Vienna

chapter seventeen

It was Tuesday morning and I was backing up my backpack after another torturous hour of Calculus. I made my way to the front, wanting to ask my teacher a question about the upcoming test.

"One more bad test grade and your grade will drop to a D," Mrs. Marshall speaks in a low voice to the tall, dark-haired student standing in front of her desk.

The boy in front of me lets out a defeated sigh. "I know. I'm trying, I swear."

"I don't know what happened, Nathan," my eyes widen, realizing who the person in front of me is. "You did so well on that test two weeks ago, but your grade just dropped back down on this last one," our teacher finishes.

I realize it seems like I am eavesdropping so I make a move for the door, deciding to just ask my question over email.

Nathan notices my presence as I walk past him, and seems to drops his head in embarrassment at being overheard. Trying to avoid the awkwardness, I hurry out of the room and head to my locker.

Before I can reach my locker, I hear a pair of footsteps hurrying in my direction.

"Gray! Gray, wait up!" 

I stop in my steps and hesitantly turn around, just to make eye contact with those green eyes that seem to be everywhere lately.

"What's up?" I plaster on my fakest smile.

Nathan gives me an amused look, seeing right through my fake charm. "I know you were eavesdropping back there," he huffs with a knowing look.

"I was not eavesdropping!" I defend myself and cross my arms over my chest.

"Sure," he says sarcastically.

I give him a hard glare and turn to walk away from him. But before I can take a single step, a hand on my shoulder stops me and turns me back around.

"What?" I huff.

"Look," he starts sheepishly. Wow, I didn't know Nathan Cole could get embarrassed by anything. I thought his ego was too big for that.

I chuckle at my thoughts, earning myself a weird look from Nathan.

"I know you heard what Mrs. Marshall was talking to me about back there," he says, the knowing look plastered on his face yet again.

I stare at him blanking, waiting for him to go on, but he doesn't.

"Are you really gonna make me ask?" he asks me impatiently, moving a piece of his wavy dark hair out from in front of his eyes.

"Ask what?" I say, playing dumb. Me having the control over Nathan for once? Oh, I'm gonna like this.

He narrows those damn eyes at me. "I got a B on that test after you explained your notes to me," he says simply, without continuing.

"You're welcome," I shrug and start to turn towards my locker again.

"Gray!" he says, stopping me from leaving. "If I fail this test on Friday, I don't know if I'll pass her class," he says almost pleadingly.

"Not my problem."

Nathan lets out a frustrated sigh, "Are you always this stubborn?"

"Nuh uh," I tsk. "That is no way to talk to someone who you are trying to ask for a favor from," I tell him sharply, letting my eyes run down his body momentarily.

The white shirt he's wearing clings annoyingly to his toned body, and his muscles were clearly visible through the thin material of it. My eyes take a moment to make their way back up to his face because of his towering height. He has to be at least 6'2", 6'3". Why did God waste such a physically attractive body on such a sour personality?