Of Roses and Thorns

Chapter 4 - A Way Forward

 It was hopeless.

Utterly hopeless.

Cristen looked around, trying to see if she could spot Aiden's head again.

Alas. It was gone.

This was the third time she'd tried to talk to him.

Obviously, it wasn't working.

That guy is impossible to follow.

It was Monday and all her efforts were failing. Over the weekend, Aiden had been no where in sight. And when she had tried to talk to him today, he had told her, none too nicely, to go away. And when she'd tried to catch up with him today, he had lost her with a skill a getaway driver would be proud of.

Again.

She checked the halls once more, before trudging back to her dorm. Slamming the door shut behind her, she collapsed onto her bed, closing her eyes against the building frustration.

This was a mess.

Maybe she should just give up—do the project by herself.

But displeasure welled inside her at the thought. She was not one to give up easily. And doing the project herself would be giving up. It would be letting Aiden win.

Really was it that difficult for him to just work with her?

Apparently it was.

If he doesn't want to work with me, fine. He doesn't have to.

I'll just tell Professor Finch or Professor Grant that he's refusing to help.

Yeah.

That'll work.

She lifted her head from where it was smooshed on her bed and her gaze landed on her nightstand. Her bible sat there.

Maybe she needed some of that.

After all, she currently felt about as peaceful and encouraged as an ant stuck in a swimming pool.

She grabbed the Bible, opening it up to her bookmarked spot and trying to take in the words. She was in the middle of Matthew, reading about Jesus and His disciples. Her eyes scanned the page, and she tried to let restoration soak into her bones.

It wasn't working.

She leaned her head back against the wall her bed was up against. The peace she often felt while reading God's word was not there.

When in doubt, talk it out.

Yes, she'd just made up that saying, but honestly it belonged on a t-shirt. So many problems in romance novels could be avoided if the characters simply followed that mindset. Perhaps she should become a couples therapist.

Oh, no. She'd suck at that.

Bowing her head, she massaged her temples.

Lord, help.

I need a good grade for this project, but I don't want to do it by myself. I also don't want to do it with Aiden, but I have to.

If that means I need to go to my professors, help me have the right words to explain what's wrong. Or give Aiden a change of heart. I'm not sure why he's so reluctant to work with me, but I need his help.

Since You can't give me a way out of this, can You at least give me a way forward?

A way forward was really what she needed.