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Whatever tension I felt eases a little with the easy banter between us. Eric’s a nice guy and to be fair, I never actually heard Eric say anything demeaning about me with the other guys.

“So how do you want to go about this?” I ask, ready to get started.

“I’ve been looking over the instructions…”

Ultimately, we split up the work–he’ll do most of the research and I’ll write up the paper. Then we’ll present it together.

“We can do most of this by email, don’t you think?” I say.

“Yeah, that should work,” he agrees. “Oh fuck.”

I glance over and see the annoyed look on his face. “What’s wrong? Did we forget something?”

“Iforgot something,” he says. “Your scarf. I’ve had it this whole time and I keep forgetting to bring it to you.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I can get it later.”

“I’m the worst at that. Like, I set it right by the door to remind me to bring it with me and I still fucking forgot.” He gives me a small grin. “I promise I won’t be a flake on our project.”

“I’m not worried about it,” I say. “Who needs a warm neck anyway?”

He laughs. “You know, I could bring it by your place if you want. You live over in Shotgun, right?”

It’s common to know who lives in the community right off campus. There are a ton of parties over there, specifically at the Manor. But my skin prickles anyway.

“It’s okay. I’ll get it from you in class.”

“Or, if you’re not busy, we can go back to my place and grab it now.”

I force myself to look at him. Eric’s expression is innocent enough, with his wavy blond hair and innocent hazel eyes. But are they innocent? Does he want something more? That’s the problem, I can’t tell, but my body reacts, pulse ticking erratically, and a wave of nausea sloshes in my gut.

I slam my laptop shut and stand. “I need to go.”

“Wait, what’s happening?” he asks, watching me fumble for my things. “Are you mad about something?”

“What’s happening is that whatever those guys told you about me, isn’t true.” Not anymore. “So if you think you can get me alone and I’ll give you a blow job or you can come all over my tits, you’re wrong.”

“I, uh,” he stammers, ears turning red. “I didn’t think that.At all.”

“God, whatever,” I sling my backpack over my shoulder. My heartbeat bangs in my chest and ears. “I heard you talking to Austin and Rocky after class.”

Guilt flickers across his boyish face. “Shit. That was them. I promise–”

“Let’s just do this project, present it, and turn it in.”

“Nadia–” He looks like he wants to melt into the ground. Yeah, join the club, Eric. Whatever he was going to say, heswallows and adds, “Whatever you’re comfortable with, that’s fine with me.”

His expression is sincere, and suddenly I feel like an idiot, and I do what idiot’s do–run like hell. My hands are full with my coat and backpack and I keep my face down, not wanting anyone to see my tears.

That’s why I slam straight into a brick wall.

A brick wall with hands that grip me by the arms and hold me upright.

“Woah, slow down, darlin’.”

Son-of-a–

“Seriously,” I hiss. “Are you stalking me?”