Bradford.

8. Plan.

Chapter 8: Plan.

The boy's name happened to be Leonardo. He had a broken rib and no other injuries. I met his parents and I paid his hospital bill. He was a cool kid. During the short period of time I spent with him, I learnt that he played basketball and was the captain at his High School. He has a girlfriend named Amber, who he couldn't stop talking about. I got his number, which he forced me to take, before I left the hospital.

I am currently, at the school's library, writing a report on attraction, romance and love, for my psychology class.

I'm starting to regret taking this up as a minor course.

It's rush week at Bradford and let me just tell you it's not pretty. I am not a fan of sororities, so it's really annoying hearing everyone on campus talk about it. I honestly feel like sororities are a waste of your time. I mean, who wants to spend every hour of the day with whiny girls, cooped up in a house for four years straight.

Definitely not me.

I rather just chill in my dorm room alone with a tub of caramel popcorn and ten bags of sour patch kids.

"Maybe that's why you have no friends here." My subconscious tells me.

What does she know?

"Is this seat taken?" A voice asks me.

I look up and my stare meets a grinning Ashton.

"Yes." I answer.

I do not want to deal with this boy today.

"Oh come on, Vee. Don't be so difficult." He groans.

"DI-" I yell, but lower my tone.
"Difficult, you didn't talk to me for weeks, Ash. Now, you're here requesting a seat at my table. The answer is no. Beat it." I say, telling him off.

Ashton pulls out the chair across the table and sits on it.

I roll my eyes at him.

"I'm sorry, Valarie. I was...busy." He tells me.

"I bet." I say, as I keep typing on my laptop.

"You study too much." He remarks.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I say, through clenched teeth.

It's so annoying. Just because I take my school work seriously doesn't mean I'm a nerd. And besides I'm in college to get my degree.

"Because it's true. You better relax before that ticking vein in your forehead pops." He jokes.

I scowl at him and he stops smiling immediately.

"It's college, Ash. What do you expect me to do? Run off and manage some hotel with you while we drink champagne from a bottle as we take in the view of the Willis Tower from our shitty apartment in uptown Chicago." I say, slamming my laptop a little too hard.

"Shh." The librarian says.

"Well, that was the initial plan, yes." He says and I roll my eyes at him.

"No. That was our parents plan. The initial plan was for you to stay the fuck away from me." I say, packing my stuff up before I stand up and walk away. Leaving him alone at the table.

I know that I shouldn't be this mean to him, but I just need my space.

I head to my dorm room, it's been a long day and I am beat. All I need right now is my bed and some food. A match made in comfort heaven.

Turning the lock on the door, I open it and walk inside the room. It's empty. I expected Riley to be here, oh well.

I throw my laptop and book bag on my bed and I take my boots off. I lie on my bed and I just let myself sink into the bed.