Finally Free

Thirty-Three

"Out of ALL the choices you grab 2 apples, a mixed fruit salad thing, some yogurt, and a thing of apple juice?" Garrett laughs at me as we are in line at the cafeteria

"Yes. I don't eat a big breakfast. The yogurt, some of the fruit salad and the apple juice are more than enough for me. The apples and the rest of the fruit salad are for healthy sugar snacks for later." I explain myself setting everything down to check out "All of this and his too." I quickly say handing the girl behind the counter my card before Garrett can protest

"What the fuck?" He asks sounding confused

"I bought breakfast. You can get the next one." I tell him as we head across the road to his dorm

"You don't pay when you are with me gorgeous. Not for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or drinks. You also don't put gas in your own tank, open your own doors, and you definitely don't get walked on or treated like shit." Garrett tells me as we walk to the elevator.

"Babe I am fine with you putting gas in my car, especially in the winter or the rain and I don't mind you opening doors for me. But you are not paying for everything we can split it or take turns paying. And I know you want to protect me but I can handle when people try walking on me and when they try treating me like shit the only time I'm gonna need your help in that area is if someone's fists start flying, because as I have recently learned I am not good in a fight" I laugh as Garrett unlocks his dorm room and we both walk-in

"I will always protect you no matter what the fuck you think or say. And we can talk about taking turns paying but if I take you on a date and I say it is an official date then it is my treat got it?" he asks setting his food down on his desk before he takes his backpack and shoes off. I follow his lead and do the same.

"Yes sir" I roll my eyes before going to sit on the futon with my breakfast

"You might want to stop calling me sir, baby girl. Or you might not like where it heads" Garrett warns I bite my lip before saying anything back and of course, my only response is

"Yes sir" I wink before laughing "I'm sorry. I had too" I laugh some more

"Eat your wimp breakfast" Garrett rolls his eyes sitting down next to me after turning the Xbox on. We eat without talking and just listening to 'The Office' from Netflix. Our silence is interrupted by someone knocking on the door which earns a groan from Garrett

"What?" He yells and the door opens a tiny bit

"Is it safe to come in?" Micah asks and I roll my eyes

"Yeah," I say and Micah pushes the door the rest of the way open

"Sorry I forgot my book, needed to print something, and I wanted a drink," Micah says "I didn't get a chance to say anything this morning but god damn Kasey you are just full of surprises aren't you?" he asks sitting down at his desk

"You can only imagine" Garrett winks which earn a playful slap on the arm from me

"Ignore him. He is just mad because I paid for breakfast" I roll my eyes standing up and grabbing the trash from breakfast "Where is your trash can?" I ask. Garrett and Micah both point to the tiny bin in the room and I shake my head "No like the bigger trashcan on the floor" I try to explain

"Oh. Other side of the bathroom. Like on the side of the wall with the elevator" Micah tells me

"Okay. I'm gonna go pitch this" I say grabbing the key card from Garrett's desk sliding it in my back pocket.

"You don't have to," Garrett says

"Too late," I say over my shoulder already halfway out of the door as I'm throwing the trash away my phone starts to ring with a Facetime from Beth "Hello?" I ask answering it