His Indulgence || Book Two

Bad Day in Class

Danica's POV:

It had been Thursday morning when I arrived in my Physiology class for first appearance. No one noticed me, nor even cared, so I slipped in without any suspecting faces. I had been a few minutes early to class, but in college, a few minutes early was considered late. In fact, all the seats were filled except for the last row.

Ugh, the furthest row was the absolute worst. You couldn't even see the professor or the lecture slides. And not to mention, all the missed subtle hints the professors throw out about quizzes in the future. The only actual good thing that came from the back row was the fact that I wouldn't get called on, because the professor can't even see me.

Just as I trudged through the aisle of seats, I recognized one of my classmates from last semester in the middle seat of class— Noah. He was surrounded by a group of courteous and actively social students. He had just merely caught sight of me as I passed by, though that brief exchange suddenly made him go rigid in his seat. He stared at me, meeting my eyes with the most heartbreaking expression on his face— he was completely shocked, angered and saddened.

Last semester, I spent plenty of highly caffeinated nights attempting to genuinely understand the entirety of that class I spent with him, though he passed without a break of sweat. It was a miracle he even went to this school, and not some prestigious university like Harvard. He was a ridiculously intelligent man with a warm charisma. He was a perfectly good-looking brainiac, and was proudly known as the golden boy of school. We had some chemistry together at the time, although we never pursued it.

When Eric returned, I had continued school until spring break, which had ended earlier this week. I ignored all calls from any friends back at school because I strictly just wanted to spend my break with Eric. So, therefore I hadn't seen Noah in nearly five weeks, and I knew the moment I'd run into him— it'd be horrifically awkward.

I had some hope I wouldn't see him at all, due to my campus being so relatively large, but the universe was cruel, and so it decided that sticking Noah in one of my classes would be entertaining.

Luckily, I had been prepared just in case I'd get stuck in a situation where I'd see him. Thinking of some lame excuses, I ended up coming up with a few convincing ones; a new phone after losing my contacts, no internet, or even the good ol' 'I went out of the country' excuse.

I hated lying, believe me, but if it meant sparing his feelings— then so be it.

Missing four days of classes, I realized just how much work and notes I was now drowning in— but I hoped I could gain some help from my peers. None of them really knew me, so trying to convince them to lend a stranger your notes wasn't working out as great as I'd wished it would.

This eventually lead to my fallback— the only person who I knew would do me any justice in my desperate need of help. So, I decided I'd come in early Friday to class to catch him before the lecture would start.

Friday morning, I arrived at my class fifteen minutes before. You'd think it'd be empty, but there had been at least ten students already settled in. I held my breath at the door, scanning the room for Noah. As soon as I caught sight of him, I exhaled and lingered toward him. In my luck, he had been alone.

As I got closer, he noticed I was coming at him and scowled at me with unfriendly eyes.

I didn't change my demeanor, though he did intimidate me a bit. "Hi, Noah." I gave a warm smile as I sat in the empty seat beside him.

He scrutinized me with hard eyes, glowering harshly. "That seat is taken, as for all the seats around me." Noah growled.

Okay, definitely not what I was expecting— though I probably did deserve that. I stared, baffled at his snarky attitude. Clearing my throat, I pried on. "Well, I won't be staying. I just came to ask if you could send me Tuesdays notes, I couldn't make it that day."