3 Hopeful

Hannah bounced all the way to dance practice after leaving the library. The excitement of getting dinner with Zachary made her feel bubbly. Even though she'd said those things to Jasmine about there being nothing special about having dates on campus, she still couldn't help herself from feeling tingly and elated. She couldn't wait to tell her friends about her progress!

Wait, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. He didn't say it's a date and it's probably dinner at the dining hall. For all I know, he just considers it grabbing food after practice with a buddy. There's no reason to get so enthusiastic about it. And I especially shouldn't tell my friends. Hannah reflects. I know Jasmine is going to go on about seating charts and dress styles, Alexandera will literally physically push me on him, and Kara… she's going to reiterate my thoughts just now. Hannah's mood instantly drops as the reality sinks in. It's a dinner plan with Zachary, not an extravagant date at all.

"Why the long face?" Jasmine asks when Hannah enters the studio. "Was the study date a bust? Was he a no show?"

"No, everything was fine," she answers half-heartedly. "He showed. I think he was early, but I was finally focused on my textbook so I'm not completely sure."

"Showing up early is a good sign!" Jasmine encourages. "It means he wants to spend more time with you! Duh!"

"We were studying in the library," Hannah says slowly and rolls her eyes. "If anything, he wanted more time with his Anatomy textbook."

"You're telling me that you didn't talk at all? No conversation the whole two hours you studied together?"

"He left early, so maybe it was like an hour tops, and no I'm not saying we didn't talk. I'm saying that it's really presumptuous to say he came earlier than we planned because he wanted to see me."

"Oh my gosh Hannah, guys are never on time or early unless they're interested," Jasmine emphasizes never.

"That's such a sexist statement," Hannah counters. "There's bound to be people who are-"

"Ugh! Okay, not the point!" Jasmine growls in her growing frustration. "Whatever, what did you talk about?"

"What?"

"You said that you talked a little, so I'm asking what you talked about."

"Just classes and future plans, nothing incredible or juicy," Hannah dismisses. "I'm telling you, there's nothing about our interaction today that strays from the norm."

"Hm…"

"What? You're giving me that look!" Hannah accuses.

"Which look?"

"The one that screams that you don't believe a word I'm saying!"

"Because I don't!" Jasmine admits. "My intuition is telling me that there's more to this and you're trying not to tell me about it. And, not for nothing, but you're a terrible liar."

Hannah huffs and decides to walk away. If she talks to Jasmine any longer, she's going to tell her roommate everything. Instead, she gets one of the yoga mats from the stack in the corner and finds a place on the floor to do her stretches. Jasmine, of course, drags her mat from her previous spot to be right next to Hannah.

"I'm done," Hannah says, ending the topic of discussion.

Jasmine shrugs in response and goes into child's pose to loosen her hips and stretch out her back and arms. Hannah just looks at her while doing a butterfly stretch.

"I'm really done talking about him." Hannah insists.

Jasmine moves into downward dog position, ignoring her friend in the process. Hannah internally stews at her friends disinterest, knowing that it's a way to get her to talk. Jasmine goes back on her knees and alternates between cat and cow poses when Hannah finally lets out an annoyed breath.

"Okay fine, you were right," Hannah concedes. "But I don't want to talk about it right now. Plus, practice is going to start soon so it makes no sense to get into it now."

"Fair," Jasmine says as she sits cross legged facing Hannah. "We'll talk later tonight. I want all the details."

Hannah shrugs at her suggestion and frowns at the giddy satisfied smile on Jasmine's face. I got played, Hannah resigns. It's infuriating how well she knows me from only living together for a semester!

"Oh my gosh, I am so sore!" Jasmine whines as she and Hannah make their way back to their room after dance practice. "I swear Tracy is out to get us!"

"She's just being stricter because of the activities fair. We need new dancers because almost half the team is graduating," Hannah replies. "And it wasn't even that bad. We've done more rigorous routines in the past."

"Two hours today, and a whole hour just on conditioning drills!"

"You're in better shape than that Jazz."

"Whatever."

They walk in silence across campus with an occasional groan and complaint from Jasmine. Hannah notices Jasmine's demeanor change instantly and her posture straightened. What in the world? Hannah questions. She follows Jasmines eyeline to see what's caused the change, and sees Marcus standing outside their residence halls' shared quad, the grassy area between their two buildings.

"Marcus?" Hannah whispers. "You're interested in Marcus?"

"Shh!!!"

"I'll call him over. Give you two a chance to chat," Hannah teases and winks at her friend. It felt nice to not be the one under scrutiny.

"Han, I swear-" Jasmine stops mid-speech when she realizes Marcus is walking towards them.

"Ladies!" Marcus greets. "Surprised to see you both out an about so late."

"It's eight-fifteen," Hannah retorts. "It's not that late. We've been in the library longer."

"We're coming from dance practice," Jasmine says sheepishly. "It ran longer than usual."

"Oh right! You're both on the dance team!" Marcus exclaims. "Is there a performance coming up that I should know about?"

Jasmine reddens at his enthusiasm and Hannah snickers. The turn of events feels refreshing to Hannah because she now has something to pester and tease Jasmine over. Marcus still looks expectantly at the duo for an answer when Jasmine manages to calm herself down.

"Oh, um, we're mainly focusing on the performance for the activities fair," she answers. "Recruiting purposes so we have to be really on."

"Yeah, our captain is really kicking our butts into gear to get new people to audition. Maybe you'd like to try out?" Hannah suggests.

"I think I'll pass on the trying out, but I'll check out the fair. Let me know what time you're on."

"Sure thing!" Jasmine agrees. "I don't have your number or anything, though."

Hannah turns her head to Jasmine in shock, impressed at the boldness to ask for Marcus's number out of the blue. Way to take your shot! Hannah mentally cheers.

"Oh, no worries, Hannah has it," Marcus waves his hand to dismiss the issue. "She can let me know, right Han?"

Jasmine's face falls and Hannah internally face palms. How could he miss the blatant interest in Jasmine's statement?

"Um yeah, but maybe you should give Jazz your number too, you know in case I forget to text you, and then you'll miss the epic performance."

"Oh yeah, you right you right," he agrees. "Jazz you have your phone with you or you want me to write it somewhere?"

Jasmine perks up again and silently thanks Hannah by sending her a grateful look. She materializes her phone from her duffel bag and readily takes down Marcus's number as he recites the digits to her.

"Want me to call or text you so you have my number too?" Jasmine offers. Hannah could hear the eagerness in her roommate's voice.

"Yeah, definitely," he agrees. "I'm not one to turn down a pretty girl's number."

Jasmine blushes.

"That's some line, Marc," Hannah criticizes. "How often do pretty girls offer you their number?"

"Shut it!" He responds, pushing Hannah on her left shoulder, making her stumble a bit. "Oh man, I didn't realize I pushed you that hard!"

"You didn't," she denies. "I wasn't balanced. Anyway, I didn't even know you knew Jasmine. I don't think she's ever come to study group or anything."

"Oh, Jazz and I? We go way back!" Marcus proclaims. "Known her for months now."

Hannah quirks and eyebrow at his statement and looks between the two of them, hoping to get a semblance of a clear explanation.

"He was my TA last semester," Jasmine explains. "Intro to Sociology."

"Right, I forget you're a sophomore because of how immature you are," Hannah teases Marcus. "I didn't think you had the grades to be a TA."

"You helped me with an assignment once, no need to be all high and mighty about it."

Marcus genuinely looked ashamed. His reaction was unusual because Hannah ribs him all the time during study group and he takes it in stride, he never looked ashamed before. Hannah connects the dots, he's interested in Jasmine! Oh my gosh!

"Yeah, my bad, you helped me out a ton too," Hannah apologizes. "Don't think I would've managed in that Statistics class without you."

"Don't mention it," Marcus says bashfully.

"Are you good at Statistics?" Jasmine asks hopefully, "I am bombing my class. I don't get some of it. You think you have time to tutor me?"

"Yeah!" he immediately agrees. "You could join our study group, or we can schedule a time to meet. You have my number now, so just let me know when you're free!"

"That's awesome! Thank you so much!"

"Speaking of studying, I actually have to finish my Child Development chapter, so I'll see you guys later," Hannah says and makes her exit.

She speed walks away from her friends before they can call her back or say anything. Her mission is to give Jasmine an opportunity to shoot her shot, similar to how Jazz encourages and pushes her to move things along with Zachary. It would be great if they both started dating and could go on double dates together.

Stop it, Hannah! You're overthinking again. Nothing is happening, she reminds herself. But the pesky hopeful voice sneakily adds in, nothing yet.