Troublemaker

Kaleigh and Olivia whipped around to face none other than Elias. They looked just as surprised as Alyssa to see him standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"You're new. Just letting her know that I don't tolerate disrespect," Kaleigh replied as she turned back toward Alyssa to smirk at her.

Alyssa felt her heart start to sink. Kaleigh was going to turn Elias against her. She wouldn't even be surprised if Elias jumped in on the attack too. He didn't exactly have the nicest look to him. With his dark eyes and lean muscular build, he looked more like a threat than anything.

"You're the only one being disrespectful," Elias replied, making everyone's eyes widen.

"Excuse me?" Kaleigh said as she narrowed her eyes.

Alyssa could hardly hear over the rapid and loud beating of her heart. He actually stood up for her. He didn't agree with her. She didn't expect that at all, but then again, she didn't know this guy. He could be anyone.

"Walk away," Elias said in a firm tone. He towered over Kaleigh, and he wasn't afraid to stare her down.

Kaleigh parted her lips to argue, but something made her shut her mouth and hurry away with Olivia right behind her.

Elias' eyes followed the girls until they left the floor. He then turned to face Alyssa. That usual little smile of his quirked up on his lips.

"Are you okay?" Elias asked.

Alyssa nodded. Gratitude swelled in her chest to a nearly painful point. He didn't have to come and check on her. He didn't have to stand up for her. It didn't benefit him at all, but he still did it. She couldn't help but wonder why.

"Thank you. Sorry if you were studying," she told him, figuring he had been working when all of that commotion happened.

Elias waved his hand dismissively as he moved to sit down in the seat next to her. He rested his backpack next to his black combat boots.

"I was just leaving. I couldn't help but overhear," he explained. "Sounds like she has it out for you."

Alyssa shook her head as she huffed. It was annoying how obsessive Kaleigh was being about this. She just had to prove that she was right.

"She didn't answer something right, and I did. She has the hots for Dr. Pierce," Alyssa replied.

A soft laugh broke from Elias as he nodded his understanding.

"Ah, I see. Well, she'll have to compete with like twenty other people," Elias said as he rested his arm against the table and angled his body toward her.

Alyssa was surprised that he was still here. She figured he would've gone about his day by now, but he seemed like he wanted to stay and chat for a minute. Not that she minded that.

"I guess people have their fantasies," she replied. Getting with her professor wasn't one that she had in mind for herself. She wasn't all that versed in sex. She hadn't ever experienced it before. It nearly made her blush that she was thinking about it now while talking to him.

"That isn't one of yours?" Elias teased at her, flashing his white teeth.

Now, she was really blushing. Alyssa shook her head. Even if she was asked what her fantasies were, she wouldn't even know what to say.

"I'll get an A the traditional way," she replied as she brushed her fingertips against the open page of her chemistry book. Chemistry was the last thing on her mind right now, especially with him grinning at her like that. The rest of the library seemed to fall away.

"Since you actually study and do your work unlike the rest of us slackers, you'll probably succeed at that," Elias said as he nodded to her book. "I'll let you get back to it."

Alyssa knew that she needed to wrap this up, tell him goodbye, and get back to work. That was the responsible thing to do. But that wasn't what she wanted to do deep down. She wanted to keep talking to him, to get to know him better because she only had a snapshot of who he was.

"I'm actually done for the night," she blurted out. She even closed her book for good measure. It wasn't like she was behind or anything. She could work a little extra tomorrow.

Elias brightened up at that. He checked his phone for the time, which was around nine o'clock at night.

"Well, if you're not busy, we could grab some tea and chat," Elias suggested to her as he stood up and slung his backpack on.

Alyssa wasn't sure how he pulled off the cool and casual demeanor so well. He breezed through his movements like effortless air. It was hard not to admire.

"Sure. That sounds nice," she told him before shutting off the computer she was using. Her night had taken a huge turn. She went from doing homework to hanging out with the cutest guy that had ever decided to talk to her. She struck luck somehow.

Elias waited until she got her things before leading her toward the stairs that led to the first floor.

"I'm Elias by the way," he said as he paused near the stairs to hold his hand out to her.

Alyssa reached forward and took his hand, noting that his skin was cool to the touch. She wondered if he had an iron deficiency.

"Alyssa," she introduced herself. She didn't bother to mention the fact that she had already sort of gossipped about him with Zoe. Then again, there wasn't much gossip since not much was known about Elias. Zoe just recommended that Alyssa get to know him since she had her eye on him.

"Nice to meet you, troublemaker," Elias chuckled as their hands broke apart.