Breathe

Chapter Three

I awake later to find I slept through my first lecture and force myself to be ready for the next. I change into a new top and jumper because after passing out in bed the ones I had been wearing are now creased. I'm a slob, but I'm not that much of a slob.

When I arrive at the Stefansson lecture hall at ten to twelve there are a couple people who linger around as they wait. I'm looking down at my converse when someone taps me on the shoulder tentatively. I look up and meet crystal blue eyes which are tucked behind a set of glasses perched on his nose. It's Man Bun Mason. I almost don't recognise him with the glasses.

"Hey, I didn't realise you were in this class too," I comment in surprise.

"Yeah, a lot of people are surprised, but I like the idea of being a sports reporter. Sounds like a good back up plan." He smiles as he talks about it. The doors to the lecture hall open and people stream out in waves before Mason and I enter together. I choose a seat in the second row from the back and as I begin pulling out my laptop from my handbag, Mason takes a sit behind me. He glances at me and asks, "this is okay, yeah?"

I nod immediately. Ten minutes later the lecturer begins talking and explains the course outline for the semester and upcoming assignments. Three out of the five will be individual work whilst the other two will be in pairs. Mason and I just look at each other in silent agreement.

Surprisingly, the lecture continues smoothly and two hours later we're packing up and leaving for the campus cafeteria. As I walk down the line of food, I observe all the questionable menu items. A lumpy casserole, a green curry, and chicken schnitzel. I settle for a simple turkey sandwich on rye bread and head over to a table where Luce waves at me from.

As I take a seat on the right side of Luce, Mason settles in beside me. He's not there for very long before I feel a presence behind me and a deep, cold voice comments, "Beat it, Andrews."

"Seth?" Mason asks and blinks in confusion, but as if possessed scoots over a seat, dragging his tray behind him.

I glance behind my shoulder and notice that I can finally place a name to the crush who I've made a fool of myself in front of twice in as many days. He catches my eyes and smirks cheekily, offering a casual, "Hey, Doe," as he takes the now available seat beside me.

I screw my eyes together, a crease forming on my forehead. Clearly, Luce is just as confused about the name as she questions, "Doe?"

Seth spares her a second's glass before returning his eyes to me as he explains. "Yeah, don't you think she looks a little lost? Just like a Doe."

As if my eyebrows weren't furrowed enough, it increases forming a glare. "That's funny, if I made a deduction on the way you looked I'd say that you're intellectually inept. Not to recycle an old saying, but didn't your mother tell you not to judge a book by the cover?" I surprise myself with how smart I come off sounding and how completely unlike myself I become. I have never been snarky, but something about the fact that this gorgeous guy has already seen me in one of my worst states rubs me the wrong way.

The cheekiness in his voice disappears as his tone becomes more serious, "I'm sure she would have if she hadn't died giving birth to me..."

Luce sucks in a sharp breath and my eyes widen in shock at his words. He watches me as I let that statement settle in, struggling with how I respond. Not a couple seconds later he bursts out laughing, "Kidding! My mother is alive and well." He slaps his knee, "That was hilarious, you really believed it."

Tears begin to blur my vision at his obvious oblivion to my own feelings and mental battle at this moment. Even though the tears clouding my vision I can see Luce's eyes turn fiery. She glares at Seth and as if in slow motion, picks up the bottle of coke from her tray, stands and poor's it all over Seth's head.