The Coaches Daughter || Callum Turner

Chapter 7

Jade

As I stepped down the stone steps outside the psychology building, the late morning sun warmed my skin, and I took a moment to enjoy the crisp autumn air. The leaves were beginning to change, painting the campus in hues of gold and crimson. My mind buzzed with thoughts from my last class, analyzing theories on human behavior and the intricacies of the mind. I was deep in thought about my notes when I heard someone call out to me from behind.

"Hey, Jade!"

I turned around, my heart jumped at the sound of that familiar voice. When I saw Garrison jogging down the stairs after me, a surge of surprise shot through me. Oh my gosh, what is happening? I thought, my pulse quickening with a mix of excitement and disbelief. I glanced around, half-expecting to see a group of girls staring at us in shock, but thankfully, the area was mostly empty.

As he reached me, I noticed he looked slightly out of breath, his cheeks flushed. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him, the confident star athlete now appearing almost nervous. He opened his mouth to speak, and I could see him fumbling for the right words. "Hey, sorry, I just... I've been trying to find you. I wanted to talk to you."

His eyes flickered with a mix of determination and uncertainty, and I raised an eyebrow, amused. This was Garrison Gray, the guy who had girls swooning all around campus, and here he was, standing in front of me, looking sheepish. "I didn't know how to get to you," he continued, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Someone told me you study psychology, so I thought maybe if I stood here for a little bit, you'd pass by or something."

I couldn't help but laugh softly at how adorable he looked, all flustered and awkward his words pouring out of his mouth. It was a side of him I hadn't seen before, and it was endearing. "And how long have you just been standing out here?" I said, trying to keep my tone light and teasing, enjoying how this moment was unfolding.

"Oh um not that long," he glanced around, a hint of color creeping into his cheeks. There was a brief silence as we both took in the awkwardness of the moment. The campus buzzed with life around us—students laughing, rushing to classes, and the distant sound of a football being thrown in the nearby field—but in that instant, it felt like we were in our own little world.

I felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of talking to him, and I wondered what had prompted him to seek me out like this. "So, you were looking for me?" I asked, leaning against the railing and crossing my arms, my curiosity piqued.

"Yeah," he said, running a hand through his hair, a gesture I'd come to associate with his nervousness. "I just wanted to see how you were doing after the party, you disappeared." He chuckled, but his eyes were serious, as if he wanted to know more about me.

"I had a good time," I replied, my mind racing back to our brief but electrifying kiss. I was trying to play it cool, but the memory made my heart flutter. "What about you?"

"I... it was definitely an interesting night," he said, a smile creeping onto his lips, though I could see a hint of embarrassment in his expression. "I wasn't expecting to meet someone like you."

My stomach flipped at his words. "Someone like me?" I repeated, a teasing tone in my voice. "What do you mean by that?"

He shrugged, a shy grin spreading across his face. "I don't know. Just different I guess."

I laughed, feeling a rush of warmth. There was something thrilling about this exchange, and I could feel the chemistry between us crackling in the air. As I looked into his eyes, I realized how much I wanted to explore this connection further. Selfishly I also couldn't stop thinking about how upset my dad would be if he found out about us and how he deserved to feel the way that I felt. Betrayed.

Garrison shifted slightly, his expression turning more serious. "Listen, I know it's kind of sudden, but I'd really like to get to know you better. Maybe grab lunch sometime? If you're free?"

I couldn't help but smile, my heart racing at the thought of spending more time with him. "I'd like that," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just let me check my schedule."

"Great," he said, his face lighting up with excitement. "How about I text you later? We can figure something out."

"Sounds good," I said, feeling a sense of hope swell inside me. As he turned to leave, I felt a rush of anticipation about what this new connection could mean. Garrison Gray had sought me out, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something unexpected and exciting.

As our conversation hung in the air, the excitement and anticipation crackled between us. Just as Garrison turned to leave, he spun around, a look of realization on his face. "Wait, I need your number to text you," he said, his voice a mix of urgency and eagerness.

"Oh, right!" I exclaimed, mentally kicking myself for not thinking of that sooner. "Give me your phone."

He pulled out his phone and handed it to me, a smile spreading across his face. I quickly typed in my number, my fingers trembling slightly as I did. I couldn't believe this was happening—Garrison Gray wanted to keep in touch with me.

"All right," he said, taking the phone back with a satisfied grin. "I'll text you."

"Okay," I replied, my heart fluttering. "I look forward to it."

With one last smile exchanged, we both turned and walked away, heading in opposite directions. I could feel the warmth of the moment lingering in the air, and I couldn't shake the giddy feeling that had settled in my stomach. As I walked toward the parking lot, I couldn't help but glance back at him. He was still standing there for a moment, watching me leave, and I couldn't help but smile.