Liam
"You better give up before it's too late, man."
"Did you see how she completely ignored him?"
I walk into class to find Noah, sitting in the same seat as last class at her spot. The seat next to him waiting for her, surrounded by all the guys, chatting and laughing loudly.
"It was hilarious." Allister says laughing loudly.
"Oh man, I don't wanna lose those fifty bucks." Jack says with dread.
"Just shut up. It's only the beginning. She's just a hard one. If anything it's more fun." Noah says with a confident smile that does a poor job in hiding the annoyance in his tone.
I scoff and go to my seat. I plopped down on it and was about to put my head down to sleep when I saw her coming in.
Something is different with her today. When she pumped into me she was continuously rubbing her temple. She also seemed a couple shades redder. And now as she walks in she looks completely drained.
As soon as her eyes fall on Noah sitting next to her seat, she lets out a sigh. Her eyes start to wander around the class until they fall on me. She looks at me then the seat next to mine and then Noah. Who was now waving at her to come to her seat.
"Jas, hey. Here." He calls, but she just smiles politely, nodding curtly, before she makes her way to the seat next to mine.
My eyes shift to Noah to find him looking at me with an angered expression. The guys were all looking at me with shocked eyes and sly grins. They enjoyed this way too much. The look on Noah's face erked me. This is going to be bad.
Some how between me and Noah, everything has turned into a competition at some point. One sided, by the way. I was never interested at what he did or what he had, but he always wanted to prove that he had more, he could do more.
Since this bet thing started, I've been trying to push away the idea of Noah having started this only because he found out she talked to me once. Now after what just happened, this thing is officially turning into a competition for him, and now this girl is going to have to face whatever shit Noah is about to throw at her.
And now the urge to stop this nonsense is filling me. To at least protect her, but then I remember my promise to myself.
It's none of my business.
She chose to sit here. She doesn't even know me and I have nothing to do with her decisions. She will have to deal with it.
Through out the exam she seemed to struggle to stay focused and awake.
After class she walks out with her head hung down, taking slow steps and seemingly not breathing so well.
I watch as Noah immediately walks behind her and pulls her around. I notice how she stumbles a little struggling to stay on her feet.
"Hey Jas, are you ok? Why didn't you come to your seat? Did I do something wrong? You know, I just wanted to be friends."
She looks pale. Her eyes unfocused. She's swaying on her feet.
It's none of my business.
It's none of my business.
It's none...
Oh fuck it.
I take some wide steps towards them, draping my arm on Noah's shoulder.
"Oh, come on, man. Our little kitten here is blind. She probably didn't see you. Now let's go on our way. You've been blocking the traffic."
He quirks a brow "Little kitten?".
"Yeah,.." I smile "look at her. Doesn't she look like a lost, blind, little kitten?!"
Before he could respond, Jack and Allister appear, pulling him away for whatever game they're late for.
Looking at their retreating figures I ask her.
"Can you walk to the nurse's?"
When I get no answer, I look back at her to find her leaning, resting her weight on the wall. So that's my answer.
She closes her eyes and was about to fall completely into the ground, before I cought her weight by her shoulders. I let out a sigh before I lift her up.
Great!
I'm definitely doing a great job at not being involved.
———————
"I don't know how she could go through the day with such a fever." The nurse says looking at her with concern.
She was stupid enough to come to school with a 40 degree fever. This girl just has the skill to annoy the shit out of me.
"So, would she be okay to go home by her own when she wakes up?"
"Oh no, you don't have to worry about that. She stays at the dorms on campus. I can walk her on my way out."
I look at the nurse then at her, hesitating for a moment.
"Ohhh, look who's so worried about his girl.." the nurse says with a teasing smile.
"No! It's nothing like that. Not at all. I'm going."
I take a step out and before I close the door, I sigh, turning around.
"Make sure she gets to her room before you leave and give her some medicine. She doesn't have any friends to take care of her."
I walk away, not waiting for her answer. Outside, a cool breeze hits my face, calming me down. The sky darkens, and campus is quiet. I find myself wondering if she's okay, despite my resolve to stay uninvolved.
I was walking through campus towards the entrance when I spotted a figure by the gates.
"What was that?" Noah says, taking a step towards me.
"What was what?" I say with a bored tone, not looking his way, while I keep walking.
"Are you friends with Jasmine?"
"No."
"So what, she just talks to you and sits next to you because you're the perfect stranger in her eyes?!" He says, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Maybe it's because you're the most annoying stranger." I say throwing a smirk at him.
"Yeah, right. And what about you?"
"What about me?" I ask already getting bored of this conversation.
"You just carry any girl to the nurse's room."
Great!
He just had to see this!
"So what? Are you scared we might be friends? That I might spill your little secret? Worried you'll lose your bet? Or maybe you're just afraid she won't like you, even without me saying anything. Who knows, maybe she'll like me. Maybe she already does." I say my words dripping with anger. And as soon as I let the last part out, I regret it.
Why did I have to say it like that?
I just had to rant like that, didn't I?
I let out a sigh before I look at him pointedly. Pointing a threatening finger at him.
"You better stop this shit show, Noah. If you don't, I swear it won't be long before I actually tell her everything."
"The hell, it's none of your business, man."
"And your nonsense and insecurities are none of hers. So you better get a grip and stop that shit. People's lives are not a joke."
Giving me a death glare, he turns around, leaving me filled with anger and frustration. I let out a sigh, dragging a hand down my face.
Great job, Liam. Now you have to deal with all that drama.
I let out another sigh, walking away, as my mind drifts to her.
This can't be good.