My Bully Loves Me

Chapter 07

Friday arrived, and as the finance professor announced the upcoming thesis assignment due Tuesday, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Determined to get a head start, I made my way to the library after the lecture ended, hoping to borrow some books on the topic.

"Remember, this thesis will be a significant portion of your grade," the professor's voice echoed in my mind as I entered the library.

I nodded to myself, acknowledging the weight of the task ahead. Finding a quiet corner, I began to browse the shelves, searching for relevant resources to aid in my research.

As I delved into the rows of books, my concentration was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching. I glanced up to see Matt walking towards me, his expression unreadable.

"Hey," I greeted him tentatively, hoping for a civil interaction.

"Hey," he replied curtly, his tone devoid of warmth.

I furrowed my brow, unsure of what had caused his abrupt change in demeanor. "Are you... okay?" I ventured, trying to break the tension.

He shrugged dismissively, his eyes scanning the shelves as if searching for something. "Just looking for a book," he muttered, his voice clipped.

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. It was clear that something was bothering him, but I couldn't quite pinpoint what.

"Okay... well, let me know if you need any help," I offered, attempting to diffuse the awkwardness.

He didn't respond, instead continuing to browse the shelves with an air of indifference. Sighing inwardly, I returned to my own search, the atmosphere in the library growing increasingly tense.

I settled into a chair, surrounded by a stack of books on finance, my mind already racing with ideas for the thesis. As I flipped through one of the volumes, I noticed Matt taking a seat opposite me, his own pile of books in hand.

I returned to my books, trying to focus on the task at hand, but I couldn't shake the feeling of his gaze on me. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.

"So... what were you doing at Josh's party?" he asked, his voice casual but tinged with curiosity.

I paused, caught off guard by the question. "Um, just hanging out with friends," I replied, keeping my answer vague.

He raised an eyebrow, his expression inscrutable. "Really? Just friends?"

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. "Yeah, why?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me intently. "No reason," he said with a shrug, but there was a hint of skepticism in his eyes.

I felt a surge of frustration at his probing questions, but I knew better than to engage in a confrontation. Instead, I returned to my books, determined to focus on the task at hand and ignore his presence as best I could.

I buried myself in my studies, trying to block out Matt's presence across from me. However, his lingering gaze made it difficult to concentrate fully. I could feel his eyes on me, analyzing my every move, and it unnerved me.

After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, Matt finally broke it with another question.

"So, did you have a good time at the party?" he asked, his tone almost casual, but I sensed an underlying tension.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It was alright," I replied cautiously, keeping my answer vague once again.

Matt raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with my response. "Just alright?" he prodded, his tone bordering on challenging.

I sighed inwardly, realizing that he wasn't going to let it go. "Yeah, it was fine," I conceded, hoping that would be the end of it.

To my relief, Matt seemed to drop the subject, returning his attention to his own books. But the uneasy atmosphere between us lingered, and I found it increasingly difficult to focus on my studies.

"Did Josh invite you at his party personally?", he asked.

I paused, taken aback by his directness. "Um, yeah," I replied, feeling a knot of unease forming in my stomach. "He asked me and Sarah together."

Matt nodded, his expression unreadable. "I see," he said simply, leaving me to wonder about the meaning behind his words.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, unsure of how to proceed. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Matt was probing for something more than just casual conversation.

"Is there anything else you wanted to know?" I asked tentatively, hoping to diffuse the growing tension.

Matt hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that's all," he said, his tone curt. "Just curious."

With that, he turned his attention back to his books, effectively ending the conversation. I let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful for the reprieve, but unable to shake the feeling that there was more to Matt's questions than met the eye.

Gathering my notes and textbooks, I prepared to leave the library. As I stood up from my seat, Matt glanced up from his own work, his expression inscrutable.

"Leaving already?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a hint of curiosity.

"Yeah, I've got everything I need for now," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Matt nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before returning to his books. "Well, good luck with your thesis," he said finally, a faint note of sincerity in his voice.

"Thanks," I said, offering him a small smile before turning to leave.

As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of Matt's eyes on me, and I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted his sudden interest in my activities at Josh's party. It was a question that lingered in my mind long after I had left the library behind.

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As I sat down on Sarah's bed, I recounted the encounter with Matt in the library, every detail fresh in my mind. Sarah listened intently, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern as I spoke.

"He was really asking about Josh?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Yeah," I replied, furrowing my brows. "It was a bit strange, honestly. He seemed oddly interested in whether Josh personally invited me."

Sarah shook her head, a puzzled expression on her face. "That's weird. Why would he care about that?"

"I have no idea," I said, shrugging. "But it definitely felt like he was fishing for something."

Sarah frowned, clearly mulling over the situation. "Well, whatever his motives are, just be careful around him, okay? I don't trust him one bit."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll definitely keep my guard up. Thanks for looking out for me, Sarah."

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