𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 11] Potential Boyfriends

"Hey, Kelly, good morning!" Olivia greets me as I step into the elevator.
"Liv, hey." The corners of my mouth inch up in response to her shimmering smile. "You're here early."
As dedicated to school as Liv is, they should just grant her a special scholarship to stay on property for free.
"Just helping out Ms. Davey with her morning checks," she explains, motioning with the clipboard in her hand.
Head Administrator of the girls' dorm and better known as 'Crazy Davey'. While I personally don't have any beef with Ms. Davey, that's mostly because I follow all the rules.
Any 'co-ed sleepovers' have a better shot in the guys' dorm building under Mr. Hendricks territory rather than Ms. Davey's eagle eye and sense of smell that can literally pick out a whiff of cologne two floors up.
"Find any rogues?" I joke some as I hit the Lobby button.
"Not yet, surprisingly," she comments thoughtfully. "Normally, with all the new students there's always an increase of...bad behavior...at the beginning of the school year. It calms down as the semester progresses."
I think of Hunter.
Yeah, if only.
The elevator doors open and I step out, tossing my hand up in a small wave. "Alright, well, I'll see you later, girl."
"Have a good day!" Liv calls before I walk off.
I pull my phone out of my blazer pocket, reading Hunter's text again.
My car is supposed to be here today.
For whatever reason, I find myself actually believing him. Even though I have no clue why or how he now somehow knows where my car is when he had no clue before.
Regardless, I can't believe it but I'm taking his word for it.
I walk out the front doors of the girls' dormitory, letting the warm September sunshine wash over me.
I may not always be a morning person but this is my definition of a beautiful day.
Sighing happily, I fold my arms over my stomach as I leisurely stroll the extending pavement of the large sidewalk, scanning the parking lot for my car.
Maybe this is just me trusting the universe, but for whatever reason I actually feel really positive about this—
I stop dead in my tracks as I spot a shady figure a few feet away, leaning up against the side of the dormitory building and conveniently shrouded in the shadows cast by the morning sun.
I recognize that cropped blonde hair from somewhere.
My feet somehow decide walking closer to get a better look is somehow a good idea and when I do, my mouth pops open. "You!"
Sure enough, overcast blue eyes turn in my direction causing me to pause my initial approach and an amused smile spreads over his lips. "Oh hey. Just who I was looking for."
My eyebrows shoot up as Lake casually emerges from the shadows and stands in front of me, thankfully leaving enough space for me to actually think coherently.
"Looking for me? Why? What are you doing here?" I narrow my eyes as I cross my arms over my chest.
He shrugs his shoulders. "I brought you a little something."
My car.
Hunter really couldn't mention the INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT detail that this guy of all people was going to be the one returning my vehicle?
I press my lips into a thin line and he smiles. "You don't look—"
"Mariah!!"
My eyes widen as my brain immediately tunes out the rest of Lake's words.
It's not the name that was just called but the voice.
Amber.
Sure enough, one look past Lake's arm gives me a skewed view of Amber and the rest of her squad all embracing and chatting it up in front of the main school building.
Lake turns to look over his shoulder and while we might not be directly in Amber's line of sight, I'm always on her radar—especially if she happens to see me with some random guy on an early Friday morning.
"Don't look. Ugh—come here." I notion aggressively with my hand, refusing to initiate any form of physical contact.
Thankfully, he doesn't argue and instead follows me as I briskly step off the pavement and begin striding through the large parking lot.
When I feel like we're finally at a safe distance, at least out of view and earshot, I slow to a more relaxed speed even though I'm anything but relaxed.
"Where's my car?" I get to the point and Lake seems to notice. "Wow. Straight to the punch, huh?"
I nearly scoff at his verbiage. Just another reminder of how I even met him in the first place.
"Yea, you should be familiar with that, right?" I allow myself a snarky remark. It's not like it matters anyway—once I get my car back in my possession, I can be rid of Lake and this entire party situation.
He doesn't reply but instead just nods his chin forward. "Camaro's down there."
That's it?? Maybe it's just because I'm used to Harry always having some smart-alec comment to make but I expected somewhat of a comeback.
We walk the rest of the way in silence until I finally spot the sleek black paint of my car glittering in the sunlight.
I'd be lying if my heart didn't swell at least a little bit.
I heave a sigh of relief as I rest a hand on the trunk.
All in one piece.
Lake offers my keychain out to me and I gladly take it. Not only is it nice to finally have my car back but sharing a room key with Dakota is not my idea of a good time.
"She looks even better than when I last saw her," I comment thoughtfully as I note any residual dust and sand from my previous beach runs have been virtually erased. Let alone whatever happened to it at the party without my knowing.
"Yeah, well, I figured I kind of owed you after everything so I got her cleaned up." Lake shrugs his shoulders and I glance at him. Not the response I was expecting.
However, I'm intrigued.
Our eyes remain locked for a few seconds before I arch my right eyebrow, inciting him to continue.
He does.
"Look..." he sighs as he brushes a scarred hand over the back of his head. "The other night...that wasn't me. I never act like that. I just..." he pauses, as if choosing his words carefully or maybe it's just for dramatic purposes. "I was upset over my ex and...I know it wasn't right and I didn't mean to but I got drunk."
I don't budge.
"Then the guy she cheated with—he started trying to fight me and I just..." he shakes his head some. "That's what you walked in on."
I try my best to read if he's telling the truth or not and somehow I can't tell. Regardless, that might explain but it definitely doesn't excuse anything—and that's exactly what I tell him.
"And how does you taking my jacket off fit into all that?" I ask pointedly. "Doesn't really scream broken-hearted over your ex and drunk."
"Clearly, you've never been cheated on." He scoffs somewhat bitterly, glancing elsewhere before looking back at me. "It messes with your head."
At first it all just sounds like some lame excuse, but thinking to the first time around when Justin cheated on Dakota and she was quite  literally hooking up with the first guys she came across—I guess it's not that far-fetched.
"Anyway. I just wanted to apologize." He states before nodding towards my car. "I left my number in there, if you ever need anything. Let me make it up to you—I swear, I'm not a bad guy."
"Thanks but I think I'm good." I brush a blonde strand of hair out of my face. "Parties aren't my thing so...I doubt our paths will ever cross again."