Inevitable (Book One)

Chapter 17

Lyla

I wake up to the annoying sound of my phone alarm going off at six in the morning. I reach out to my bedside table, squinting as I find my phone and manage to shut the sound off after several taps on the screen. I still feel tired and hesitate getting out of bed as I consider resetting my alarm for an extra hour of sleep, but I force myself out from under my covers and stand up. I drag my feet over to my dresser and pull out some workout clothes to go for a run.

By the time I finish getting dressed I start to feel myself wake up. I lace up my running shoes and manage to find and untangle my headphones by the time I reach the door and head out for my run. When I step outside, the coolness of the air makes me shiver instantly, but I enjoy this weather the most to run in. I put my headphones in and cue up my running playlist as I take my first stride off about campus.

I pass a few people on my route, majority of whom offer a small smile which I return. I smirk at what I assume is a hungover professor sauntering towards the Science building in his suit with his tie off centered and his jacket wrinkled. I make it back to my dorm and waste no time in grabbing my shower caddy and towel as I head down to the communal bathroom. It is just before seven now and there aren't too many girls occupying showers yet this early in the morning. I find an empty stall and close the curtain behind me as I hang up my belongings. I wait for the water to be steaming before I step under it and let it wash the sweat off of me. My mind drifts to last night and my date with Shawn. I smile automatically and close my eyes picturing his face in my mind, the way his eyes light up when he was talking about his classes, his voice filled with excitement. Our conversation flowed nicely and any silence was comfortable, like I'd known him considerably longer then the week I had at this point.

My eyes open when I replay our conversation at the pub and him asking me about my ex, Connor. I had completely blanked and started to panic when Shawn asked about him. I was relieved when he didn't push the subject. I can't help but feel afraid to tell him what went down with Connor last year. I don't want anything to change the way he thinks about me or interfere with how great things are going with us right now. I shut the water off and wrap my towel around me gathering all my belongings and heading back to my room. There are a few more girls in the bathroom now, standing in front of the numerous mirrors that span one wall.

I'm thankful that my dorm is female only, it's one of three on campus, then there are three male dorms and two co-ed dorms. I make it back to my room and start to get ready for the day. I pull my hair back into a bun on the top of my head and apply a bit of eye makeup. I pick out a pair of skinny jeans that have a tear in the left knee, slide a white tank top on, and grab a light blue sweater I pull over top. I make a coffee in the Keurig I keep in my room then pour it into my travel mug. As I walk out of my bedroom, I see Megan is just walking back into the room in a towel with her shower caddy in hand.

"Morning," I greet her as she closes the door behind her.

"Morning," she replies as she turns and smiles at me. "I hope you aren't pissed at me about last night," she says carefully as she watches me and braces herself for a potential lashing.

"Oh no, don't even worry about it," I tell her honestly. It is probably a good thing she opened the door when she did, I was so wrapped up in Shawn that I forgot we were in a public hallway and anyone could have seen us.

"You two seem to be hitting it off," she says slyly as she winks at me.

"Yeah, he has really surprised me so far. He is very sweet and thoughtful, not exactly what I was expecting from a hockey player," I joke as I smile to myself again when I am reminded of Shawn bringing the flowers and stuffed horse for me last night.