english - c.hood 01 | au

eighteen

n o e l l e

the next morning, i was to meet luke and nora at the coffee shop so we could all grab our drinks before class.

before his class.

and in all honestly, going to his class scared the shit out of me.

especially with dumb and dumber over here watching my every move.

no one's even seen anything and somehow they'll figure it out by the end of the hour.

"hey." i smiled softly as i entered the coffee shop.

a wide grin spread across nora's face.

oh no.

"you, my dear, have lots of explaining to do." nora waves a finger at me as luke handed me my usual order.

"what are you talking about?" i asked.

"we have eyes and ears everywhere, noelle." nora smirks. "so, tell me all about your coffee shop date with your professor."

"how the fuck is it even possible that— wait a second." and that's when i turned to luke. "hemmings?"

"hi ellie." he gulped.

"spit it out, hemmo." i glared.

"fine, so i followed you!" he blurts out. "mind you, this is a university campus and it was late at night. also, you didn't stay home to unpack. you cancelled our movie night, i knew something was up."

"luke—"

"i just want you to be happy, elle, bet or no bet." he sighs. "are you happy?"

"i don't know yet luke, a lot has happened and— why the fuck is nora smiling like the fucking grinch?"

"because your mom just made $90, $30 from each of these knuckleheads." nora snickers. "sis we are going shopping!"

"sure, whatever you want mom." i laughed. "can we go? we're gonna be late."

"mhmm." they hummed, walking out of the coffee shop ahead of me.

they're never going to let this go.

we arrived to class the same way we did on the very first day, sitting out asses in our seats the moment the bell rang.

and then he walked in, and everything stopped for me.

his lips looked swollen, his eyes were bright, and his hair was as tossled as always.

he looked perfect.

"good morning class." calum beamed. "your unit final is at the end of the week. your next four periods this week will be spent preparing for the final, along with handing in any outstanding assignments. you may sit with your groups and commence your work."

"it's a good thing we sit together, huh?" luke wiggles his eyebrows, making nora almost spit out her gatorade.

"luke i swear." i shake my head laughing. "which one of you dipshits emailed me with the notes and missing lessons?"

"me, the responsible one." luke beamed.

"you, responsible, yeah right." nora rolled her eyes. "you fucking giraffe, you can't even remember where your wallet is in the morning without me yelling at you that it's in the kitchen. the same fucking place that you leave it, too!"

"damn, mom snapped." i laughed. "listen, i just want the notes so i can work and pass the final."

"i don't think you'll have to worry about that." nora smirks, my eyes widening.

"whether you like it or not, i'm going to put in the effort." i stated. "at least i'll know i tried and put in the effort."

"miss carter, please see me after class regarding your absence." calum spoke up from his desk.

"yes sir."

"babe, you're in way too deep." nora laughed evilly.

"she's not wrong." luke shrugs.

"i hate you both."