Saturn
• • •
When Calvin messaged me during my first-period class, I was in shock.
Not only because I hadn't expected his delayed reply, but because my phone made a loud ding when the message came through.
At first, I didn't know that my phone had been the one to ding. I glanced over at Zaire, who shot me a confused expression. Luckily, Professor Brown had ignored the disturbance. He was an older man, and I sat at the back of the lecture hall, so perhaps he hadn't heard the ding at all. I sighed a breath of relief.
Carefully, I pulled my bag between my legs. I tugged at the zipper, trying to be as discreet as possible. When I saw the message, I was surprised. Look who had finally answered me.
I will be away next week for a personal matter. I have both you and Zaire scheduled for most of the week. I've also given you a few shifts alone. Let me know if this isn't something you're comfortable with.
After all this time, he had completely dodged my question. I rolled my eyes and slipped my phone back into my bag. As I tried to redirect my focus, my phone dinged once more. This time, Professor Brown looked up. He peered around the room, eyes narrowed. I felt my cheeks grow warm, but pretended to be lost in my notes. When the lesson continued, I slid my hand back into my bag and saw another message from Calvin.
Also, can you direct me toward the English building?
I rolled my eyes. I did not have time to be directing a second-year student around the school. Besides, why did he need to find the English building? Still, I typed back a quick response,
Building 3, across from the angel fountain on the west side of campus.
Making sure to put my phone on silent mode, I tossed it back into my bag. I trembled as I returned to my notes, I wasn't typically so distracted during lessons.
Just then, the door to the lecture hall creaked. Fifty curious heads turned to meet the newcomer. My heart fell into my stomach.
What was Calvin doing here?
Professor Brown did not acknowledge his entrance, but Zaire did. My eyes widened at him as Calvin made his way down the stairs. Zaire's smirk widened as Calvin grew closer to us, and he was positively giddy by the time Calvin selected a seat directly beside me.
I forced myself not to look at him. I did not wish to be associated with someone who made themself late to class, or someone who entered lessons that they were not enrolled in.
"Saturn."
His whisper sent a chill down my spine. My cheeks warmed. I ignored him, pretending to be lost in thought once more. I could feel his piercing stare burning my skin. It never failed to make me tremble.
When we were dismissed, I had actively ignored Calvin's gaze for too long. My curiosity had been spiked.
"What were you doing in my class?" I asked, as soon as we broke into the corridor.
"Mrs. Beaumont suggested I take Literary Studies," Calvin replied plainly. I did not know who Mrs. Beaumont was or why she would suggest such an idea.
"What are you even majoring in?" I asked. I knew plenty of courses required first-year English, but I doubted Calvin was involved in any of those.
"Legal Studies," Calvin replied, "I wasn't able to finish my basic English credit last year."
"Why not?" I asked as we crossed the courtyard into the dining hall.
"Because I never showed up," Calvin shrugged.
I was growing frustrated at his vague responses. "What makes you think things will be different this year?"
"You're in the class, for one."
I stopped. What was he playing at?
Calvin did not wait for me to catch up. He merely continued into the dining hall, sitting down with two of his friends. I watched him through the glass, feeling utterly bewildered.
Zaire rushed up behind me. "So?" he asked, grinning broadly, "why was Calvin visiting you in class?"
I shoved open the door to the dining hall, hoping to keep this discussion brief. "He wasn't visiting me, he's in the class," I said softly.
"No way," Zaire mused, "I reckon he's in the class because he wants to see you."
I shook my head, sitting at our usual table. "He isn't, trust me," I replied.
This was untrue, of course. Calvin was only in Introduction to Literary Studies because of me.