A Broken Heart

Chapter 9

Every Thursday I only have class until one which is really nice. That means that I have so much time to do classwork before the weekend is here and if I want to, I can do something else on the weekend. Not that I have much plans really.

Since it's pretty nice out today, warm but not too hot, I decide to spend my afternoon outside. I go by my usual coffee place to get an icetea and then I head for the courtyard and sit down under a tree in the shade. I lean my back against the tree and put my headphones on before I pull my notes out of my bag from my classes. I decide to get out the instructions for our writing assignment, reading them through and scribbling down ideas.

After about an hour I take my last sip from my icetea, which now is warm, making me look up from my notes and realize there's shoes standing in front of me. Black sneakers. I follow the jean clad legs up in pure confusion. They go up the white t-shirt covering a wide chest before I lock eyes with those green ones. His lips moving without me hearing a word.

"What?" I ask Caden as I pull my headphones off. He smiles down at me.

"Is this seat taken?" He ask and point to the patch of gras beside me. I feel utterly confused. I was so focused on my work that I didn't really notice the world around me. I nod in respons a bit perplexed. Why does he wanna sit here beside me?

"So what has you all concentrated?" He ask nodding towards my books. I hold my textbook up towards him.

"The Norton Anthology of English Literature." He reads of the cover of my book. "Fun reading then, huh." He say cheeky.

"What else." I smile at him. He doesn't look that solemn today, I wonder why that is. Maybe something fun has happened.

"So you have to tell me," he say all serious, staring at me with those green orbs. "Why Arnold?" He question making me laugh.

"You're still on that?" I raise an eyebrow at him. "Arnold Schwarzenegger." I tell him and see the light go in inside his eyes.

"Ahh. And why would you compare me to him?" He still looks a bit confused.

"Because of these." I say and poke his bicep. He's sitting very close, out arms almost touching.

I can't believe I touched him.

He looks down to where my finger picked him and then up at me, his eyes trying to read me, I think. They're scanning all over my face.

"I'm no way near his physic." He state, making me roll my eyes. Of course he isn't, he's not monstrously big. Just have very well, big shaped muscles.

"No, but I can see that you aspire to him." I say and raise my eyebrows up and down a couple of times. Trying to mess a little with him.

"You're far off." He states, shaking his head.

"Then why bulk up like this?" I ask, seeing the playfulness goes out of his face, leaving the sadness I've seen before. I think I might have hit a nerve.

He takes a deep breath. "I played football." He says, leaning his head against the tree and looking straight ahead. That makes sense, those guys are all huge.

"Played, as in passed tense?" I ask pulling my legs up and wrapping my arms around them. The atmosphere suddenly not so jokingly anymore.

"Yeah, I was here on a scholarship. But I got hurt last semester." He say and look down at his hands. I sense that this is a sore subject.

"I'm sorry." I say, biting my lip. The few conversations we've had before has been playful, this is more serious and I feel a little out on deep water.

"It's not your fault." He smirks at me.

"So you can't play anymore?" I ask, ignoring his statement.

"Yeah, I'm done." His voice is low and his eyes drop to the ground. That I can totally relate to, since I had to quit playing volleyball. It blows not being able to do something you love.

"That sucks." I state. I can't really understand that we are sitting here, talking all serious all of a sudden. I barely know this person. This way too handsome guy. It's ridiculous really.

"Tell me about it." He nods his head. "Still like to hit the gym though." He say with a smirk and flex his arm. I roll my eyes at him.

"So what are you studying now?" I try to change the subject. I don't wanna talk about his muscly arms that are way hot.

"Business." He say and I can't help to let a small laugh out.

"You went from football to business?" I question frowning.

"Yeah," he chuckles. "My dad wanted me to stay in school and take some classes, I was about to quit altogether. So I chose couple of business courses." He shrugs and smile small at me.

"Seems like such a jump, thought you might choose something in sports at least." I tell him and move my hair to one side, giving my warm neck some breathing. It has gotten hot being out here, the sun has moved and are now hitting the side of my body.

"Yeah, well..." He shrugs. "We'll see what happens." He say running a hand though his dark hair, it really got a lot better after he cut it. "So what's your major?" He try to move the focus from himself.

"English," I smile and look at the books strewn out in front of me.

After about half an hour he leave as he has another class. I sit there feeling a bit pensive. He seems so nice, I don't understand why Cat was warding me off him. Specially since I'm not trying to date the guy. He probably has women at his feet, he's ridiculous handsome and those deep green eyes of his really pull you in. Maybe he's a player, wouldn't surprise me.

Either way. I don't care.

I pick my phone out of my bag when I hear it ring and see my mothers name flash on the screen.

"Hey mom," I answer the phone instantly.

"Hey sweetie, how are you?" She sounds worries as always, I try to ignore it as I'm answering her.

"I'm good, sitting outside and studying right now."

"Oh honey, is that really good? Maybe you should sit inside, what if you get a cold or something?" Her voice is anxious. I roll my eyes, knowing fare well she can't see me.

"I'm not gonna get sick from sitting outside." I reply her, it's summer and warm as hell, who gets a cold from that?

"Oh, alright. How was you appointment yesterday? I'm sorry I couldn't come with you."

"Mom, you don't have to come with me to all the appointments, they're just doing tests and you'll have to wait in the waiting room either way. Dr. Williams will tell us when you should come with." I try not to sound too bothered. "And it went well, nothing special." I add to calm her.

"I guess that's good to hear. Even if I hope for more news." She confess with her sad voice.

"I know mom, but it will take a while before they have any news at all."

"Yeeah. So, are you coming by this weekend?" She try to change the subject, knowing fare well that I hate talking about it. It's been the subject for most of my life.

"I don't think I can, I have this essay I need to write and I need the library for research." I tell her.

"But you need to rest, you know stress isn't good for you. You should take a break and come home for the weekend." She points out. I once again roll my eyes at her worrying and lean my head against the tree and look up at the sky. The fact that the house they're living in isn't really home doesn't concern her.

"I'm fine mom, I promise that I won't study the whole weekend. I just need to be on campus okay? I'll come next weekend." I promise her, regretting it instantly. I don't wanna make those kind of commitments. 

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