Broken | Wattys2019

Chapter 9

"Addy, turn that damn alarm off or so help me god!" Lindsey shouts form beneath the covers.

The last few days have been relatively calm, but I can't seem to shake the day I spent with Oliver. He dropped me off at the dorms without a word before whipping out of the parking lot. Whenever I even attempted to start a conversation in the car, he'd crank the music louder and act as if he didn't hear me. I didn't mean to offend him, but I am not ready to let my guard down around him or anybody else for that matter. It honestly terrifies me how comfortable I felt around him, I usually only feel at ease like that around my mom. It's strange to me, I hardly know him, yet I feel so safe around him and that's how I know I need to keep my distance. If I fall for his charm and his false sense of security, I'll end up losing everything again...at least what little I have gained back.

With a groan I pull myself from the comfort of my bed and turn off the obnoxious sound blaring from my phone. I slip into an old black and purple tie-dyed Zodiac shirt that once belong to my dad and pull on a pair of high waisted shorts before tucking my shirt it. Looking in the mirror I pull at the material to remove some of the excess from my shorts, so it hangs over the waist band cutely. Taking one last glance I smile before slipping on my shoes and grabbing my backpack to hurry down the hallway.

My literature and macroeconomics class seem to fly by and soon I am off to my final class of the day, Relationships 101. It is a class Oregon State offers that discusses gender differences, relationship principles, family of origin and personal needs. It was my mom's idea for me to take it. I still remember her words, maybe this class will help you work through some of your bitterness towards relationships of all natures.

When I enter the lecture hall I stop and scan the large room and my eyes quickly spot Luke in the back row. His eyes meet mine, he is quick to offer a smile and small wave before turning to speak to the person next to him again. I debate sitting with him until I realize it is Oliver sitting next to him. My chest tightens before I force my feet forward in search of a seat towards the middle. While unpacking my bag someone takes the seat beside me, as I sit up a notice it is Cameron from the café.

"Hey!" I smile.

"Hey, you're the pretty girl that never texted me, right?" He smirks while a playful gleam fills his eyes.

"You were supposed to text me, I don't have your number." I remind him with a teasing tone.

"Shoot, you're right! I feel like an idiot." His cheeks turn slightly pink, but he still manages to smile. "So, let me guess you aren't the over achiever that sits towards the front, but you also aren't a slacker that sits in the back." He looks over his shoulder at Luke and Oliver. "Aren't they upperclassmen?"

"Um, now that you mention it, I don't know. This is an undergraduate class though." I shrug as the professor walks out of his office and into the lecture hall.

"Good afternoon class. My name is Professor Neil Davis and I will be your professor for Relationships 101. We will go over the syllabus today however, I always like to start by asking each of you to share two to three sentences about what the term relationship means to you. When you have finished please wait patiently for your fellow classmates to finish. Next, I will take volunteers to read aloud, keep in mind in order to be marked as present you must read your response." He smiles as everyone begins scribbling their sentences across a blank page.

Professor Davis slowly makes his way through the raised hands, but I am hesitant to speak to soon I want my words to blend into the rest. Each student states their name and reads what they have to say. I listen casually and jot down any quotes that stand out to me, but I mainly listen in silence. Everyone is so damn sappy! "You in the back". He points.