17 Chapter 17

When I took a look at my class schedule for the rest of the week, I both sighed and slumped down on my mattress. There was so much I needed to get done in such little time that I didn't see myself finding any free time, even during the upcoming weekend, where I usually put down all college things related, for a movie night.

I didn't even have the time to form a proper conversation with Will during our coffee dates because the assignments and their due dates preoccupied us both. However, lately, studying seemed like such a burden. My thoughts were far from literature, resting on the only thing I couldn't shake my mind from. My eyes stared out of the window while my third caffeinated drink was coming to a hollow stop. By this time, Will had already left in his car and I had decided that I could finish my last assignment for the day here. But again, I caught myself drifting off to the pair of grey eyes I despised.

I sucked at my bottom lip and ground my teeth until it started to hurt. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't come up with a single reason for Aiden's hatred towards me. I had barely spoken three words when I first met him, and after that, most of them were blabbers and stutters he found annoying; once again a sign of my brain making the plea to run away.

Just as I had made the final sentences of my work and made the move to leave, I felt my phone vibrate on the table. I swung my bag strap over my shoulder and read the message that appeared.

'Hey, how are you?'

I smiled at the text from Elijah, glad to see his name light up my screen. Though, now I was reminded of the fact that between the last few days, I hadn't checked my phone and replied to his earlier messages.

'Hey! I'm really good! I'm so sorry I didn't text back the other day. Things have been a little chaotic recently.'

I threw my empty cups of coffee in the trash on my way out. I kept the phone in my hands and crossed into the parking lot to the inside of my car.

'No worries! I'm just glad to hear from you again!'

'Me too! Again, I'm really sorry I didn't text back. If the offer still stands, I would love to go to coffee with you sometime.'

I turned on the engine and drove back home just in time to receive Elijah's kind text.

'Really? That's great! Maybe once you're all settled and working at the library we could go? I'd love to give you a tour.'

'I'd love that too. Thank you.'

I felt guilty to say that I was relieved when he mentioned going for coffee after the internship. I wasn't sure I could meet with the money and I definitely didn't want him feeling like he had some kind of obligation around me. But most of all, I didn't want him to think I needed the internship as badly as I did. I was more than ashamed as it was and I preferred to be alone than to use anyone else's money.

I didn't expect my phone to make another noise after my last text, yet when it did, I felt a subtle excitement run around me as I entered my apartment.

'It's a date.'

My lips pressed back a forming smile but I couldn't help it when it spread throughout my face. Then suddenly, Aiden's words were in my head, playing over the way he had described Elijah as some kind of villain, a bad guy. Was he right? All Elijah had done so far was help me and offer me kind things...

I push away the doubt reminding myself that I had no reason to trust anything Aiden said. For all I knew he was just being a jerk again.

And as if I was suddenly the most popular person on the Earth, my phone was once more buzzing in my hands. I looked at the caller ID and took a moment to recover from my surprise.

"Hello," I say, reaching through the empty void of the call.

"Emma, it's dad... Sam, I mean." He corrects himself quickly.

"Hi." I still hold a smile.

"How are you? How have you been?" A nervousness shoots from him.

"I have been good, classes have been keeping me really busy."

"That's wonderful. I mean, unless you don't think so, which then it wouldn't be..." He sighs and I imagined him to rub a hand over his face. I can't help myself from letting out a small giggle from my mouth as a sign that he didn't need to be so nervous.

"It is wonderful. And how are you?"

"I'm really great. I was actually- uh calling to ask you something." I sat on the edge of my bed and paid all of my attention to the smallest noises the line made. "The last time we saw each other, you said I could call you... so, I wanted to ask if maybe, you would want to have dinner with us next week? I know you are busy with classes and assignments so I understand if you don't want to, or if you want to rearrange the date... but I really hope you can make it."

Somehow, out of the many times I had spoken with my father, right now seemed like the easiest. I wasn't on the brink of tears every time I heard him pronounce a word and I didn't have the need to remind myself he was my father to hold a conversation. Now, I just simply talked with him because I wanted to.

"I would really like that. Next week should be good, my schedule isn't too busy on Wednesday? Is that okay for you?" I hold my breath anticipating his next response.

"It couldn't be more perfect. I will let Barb know." We both remained on the call for a few moments longer to make sure the other didn't have any more to say.

"Goodbye, Emma..." He says finally.

"Bye..." I almost said dad, but I closed my mouth and swallowed hard. "...Sam." I add.

I take away the phone from my ear and place it next to me on the bed.

Things finally seemed to be going okay around me. With tomorrow being the last day of the week before the weekend, I couldn't wait to have the place to myself. I could do my own thing in silence, unnoticed by the world and alone where no one made fun of me. However, I was especially excited to have two days where Aiden didn't exist to torment me every chance he got.