WILD (✓)

~ two ~

The next day passes slowly, and even more slow going is the review of my exam. I've gotten through almost all of the problems, emailing my professor questions as they come up. Although I still get upset if I think about it, I have set my efforts on doing great on the final. Maybe I won't get an A, but if I don't fail completely, that'll be enough for me. At least, that's what I tell myself, refusing to think beyond that for now.

I twiddle my highlighter in my fingers, thinking back to the guy I met at the Science Center. I haven't seen him since, despite his assumption that we would. Maybe he was just flirting, I think to myself. Would that be a bad thing? Not at all. It's the last thing I need to worry about right now, I remind myself over and over. Just because he has a cute dimple and pretty eyes doesn't mean I should waste time daydreaming about him...

"Hello? Earth to Kat, come in please," Hannah laughs, waving her hand in front of my face. "Must be some book," she smirks once she finally has my attention.

"Something like that," I mumble, more to myself than to her. "What were you saying?" I close the novel in my hands, using a finger to keep my place.

"I was asking if you're excited for break next week," she repeats herself, folding her laundry on her bed. "I for one, cannot wait for this week to end. Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year?"

I shake my head. "'My grandmother will be having it at her house." Hannah's eyes go wide, an amused smile on her lips. "I know," I laugh. "It'll be a disaster, but it'll make her happy. Are you going to your dads?"

Hannah nods. "Mhm, I'm meeting his new girlfriend." She scrunches up her nose.

"You okay?" I soften. Hannah's parents were never married, but they were together for most of her life. They split up freshmen year, and since then, her dad has caused a lot of family drama by bringing numerous girlfriends around. Some... well, some much younger than himself. And Hannah is stuck right in the middle.

"Connor will be home, too. So at least there's that." Connor is Hannah's older brother - tall, blonde, blue eyed and gorgeous like Hannah. And successful, too, Connor is in his second year of law school. At my hesitation, Hannah teases, "Have you given any more thought to my idea?"

"Hannah!" I toss my pillow at her. "I cannot, and I will not, date your big brother. It's weird,"

"Only because you make it weird," she argues, a devious smile on her lips. "I know he would be all for it,"

I roll my eyes, dropping the subject. I've never had a boyfriend, I've always been so focused on my school work that I didn't want anything to distract me. And it worked, didn't it? I'm here now, at college, beginning to start seriously considering my plans for medical school. My mind trails to CJ, and I feel the little flutter of butterflies in my belly. Will I see him tomorrow?

"Want to go get some dinner?" Hannah rubs her stomach. "I'm starving,"

"Sure, let me just finish this chapter," I hold up the book we've been assigned in my literature class. Even though I'm pre-medicine, I try to take some enjoyable classes here and there. This semester it was Literature and Creative Writing. And Biochemistry, I shutter, and Physics 2. I don't like Physics much, but I'm better at it, so it's not so bad.

Hannah finishes organizing her side of the room while she waits. Once I'm finished, we bundle ourselves in our rain coats and boots. Unlike yesterday, the sun is nowhere to be found today.

As we make our way to the dining hall on lower campus, I can't help but scan each group of students that passes by, hoping to see CJ. This is silly, my mind shouts at me. Even if I do see him, I can't accept his invitation, not with finals being so close. With that in mind, I eat my dinner of chicken parm and pasta quietly, silently reminding myself to not be so disappointed.