Nora and Tina were seniors now, the second year of their college life had begun. Tina was over excited just like everyday. "Nora what do you think red or blue?" She asked picking up two dresses from her cupboard.
"Blue." Nora said, "And that's final. Don't you dare take it off like the rest." She pointed at all of her clothes scattered on both the beds.
"Yes I promise. Turn around I need to change." She waved her hand. Nora sighed and turned her back to her.
Her phone buzzed, it was a message from Luke–"Missing you. Have a good day sweetheart." She could feel the blush hit her cheeks. "Thank you." She typed back. She turned around happily, and saw Tina half naked, "Aaah!" She shouted and turned back.
"Why did you shout like that? I have a good body." She asked innocently.
"I am not interested in your body. Just hurry up."
"Of course you aren't. I know you have Luke and you are much more interested in his body. By the way do tell me about all those muscles he hides beneath his clothes." She winked.
"Shut up Tina!" Nora threw a pillow on her, "you have Nick. Don't you dare look at Luke, he's mine." She yelled.
As the words sunk in, Nora realised what she said, she shut her eyes and slumped into her bed, cursing herself. Tina jumped on top of her, "Okay I know he is yours. And I will let him know that too." She started tickling her.
"No. Please don't." She said laughing, trying to tackle Tina.
***
"There you go. That's it for today, we have our class next week, I assume. So assignment's due next week." The math teacher announced. The students groaned in chorus, murmuring stuff against the professor. "Don't hate on me. It's for your own good." With this he was gone.
Nora picked her phone, no messages, no texts from Luke. She really wanted to call him and hear his voice but she had already called him this morning and she didn't want to appear clingy. She sighed and stepped out. "Hey Nora." Someone called from behind her.
"Henry." Nora smiled.
"You free tonight? Let's go out for drinks or something. You know have some fun."
Henry was a nice guy, a fresher who had girls swooning over him. He had black hair, with brown eyes.
"Um, I'm sorry but I don't think I can." She shrugged.
"Okay. Next time then, see you around."
Her phone buzzed, "Luke, " she said cheerfully.
"Nora, where are you?" He asked.
"University. Why?"
"I'm in the cafeteria. Think you can come?"
She agreed without hesitation and went for the cafeteria.
She reached the cafeteria which was bustling with students, she looked around for Luke. He was easy to spot, standing tall, out of the crowd. She walked towards him with a smile on her face. He was talking to a guy, seeing her his eyes lit up, "Nora." He smiled, "I'll talk to you later." He said to the guy and moved towards her. He took her in a hug, "Hey sweetheart." And kissed her on the head.
"Not in front of everyone." She murmured into his chest. He chuckled and pulled her away, "Okay. How was your day?"
"Good. Busy, got tons of assignments." She shrugged. "But why are you here?"
"My project, remember? I'll be coming here for a week, until I get my degree."
"I'll see you here for a week everyday. That's nice. Are you done now? You know we could go somewhere." She said in a small voice.
"I'm sorry. I got called up. I have to take some extra classes, rather I'll be the one doing the teaching. Mr. James's teaching assistant took off. He asked me to come in."
"I see. It's fine. Next time then."
"Thank you so much. I gotta run now." He ruffled her hair and went off.
Nora saw him move towards the door when one girl tripped over and like the gentleman he was, he caught her and helped her up. The girl thanked him dreamily, he nodded and went out. Then she heard her friends squeal in delight, "How were his hands? Muscular, gentle?" One said.
"How did it feel to be close to him?" Other said.
"I'll tell you everything. We have a class right. And guess what he is the substitute teacher." The girl smirked.
"He is? We should go!" The group squealed in agreement and left the cafeteria.
Seeing the whole incident something bubbled inside Nora. A strange feeling, a possessive feeling. Seeing them eyeing Luke brought something out in her and she could not repress it. She sighed and turned, "Aahh." She shouted, "Are you a ghost?!" She looked at Tina who was standing behind her making her detective - face, "what do you think?" Before Nora could answer she spoke again, "I think they are after your Luke," she stressed on 'your' "Completely and madly."
"Who are? What are you talking about?"
"Oh Nora I saw everything. The way you looked at the girl who 'tripped' and her group when they were talking about him. It was evident you did not like it, your face gave away." Tina shrugged.
"Was it that obvious?" Nora asked, Tina nodded. "What should I do then? And it's not the first time. It makes me angry when I see those girls purposely throw themselves at him. Not all of them but most of them do that. And right now the one who fell I could see the way she looked at him was different and..." She was frustrated, "I really want to hide him away sometimes." She added.
"You're jealous." Tina smirked.
"No I am not." Nora narrowed her eyes. Of course she could not be jealous, it was just impossible for her to jealous.
"Believe it or not, you are. You don't like it when something like that happens, even I feel the same when something like this happens with Nick. It's natural to feel like that. So, just go and tell him how you feel about it."
"Are you insane? I cannot do that. I cannot ask him to stop talking or helping others just because I feel jealous or don't like it. He'll think I'm petty."
"No he will not! He is the one who took the first step Nora. He would never think anything like that about you." She put her hands on her shoulders. "Go tell him."
"He won't think I'm petty because I'm telling him about these mere things, right?"
"Of course not, you idiot. Now buckle up and go tell him what you feel. Go now." She shook her and then left her shoulders.
Nora looked at the door and then back at Tina and her mind was made up. She started walking towards the door, she had do it. This uneasiness was eating her up, she would tell him everything, everything she felt even if he thought she was petty.