Our eyes locked.

I did a double take as my face paled by the sight of his tall arrogant figure in front of me.

Why's he here ? Please please please don't tell me he's part of this group !

Damn it ! Of all the people that I could've chosen to have lunch with, I had to choose his group of friends ! I facepalmed myself in the head, panicking, but I still managed to pull a blank face. I gazed into his eyes again, trying to find any hint of surprise or confusion but I found none, the only emotion I could find was annoyance. It's as if he knew I was going to be there, which I know it's impossible. There's no way he would know, right ?

The air was thick with uneasiness as we continued to study each other but it didn't last long when Cassidy suddenly clung onto his arm, her chest pressed tightly against his well toned muscles.

Oh boy, she's definitely going to be the next victim ... Good luck, Cassidy. Good luck ! After what I have experienced a few days ago, I'm positive he's going to say something rude to her or even humiliate her in front of everyone. I'm 100% certain -

My train of thoughts about what nasty things he was about to say was brought to an abrupt stop when I saw the side of his lips curved slightly upwards. Yes you heard me right, upwards, not downwards, or sideways or any other possible way !

He smiled ! He freaking smiled !

He didn't say anything rude to her but instead he was smiling like a normal person !

If my eyes weren't wide open before, they widened even more with what I just saw.

My chest tightened involuntarily by the utterly unexpected reaction from him as memories from Sunday came flooding in. I swear I could still hear his rude remark about me somewhere in the back of my head.

It's not that I wished him to insult Cassidy or anything but what the heck was wrong with me that day when he basically called me a slut out of nowhere ? At least I don't think I deserved that ...

"Kat, this is Cole." Cassidy who seemed to have completely missed the exchange between me and him introduced him in an overly excited tone.

"Hi, I'm Kat." I forced myself to give him my signature smile and pretended that we haven't met before because a small part of me still hoped that maybe, just maybe he's going to change his attitude towards me this time ...

But that spark of hope was quickly extinguished when the smile that was on his face a second ago dropped faster than a bomb. He didn't even bother to acknowledge me and instead looked away, walked pass me and settled down with Cassidy next to him.

"Don't mind him. I told you he's a bit temperamental." Liam whispered into my ear, trying to comfort me.

Feeling grateful that someone actually cared about my feelings first time today, I offered him a small smile. For the rest of the lunch, I successfully avoided any human interaction with Cole by craning my head to Liam's direction the whole time and tried to join in their conversation. Not once did I looked at Cassidy or Cole. Even though my neck hurts afterwards, it's still worth it.

I stayed with them until it was time for my last lecture of the day, we said our goodbyes and even followed each other on instagram, except for Cole since he left early without saying a word. Everyone didn't seem phased at all about that so I guess he's just like that in a normal basis ... which kind of make me feel better.

But the question is what's so different about Cassidy ? Why did he treat her differently? Are they together ?

Just as I was about to dive deeper into that thought, I was suddenly grabbed by my arm and got pulled behind the curbs and tress that were planted beside the road.

I hissed in pain when my back hit the tree trunk, the rough texture of the bark scratched my skin through my flimsy T-shirt.

Getting ready to yell at the assailant who did this to me, I opened my eyes which had instinctively shut closed during the impact earlier, just to get drawn into those annoyingly familiar steel blue orbs.

My heart skipped a beat but then quickly recovered when dread started to spread through my chest.

"What do you want ?" I said frustratingly while thinning my lips.

"Shouldn't I be the one to ask you that question ?" He snorted.

At his rhetorical question, I threw him a perplexed look. What does he mean by that ? He was the one who pulled me here ...

Then it clicked.

The irritation that oozed off from him during lunch and how he wasn't surprised to see me at first but more like he was already expecting me to be there ... He wouldn't possibly think ... no way ...

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"You wouldn't possibly think I joined Cassidy's group because of you right ?"

The way he glanced back at me clearly says he was thinking exactly what I said just now.

I scoffed, "I didn't even know you're in it !"

My attitude seemed to tick him off because without warning, he freaking blew up at me. "Do you think I'll still believe you ?" He laughed bitterly. "Fucking stay away from me and don't join us again!"

"Gosh, how big of an ego do you have ? You're the one who kept popping up out of nowhere ! I'm sorry to break it to you but YOU'RE NOT MY TYPE! And who the hell do you think you are to control who I want to be friends with ?"

He laughed again but this time in a more sarcastic way. "Oh you meant Liam huh ? What now ? You want to fuck him instead ?" His face twisted into a nasty scowl.

Ugh ! Why can't he understand I'm not that kind of girl ? I might seem desperate to get a boyfriend but I am not planning to throw myself at every single guy that I literally just met !

Already feeling weary, I gave up on even answering him. I let out an exasperated sigh, "Cole, you're just so delusional."

Quickly, I got out behind the trees before he could say anything and continued my walk to the psychology building.

The last lecture ended before I even knew it, I couldn't concentrate during the whole time. His words kept on replaying in my mind, I just don't understand what makes him so determined to think that I'm that kind of girl he was referring to. I am not initiative nor am I flirtatious, I don't even wear revealing clothes. So why ? Why does it have to be me that he hates so much ?

***

Knock. Knock.

I was immediately jolted awake from my power nap when I heard someone knocked on my door.

I squinted my eyes when the door creaked open, light from the living room seeped through the crack, temporarily blinded me.

I didn't know how long I had slept because this power nap was supposed to be 10 minutes long but judging from the darkness in my room, it seems like I had slept for hours. Oops.

Without warning, someone flipped the light switch in my room. I groaned, swiftly pulled my blanket over my head, refusing to get out of the soothing darkness yet.

That person walked in and I felt my bed dipped on my left side moments later.

Whoever that person is shouldn't have known me for a long time or else he or she wouldn't attempt to rip my blanket off of me because everyone knows how cranky I am when I wake up.

I clutched onto my blanket as if my dear life depended on it, "Go away !"

"Kat. Look what I've bought you." He said in a sing song voice and I knew instantly who that was.

Of course it's him ! Because no one dares to do this except for Elliot.

"What ?" I snapped.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat this because I won't hesitate to finish it all by myself."

I formed a small hole with my blanket as I tried to sniff the air.

I perked up instantly at the smell of the aroma and I knew he got me my favourite pizza in the whole wide world - Hawaiian pizza ! Yay ! I don't need to cook dinner myself tonight !

Okay you guys might be confused why I like Hawaiian pizza so much and trust me you guys are not the only ones, everyone said that I had a peculiar taste in pizza, saying that pineapple doesn't belong yada yada but hell no I don't care. Pineapple, ham, tomato sauce and the cheese are literally the best combo ever !

"What's this for ?" I asked, trying to suppress my excitement.

Ells, you're too naive if you think I will get bribed by one pizza !

Elliot gave me an apologetic grin, "I'm sorry for today. It won't happen again I promise."

When I didn't respond, he brought the pizza box in front of me and smiled goofily at me.

I sighed, I swear I could never get mad at him.

"Apology accepted. But next time please text me first. It hurts to know that you forgot about me." I frowned.

He leaned in and gave me a hug, "I won't Katie bear. So we good ?"

"We good." I bobbed my head as I grabbed a slice of pizza and stuck it in my mouth. I didn't know how hungry I was until I had my first bite.

I put on Netflix on my laptop as we started watching Brooklyn Nine Nine while eating the pizza together.

"Kat. Can I ask you something ?"

I nodded, snuggling further into the hoodie Elliot gave me earlier.

"I saw you today at lunch ... with Cole's gang."

"Yea. So ?" I looked up at him, "What are you trying to say ?"

"I think it's better for you to find another group of friends. They're not the people that you usually hang out with."

Stopping the episode that's playing, I frowned at him. "Well then who should I hang out with ?"

"I don't know. Just. Not them." He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the screen.

"Ells, do you have any misunderstandings with them ?" I asked carefully.

"No. But I've heard rumours about them."

"So ?"

He sighed and finally turned to look at me, "Look Kat, what I meant is they're not good for you. It's only been a few days since we started uni and they already had lots of rumours flying around them. And most of them are bad, especially that Cole guy."

By the mention of his name, Elliot instinctively had his hands balled into fists which I found strange but I let it slide anyway since it seemed like he didn't notice it himself.

However, on the other hand, I couldn't ignore the way he talked about them and the resentment that was evident in his voice. And for some unknown reason, I wanted to, strangely, defend them ?

I blurted it out before I even knew it, "But they're nice though."

"Kat. Just listen-"

I cut him off before he could say another word, "Elliot. I know what I'm doing. Stop acting like my dad !"

He doesn't understand me. He can't, he's always surrounded by people, he's literally like a people magnet, but I'm not. It's easy for him to just ditch his group and another group will be more than happy to take him in but I can't. He wouldn't understand how hard it is for me to find a group of friends ...

We stared into each other's eyes intensely, both of us refused to give in. After a minute, Elliot let out an exasperated sigh, finally gave in by turning his gaze back at the frozen screen.

"Just consider what I said, alright?"

He stayed for a bit longer before heading back to his dorm. I couldn't help but think what he said, I don't even know why I was so defensive when he talked about them in that way. I've never even considered joining in the first place, but it was just at that moment that I felt like I needed to say something back.

Ugh ! Honestly what is my problem ? Now I need to stick with them, finger crossed I will get out unscathed because I knew Cole will definitely do something to me. God, please help me !