Page 12 of Anything (Mayberry University #1)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“And that was the last of my not-boyfriends.” Sophie dips a chip into the queso, far from embarrassed. “Kit’s turn for an awkward story!”

We’re snuggled in our suite lounge again, surrounded by a mountain of snacks Sophie bought today. The sofa and chairs in here are as uncomfortable as ever, so we’re camped out on throw pillows. I love college. Our suite is like a perpetual sleepover.

“Okay, I have one.” I pull my legs crossed and lean on my clumped-up blanket. “It was sophomore year?—“

“Wait I forget,” Sophie interrupts. “When did you suddenly get weirdly pretty?”

“That was summer before senior year,” Mia says. “But don’t ask about anything after that or she’ll clam up and wreck our truth-telling.” She raises brows at me.

She’s not wrong. I refuse to go down the path of horrible-ex-boyfriend awfulness.

And I won’t talk about Levi—the reason I won’t date him is exactly what I won’t talk about.

Then there’s the mess with the girls from last year and the way they suddenly invited me to their parties and nail appointments once I was with Aiden.

They accepted me and hated me all at once.

And while they showed interest, my lifelong friends slowly distanced themselves.

I didn’t know how to handle any of it, and I wish so badly it had never happened.

Now, I can’t shake the nagging fear that Sophie might turn out the same way, so I keep it all to myself.

Last year left me paranoid in so many ways.

“Anyway,” I say, “I was feeling really woozy, so I left class to get something out of the vending machine in the cafeteria. It was one of the lunch times, so tons of people were around. But before I could get a snack, I passed out in front of the vending machine—out cold.”

They giggle and imitate my dramatic visual of going unconscious.

“No idea how long I was there, but I came to and not a soul had noticed that I was lying there on the filthy carpet.”

“What? Heartless,” Mia says.

“Maybe. But probably they just didn’t notice me. I told you I was invisible.”

Ayumi half smiles like she gets it.

“Yeah, but I thought you meant, like, quiet,” Sophie says. “Not that people literally don’t see you when you need medical intervention!”

I shrug. That’s the level of invisible I was facing. Even still, life as Visible Kit was so much worse.

“Well you came together nicely,” Mia says.

“ Tad Hamilton, “ Sophie and I shout.

“Tie.” Ayumi gives my arm a reassuring squeeze.

While Sophie and Mia half yell next to us, I whisper to Ayumi, “Want to share a story, or should I change the subject?”

She holds up two fingers—change the subject.

“Cards at MSC tonight?” Austin asks across the room.

“Yes.” No need to consider. I know she’ll be there if he plans it. I need to write the last lines of a paper, but I twist around to meet his teasing eyes.

He lies longwise on his sofa on the other side of mine and reaches across the ancient carpet to grab a tennis ball that had rolled under his desk. “Tomorrow we’re going to McDonald’s. And then camping. On the ground. With no shower. In for that too?”

He’s taunting me, but the sad truth is I would be. I wouldn’t miss a chance to be near her, even in those conditions. It’s pathetic, really.

The first time I ever saw Kit she was taking caring of a stranger—at considerable cost to herself.

It was an instant crush situation like I’ve never experienced before.

But then I never would have talked to her again if Austin hadn’t called me downstairs under false pretenses last week.

I was prepared to write her off because of a single remark.

I rake my hand through my hair. I have issues.

She no longer bolts at the sight of me, but I still have to earn her attention.

I’m not mad about it though. I’m loving every minute.

If anything, it’s hard to be subtle. I can’t keep my eyes off her when she walks into a room.

I’m pitifully disappointed when she leaves.

Like a sap. Hence Austin’s reaction—he’s never seen me like this. I’ve never seen me like this.

I have no idea whether Austin’s sudden affinity for planning events off our floor is him going after Sophie or playing wingman for me.

Those two have been planning fiends since we went out for wings.

I’ve gotten to see Kit almost every night since.

If it is a wingman thing, it’s borderline heroic.

It wouldn’t be the first time Austin impersonated Superman .

Thank you for him. What a killer friend you sent me.

“She’s getting cozier with you.” He throws and catches the ball, just high enough not to hit his bed lofted above.

“If only.”

He knows she won’t even sit on the same couch as me.

No hugs, no shoulder bumps, no touching whatsoever.

But she’s like that with every male on campus, so it’s clearly not personal.

I understand firm boundaries. I like her all the more for having convictions.

And I respect that she’s willing to be different, to hold the line when others think it’s strange.

Unfortunately, that makes me more attracted to her, which makes me want to touch her.

It’s not a great cycle, but it’s all part of the beautiful package that is Kit Talbot.

“You know what I mean,” Austin says. “She’s all, ‘Ooh, Levi, tell me more.’” Hands and ball under his chin, he blinks at me with the biggest eyes he can muster.

I do know. I feel a stupid grin on my face, but it’s just Austin. I don’t have to fake it with him.

Sometimes Kit goes slack-jawed and tongue-tied when her gaze hangs on mine.

I may as well have won a trophy. My friends are the best, and Mia and Sophie are cool too, but it’s a struggle to pay attention to the others when she’s around.

I just want to fixate on her and keep those beautiful dimples on her face all night.

I want to see all her hilarious facial expressions and hear her jokes and opinions and stories.

I’m insatiable in the Kit department. She’s constantly getting quiet or asking someone a question, wanting to pass on the limelight.

It’s kind and selfless, but she always does it too soon.

Sophie’s all too quick to pick up the attention Kit lays down.

“Are you ever going to talk to me about Sophie?” I ask.

“Ahh …”

This is so unlike him. He hasn’t told me anything, and he’s usually downright chatty about the girls he notices. Half the time he wants advice. He must be hesitant. Or concerned.

If Sophie’s a big deal to him, I can certainly relate to concern.

It’s easier to maintain our inertia. He dates nearly anybody and never for long, while I avoid girls like the plague.

It’s been working fine for us, and I’m terrified to step out of that.

I certainly have my reasons. Panic wells up just thinking about them.

This time is different though. I can trust her.

She holds my money against me, for goodness’ sake. Leave it to Kit.

I peer at Austin, waiting for more. Kit does this to me, and I blabber on about things I’d never otherwise share. Then again, it’s probably more the big blue eyes staring at me as she waits. Like a whirlpool I sink in.

“She’s cool. We’re just friends.”

Right. Not today then. “Alright, Samwise.”

No more ridiculous dazing about Kit. I need to prepare for my student council meeting.

It’s a circus, but I can’t quit. On the bright side, our vice president lives on Club, and I’ll be listening for any hint of their floor camping trip.

My floor has been plotting a prank for the ages, and timing is everything.

This time, Club’s resident advisor will find his car hoisted onto Bennet Hall’s roof, a throwback to a legendary prank Flooders pulled off back in the 1960s.

It’ll be a cool nod to our floor’s status as the oldest and most storied at Mayberry.

We’ve got several senior engineers on board this year, including Haymitch, whose experience in construction is clutch.

Dude’s as competent as they come, handling pulley logistics and building like it’s second nature, all while managing with a major vision disability.

I’ve also been tasked with finding a secret prep spot on campus to make sure our building efforts stay under the radar.

That will mean persuading an administrator or two to let us use the space, ensuring they’re neither entangled in the prank nor left feeling tricked when it comes to fruition.

It’s risky, but the guys are right—I’m probably the only one who can handle the politics.

I pull up my council notes on my laptop, refocusing on the task at hand.

Soon the group will take interest for next year.

Since I’m secretary, they’ll expect that I’ll want to be president senior year.

I lean back in my chair and let out a long breath.

I could probably manage winning the election, but it would require so much work.

Winning Kit over is worth every ounce of effort, but student body president?

It’s not even something I want. For that matter, secretary isn’t either.

I don’t know why I do these things. I need to pray it over.