Sixteen

The restof the day and the next flies by in a blur of classes, assignments, and dodging Lucius in the hallways. Thankfully, I only have one class with him. Whenever he's near, memories of our past flood my mind, leaving behind a persistent ache that won't let go. To make matters worse, Steve, my project partner, is as annoying as they come. But I need to ace this class to secure the internship I want, so I'm putting up with him. The fact that partnering with him drives Lucius insane is just the cherry on top.

Today is Tuesday, and it's time to meet with Steve and get this over with. I'm hoping he doesn't want to do much, so I can take full control of the project. He'll get the credit, and I'll get the control—win-win

As I enter the library, I'm relieved to find a vacant table, where I take a seat and patiently wait for Steve. While I wait, I could start the project, right? At least decide what we're doing.

We're supposed to pick a disease and draft a plan to eradicate it. Well, not completely eliminate it since illnesses are inevitable, but make it easily manageable, like treating strep throat or pink eye.

Cryptosporidiosis is an ideal choice because it can be transmitted to both humans and monsters. Steve can just deal with it—he's late, so that's what he gets.

"Hey, Little Momma. Sorry, I'm late." Steve drops into the seat next to me with a grin, and I roll my eyes.

What the hell is "little momma"? Is that supposed to get girls going?

"Hi, Steve. Since you were late, I got started and picked our disease. It's not life-threatening, but the meds are super expensive and not all insurance covers them, so I'd like to make a plan to fix that. Sound good?"

"Sure, babe, whatever you want. I'm gonna be honest, I'm only in this class because art history was full, and this was the only class that fit my schedule."

Great, just my luck to get the guy who doesn't even want to be here.

"Okay, well, I'm trying to become a doctor, so this class is a huge deal to me. How about you sit back and look pretty, and I'll handle the project?"

"Who's pretty?" a familiar voice cuts in, and chills race down my spine.

I turn around and see Lucius standing behind our table, a small girl—Marie, I think—by his side.

"What are you doing here?" I snap, unable to hide my irritation.

"Meeting with my lab partner to do our work. Small world, huh?" He smiles that infuriating smile, the one that used to make my heart flutter. Now it just makes my blood boil.

He must have known I'd be here. He must have planned this.

I glare at Lucius, my eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration, before turning back to the table.

"If you'll excuse us, we have work to do." I scoot my chair closer to Steve, trying to put as much distance between myself and Lucius as possible.

"So as I was saying, I'll make the presentation and you just look good as always, okay?"

"Whatever you say, babe." Steve winks at me, making my stomach roll, but I try to not let it show.

"Okay, I'm gonna go find some books."

Steve pulls out his phone and starts scrolling as I head to the section of the library where the medical books are.

I collect a few books that are relevant to my needs and return to the table. As I get closer, I notice Lucius and Marie huddled together, laughing and looking at her laptop screen. She touches his arm and nods like he just said the smartest thing ever, and I grind my teeth together. Dropping the books loudly on the table, Lucius' eyes snap up to meet mine. I curl my lip at him, but he just smiles and runs his tongue over his bottom lip.

Stupid, sexy monster.

As if it wasn't bad enough that he dumped me, left me, and then gave me the silent treatment. Now he's following me? And he's partnered with Marie.

While it shouldn't matter, if she giggles and touches his arm one more time, I swear I'm going to rip hers off.

I sit in a new spot on the other side of the table across from Steve so I can keep an eye on the little shy thing who is touching what isn't hers.

It's not mine either anymore, but it's definitely not hers.

God, Marley, you need to get a grip; the hot and cold are even giving me whiplash.

I pull out my laptop and open a new document, outlining our project on Cryptosporidiosis. The more I type, the more I can feel Lucius's gaze burning into my skull. I resist the urge to look up and confront him.

That's what he wants—a reaction. Instead, I focus on the task at hand, detailing the disease, its transmission, and current treatments.

"So you'll just give me some talking points so we can do the presentation together?" Steve interrupts my work.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Yeah, that's fine.

"I'm good at talking to people, trust me." He winks again.

I don't, but at this point, I don't have much of a choice.

"Fine. I'll write up the plan and tell you what to say."

"Got it, Little Momma." He winks, and I suppress a groan.

The sound of Marie's laughter fills the air from the table next to me, causing me to look up. Her voice hushes, and she leans in close to Lucius, her hand gripping his arm tightly. Meeting my gaze, he looks up and playfully smirks. I look away quickly, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and something I don't want to name.

"Alright, let's get this done," I mutter to myself, diving back into the research. As the evening wears on, the library grows quieter with each passing hour. After a while, Steve finally decides to put away his phone and starts making an attempt by asking basic questions.

By the time we finish, it's dark outside. Steve stretches and yawns. "Good work, partner. Same time Thursday?"

"Sure," I say, gathering my things. "Just don't be late."

He gives me a lazy salute and saunters off, leaving me to pack up. I notice Lucius and Marie, still seated at their table, the conversation so engrossing that they are oblivious to the world around them, as I sling my bag over my shoulder. Marie catches my eye and gives a small wave. I nod stiffly in return, my stomach churning.

Stepping out of the library, I am greeted by the refreshing touch of the cool night air on my skin. I take a long, slow breath, attempting to shake off the lingering feeling of tension.

It's just one class, one project. I can handle this.

The next day in class, I'm more determined than ever to avoid Lucius. I sit in my seat, head down, focusing on the lecture. Steve is unusually quiet, which is a small blessing. Once the class is over, I waste no time in being the first one to exit the room.

Thursday when we meet in the library, I arrive early and set up at our usual table, eager to dive into our study session. Steve arrives on time for once, dropping into his seat with a grin.

"Ready to knock this out?" he asks, surprisingly chipper.

"Yeah," I say, my eyes darting around the room. No sign of Lucius yet. Maybe today will be different.

We are now focusing on the finishing touches of our project, making small adjustments and improving Steve's presentation points. Right at the moment when I'm finally able to relax, a shadow abruptly appears and covers our table.

"Working hard, I see," Lucius remarks, dripping with sarcasm

When I raise my gaze, I see him standing there, all by himself. Marie is nowhere to be found. "What do you want, Lucius?"

He says, his gaze locked with mine, "Just wanted to check-in. Make sure you're doing okay."

"I'm fine," I say sharply, as I quickly turn my attention back to my laptop. "We're busy."

Sensing the tension, Steve wisely remains quiet as he looks back and forth between us. Lucius doesn't move, just stands there watching me. At last, after what seems like forever, he lets out a sigh.

"Good luck with your project," he says softly and walks away.

I take a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves. Steve clears his throat. "You two have some history, huh?"

"Something like that," I mutter. "Let's just finish this."

The rest of the session goes smoothly, and by the end, we have a solid plan. Steve leaves with a confident smile, promising to nail the presentation.

While I'm packing up, I can't help but feel Lucius' eyes on me.

It's over. I did it.

* * *

Finally, the day of the presentation arrives. The classroom is filled with anxious excitement as students get ready to present their projects. Steve and I assume our positions at the front of the room, with our materials ready.

Steve starts the presentation, his voice clear and confident. I watch from the side, my nerves slowly easing as he nails each point. When it's my turn, I step forward and deliver my portion of the presentation, feeling a sense of accomplishment as the class listens.

As we finish, there's a round of applause. The professor nods approvingly. "Well done, you two. Excellent work."

We sit down again, and I can finally relax.

Steve gives me a thumbs-up, and I smile back.

While I collect my belongings, I sense Lucius watching me once more. I turn to see him watching me from the back of the room, an unreadable expression on his face. He gives a small nod, almost as if in acknowledgment. I nod back, my emotions a tangled mess.

Steve and I leave the classroom together, parting ways outside. He's talking about celebrating, but I'm only half-listening. My thoughts are elsewhere.