and draw a thin line under my eyes and on my eyelid. It makes my eyes look much better. I put a little powder under my eyes to give my skin a little color. A few swipes of mascara and I look like a new person. Pleased with the way I look, I put on my tight jeans and a tank top. Still feeling naked, I grab a white cardigan out of my closet. This is the most effort I have made in my appearance for a regular school day since picture day my senior year of high school.
Landon texts me that we’ll have to meet in class, so when I stop by the coffeehouse I grab him a drink, too. I’m still pretty early to class, so I walk slower than usual.
“Hey, Tessa, right?” I hear a guy’s voice say. I look over and see a preppy boy coming my way.
“Yeah, Logan, right?” I ask him, and he nods.
“You coming over again this weekend?” he asks. He must be part of the frat; of course he is, he’s preppy and gorgeous.
“Oh, no, not this weekend.” I laugh and he joins in.
“Bummer, you were fun. Well, if you change your mind, you know where it is. I gotta go, but I’ll see you around.” Giving me a fake little tip of the hat, he walks away.
In class, Landon is already seated and thanks me repeatedly for bringing him coffee. “You look different today,” he says as I sit down.
“I put makeup on,” I joke and he smiles. He doesn’t ask about my night with Hardin and I am grateful. I’m not sure what I would say to him.
Just as the day gets pleasant, and I begin to stop thinking about Hardin, it’s time for Literature.
HARDIN SITS IN HIS NORMAL SEAT in the front. He’s wearing a white T-shirt for once and it’s thin enough that his tattoos are visible underneath it. It amazes me how attractive I find his tattoos and piercings when I’ve never cared for either before. I look away quickly, sit down in my usual seat next to him, and pull out my notes. I’m not giving up my great seat because of one rude boy. Still, I hope Landon arrives soon so I won’t feel so alone with Hardin.
“Tess?” Hardin whispers as the class begins to fill up.
No. Don’t answer him. Ignore him, I repeat to myself.
“Tess?” he says again, this time louder.
“Do not speak to me, Hardin,” I say through my teeth. I avoid looking at him. I will not fall back into his trap.
“Oh come on,” he says, and I can tell he thinks this is all funny.
My tone is harsh but I don’t care: “I mean it, Hardin, leave me alone.”
“Fine, have it your way,” he says equally harshly, and I sigh.
Landon walks in and I am so grateful. Seeing the tension between Hardin and me, he asks in his kind tone, “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie, and class begins.
HARDIN AND I continue ignoring each other all week, and each day that passes without talking to him makes it a little easier to not think about him so much. Steph and Tristan have been hanging out all week, so I’ve had our room mostly to myself, which has been both good and bad. Good because I get a lot of studying done, but bad because I am left alone with my thoughts about Hardin. All week I have been wearing a little bit more makeup, but still my baggy and conservative clothes. By Friday morning, I feel like I am really over this whole mess with Hardin. That is, until everyone keeps talking about partying at the frat house. Seriously, there is a party there every Friday—and usually Saturday, too—so why they feel the need to get excited about it every weekend blows my mind.
After being asked by at least ten people if I will be at the party, I decide to do the only thing that I know will keep me from going. I call Noah.
“Hey, Tessa!” he chirps into the phone. It has been a few days since we’ve actually talked, and I’ve missed his voice.
“Hey, do you think you could come visit me?” I ask.
“Sure, yeah. Maybe I can come next weekend?”
I groan. “No, I mean like today. Like now, could you leave right now?” I know he likes to plan things just like I do, but I need him to come now.