"Oliver," she called out, her breath catching. He asked her out on a date. This caught her off guard because they still had a student-professor relationship and Sylvester College didn't condone it, even though he was the new owner.
"Say yes, Hastings." He demanded and she wanted to with every fiber of her being but the way she and Oliver were moving meant that there was something more between them and both of them knew it. They said they hated each other but in reality, were to hide something that ran deep and it scared her. What she felt for him was too much and now knowing about his past was crossing a territory. His territory.
Then there was the case of her illness but when she saw how his whiskey eyes shone with hope and expectation, her heart couldn't beat properly. He asked her out! Out of all the girls in the entire motherfucking world, he asked her out!?
Kayla was beautiful but her attitude wasn't the best to write home about. She also knew that. Everyone knew that. She was loud and messy(bedroom-wise) and people said she was proud. The cherry on the top was that she was prone to anger quickly or get irritated. That was why her relationship with Andy was shocking then Wyatt now Oliver.
However, Oliver 'tamed' her. He brought out a better version of her. Made her do things she would never have thought possible and at the same time, he accommodated her nonsense.
When she came late to work, he could have let it slide, but he punished her. Even after the little escapade they had, he left her to work but he watched over her, brought her coffee, and woke her up when she dozed off. He made sure he was there to see her progress. He brought out the good in her and that was magical.
"Yes," she breathed. "I'd go on a date with you, only if it's not in the woods to bury a dead body or find a werewolf!"
Oliver flicked her forehead, she rubbed it pouting. "God you just say the most random things ever. No, we are not burying a dead body…yet."
"You fucking asshole!" She rolled her eyes.
"I'll come pick you up on Saturday by 8 pm." He informed her and she nodded.
So they were doing this. They were going on a fucking date. Shit.
She turned to leave when she heard him say, "Wear something comfortable, Hastings!"
She flipped her middle finger at him still not facing him. This made her remember the shoes he bought her. He did have a heart. He did care for her and a smile spread on her face.
"What were you and Oliver talking about in his office for so long?" Seeing Reigna, her face soured. She sighed, feeling a headache coming up but she gave a tight-lipped smile, replying, "I didn't know you were on first name basis, with the professor?"
Reigna scrunched up her nose, glaring at Kayla, "I am not. What were you talking about?"
"Something to start with mind and ends with your fucking business. As you know or maybe because you have no long-term memory, we are all working together to build this new security system."
"You know, Kayla, I just hope that your 'plan' doesn't backfire on you. I think this is a bad idea because everything you do is bad and selfish." She straightened her back so she could lower her eyes at Kayla, "I just think you're doing this for the credit and attention. Because that's what you love, attention. That's why you dress like a slut to work."
She didn't think, she didn't have to. Her palm connected with Reigna's face before she could stop herself.
"How dare you!?" Reigna heaved, brows shooting up.
"No. How dare you? Who do you think you are to call me a slut? Tell me, what have I ever done to you? I have never met you until this special class, so what the fuck is your problem?" She stared at her incredulously.
"You are a disgrace to women everywhere. Because I like to dress doesn't mean I'm doing it for attention. I wear what I like as long as it conforms with the company's rules"-that she had never read but she had of what decency was- "so Reigna Powers, do not look down on me just because you can't be like me, okay? Or do you need another slap to engrave that in your brain?" With that, Kayla walked away.
However, the woman that was slapped, smirked after Kayla was out of view. 'Very nice, Kayla. Keep on making things easier for me. You will pay for what you did to me all those years ago and now. This slap wasn't for nothing.' She touched the place she had been hit and winced slightly.
Hatred was more powerful than love in Reigna's head. Kayla Hastings didn't know what she stepped on and when she did and that would make it all the more interesting to see her squirming, drowning as she searched for why everything that was going to happen to her, happened.
Reigna clicked her tongue, playing with her ID card. The game had only begun and she was bound to win no matter what the cost was.
Kayla set her laptop on her table with a thud.
"What on earth? Do you want to give me a heart attack, Kay?" Jack asked, placing his hand on his chest.
"Argh! Reigna is the most insufferable, hypocritically self-righteous person that I have ever met!" Kayla publicized, almost wanting to pull her hair out.
Rosa glanced at Jack who shrugged. "What did she do this time, Kay?"
"She called me a fucking slut!? Can you believe her!?" she scoffed. "She said I dress for the male gaze and the system we are building is a sham all because I love attention! Like what the fuck is her problem!?"
"I don't think you should mind anything she says, Kayla," Cherry voiced out, softly with a cute smile.
"Well, it's too late for that Cherry! I slapped her!"
"You did what now?" The three people sitting in the shared cubicle with Kayla thought their eyes would fall to the ground.
"She called me a slut! Did you expect me to tie that insult lying down?"
"No, we expected you to be the bigger person and walk away not harm her! Gosh, you could get into so much trouble!" Rosa cringed away.
"For being degraded? Then I would slap her a million times!" she huffed and lowered herself into her seat.
"Reigna is not right in the head and people that are not right in the head do things so that normal people like us would also be perceived as not being right in the head!" Jack remarked with a frown. The way he saw Reigna was different than others because they attended almost all the same classes and his high school junior and senior years were spent in the same high school as Reigna.
She transferred there later in the last semester and people never knew why. Rumors flew around as to why it happened with some saying she murdered someone but they were all unsure. But there was always this menacing feel to her that made him back off. Something Kayla couldn't see because she was blinded by rage.
"If she's crazy, then so am I." Kayla declared and Jack grimaced.
"Are you sure you've never met her before, Kay?" He inquired again.
"Believe me if I had, I would never forget a face like hers."
"I suggest you be careful, Kay. You slapped her and she didn't strike back which means a lot of things, Kay. I know critical thinking is not your best ability but be cautious."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jackie. Sheesh," she said sarcastically, moving her mouse. "The only reason she didn't slap me was because she knew she had no right to. That girl is stupidly naive and she can't do anything to me.
"Because you've suddenly become Superman." Rosa quipped and Kay snorted in response.
"Let's talk about something positive like the showcase for example." Cherry's dark eyes brightened like stars.
Kayla's project was something that had to do with her family. It was called, 'Gene Lock' and they would be present at the showcase. It was the time for them to bond.
"Yeah, that's true! My project has been going smoothly and it is sure to leave investors wanting more." Jack said with a triumphant smile on his face.
"What's your project? How to fuck the Starbucks Cashier while he's on duty?" Kay snickered, holding in her laugh.
"Kayla, what the fuck!?" Jack threw his pen at her but missed.
"Wait, he did what!?" Rosa's jaw dropped. "How come I'm just hearing about this!?"
"Kay if you don't shut up, I will fucking kill you!"
"By all means do but I would die a satisfied woman. He was giving the cashier a blow job while on duty! Like that is insane! Wild! Crazy!" Kayla threw her head back, laughing.
Jack's cheeks tinged a bright red. Cherry pretended to not exist and Rosa almost fell to the floor.
"Talk about having balls! Pun very much intended!" Rosa flipped her hair back and Kay clapped.
"Nice one, Rosa!" They high-fived and Jack wanted to die in a fucking hole. It wasn't a secret or a big deal in the slightest. Kayla was the funniest of them all so it was normal for this to happen.
His heart warmed that he had such good friends with him. Especially Kayla. She was just a good friend. A friend who was worth everything. That was why he was worried about her and Reigna. He didn't know what she would do and this created a dark cloud over his head.
But seeing Kayla's pale face shine with so much joy, he let this time slide. She was happy today and that was all that mattered.