King of Campus (10 page)

If I weren’t already blushing, I would be now.  My eyes slide away from hers before I force them back.  “Um, well, I just thought-”

Almost abruptly her slim hand slices between us and my words almost immediately fall off.  “There will be absolutely no reassigning partners for any reason other than someone dropping the class.  And I do not believe Mr. King will be dropping this class.”  If it’s possible, her eyes harden even more until they resemble cold little chips of ice.

“A hard truth you apparently need to learn, Ms. Kaster, is that we don’t always work with the people we want to.  Bosses, co-workers… we often find ourselves at odds with them but still we must find a way to compromise and work together for the greater good.”  She levels me with one last frosty glare that leaves me wilting beneath it.

“I suggest you find a way to work with Mr. King for the greater good of this project otherwise both of your grades will suffer for it.”  She glances rather pointedly at the thin gold watch adorning her wrist signaling that this subject has been firmly closed.  “Now, I suggest you use the next ten minutes wisely to discuss with your partner possible topics you would like to focus your project on.”

Feeling very much like a recalcitrant child, I quickly nod before skulking back down the aisle to where Roan is sitting with his long legs spread out in front of him.  There’s a slight frown marring his face as his eyes burn into me.  Even though my gaze is lowered to the floor, I can still feel him staring.

“Get everything squared away?”  There’s a distinct edge to his normally lazy sounding voice. 

With my face still feeling flushed, I force my eyes up to his.  “Yep.”

Glancing down at the five page packet stapled together, I clear my throat uncomfortably.  It’s pretty damn obvious I’m going to be the brains of this operation.  And, unfortunately, the labor as well.  Roan will add his name to the byline after the project has been completed and that, apparently, will be his big contribution.

Even though I’ve been all but chastised by Professor Paulson for trying to switch partners, I’m starting to work myself up all over again because my scholarship rides on being able to maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average.  I can’t afford to lose it.  And I’m certainly not going to let getting stuck with this Neanderthal as a partner stand in the way of getting an A in this course.  So, if that means I’m going to have to do the workload of two people to eek out that A, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

“I was thinking we could go the case study route instead of the informal content analysis.”  Because the main component to analyzing a case study would be research.  And research is something I can handle on my own.  Even though it’s going to take a lot of time I really don’t have.  But there aren’t any other choices to be made.  I can’t drop this course, it’s a requirement.  I need it to graduate.

Roan continues staring at me through semi-narrowed eyes before nodding his head in agreement.  “That sounds fine to me.”

Well… since Roan probably won’t be contributing anything more than that, I’m not really sure what else we have to discuss.  Glancing over at the clock on the wall, I notice we still have about five minutes.  But I don’t see a point in sticking around here any longer.  I’m meeting Lexie for lunch and then I have French and dance.  And I-

“You’re leaving already?”

His words snap me right out of my thoughts.  “Um, well, yeah.”

I’m just shoving the packet into my bag when he asks, “Don’t you want to discuss what kind of case study we’re going to focus on or when we can get together and work on it?”

For just a moment, I stand there gaping at him in complete surprise.  “Ummm… is that what
you
want to do?”

The hard line of his jaw tightens as his normally smirking mouth settles into an annoyed slash across his handsome face.  “Yeah, Ivy… it is.  This is a massive project worth more than half the points in this class.  I have a tight schedule with my course load, practice, games, and working out, so I’d like to get something firm nailed down as soon as possible.  I can’t afford to wait until the last minute.  That doesn’t work for me.”

I merely blink feeling totally blindsided by what he’s just said because it kind of sounds like he actually plans on contributing to this project.

When I don’t immediately respond, he leans forward, his heated blue-green eyes sparking with anger. “You don’t have to look so damned shocked.  Contrary to what you apparently believe, I have every intention of doing my share of the workload.”

My mouth tumbles open before I quickly snap it shut again.  Before I can even stutter out an embarrassed apology, he gathers up his books, shoves them into his backpack and stalks out of the room.  As soon as he does, about three girls huddle around me, blasting me with rapid fire questions all the while gushing about how lucky I am to be working with Roan King.

I can only smile halfheartedly before collecting my stuff and leaving.  I think I just made a huge tactical error regarding this guy.  Is it possible that Roan isn’t the dumb jock I pegged him to be?  I almost wince because I usually don’t make snap judgements about people.  But for some reason, I just assumed Roan was coasting through college on his football prowess and good looks.

Maybe that’s not the case.

Maybe there’s more to him than I’d initially suspected.

Chapter Nine

Anyone get invited to the little get together happening at the Roan King’s apartment?  If so, someone needs to share the four-one-one with all of us.  Pictures are, as always, welcomed and appreciated. Preferably naked ones… KingOfCampus.com

“So when are you planning to come home for a visit, Ivy?  You’ve been back in town for just about three weeks now and we still haven’t seen you.”

I’m standing on the tiny balcony off our living room, facing the western sky. I didn’t think I would enjoy having an outdoor space as much as I do.  Whenever I’m home in the evening, I somehow find myself out here when the sun is setting.  I love watching all the varying shades of red and pink that paint their way across the horizon.  It usually brings me a certain amount of peace.  My very own little bit of Zen.

That, unfortunately, does not seem to be the case tonight.

“Ivy, are you still there?”

“Um, yeah.”  Then I add, “Just thinking about my schedule.  School and work are crazy busy right now.”  This is completely true.  “I really want to find some time to get together with you guys.”  I think we all know this one is a whopper of a lie.  As much as I love my dad, I have zero interest in spending time with his wife and their kids.  “I’m just not sure when I can get away right now.  I’ll look into it and get back to you.”

“Sure, honey, that sounds good.”

I wince at the disappointment weaving its way through his deep voice. I honestly wouldn’t mind if he came here and grabbed dinner or something like that but Leah, his wife, finds it necessary to be included in everything we do.  I find it annoying to deal with her in order to have a relationship with my dad.  It’s like she can’t bear to be left out even though she’s with him twenty-four seven.  They have a set of four year old twins together.  Nora and Nolan.  They were still toddlers when I left for Europe.  I can only imagine what an obnoxious handful they are now.

“So how’s your apartment?  Is it nice?”

Slowly turning around, my eyes skim over the now decorated walls of our living room.  The cozy tan couch and matching armchair that were cast offs from Lexie’s parents and the forty inch TV which Dylan promptly bought an Xbox for.  I almost shake my head.  Right there should have been my biggest tipoff that he would be, for the most part, shacking up with us.  “Yeah, it’s really nice.  There are two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen, and a living room area.  There’s even a balcony big enough for a small table and two chairs.”

“Are you in a safe area?  I know you have to walk to your job.”

Not that he can see it, but I almost roll my eyes.  I lived abroad for more than a year and somehow managed to survive just fine without any parental involvement.  I think I can handle living at Barnett again.  “It’s perfectly safe.  Our apartment is just two blocks from campus and my job is about a mile away.  The dance studio is located downtown, so there are always plenty of people walking around.  And a lot of times, Lexie drives me.”

“That’s good.  I’m glad everything is working out for you, Ivy.”

That being said, we both lapse into an awkward silence.  The distance between us feels palpable.  And living abroad for almost a year and a half has only made it more so.  Just as I’m racking my brain for something to say, obnoxiously loud music is suddenly blasted from the apartment next to us.

“Did you just turn your stereo on?”

I snort.

A small smile tugs up the corners of my lips.  “No one has a stereo anymore, dad.  And, no, it’s the guys who live next to us.”  Stepping towards the edge of the tiny space, I lean over the black iron railing, trying to see past the privacy wall that separates our balcony from Roan, Sam, and Dylan’s.

“Well, it’s certainly loud.”

“Yeah… it is.”  A sliding door opens and closes before boisterous voices fill the air.  “I’d better get going, dad, I still have some work to finish up.”  Since its Friday night, I don’t plan on doing anything school related.  But it’s a good excuse to pull the plug on this conversation.  “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Just think about coming home for a visit, okay?  Leah’s excited to hear all about your apartment and trip to Paris.  She picked up a housewarming gift for you and Lexie.”

I roll my eyes at that.  “Okay.  I’ll let you know.”  But I’m thinking
never
would be a good time.  Even though I know I’ll have to plan a trip home at some point, my strategy is to put it off for as long as possible.  Like Thanksgiving.

We both say I love you before disconnecting.  A moment later, Lexie sticks her head out the sliding door.  “Whatcha up to, Ivy-Girl?”

Talking with my dad always puts me in a maudlin mood.  It never fails to remind me that we’re no longer the tight knit family we once were.  And that’s a bitter pill to swallow on the best of days.  Having to watch Leah snuggle up to my dad is still a painful reminder that he moved on in the blink of an eye.

Because Nolan and Nora were born almost a full year after my mother’s death, I know they must have gotten together almost immediately after my mom passed away.  And once he sat me down and dropped the bomb that he’d knocked up his co-worker, she moved right on in.

So I never really gave Leah much of a chance. 

I mean seriously… how could I?

Every time I looked at her or those kids, all I could think about was how she slid unwantedly into our grieving family before my mom’s dead body was even cold.

Setting my phone down on the small glass café style table, I shrug as if it’s no big deal.  “Just talking to my dad.”

Lexie’s eyes widen.  She knows all too well the unresolved issues my dad and I are still struggling with.  Lexie was there when my mom got sick in eighth grade.  And she was there to comfort me when my mom died the summer before my sophomore year.  She was also there four months later when my dad suddenly announced out of nowhere that he had impregnated Leah and was now getting remarried.

After that, I spent as much time as I could camping out at Lexie’s house.  I would have just moved in with her family if I could have.  But my dad wouldn’t allow it.  So I was stuck living with my dad, his baby mama, and their squalling twins that were born right before the start of my junior year of high school.

My dad’s modus operandi is to sweep all the ugliness from the past neatly under the rug and pretend everything is hunky-dory.  Both he and Leah walk around with their heads up their asses and I’m the fly in the ointment that refuses to go along with it.  So it’s just easier for all involved to have these fake conversations and keep my distance until I’m finally able to support myself.

Her pretty face fills with compassion.  “Everything good with him?”

“Always sunny and perfect in John Kaster’s la-la land.”  I give her a mocking smile that feels brittle around the edges.  “Come on, you know that.”

One side of her mouth hitches in sympathy as she folds her arms across her ample chest.  Not that I’m deliberately trying to focus on Lexie’s boobs, but she really does have an enviable rack on her.  She’s at least a D cup.  Every once in a while I try imagining what that must feel like.  Since I’m only a B cup, it takes a great deal of pondering.  Hell, sometimes I don’t wear a bra… and no one even notices.  “Is he coming here for a visit?  It’s been about sixteen months since you’ve seen him.”

Glancing away, I murmur, “I told him I’d check my schedule and get back to him with a date that works.”

Because she knows me so well, she snorts.  “Do you actually have any intention whatsoever of getting back to him?”

“Nope.”  I pop the P at the end. 

Rather sadly, she shakes her head.  “I didn’t think so.”  Lexie moves from the doorway to the small table that is almost too big for our teeny tiny balcony before pulling out a chair and throwing herself down.  Gently she says, “Maybe it’s time for you to let it go, Ivy.  I mean, you’ve already lost one parent, do you really want to lose him, too?”