behind for a moment?” His handsome face didn’t betray a single hint as to why he would want me to stay behind, but already, my mind was running with possible reasons.

“Sure.” I nodded, and Derek’s smile widened a fraction, then he turned and headed back down to the stage.

Had my movements beenthatdisrupting? Such a thought was so intensely humiliating that I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me forever. Maybe I’d done badly on a test or my grade was no longer high enough to stay in this class. As I finished packing up my stuff, I realized I couldn’t even remember what my grade was.

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