London Falling (20 page)

Good. You can do this. It will work.
Nina’s words made me smile.
Call me after class.

I slid into the seat next to Beau, dropped my backpack on the floor, and fished for my notebook. My pen stash was in the front pocket. I dug through the collection until I found my favorite blue writing pen.

“People. It’s time to get started. The weeks are rolling past us and we still have lots of theory to cover.” The classmates around us lowered their voices. Everyone had grown accustomed to Professor Garcia by now, and the protesting and grumbling days were long gone. “The projects are looking great. This is one of the best semesters I remember. I’m going to have to recycle this assignment for another year.” I looked up and noticed our instructor had traded her red boots for purple ones.

Before I could jot the date on the fresh notebook page, the pen slipped from my hand and landed between Beau’s legs.
Are you kidding me?

I tried to smile as he retrieved the pen from its precarious position and handed it to me across the armrest. My fingertips brushed against his knuckles as I took the pen in my hand. I didn’t want it to affect me the way it did, but the nearness of him had a way of closing the hole that had been burning in my chest since I saw him last. It was only a second, but for that moment, I didn’t hurt.

“Everyone ready for Para Social Relationship Theory? It’s fascinating! They are planting characters in reality TV shows left and right. Who isn’t in a relationship with a TV character they love?” The nutty professor’s laughter peeled through the auditorium. It was loud enough to snap me back to my current reality.

I brushed my bangs away and inked out the theory for today’s lecture. I shifted so I was angled away from Beau. This was going to be the longest class of my life.

***

I managed to take five pages of notes. Professor Garcia never lacked in examples or stories when it came to her presentation of a new theory. It also helped distract me from my group partner. I tucked my notebook in my backpack and was careful not to fumble the pen again. I didn’t need another flailing incident today.

“Have you talked to Garcia yet?” Beau was standing next to me. It was the first time I had heard his voice. He sounded impatient.

“No.”

“Are you going to tell her about the research or did you already tell her?” He had worked his arms through the straps on his backpack and he was edging toward the door. It was hard not to admire his chest as his T-shirt pulled against his torso.

“I wasn’t in class Tuesday.” This was harder than I thought it would be.

“So you’re telling her today that we’re handing over the research?”

“Yes. I’m going to talk to her once everyone clears out.” I glanced around at the partners filing out of class. It was difficult to watch my classmates who had clearly become couples through the course of the semester. Why couldn’t we have been assigned
Island Fever
or
The Lion’s Den
?

“Ok. Cool. Thanks. I wasn’t here Tuesday either. Didn’t know if you talked to her yet.” He turned to leave.

Nina had told me no matter what he said or did I was not to ask him about the next
Love Match
date, but he was walking away. How did she think this was going to go? Did this mean he had given up on the entire project? My eyes were starting to sting, and the farther he got, the more the hole in my chest burned. This was not working—at all.

“Oh yeah—we need to plan date seven for this weekend, don’t we?” he asked before reaching the swinging door.

“I guess so.” I stood, facing him and those smoldering eyes that almost made me forget what had happened.

“Did you watch the show Monday?” he asked.

My chest relaxed. He hadn’t given up on the project.

“I did. What about you?”

“Yeah. I saw it. What date do you want to try?” His voice sounded warmer. At least he was tuning in to the show.

“You choose. Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I’m going to talk to Professor Garcia now.” I pointed over my shoulder at the cowboy-boot-wearing academic.

“Right. Ok. I’ll just text you or something.” He pulled his earbuds out of his pocket.

“Sounds good. See you later.” I turned to catch Professor Garcia’s attention before he made it to the door. I didn’t want to watch him walk away.

Nina would be proud. That went exactly how she predicted. I was glad I didn’t cave to the desperation I felt. If only my conversation with the professor would go the same way, I’d be on my way to making all of this right.

She was shuffling a stack of folders into her briefcase. “London! I’ve been meaning to email you, but I had this darn cold-flu and I was lucky to get my cats fed, if you know what I mean.”

I smiled meekly. “Sorry you were so sick. That sounds awful.”

“I might have caught it from Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome, so it was worth it. You kids aren’t the only ones who have your fun on spring break.” She laughed as she pressed a tissue to her nose.

Did my professor just tell me she hooked up with someone and caught a cold? “Um, so I wanted to talk to you about the research. Can we maybe sit for a minute?”

Professor Garcia nodded toward the front row stadium seats. “You look a little worried. If it’s about the conference, there is nothing I need for you or Beau to do. I’ll handle everything.”

My hands were starting to get hot. I shook them next to my side and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how to say this.” I closed my eyes and thought about what I almost had with Beau, what grade I almost had. This lie had cost me too much; it had to end. “Professor, Beau doesn’t know what I’m getting ready to tell you. He thinks I’m going to hand over our research.”

“And you’re not? I’m quite confused right now.” She was so still not a single bangle on her wrist moved.

If I didn’t spit it out, I would never have the strength to tell her. “We were together—Beau and me. We have been dating for the past few weeks. I was with him all through spring break and I didn’t tell my parents or my roommates. And when he wanted to tell you that we were together, I stopped him because I really need this grade. It’s the only class left for me to graduate and my parents aren’t going to let me move to L.A. if I don’t have an A. But Beau broke up with me during our argument and so now we’re not together.”

Professor Garcia sat with a stunned look on her face. “Oh my. That’s a lot to take in.”

“I know and I’m so sorry I lied to you and to the class and to everyone who read the blog. I didn’t know I wanted to be with him; it just sort of happened. And now everything is such a mess between us.”

“Hmmm…so let me ask you something, London. If you had met Beau out of this class and he had asked you on a date, would you have gone out with him?”

I thought about the night he ran into me with his bike. “No, I wouldn’t have.”

“And why not?”

This was starting to feel like a counseling session. “I guess because I didn’t know anything about him. I thought he was just like every other guy on campus.”

“And now that you’ve gone on these dates, you don’t think he’s so average anymore? You think he’s special?”

Well, if she wanted to define special as someone who could make me melt with one look, or someone who didn’t back down from my dares to get him to sing, or someone who could carry me with one arm from the scariest height I had ever encountered, then, yes, he was all of that and more.

“Yes, definitely. I think he’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met.” He was also the person I voluntarily made a fool of myself for on a regular basis.

“Then, it sounds like we need to make an adjustment to the research.” She smiled that cat-like smile she used when she was formulating a plan. “How many episodes do you and Beau have left to follow?”

“I believe we have four dates left to go.”

“I’ll make a deal with you, London. I probably have mentioned this, so you know I’m a huge
Love Match
fan. Never missed an episode.” Oh, good grief. I should pair her up with Nina. “The show’s rules stipulate that the bachelorette can’t reveal her true feelings to any of the men she is dating. What if you carry out the last four dates without telling Beau any of your feelings and see if the magic of the dates can bring him back around?”

I was hoping she would say exactly that. I smiled. “So he doesn’t know that I’m trying to get him back but I keep blogging like I’ve been?”

“Yes. Now, you’re going to have to do double the work, because I need you to record your true feelings and your observations from each of the dates for the real research. And I want you to come with me to Orlando to present the study.”

I hadn’t expected that bargaining morsel. I had a frightening image of my drunken professor in an Orlando dance club. “I guess that’s the least I could do for damaging the project.”

“London, it’s not damaged. Research changes. The heart wants what the heart wants. Who am I to stand in the way of true love? Oh, this is going to be so much fun! It’s even better than your original idea.” She clapped her hands together.

“Thank you, Professor Garcia. I won’t ruin it this time.” I couldn’t believe she was taking it so well.
Love Match
was like a drug casting a spell over its fans.

“Just don’t tell Beau. I think he’ll come around on his own. Good luck, dear.” She picked up her briefcase and climbed the steps to the top of the class.

***

I walked out of Manning Hall ready to tackle the world. Garcia was on board and I had avoided the scandal that accompanied a report to the dreaded honor court.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out to read the text.

Saturday date: show at the Cat’s Cradle

Beau was planning the next
Love Match
date
. Yes.
The day was getting better and better. I thought through my response before hitting send.

Good idea.

Victoria and Heath were helicoptered to a secluded island for a private concert. Cat’s Cradle was nothing like an island, but it was an intimate venue for a concert.

Zero flirting could be detected. So far, I was sticking to Nina’s plan. I couldn’t wait to call her and tell her what had happened with Beau. Missing Tuesday’s class might have been a side effect of one of his bucket list items, but deep down I wanted to think it had something to do with us.

***

This was our seventh date, but it felt more like the first. Beau had texted and said he would meet me at the door of Cat’s Cradle, the venue for the Bayou Boys concert. I faced my reflection in the mirror one last time before heading out. There were only three more dates after tonight.

It was as if Beau had flipped a switch. He went from the hot and sweet boyfriend who couldn’t keep his hands off me to a cool, distant classmate enduring the last few weeks of school with his group partner. He couldn’t keep this up. There was no way the time we spent together didn’t mean the same thing to him as it did to me. I held on to the memories from spring break. I knew exactly what Nina was talking about when she said Beau looked at me like no one else. It was all there in his eyes—at least it used to be.

“You look great, London. Stop worrying so much.” Nina peeked her head around the corner.

“Babe, he’s going to eat you up.” Candace chimed in behind her. I didn’t know she was home tonight. “That skirt is cute.”

“You two are sweet.” I fluffed the back of my hair. “What are you doing home, Candace?”

“I stopped by to say hi. Pearce is having a guys’ night or something like that.” She chewed on her bottom lip.

I didn’t want to pry. I crossed my room to give her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. I won’t be out too late. I think the concert starts at nine, so I should be home early. Movie night?”

Nina smiled behind Candace. “Definitely. More zombies?”

“Absolutely. I can’t take a romantic comedy tonight. I’m living it as we speak.”

“Just remember. Be close, but not too close. Smile, but not too much. And don’t trip or fall or anything like that.” Nina was full of advice tonight.

“Yes, mom.” I rolled my eyes and grabbed the jacket from my bed. Ready or not, it was time to meet Beau.

***

Date Seven: Down in the Bayou