Arthur J. Collins

Arthur J. Collins.

Also known as Mr. Persistent has been tailing me since our bumping accident. It's now a week after I low key left him, mouth agape, in the hallway and he has not let up. *internal eyeroll*

It doesn't help that all I can do is think about those beautiful lips on his face.

Mmm, what I would do to those lips but...that's totally out of the question.

Y'all remember when there was a trend going around about how girls had cooties just so their parents wouldn't have to worry about their boys exploring too early? WELP! In my book of 99 PROBLEMS BUT A NIGGA AIN'T ONE, boys are the ones who have cooties not girls and I'd prefer if the male population kept their distance.

Like momma always says, "Your private parts are your NO-NO! spot and if they touch it you'll get pregnant."

Head in hand, I was currently in the library writing notes in my CHEM LAB notebook when two someone's decided to sneak up on me.

"HIYA!" Za'Cari whispered-yelled in my ear, literally shooting me sky high in fright.

I turned around to begin my rant only to see Mr. Collins standing behind her small frame and smiling down at me.

It was something about that smiling on his face...too authentic for my taste.

"Not only did you scare me but you brought the bug with you." I croaked, my throat dry from misuse.

"Drink water." Cari stated, giving me her water bottle.

Silently thanking her, I took a refreshing gulp of the cooling water.

"Like I was sa-"

"Like you was saying nothing. For your information, he actually came to see you and I was tagging along, not the other way around."

I rolled my eyes, turning back to face my schoolwork.

"I would be offended but then again I know you love me just as much as I love you." He spoke up

I scoffed, giving him my back "Boy, please, you just want to fuck."

"You are right but I can wait until you realize your feelings for me." He refuted, knowing what buttons to push.

"Br-" I was about to give him a piece of my mind.

"Okay so before you say anything else, let's just get some work done. All of us know that the back and forth will never end." Cari interrupted me, sitting next to me while Collins sat on my left flank.

I huffed, before turning back around to continue what I was doing. I didn't even have the energy to tell him to go sit somewhere else. He'd probably say something along the lines:

"It's a free country, woman. You'll need a restraining order if I am bothering you that much."

Then he'd period his sentence with his award winning smirk resulting in an eyeroll from me.

I am this close to getting that restraining order.

After struggling with Balancing Equations, I growled under my breath.

Fucking ridiculous! I can't even do something as simple as this...what am I even doing with my life.

"You need some help?"

Turning to the voice, Collins was still there. Za'Cari decided that she needed a nap and was currently taking one next to me. As much as I wanted to decline his help, I knew I needed it.

"I don't know what's not clicking."

Collins chuckled, before taking my pencil to explain me out of my mess. Before I knew it, I was comprehending more than I did before. It's one of those things where students are better at explaining than the actual Professor is. Hit me with the lamest terms, please.

"You are really good at this, Haynes. I really thought you were slow for a minute."

He laughed, showing his pearly whites. I ain't gone hold you but that was a beautiful smile.

"Well, now you know I ain't slow. But, by the looks of it, you are the slow one."

My eyes widened in shock. Did he just -- he did.

"That's a good one." I cracked a smile, laughing a bit.

It was his turn to be shook.

"Universe, she has finally graced us with her gorgeous smile. So this is what you've been hiding from people?"

"Shut up, Cornball. I smile a lot actually. More than you know, thank you very much." I rolled my eyes, unable to put my smile away.

He is so annoying and I bet he knows that he has won this round.

"You're beautiful, y'know."

"I bet." I didn't know how to answer.

"You are so awkward." He laughed, his dreadlocks bouncing with life.

Did I forget to mention that this guy is beautiful. He is so fine and sweet and I do not know what to make of him. He seems too nice and too easy to get along with.

"Stop laughing at me. It's not my fault."

"Oh? Whose fault is it, then?"

"Yours."

"Mine?"

"Yes, yours. You're all up in my grill." I mumbled, talking with my hands.

"I know I am."

"Cocky much?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow.

He looked at me with an intensity I couldn't understand and I could feel my body heating up at his never ending stare. I couldn't break eye contact even if I wanted to.

"No, not cocky. Sure and willing. Confident, even, but never cocky."

"You wanna know what I think?" I asked, after staring him in his eyes for what seemed like forever.

"What?"

"I think that you are going to waste my time and leave me heartbroken."

"I am not that type of guy."

"You're not the first to say that to me. You really gotta come better than that." I rolled my eyes, breaking eye contact to search for some gum, "You want some."

I needed something to do and staring into his eyes was going to get me into a lot of trouble.

Nodding, he took the piece of gum I handed him, "I have a proposition."

"A proposition?" I quested, working the gum into its chewy form.

"Give me 30-days to show you something different and if you do not like what you see then we can just drop it. You will never have to speak to me again...unless you want to, of course."

"I don't know about allat. 30 days ain't gone be enough to crack this shell, I promise you that."

"Just think about it." It was his turn to roll his eyes.

"I'll think about Arthur J. Collins but I can't make any promises."

"Thank you."