Total Opposites | Cairo & CC

Chapter Five - Potentially

CC - Chapter Five - Potentially

Song Choice: Cigarette Daydreams by Cage the Elephant and Out of My League by Fitz and the Tantrums

I'm not sure what came over me, or why I asked Cairo to walk with me to class, or what prompted me to sit next to her, but I did.

Fake confidence, I suppose.

Doing my best to not stare at Cairo during class, as I had on Monday, I became acutely aware of our arms just barely touching, with me being right handed, and Cairo being left handed, our arms touched each time we had our hands on our desk, so the whole class.

The professor was starting actual content today, and I tried to pay attention as best I could, but literature was simply not my topic of choice. It didn't help that I had the most beautiful girl I had ever seen next to me, and was doing my best to not get distracted, but it was no use.

My eyes kept drifting over to Cairo, who was seemingly focusing intently on the content for the day. I couldn't even begin to tell you which book the professor was rambling on about, but I had a feeling that if I were to ask Cairo, she'd be able to tell me everything the professor had said within the last ten minutes.

Part of me regretted sitting right next to her, it was easier to secretly stare when I was further away, but oh well. At least now I had talked to her.

Eyes drifting over to her once more, dark brown eyes met mine with a slight smile.

"You're staring, Walker."

Doing my best to maintain my composure, because it threw me every time she said my name, it was just so attractive coming out of her mouth, I replied, "And you aren't, Sweet?"

"Perhaps I am, but I'm a bit more stealthy about it."

I rolled my eyes at her cockiness, and did my best to return my attention to the lesson, or, should I say pay attention, as I was never really paying attention to begin with, as I was too distracted by Cairo.

Finally, I eventually ended up being able to semi pay attention and pulled up a blank document on my laptop to write down everything the professor was saying about the first book we were going to be reading, which was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I still need to buy books, I realized, as I hadn't yet purchased a single textbook for any of my classes. While my soccer scholarship covered just about everything, including tuition, fees, housing, and my meal plan, it didn't cover textbooks, and I didn't particularly want to ask my parents to pay for them. They had already spent so much on me when I was on the National Team, because they came to just about every game, and I knew those tickets and travel were expensive.

My family were my biggest supporters, but part of me was still grateful to be going to school on the other side of the country. I felt like it could help me get some space between myself and the rest of them. Besides, after the events of my junior year, when my family all switched bodies for a couple days, I couldn't be more grateful for the separation. Those were most definitely the two weirdest days of my life, and I was grateful it was over.

Realizing I was zoning out, I refocused and became acutely aware of a piece of paper being slid across my desk from Cairo's, and grabbed it to read it.

Text me - 615 - 413 - 4241

- Cairo

No way she just gave me her number?

Casting a quick glance at Cairo, who had returned to paying attention to the professor, I quickly pulled up my messages app on my MacBook and typed in her number, sending her a quick text from my number, which was 323 - 313 - 3412.

Cairo, it's Walker.

Realizing that I had texted, Cairo pulled her phone out of her backpack, and I took note of the fact that it was a sleek, black, iPhone 15 Pro (Yes, I was a bit of an Apple nerd, despite my brother being the nerd of the family), without a case.

Bold of you to not use a case, Cairo.

Forcing my attention back to the lesson while she replied, I was actually able to pick up a few of the words the professor said before I saw a notification pop up on my laptop screen.

Opening the messages app, I saw Cairo's response.

CC, it's Sweet.

Now realizing that it was expected of me to continue the conversation, I replied back,

So, are you always this mysterious, broody, and painfully attractive, Sweet?

Almost instantly, bubbles showing she was typing popped up on my screen, and I fought the urge to chuckle.

Surely I have no idea what you mean, Walker.

Surely you do, Cairo.

Well, do you have to be so painfully unaware, impressive, by all standards, and remarkably easy on the eyes?

Are Cairo and I flirting right now? No way she'd be flirting with me. She probably doesn't even like girls. Then why is she flirting with you? Just then, another message came through.

Too stunned to speak, Walker?

I considered my reply for a moment, then continued.

What do you mean by unaware, Sweet?

Exhibit A: you're unaware that I'm flirting with you.

My jaw dropped. So she was flirting with me. And she said I'm easy on the eyes? No, focus brain. Think of something to say back. Before I could think of something, another message came through.

But, to answer your question. Yes, I am always this mysterious and broody, though those aren't the terms I'd usually use to describe myself. And attractiveness is subjective. Why it'd be painful for you, I'm unsure.

Now knowing the beautiful girl next to me was flirting, I decided to test the waters a little bit.

For your information, Cairo, it's painful because I'd love nothing more than to take you out on a date with me sometime, even though I don't know why you, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, would ever want to go out with me.

Bubbles. And more bubbles. And after a few, excruciating moments of me worrying that I had overstepped, a response came through.

You could just ask, maybe you'll be in luck and the person you're talking about thinks the same thing about you.

Oh really?

Potentially.