Chapter four

**The Next Day…**

Bella Hart dressed in a simple green shirt and blue jeans, despiite Mia's protests that it wasn't stylish enough. Bella wanted to feel comfortable and didn't want Adrian to think she was trying to impress him. She gathered the finance books she was struggling with and made her way to the school garden, arriving at 2:10 pm.

As she reached the garden, she spotted Adrian sitting on a bench under an oak tree. Guilt pricked her conscience for being late. "Poor thing, I hope he doesn't think I'm unserious," she murmured to herself. When she got closer, she noticed they were wearing matching outfits.

"Hey," Adrian greeted as she approached.

"Hey," she replied nervously, wishing she had worn the dress Mia had picked out.

"Sit," he said, patting the bench beside him.

Bella smiled nervously and sat down.

"You look good, by the way," he said, glancing at her outfit and noticing their matching colors. Bella's cheeks flushed red. 'Damn, she's cute,' he thought.

"Thank you," was all Bella coulld manage. 'What's wrong with me? And why is he looking at me like that?' she wondered.

"Are these the finance books you're having problems with?" he asked, noticing the books in her hands.

"Yes, they are," she said, handing him a course outline with a few topics highlighted. "These are the topics I'm struggling with."

Adrian scanned the list. "We won't have a problem with this, Bell," he said confidently.

"It's Bella. Bella Hart," she corrected him.

"Alright, Bella. Or should I say Miss Hart?" he teased with a smile.

Bella was taken aback by his playful tone. 'Is he flirting with me?' she thought, blushing again.

'Why is her face red? Is she sick?' Adrian wondered, concerned. "Are you…" he began, but his phone rang, interrupting him. He answered it.

"Hey man, I see you've found a girl for yourself," Ben said on the other end.

"What?" Adrian was puzzled.

"Aren't you the one sitting in the garden with a girl next to you?" Ben clarified.

"Yes, so?" Adrian replied, still confused.

"I'm looking at you from a distance," Ben said, waving. Adrian spotted him. "Just don't scare her off with that cold attitude of yours. You know you'll need her for the project," Ben added before ending the call.

Realizing what Ben meant, Adrian turned back to Bella, who was quietly observing the garden. 'She's cute and naive. Maybe I should try asking her out,' he thought.

"Miss Hart, I don't mind tutoring you, but I have a condition," Adrian said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Bella didn't think much of it. 'The condition can't be too bad, maybe just running a few errands around campus,' she mused.

"And what's that going to be?" she inquired, curiosity piqued.

His smile morphed into a mischievous smirk. "Be my girlfriend for the semester."

"What?!" Bella exclaimed, stunned. How could she possibly be his girlfriend when he was already in a relationshiip with the hottest girl on campus