Love me. Choose me.

{2} Love me

"I'm serious about it," Shane said as we walked toward my blue convertible parked in the far corner of the lot.

"I know, but let me get to know him first. He seems like a good guy," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Every guy is good to you, girl," Shane chuckled, grabbing the car door handle. "I just hope you don't end up falling into Trent's trap."

I shot him a look, as if he’d been hit on the head, before sliding into the driver’s seat. Shane plopped down next to me and pulled out his phone, which had been ringing for a while.

I rummaged through my small leather wallet for my keys but couldn't find them. After searching for a few minutes, I felt a wave of frustration. Shane finished his call and turned to me, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement.

"I can't find my keys," I blurted out, my eyes darting in worry. "I knew I had them here."

Shane rolled his eyes. "What if you dropped them while you were drooling?"

"Very funny, Sha—" I shot him a serious look, then hit my hand on the steering wheel with a sigh. "Let’s go back and look for them."

Shane burst into laughter and then tossed the keys at me. "I just saved your life. I saw your keys lying flat on the floor while you were daydreaming."

I scowled at him. "I don’t know why you’re so annoying. Someday, I might trade you for candy." I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the driveway, turning on the music, which filled the car with a sense of calm.

"Call You Mine" by The Chainsmokers played softly.

As I drove down the road, an absolute silence enveloped us. Shane was busy with his phone, probably playing a game. I focused on the road, humming along to the music and tapping my fingers against the steering wheel.

By the time I pulled into the campus driveway, boredom was sinking in. "Oh, we're finally here," Shane mumbled, looking up from his phone to see my frazzled face.

"Don't do that again," I said slowly.

He gave me an innocent look. "Do what?"

"You were quiet throughout the ride." Grabbing my bag from the back seat, I slammed the door. "Sometimes your chattering is needed."

He shrugged. "Yes, ma'am. See you tomorrow."

As Shane walked away toward a group of guys in the parking lot, I made my way through the chilly hallway, hurrying back to my dorm. The sea of students flooding the quad made it challenging to navigate as I squeezed my slender frame through the maze of diverse dorm mates.

The building loomed overhead, its solid beige bricks adorned with green accents that contrasted with the dull gray sky. Inside, the high ceilings and bustling atmosphere buzzed with energy—an excitement I would have relished if I weren’t in a hurry to review my course list and outlines.

Finally, I reached my dorm, pushing open the door and collapsing onto my bed with a relieved sigh. Could my day get any better? After leaving a place full of glorious mysteries and joie de vivre, I found myself in a college my mom had idolized.

I was assigned to one of the on-campus dorms with a roommate who was an oddball, obsessed with everything dark and rarely spoke. When she did manage to say something, I often needed a dictionary to understand her.

Her face was perpetually buried in a book, reading as if her life depended on it, and she cleaned her side of the room every hour. I wasn’t getting good vibes from her; in fact, her side looked like a vampire lair.

Going through my schedule, I checked off the last item:

Math 101 class at 4 PM ✓

My gaze drifted to the clock, realizing I had forty minutes before class started, so I decided to take a quick nap.

My phone buzzed nearby, alerting me to an unexpected call. I picked it up and checked the caller ID, but it wasn’t saved in my contacts.

"Hello, Noelle. This is Trent. I was wondering if you’re free. We should hang out."

"Hey," I replied, my cheeks flushing red as I jumped to my feet, trying not to sound too eager. Deep down, I felt like I was on cloud nine. "I’m actually in the middle of a quick nap before my evening class, so I don’t think I can make it."

"Come on, babe. I promise I won’t stress you too much," he coaxed, his voice calm.

I rolled my eyes at his flirtation. "Okay."

"I'm just outside your dorm. I'll be waiting." The call ended before I could respond.

I grabbed a cashmere sweater from my closet, applied a bit of makeup, and rushed to the door. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw Trent standing nearby, almost as if he had been waiting for me.

"Hey, Noelle," he exclaimed, waving. He wore a school letterman jacket, his broad shoulders clad in striking red and white. I gave him a sly look and walked toward him, my gaze flickering to the marble floor to avoid tripping.

"You look ravishing," he said as our eyes met.

"Thanks," I murmured. We walked out into the sprawling garden, a calming oasis filled with vibrant flowers and tall trees.

"So, what do you like about Braden University?" Trent asked as we strolled through the garden.

"I'm captivated by the environment and the lectures. I can't say much since I've only been here a week."

"There's so much more," Trent said confidently. "Trust me. Once you see the clubs, your mind will be blown." His words sent a strange shiver down my spine.

"Does the school have clubs?"

He nodded, keeping a slight distance from me. "It’s where we party all night, smoke, and have fun."

My stomach churned at the thought. We took a seat in the bleachers, and a wave of sweet-smelling fresh air washed over me, coming from Trent. I found myself loving the scent of his cologne.

"That doesn't sound like a way to get good grades to me," I said, trying to keep my tone steady—confident yet casual.

"We do pay attention to our grades," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "But you know what they say: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

The way he spoke made me think he wasn’t just referring to himself but to some sort of group he was part of.

"You're new here, so you might not understand. But let’s leave that for later," he continued, his smile taking on a slightly wicked edge.

His words stirred negative emotions within me. I glanced at my watch—thank goodness, just five minutes until my math class, and I wouldn’t have to hear more of this.

"I don’t usually share stuff like that. I don’t want people to think I’m a bad dude; I’m cool," he said, waving his hands dismissively before slowly taking mine.

"I don’t judge people by their words," I stammered as he intertwined his fingers with mine. "I judge by actions."

"That's cool; I love your vibes," he said, clicking his tongue. "Should I walk you to your next class?"

"Thanks," I mumbled shyly, feeling my hand slip away from his.

Questions: Is anyone getting bad vibes from Trent?

What do you think Trent is up to?

Author's note

I know this chapter might not have gotten to your expectations. I'm still trying to work on my description, and trying to improve my writing every day. But for now, this is all I've got. I hope you like the story and give it your support. Any suggestions on how to be an expert on description please leave them in the comments section.

With love. Clara Joel.