"Hello!" I say cheerily, smiling over at Maddox as I approach. We're in the kitchen with nobody else around because of how early it is. Our class starts at eight and no one in this house ever gets up before nine as far as I'm aware.
Maddox does the chin nod in my direction and I furrow my eyebrows when he doesn't say anything. He scrolls on his phone as he sits and eats cereal, not once looking in my direction. My heart drops and I stand up, put my bag on my shoulder, and walk out of the house.
I walk to campus to clear my head, stopping at the cafe for a tea first. Waiting outside the door to the lecture hall, I sip my tea and think. As far as I was aware, nothing had happened to make Maddox act this way since yesterday. He was the one who initiated the kiss, so why was he the one acting dodgy?
Smiling at the professor as she unlocks the door, I sit in the front row of desks and take out my notebook and pens. While I wait, I take out a book to pass the time. Students filter in, and I focus on my book, not wanting to know whether Maddox is even going to show up to class today. Considering he was awake so early, I imagine he will show up.
I put my book away when the professor clears her throat and begins to speak, going over the assignments and starting her lecture. For once, I'm not fully paying attention as my mind wanders elsewhere. Hopefully, I'll be able to gather myself before my next class, my favorite class.
"Hey, sweetheart." I shake away my thoughts as a dark arm is wrapped around my neck. Luke.
"Hello," I say quietly and he tilts his head to look at me as we walk.
"You okay? You look a little lost?" He asks, his eyebrows furrowing and he pouts his large lips. I smile and nod.
"It's nothing. Excited for class?"
"Hell yeah. Although I'd rather be doing...anything else." He rolls his eyes and pulls me closer to him as we walk to Art History and Visual Culture. Luke tells me a funny story about Chase as we walk into the lecture hall and find seats near the front.
"For the last portion of class, I wanted to discuss some of the most influential Spanish artists of the last century. Not necessarily the most recognized, but the ones who made the biggest impact. There are a few names like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali that you may recognize, but what about Lorenzo Savia and Sofia Ramos. These two Spanish abstract artists are most known for...what?" The professor asks and I look around, not seeing one hand up. I raise mine slowly. "Yes, you there." I gulp, suddenly aware of all the attention on me. Probably hundreds of eyes.
"Manipulating the female body through art," I say and she nods.
"Yes. And do you know which medium they each preferred?" The professor asks while looking straight at me. I nod.
"Savia used pastels and charcoal. Ramos used ink and water on watercolor canvases." I answer and she smiles. Luke's eyes are wide and he hits my arm lightly, catching my attention as the professor continues to speak.
"Damn girl. Where did you learn that? I've never even heard of them." He whispers, his eyebrows halfway up his forehead. I shrug.
"I stumbled across one of her pieces in a gallery in London and became a little bit obsessed if I'm being honest. If I could paint, I'd want to do what she did."
"So you like ink...huh?" He smirks now and my cheeks turn red. He couldn't possibly know about what happened. "I'm not going to tell anyone, I just see the way you look at him." My lips part and I don't know what to say. "He looks at you the same way," Luke says, smiling genuinely.
"He doesn't," I look down.
"What makes you think that?"
"He and I...kissed yesterday. He kissed me. This morning, he didn't say a word. We even had a class together." Luke looks apologetic, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and I lean into him.
"It's alright. He'll get there."
After class ends, Luke drives me home and I wave to him as my phone rings, walking into my bedroom. Kiki. I answer immediately and lay back down on my bed, holding the phone up to my ear.
"Hey girl, what's up?"
"I'm actually glad you rang. I have something that I need to say." I tell her nervously while playing with my hair.
"Yeah? You okay?"
"Not really. I kinda...kissed Maddox yesterday and now he's ignoring me and I don't know what to do."
"You what? When? Oh my god. No, Rory, I didn't even know that you guys―"
"At the beach. What do I do? It was my first kiss, and it was so amazing―"
"Aurora stop. I'm going to say something, and you won't like it, but you need to listen to me."
"You're frightening me."
"Maddox is a full-blown player. He's the type of guy that sleeps with a different girl every night. He doesn't date."
"But...really?"
"Aurora I'm so sorry. I wish I knew before... I would've told you sooner."
My heart drops in my chest. So the kiss probably meant nothing to him? Was I just some plaything to pass the time for him? "Thank you for telling me." I manage to get out over the lump in my throat.
"I'm gonna come over okay? I'll be there soon."
I just nod, forgetting that she can't see me before hanging up. Kiki shows up after thirty minutes and lets herself in, jumping onto my bed with me and giving me a big hug. I don't cry. "Girl, I'm so sorry. He's just...the kind of guy that your parents warn you about." I nod in understanding. "Hey, I have an idea." She says, jumping up from beside me excitedly. "Let's go out. There's a frat party that I know of, and I doubt the soccer boys will be there."
I think about it. Parties don't really seem like my thing so far, but I do want to distract myself, plus Kiki seems excited about it so I agree. She immediately goes into my closet but comes out frowning. "Girl, I'm sorry, but you can't wear any of this." I frown in mock hurt but laugh. "Either we need to go shopping, or... Oh! Call Lexi!" She says, gesturing my phone and I surrender it to her. She looks through my contacts for Lexi's number and presses the 'call' button. We wait while it rings but it doesn't take her long to pick up.
"Hey! I'm glad you called!"
"Hey, it's Kiki. Are you two going to that frat party tonight? Delta something."
"I'm not, but Faye and Reece are. Do you want to talk to them, they're here." Lexi asks.
"Okay!"
"Wait!" I interrupt. "I'm having a bad night, and Kiki wants to go to this party, but would you mind if I came over there to hang out with you instead?" I ask Lexi, and turn to face Kiki. "You could go with Faye and Reece."
"I wouldn't mind at all," Lexi says.
"I don't mind staying in with you tonight," Kiki says, frowning, but I shake my head.
"Lexi's already staying in, and you want to go out. We all win this way." I smile and watch as Kiki rolls her eyes and smiles.
"Okay fine. Could you give me Faye's number and I'll leave you guys to talk?" Kiki asks and Lexi rattles off the number.
"So you're sure? If you have plans I'm really quite fine with staying in alone." I say, not able to simply invite myself over.
"No seriously. I want you to come. It was just going to be Taly and me."
"Okay! So, when should I come over?" I ask excitedly.
"Whenever works. I'm here now."
"I'll ask Chase to drive me in an hour?"
"Perfect. See you soon!" We say goodbye and she hangs up. Kiki is texting Faye now and I go to my closet to get changed into a pair of comfortable cotton shorts and a white tank top. Walking to the opposite end of the hall, I knock on Chase's door.
"Hey, you. Alright?" Chase asks after opening the door.
"Hi. Um, would you be able to drive me to Lexi's in an hour? We're...hanging out?" Chase chuckles and nods.
"Absolutely. Glad to. You busy until then?" He asks me and I shake my head, walking into his room when he gestures for me to. Taking a seat on his bed, he pulls his laptop out and lays it in front of us.
"I think it's time that we call the parents, yeah?" I scrunch my nose and smile, scooting over to sit closer to him so that we both fit on the screen while he rings them on the video chat.