Lasting Stars (Stars Series #2)

2

I'm sitting in my American History class when he sits down next to me, making me jump.

"Jordan!" I whisper loudly. "Don't do that!" I say and slap his shoulder.

He smirks. "Don't be so annoyed, Blondie," his big white smile taunts me. "Thanks for saving my ass on Halloween."

I roll my eyes. "I didn't save you, I let you sleep and not die."

He mockingly touches his chest with a gasp.

I just glare at him as the professor enters the room, beginning class and to my dismay, Jordan doesn't leave from the seat next to me.

Today we are learning about US presidents which it's a little boring since, well, everyone knows about presidents. Or at least those who live in the US.

The professor begins to introduce a project and I'm not too worried about it until he says his next statement,

"The person you will be working with is the person who is sitting closest to you. I see we have more than a few people sitting next to each other so I will pair you up."

I look down my row, and by seeing no one else there I tensely look back at Jordan who snickers. "Looks like you're stuck with me Blondie."

The class period ends and I immediately get up and start walking out the door. "Daphne!" A voice calls.

I look back and see Jana rushing toward me. Ugh. Why didn't I sit next to Jana today? The project would have been so much easier if I did that.

"Who did you get?" She asks.

I make a face. "Jordan."

Her eyebrows scrunched together. "But you don't like-"

I nod. "I know, I know. He ended up next to me today and of course this was the day it had to be."

She gives me a sympathetic frown. "I'm sorry, but you'll do fine. Even if he's an ass and doesn't help, you'll be good."

I smile. "Thanks Jana. See you in Trig?"

She nods and runs off to her group of friends as well as looping her arm in her boyfriend Mark's.

TTTTTTTT

"You're joking," Ash says, her mouth open.

I turn my head to her. "Nope, not kidding."

"He won't do anything." Ash says. Ash is very good with school. Always gets her work done before the due date and I always have to call Derek to make her stop. She likes to be prepared which is one of the many things I love having as a roommate because most of the time, I can be the opposite.

I nod. "Yep, I'll be doing this project by myself."

Her phone buzzes and she checks it with a smile. Knowing who it is, I make a small smile and look back down at my English notes.

Derek arrives about twenty minutes later. As always, I watch as his eyes light up upon seeing Ash. Come to think of it, Brooks never looked at me like that. You can clearly tell how much Derek loves Ash and I guess with Brooks I just didn't see it until now.

I'm happy for them, I really am. It just makes me wish I could have something like that someday. They have been dating for almost a year now and as time goes on they seem to just fall in love even more everyday.

I decide to leave them alone and go get some food. I'm not in the mood to tease Ash or Derek on their relationship so I take myself to the dining hall.

When entering the dining hall, there's lots of people. I say hello to some people I know and go to get my food. I take a seat with some friends I know from classes.

Kam and Allie are some people I met through my first political studies class last year. The three of us are all studying political science and would like to work in government someday.

"Hey Daphne?" Allie asks, flipping her red hair over her shoulder. Her eyes seem to look at something behind me but I don't need to look back to know what she's looking at.

"Yes?" I ask.

Her blue eyes fondly look at the thing behind me. "Do you know if Jordan will be at the party this weekend?" Of course she would ask that. As if I would know Jordan's daily schedule.

I fight now to roll my eyes. "Not sure what party you are talking about but why don't you ask him yourself." I offer. "He's right over there." I say and point to Jordan who looks like he is trying to flirt with this girl who seems to have an equal interest.

He pushes a hand through his blonde hair and that million dollar smile of his almost makes that voice in my head reconsider my grudge against him. But I listen to my rational side and turn my eyes away.

Allie glares at me. "You're his cousin's roommate. You know him better than me."

I scoff. "Contrary to what you might think, I don't like Jordan and don't plan on liking him or being friends with him any time soon."

Kam looks back at Jordan. "Jana told me he is your partner for a project." She says.

That's when it's my turn to roll my eyes. "I'm planning on just doing it by myself because do you think pretty boy is gonna do a project?" I challenge. "Yeah, I don't think so."

Allie shrugs and her eyes move back to Jordan. Her eyes then widen and her jaw drops open. I turn to see what she's so shocked about but then realize it's because Jordan is walking toward us, eyes locked on me.

"Blondie," he says, placing his hands flat on the table leaning down to lock eyes with me. His eyes track around the table at Kam and Allie. "Blondie's friends," he greets.

I glare up at him. "What do you want?"

He chuckles. "You don't need to be so rude, I was just coming to say hello and want to know when we are gonna do this project."

I can't tell if he's joking with me or not. His face reads that he's clearly trying to somehow flirt me into listening to him.

"I'm not sure, I didn't know you actually wanted to try." I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

He shrugs. "I'd like to graduate next year so tomorrow, at the house, seven." He doesn't even ask it as a question.

I try and protest but he walks away before I can open my mouth. I huff and turn back to Kam and Allie. They both just stare at me.