𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬

10

Walking to my first class of the day with a new mindset, I try to have a good day. Sipping on my coffee, I feel a ring from my phone inside my jean pocket. I pull it out and look at my mom's text. It reads, "Have a great day, sweetie. We all miss you from home. Sending kisses." I smile at my phone, a soft wave of sadness washing over me as I miss my family.

I open the door to the class and sit where I usually do. I set my laptop up and get on my phone before class starts. I feel a tap on my shoulder. Looking up, I'm met with a mess of caramel curls and golden skin. His eyes are warm, like melted chocolate, and there's a hint of mischief in them that makes my heart skip a beat. "Hey, can I sit here?" he asks, looking down at me. He's tall and has a lean, muscular build, sporting a Nike sweatshirt that clings to his broad shoulders and grey sweatpants that hint at his athletic frame.

"So, like, can I sit here?" he repeats, snapping me out of my trance. I blush. "Oh, of course," I say, moving my backpack off the seat. He shakes his head, grinning while still looking at me. His smile is infectious, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. I turn my gaze forward and gulp, but I can still feel his eyes on me. He taps me again.

"What's with the tense look? You're as stiff as a board," he teases, his voice smooth like honey, flashing a handsome grin that makes my knees feel weak.

"Oh, just nervous for the class, I guess," I lie, nervously laughing.

"I feel you," he says, his eyes softening. "What's your name?"

"Alina," I say sharply and awkwardly.

"Okay... my name's Damian," he says, extending a hand. His grip is firm yet gentle, his skin warm against mine.

"Cool," I say as the lecture starts, his large thighs slightly nudging mine. The proximity makes my heart race, and I can smell his cologne—fresh and slightly woodsy, with a hint of something sweet.

᯾

Finally able to breathe after walking out the lecture door, I decide to head back to my dorm for lunch instead of the dining hall. The thought of facing more people right now is just too much. I need a nap after barely any sleep. Every night this week, I've been tossing and turning, my mind racing with thoughts about how Kimberly and Summer have been avoiding Dixi and me like we have the plague. It's like we're invisible or something. And then there's Teddy and Lena, who show up every day in class and still don't even notice me. I feel like a ghost, just drifting through my days unnoticed.

I walk down the hallway, my feet dragging with exhaustion. I swipe my keycard and push open the door to my room. The familiar scent of my space is a small comfort. I flop onto my bed, feeling the soft mattress beneath me. It's like my body is sinking into a cloud, and I can finally let go of the tension I've been holding onto.

I set my alarm, the gentle beeping a promise of a brief escape from my worries. As I close my eyes, I feel the weight of my thoughts pulling me down into sleep. My mind starts to drift, and for a moment, I can forget about Kimberly, Summer, Teddy, and Lena. I can forget about feeling invisible. All I need right now is some rest, and maybe, just maybe, things will look a little better when I wake up.

᯾

As I make my way to my final class of the day, the one I dread the most, I follow the familiar path and think to myself, "Just one more class and then I'm done for the day." That thought brings a slight sense of relief. I eventually reach the classroom and take my usual seat in the back. We've been covering integration, and my brain feels completely overloaded with the material. I take out my books and pencils, preparing for the lesson ahead. Other students are chatting with each other, while I sit in the back, feeling almost invisible and unsure if that's a good or bad thing.

Teddy walks into the classroom with Lena by his side, as usual. I roll my eyes and face forward, bracing myself for the lesson. Everyone settles into their seats and quiets down as the professor walks in. He carries a briefcase and sets it down on his desk before making his way to the podium.

"Just so you all know, we will be taking a pop quiz today on integration. I want to see if you've been paying attention," he announces. The entire class gasps as he walks to his desk and pulls out sheets of paper. "Everyone, please come down here and collect your pop quiz. Once everyone has a paper, I will let you know when to start. It's due by the end of class."

A wave of panic washes over me as I sit in my seat. Teddy is definitely going to see me, and worst of all, Lena will too. I silently pray to myself before making my way down to fetch the pop quiz. The line is long, and just my luck, Teddy and Lena step in behind me. I can smell Teddy's cologne—it's a mix of sandalwood and citrus, with a hint of something spicy, maybe pepper. The scent is strong and unmistakable, filling the air around us. However, Lena's perfume is a different story. It's overpowering and sickly sweet, like a cheap floral scent that tries too hard. The combination of their fragrances creates an almost nauseating cloud around them. They don't seem to notice me and continue chatting, holding hands.

I finally make it to the front of the line and grab my paper. "Thank you, professor," I say softly. He smiles at me and nods. As I turn and walk away, I feel an intense gaze burning into the side of my head. Every step back to my seat feels heavier, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I can almost feel Teddy's eyes piercing through me, but I resist the urge to turn and look. The air feels thick, and the room seems to close in around me. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and slide into my seat, my hands trembling ever so slightly.

I concentrate on my pop quiz, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Teddy. His presence feels like a heavy weight on my mind, making it hard to focus. The professor's voice cuts through my thoughts, "You may start," he announces. I take a deep breath and force myself to look at the questions in front of me. Slowly, the material starts to come back to me, each problem pulling me further away from my swirling emotions. As I work through the quiz, I can feel a sense of determination rising within me, battling against the distraction that Teddy's gaze had caused.

Teddy strides confidently up to the professor's desk, nonchalantly placing his pop quiz on top. The professor barely glances at him before saying, "You can leave." I can't help but quietly scoff to myself; there's no way Teddy even read the material. He probably just skipped through the work. I focus back on my own paper, determined to finish the last problem. Once I do, I hurriedly make my way to the professor's desk, feeling Lena's eyes boring into me. She double-glances at me with a look of pure disgust, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. I ignore her and hand my paper to the professor. "You may leave now," he says quietly, trying not to disturb the other students. I give him a small smile, walk back to my chair, gather my things, and head out the door.

The moment I step outside, I'm caught completely off guard as I'm slammed up against the rough brick wall. I look up, startled, to see Teddy's eyes blazing with anger. His large frame looms over me, effectively trapping me against the wall. His chiseled jawline tenses, and his golden hazel eyes scrutinize me intensely, framed by thick lashes that most girls would kill for. His dirty blonde hair, tousled just enough to look effortlessly stylish, contrasts with his bronze skin, making his features stand out even more. "So you stalk me now?" he spits out, his eyes narrowing. "You're so full of yourself. This class is mandatory for my degree," I snap back, matching his attitude. He scoffs, "What do you want to be a doctor?" His tone is dripping with mockery. "Not that it's any of your business, but I want to be a pediatrician," I retort, my voice firm. He rolls his eyes dramatically and looks at me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. "I will make this class a living hell for you," he threatens, his arms faltering just enough for me to push his hard chest away forcefully. "Oh, fuck you," I scoff, turning to walk away. "Wouldn't even dream on it," he calls after me, pushing himself off the wall and smirking as he watches me leave. "See you tomorrow, Doctor."