Page 48 of Under His Protection
We continue across campus, cut through the square, and head to the sciences building. Once we reach our classroom, Andrea and Christian split off and head to their table. I spot Mark Hoffman already seated at our table. I take my seat beside him.
“What’s with the bandage?” he asks as he stares at my finger.
“It’s just a paper cut.”
Class progresses, and other than doing the very minimum, Mark seems to be giving me the cold shoulder again. The guy is hot one minute, then cold the next. But that’s fine with me. He participates in our experiment, but he doesn’t volunteer anything more.
Near the end of class, he mutters under his breath, “Did you have fun Friday night with yourboyfriend?”
“What? Yes.”
“You missed Game Night.”
“I told you, I had plans.” I remember seeing Mark that night seated at a table with other students playing cards.
“You should have come. It was a mixer. You know—a chance to meet new people and make friends.”
“I already have enough friends, and I don’t need to meet new people.”
“What did you and—”
Whatever he was about to say is cut off when the instructor shoots a glare his way and says, “No talking, please. You need to pay attention.” She points up at the list of terms projected on the screen. “These will be on your next quiz.”
Class ends shortly after, and Ms. Davis makes some parting remarks about this week’s quiz.
As I’m packing up my things, Mark says, “Want to go grab coffee? My treat.”
Oh, great, now he’s warm again. I’m getting whiplash. And I can’t believe he’d even ask me again when he knows I have a boyfriend. Can’t he take a hint? “I can’t. I have a paper to write.”
“We can study for Wednesday’s quiz.”
“I’m sorry, no.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself. It’s your loss.”
I watch Mark walk away and wonder if he’s the one harassing me. He seems passive-aggressive enough to do something like that.
“Where are you off to?” Andrea asks when she stops at my desk as I’m packing up my things. Christian is across the room talking to the instructor.
“Back to my dorm. This is my last class of the day.”
She notices my bandage. “What happened to your finger?”
“Paper cut.”
“It’s not your day, is it?”
I shrug. “I guess not.”
“Which dorm are you in?”
Her question takes me off guard. “Faulkner. Why?”
“We’re in Milton, which is right next door. Christian and I attended Game Night Friday. I didn’t see you there.”
“No, I had plans off campus.”
“You didn’t miss much. It was pretty lame. Hey, if you’re heading back to your room, Christian and I can walk with you, if you’d like. We’re heading that way.”
