Catch Me

Chapter Forty: Breathe

Chapter Forty: Breathe

The weekend sped by quickly. Haleigh had returned to her dorm room only once to grab a change of clothes and her homework that she needed for Monday's classes. She was surprised to find the room empty. Sam must have been at the library.

Haleigh had spent most of the weekend cooped up in Zander's apartment working on her homework. At one point Haleigh had become stumped on a question for her Geometry class. She tried every possible way she knew how to get the answer, but something just wasn't right.

Zander sauntered into the bedroom with a bagel and celery sticks for Haleigh who had neglected to eat anything all day. He set the food in front of Haleigh, who took a bite of the cream cheese covered pastry. 

"Need some help?" Zander offered. Haleigh shrugged, it couldn't hurt. Zander sat on the bed next to her, and Haleigh showed him the equation she was working. She chewed on the end of her pencil, a tick she had when she was concentrating extra hard.

"You forgot to carry the 2." Zander said simply, he took the pencil from Haleigh, not caring that she had just been chewing on it, and showed her exactly how to do the problem. Haleigh was surprised Zander knew what he was doing. It wasn't that she thought he was dumb, it was just that this boy was full of new surprises.

"What?" Zander asked his eyes shifted as Haleigh looked at Zander quizzically. "I like math." He shrugged, handed Haleigh her pencil back and picked up his bass, strumming a few cords.

Haleigh smiled to herself, then continued on with her homework as she listened to Zander play his bass.

The next day was Monday. The clouds were grey and dreary as Zander walked Haleigh to her first class.

"Are you coming over after your classes?" Zander wondered, hoping the answer was 'yes.'

"Do you want me to?" Haleigh asked, she hugged her geometry textbook close to her chest.

"Do you have to ask?" Zander smiled at his girlfriend as they reached the math building. Students filed into the classroom. Zander kissed Haleigh's cheek before walking away. "See you at seven!" He called after her. Haleigh caught herself smiling again as she too filed into the classroom. It felt weird not being the first one to the class, but she was starting to feel comfortable after months of attending this specific course, so her anxiety stayed at ease. She found her usual seat next to Toby as Professor O'Malley began his lecture.

A girl who Haleigh had seen multiple times around campus and at the Kappa Sigma parties was forced to do an equation on the blackboard in front of the entire class. Haleigh was relieved that it wasn't her in that situation. She watched intently as the girl finished the problem. She then set the chalk down on the lip of the blackboard, and went back to her seat.

"Can anyone tell me what Ms. Williams has done wrong?" Professor O'Malley asked the class. No one raised their hands, but Haleigh knew. It took her a moment, but when she had finally worked up enough courage and her pulse calmed down, she raised her right hand.

"Yes, Ms. Beckett?" Professor O'Malley called on Haleigh, and she rested her hand back on her desk.

"She forgot to carry the 2." Haleigh explained, as she examined the problem on the blackboard.

"Correct!" O'Malley exclaimed, pleased with his student. "Very good Ms. Beckett. Very good."

The rest of the class flew by. O'Malley finished his lecture sooner than he thought, and Haleigh and Toby worked together on that night's homework together.