Campus King | 18+

Chapter Seven

Hannah

Sitting in Health Psych, I was lost in thought as the class slowly filled up with students. In my head, I played out the conversation I would have to have with my parents. My dad was going to be fine with whatever internship I chose, but my mom? She wouldn't even entertain the idea of me moving to another state. She's always been super protective and extremely overbearing, especially when it came to my brother and I.

Dad and Mom had their fair share of fights over her helicopter parenting while I was growing up. It was one of the many factors that contributed to their messy divorce. But even after all that, she never really changed.

Sighing, I rubbed both hands up and down my face. This wasn't going to be easy.

I dropped my hands and looked up just as Fuckface strolled through the door.

Oh God. I'd forgotten about him.

But, I reminded myself, this time I'd deliberately chosen a seat in the middle of the third row — so there was absolutely no way he'd sit near me. As far as I was concerned, he could find his blonde bitch, and the two of them could go back to whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. As long as I couldn't hear or see any of it.

I averted my gaze, focusing on the board in front, but inevitably, my eyes would drift back to him. Now that I was aware of his existence, I couldn't help but watch him as he made his way up the stairs between the rows of desks, carrying a brown paper bag and a cup of coffee in one hand. I recognized it from Beanz. It seemed he went there pretty often. Did that mean I was going to have to find a new coffee shop?

People instantly started to gravitate towards him as soon as they caught sight of him. Some intercepted him, engaging him in pointless conversations, while those who obviously also wanted to talk to him, only managed quick or hesitant greetings.

He seemed to really know how to handle all the attention, effortlessly initiating casual banter and laughing along before smoothly moving along. He almost seemed genuinely interested in others, and if I didn't already know what he was really like, I might have believed it. Their eyes sparkled every time he replied to any one of them.

I'd never noticed this before because I'd never bothered to look, but conversations flowed more freely. Laughter echoed a little louder, and smiles seemed a bit brighter when he was around. The whole room buzzed with a new energy fueled by his presence alone. He was undeniably Mr Popular.

Frowning, I watched as a group of girls clamored for his attention, their giggles echoing throughout the room and making it all the way to my ears. They wasted several minutes engaging in flirtatious banter, and he smiled at their antics — though, surprisingly, he didn't return the attention. In fact, he seemed kind of distracted.

I suddenly realized how closely I was scrutinizing him, and shook my head, silently chastising myself. Forcefully dragging my eyes off of him, I leaned down to take out my laptop and other essentials.