Love Isn't Complicated, People Are

Chapter Nine

Violet drives me to class and I pretend that what she said earlier doesn't bother me.

"Bye. Text me after and I'll come get you. No reason to get your jerk of a dad here." She smiles at me.

"Thanks Vi. I love you." I smile back at her getting out of the car.

"Love ya too," I close the car door and turn to the building. "Hey!" I turn to her car. She rolled down her window. "Get lucky!" And then she's speeding away. My smile widens and I shake my head before heading to class. Someone falls into step with me. I look over. It's Tall, Blonde, and Gorgeous.

"Can I help you?" I say icily.

"Okay, I realize I was kind of a jerk the other day. I was going to apologize yesterday but you weren't here." I was just about to correct him when I realized that I was there. Just sleeping in Ben's office. I let him continue. "Come on, please don't be mad at me." He widens his eyes and sticks out his bottom lip in his best puppy dog face.

I groan. "Oh, alright. I'm not mad anymore. You're forgiven." I smile at him and he opens the front door for me. "Thanks."

"No prob," He replies following me. "Suh, hey. I was wondering. Did you wanna grab some coffee after class? I know this great joint just up the street."

I look over at him, startled. "Oh. Um, I'm not sure if I have something to do today. Can I text some people and let you know after class?"

He grins. "That's not a no. I'll take it." We get onto the elevator together and stand in silence. Until he speaks. "So, what made you take this class?"

I shrug. "I've always been kind of interested in Psychology. I didn't have the chance to take it in high school so I thought why not?" Sort of a lie, since I'm still in high school. But I'm a senior so I don't have any time left to take it since I'm all about academics. "How about you?"

Tate smiles. "I just thought it'd be fun. I'm only taking college classes to hold off on taking over the Family Business since I'm kinda young and people freak about it."

"Family Business?" I raise my eyebrows and the elevator doors open and we step out.

He nods as we turn the corner. "Yup. Been in our family for generations. My sister is taking care of it right now but she's not really into it."

"Ah," I say. "Not really sure how to reply."

He opens the classroom door for me and I again, thank him. Again he replies, "No problem."

We walk down the aisle and I debate on where to sit. "Hey, come sit by me." He sits in the front row. He's being very nice. Ben isn't in the classroom. I wonder what their problem is. I decide to ask. I sit next to Tate and pull out my notebook.

"Hey. Can I ask you something? And can I get a straight answer?"

*BEN'S P.O.V.*

I come to the teachers entrance for my classroom and stop short when I hear Aden's voice. "And can I get a straight answer?"

I recognize the voice immediately. Tate. "Yeah, I guess." He sounds wary.

"What's up between you and Dr. Harmon?" I can hear the curiosity in her voice.

"Well, that's hard to explain. We've known each other for a long time. I'm just very suspicious of him. All alone in that big house without his wife." I can just imagine the "I'm better than you" look on his face.

"Oh," I hear the tension in her voice. "You're that close to him?"

"Well, I'm closer to his wife." I roll my eyes. Yeah, close.