Coincidence (Part 2)

I sip my coffee while looking for the exit. I can eat when I get to class, I think. On my way to the university, I take some shortcuts. There's traffic, so I end up taking longer than I had planned. When I enter the classroom, luckily, the professor hasn't arrived yet. I sit in one of the last empty seats at the back and place my notebook and pen on the desk. I take the chance to eat while class begins.

Denver's friend doesn't stop staring at me throughout the entire class. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't know what's wrong with him. I try to focus on the class and ignore him. I don't want him to think I'm interested in him—that's the last thing I need right now.

—Hand in your assignments, please—the professor says as he sits at his desk.

We all form a line to hand them in. Unfortunately for me, Denver's friend and his classmate stand right behind me. I feel him discreetly trying to smell my hair. What a weirdo. Then, I feel two light taps on my shoulder. I freeze for a second. When I turn around, I see that it's him, trying to get my attention.

—Hey, I just want to apologize for last night. I was drunk.

—It's fine—I reply quickly, turning away to end the conversation.

—I'd like to make it up to you—he says, standing next to me. —Can I invite you to lunch?

—I'm very busy today—I respond sharply.

—What about tomorrow?—he insists, not giving up.

—I have to study with Denver—I make up an excuse.

—We could all study together—he suggests again, this time more insistently, getting on my nerves.

—Sure, you can ask him for the details later.

I'm next in line, and I don't want to waste another second with this guy. I quickly place my assignment on his desk for him to review.

—Where's your partner?—he looks at the names. —Ms... Kloss.

—He had an emergency.

—Did you both work on it?—he raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical that Denver worked on it.

—Yes, he did the even numbers, I did the odd ones—I clarified quickly.

—So, how was Mr. Casanova when it came to working in a team?

—He's a good partner, we worked well together.

—I'm glad to hear that. Good job—he says as he puts the assignment in his briefcase.

—Thanks.

I get up to leave class and head to the next one. Time flies in Professor Hugh's class. He's excellent at explaining, and I don't miss a single detail, since I plan to pass my notes to Denver later so he doesn't fall behind.

Jen and I had agreed to meet in the cafeteria. When I enter, I see her sitting at one of the tables with two trays of food.

—So you still feel guilty, huh?—I joke with her.

—I feel terrible—she replies, nodding. —I'm sorry I left you at the party. I was so selfish.

—If you had waited for me...—I start to say, but I stop myself.

—If...? What do you mean?—she looks at me, curious.

—Do you remember that Kane took me home last night?

Even though I try to stay calm, my nervousness starts to show. I start shaking my leg, and Jen notices, trying to figure out what's going on with me.

—Yes, and...?

—What I didn't tell you was that he got mad at me.

I tell her everything that happened, up until I explain what happened today at the hospital.

—This morning, I found out from Denver that he had an accident near our apartment.

Jen's eyes widen so much that I think they might pop out of her face, and Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn.

—Really? Did he tell you how he's doing?

—He's fine. He just hurt his neck.

—I don't want to sound rude, but it's karma. No one treats my friend like that, even if she offended him first.

—Don't say that, it could've been much worse.

Jen rolls her eyes, clearly not caring much about what happened to him, given how he treated me. To be fair, I would probably think the same if the situation had been reversed.

—Is that why you left so early? Did you go see him?

—Yes... well, no. Denver wanted me to lend him my car so he could go to his house for our work. While he went to get it, I stayed with Kane. When he woke up, everything got weird.

—You're a dirty girl. Sex in the hospital?—she laughs.

—Why does everything have to be about sex? No, first we argued about last night, and then he tried to kiss me...

—He tried to kiss you?—she interrupts. —Tell me you kissed him, he's so hot!

A huge smile of satisfaction spreads across Jen's face. I try to hide the small smile forming at the corner of my lips. Am I blushing? I feel warmth creeping up my face and quickly lower my gaze so Jen doesn't notice.

—I rejected him immediately.

—What?!—her face fills with surprise and disappointment.

—I wasn't going to let him kiss me like that, out of the blue. I don't even know him.

—Do you know what self-sabotage is?

—Jen, I met him yesterday! Do you want me to let a stranger kiss me just because I feel sorry for him?

—Of course! Especially if he's as hot as he is—she grabs my shoulders and gives me a playful shake.

—I don't want to be like those girls. I wouldn't like to do that, and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

—Fine, but you're going to end up with a hundred cats if you keep this up. What happened next?

—I called him an idiot and told him I'm not like the girls at the party.

—In other words, you called him a "hoe" again.

—it's not my fault he acts like that. Anyway, I told him I would never want to kiss him, and that I would never want anything with him.

—You crushed his hopes. I'd be very surprised if he ever talks to you again.

She puts a hand to her forehead and shakes her head. I can see the disappointment on her face.

—I don't care. Besides, I'm not even interested—I try to avoid her gaze.

—You don't sound so convinced.

—You can think whatever you want, but I'm not falling for his tricks.

—Don't fall for his, but let him fall for yours—she jokes.

—Shut up—I throw a grape at her.

That night, I talked to Denver, updating him on today's classes.

° That was it. You didn't miss much.

9:55 pm ✓✓

° Thanks for sharing your notes with me.

9:55 pm Denver

° You're welcome. By the way, your friend, the one from the library, stared at me the whole class today. Then he apologized and wanted to invite me to lunch.

9:57 pm ✓✓

° Did you agree to go with him?

9:57 pm Denver

° No! I told him I was busy, that we were planning to study tomorrow, and that he could join us if he wanted to.

9:59 pm ✓✓

° But I can't tomorrow.

10:00 pm Denver

° I know, just tell him you've got something else, and... we're canceling.

10:02 pm ✓✓

° I'll ask him to leave you alone.

10:04 pm Denver

° I'd appreciate it if you did.

10:04 pm ✓✓

° He's acting weird. It's starting to worry me.

10:05 pm Denver

° Has he never seen a girl or something?

10:05 pm ✓✓

° Maybe he really likes you a lot, but I'll talk to him and tell you later.

10:06 pm Denver

° Thanks. Are you going to sleep at the hospital?

10:07 pm ✓✓

° Yes, but I don't think I'll sleep. I want to read your notes and catch up on what I missed.

10:10 pm Denver

° You should rest. You don't look as good as you think.

10:12 pm ✓✓

° I only slept an hour last night.

10:12 pm ✓✓

° That's even more of a reason to get some rest.

10:13 pm Denver

° I'm very tired, but I can't sleep. I've already tried.

10:14 pm ✓✓

° Count sheep, that helps.

10:14 pm Denver

° I've counted sheep, horses, cows, even toads, and there's no way.

10:15 pm ✓✓

° You're in a hospital. Go steal a couple of sedatives.

10:16 pm Denver

° Sure, good idea. Maybe I'll use Kane's medication.

10:18 pm ✓✓

° You can sleep in his bed too.

10:19 pm Denver

° Sure, he can sleep on the floor. You know what? He's tried to leave twice today. He doesn't want to be here anymore.

10:21 pm ✓✓

° It must be really boring to be alone in the hospital.

10:23 pm Denver

° Yes, well... several girls have come to see him, but he doesn't want to receive them.

10:24 pm ✓✓

° That's weird?

10:25 pm Denver

° Yes, he'd usually use this to get something out of them.

10:25 pm Denver

° I don't doubt it. Maybe he's decided to change.

10:26 pm ✓✓

° Ha! I'd pay a fortune to see that. At this point, I don't know how he hasn't asked me to leave so he can be alone with the nurse. She's hot.

10:27 pm Denver

° I don't need that much information. I'm going to sleep.

10:30 pm ✓✓

° Haha, sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.

10:31 pm Denver

° See you tomorrow.

10:33 pm ✓✓

° Don't go. I won't say uncomfortable things anymore.

10:33 pm Denver

I turn off my phone and plug it in to charge on my nightstand. How silly I am. I don't know why it bothers me to hear all that, but I don't want to talk to Denver about Kane anymore. I fall asleep right after thinking about that annoying topic for an hour.