Shit.
Not off to a good start.
Matthew ruffled his hair, hoping if he flattened it enough, it would hide his baggy eyes. Hungover was not a good look for the first day of class. Being late wasn’t either. Not when you have to keep your grades up.
It wasn’t his fault the party was the night before the start of class.
He liked the chase.
He liked it so much he apparently didn’t care if he was late for class.
Matthew glanced down at his watch, noticing he was about five minutes late. No one would notice five minutes. Or at least he thought so—until he walked into a completely empty classroom.
Months ago, back when he had scheduled his classes, he never actually planned on going. Now there he was, trying to be a good student…and the fucking classroom was empty? For fuck’s sake.
Well, not empty, empty. There was a girl with her back to him. He felt less stupid.
“This isn’t right,” he said as he glanced around at the empty space around them. “Was the class canceled?”
“Hm, I, eh, I don’t think so…”
“Then where the fuck is everybody?”
“I’m not sure.”
As she turned her head to face him, he frowned. Huh. She looked familiar. Why did she look familiar… He had not fucked her or he would at least remember her. She could not be from one of his classes—he did not attend enough classes to remember any of his classmates.
“I don’t think so,” she replied before tilting her head forward, forcing her brown bangs to cover a portion of her face.
She could hide as much as she wanted: he knew who she was. “You’re the girl!”
“Excuse me?”
“The girl who kissed me!”
“I really don’t think so,” she repeated, clearing her throat as if it would change her voice.
He had not gotten the best look at her at the party, especially considering how fast everything had happened, but now that he had the time to look at her—she was cute.
“I recognize you.”
“I-I…”
“Came for seconds?”
“It was an accident.”
“Kissing me or hitting me?” She got flustered easily and he was getting a kick out of seeing her blush.
It was not too long before he imitated her reaction from earlier, groaning, as he tilted his head backward in desperation.
“We’re in the wrong classroom.”
“What?”
“The teacher switched the room.”
“Where is it?”
“Building next door.” His head dropped forward. “Come on,” he said before sighing.
As much as he wanted to tease her, he was mostly frustrated at the moment. Being this late for his first class was not going to help him achieve his new goals.
Well, they were not his own goals that he wanted to attain, but they were the ones life had imposed on him. He was already struggling enough as it was and he did not need this on top of it.
Now he needed to take the time to go over his schedule and review every class.
He could not have this happen to him again.
After a torturous silent walk, they had made it to class slightly late. He had tried to engage her a little but between his own need to make it on time, and her clearly ignoring him, it hadn’t happened.
Luckily, they were not the only ones who were late, leaving the teacher to appear only a little bit irritated by all the latecomers.
Matthew would have loved nothing more than to tease her, and press her for more answers, but he couldn’t.
Couldn’t run if your legs were shit.
Once the class was over, his mystery girl was quick to gather her things so that she could flee as rapidly as possible. She shoved her books in her leather bag, accidentally folding some pages by accident, but regardless of that she closed the flap and swung her bag over her shoulder.
Way to hurt a man’s pride.
“Hey, Matthew! Where are you going?” called out Luke, still in the doorway of the classroom. Luke. Best friend. Fucker who still got to run. No, okay. Fine. Just best friend. He was annoying him right now, but it wasn’t his fault.
“Nowhere.”
Honestly, without being full of himself, he always felt like he had it quite easy with the ladies. Usually, a flash of his grin, a twinkle in the eyes, and he had their full attention. Maybe he picked up a few more girls than necessary.
This was not a reaction he was used to…
“You know, being late to class isn’t gonna help you get good grades.”
“I know.”
“‘Til you’re runnin’ again, you gotta do better. You’re not one for classes but—”
As if he did not know how serious the situation was—he was the one living in it. He was well aware that if his grades did not go up, he was in trouble. It was hardly his fault though…
He never had to pay attention to this kind of thing… He never expected that he would be injured to the point that he would be unable to practice the sport that he loved. Injured was maybe not the right word. Attacked was better.
He was not dealing with that fact very well at the moment, and he was not certain how he was supposed to give up his love for running.
He was already struggling enough as it was and he did not need anyone rubbing it in his face constantly, especially not his friends…
If he never ran again…
“Maybe you should get a tutor,” Luke suggested. “While you wait. You’ll heal.” Luke. Delusional Luke. His best friend had a tendency to hope for the best. Maybe Matthew used to be like this. Not anymore though.
“I don’t need a fucking tutor.”
“Dude, I don’t think you even know how to study.”
He had avoided exams for years by excelling on the track field, where no one was faster than him. Well, at least, it was this way until it was taken from him.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
“Hey, Party Girl!”
“Please.” She pressed a finger to her lips and he paused.
He arched an eyebrow, observing the expression on her face. It was close to the one she had when she kissed him at the party that night; pure panic. Had she not also mumbled something about an ex-boyfriend?
He tried to glance around but he could not see anyone that fit her caliber. Also, apart from knowing that she had great taste in picking someone to kiss, he did not know much about her.
“Still avoiding your ex?”
~ “No?”
“I never did get to find out who he was.”
“Why are you torturing me?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Just tryin’ to help.”
“I don’t need it.”
She was saying that—but she also wasn’t making any attempt at leaving or walking away…so there was potential for a deal here. He could use it to his advantage. Slimy? Maybe. He didn’t usually have to work so hard for an opening.
“Listen.” He cleared his throat. “How about a trade?”
“What?”
“I help you, you help me.”
Matthew watched as she stretched her neck to look around his large frame. Probably trying to spot if she could walk away. “Help me?” she asked, never meeting his gaze.
“Listen, I need some help with my classes.”
“Why are you asking me? You don’t even know me.”
“I know you’re smart.”
“No, you don’t.”
He smirked. “You almost had a panic attack about missing class. You don’t do the party lifestyle? The only hobby left is studying.”
It had taken him a little bit of time to track her down. Nearly no one knew who she was, but in the end, he had been able to track down her name. Someone let it slip. He was about to find out a little bit about her—her presence on the internet was not big either.
She excelled in her classes; she was a straight-A student. She was what he needed.
“We have one class in common. We’ve never seen each other before. How do you know I can help you?”
“Math class. You can help me with that.”
“Look—”
“I’m in Sport Sciences.” Something easy. When he picked…it was because you need a program to do sports at the university. Not 'cause he cared.
She said…nothing.
He chuckled. “Usually that’s when people would share their program.”
She clicked her tongue. “Kinesiology.”
“What?” she snapped.
“Well, sorry. You didn’t strike me as the sport enthusiast.”
It was a good deal, she had to take it. If she was panicked enough to kiss a stranger—something that appeared out of the norm for her, then she would love his deal. “I’ll stand here.”
“What for?”
“I’m taller and wider than you. You’ll be able to slip away unnoticed.”
“What?”
“Why are you specifically saying you don’t run?”
“Do you have to know my whole life?”
“Do you want to slip away unnoticed?”
“I want to change the deal.”
“There is no deal!” she said loudly but in a hushed voice.
“Tick, tock.”
“Are you good at running?”
“The best.” That was painful to say.
“Deal.”
