In Love: Against All Odds

Lunch... and a Few Stares

Can I Call You Tonight? – Dayglow 🌙
"Can I call you tonight?
Try to make up my mind"

-----

The next morning, the crisp air hit my face as I walked onto campus with yesterday's drama still hanging over me like a storm cloud.

It had only been a day, but somehow, everything felt different. Maybe because everything was different.

Vinita, Brailey, and Alista strolled beside me, but I wasn't really listening to their conversation. My mind was elsewhere, my eyes scanning the crowd without meaning to.

Where was Patrick?

He hadn't shown up yesterday, and yeah, I told myself not to overthink it. But still... was he avoiding me? Was something wrong?

"Earth to Kat," Alista's voice cut through my thoughts, and I blinked as she waved a hand dramatically in front of my face.

The smirk she wore? Oh, she knew.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," I said, trying to brush her off. But judging by the way her smirk only grew, I wasn't fooling anyone.

"Sure you are," she teased, flipping her short blonde hair over her shoulder. "Let me guess—you're scanning for a certain someone?"

"Nope," I lied effortlessly, glancing away. "Just looking for... a coffee. I'm tired, okay?"

"Uh-huh, whatever you say," she chuckled, exchanging a knowing look with Brailey.

I ignored them.

Or at least, I tried to.

----

We reached class, and I tried—really tried—to focus.

The professor was rambling about design principles, and I was supposed to be taking notes.

Except, instead of notes, my notebook ended up with... doodles.

Random sketches of jackets, shoes, and abstract patterns.

Alista caught me once or twice and just shook her head with that annoyingly smug grin.

And then it happened.

The door swung open, and in walked Patrick.

Just like that, my heart did this weird little flip thing.

I hated how obvious it felt.

He was wearing a simple graphic tee, some ripped jeans, and a bomber jacket—effortlessly cool, as always.

"Hey, Kat!" he called out, heading straight toward me.

His grin made it impossible not to smile back.

"Hey! Long time no see," I said, trying (and failing) to keep my voice steady.

"Yeah, sorry about yesterday," he said, running a hand through his messy hair. "Had to go to LA for some work—nothing major, just some things to take care of."

The casual way he said it made me curious, but I nodded. "Got it. Hope it all went okay?"

"Yeah, all good," he said with a small smile. "So, what did I miss? Did Mrs. Page give another one of her legendary lectures?"

I laughed. "Oh, you know it. She was on a roll. But nothing too bad—you didn't miss much."

"Good. Would hate to fall behind... Speaking of which, how's your project going? Still working on that sustainable fashion line?"