A Mermaid's Kiss (Bay State University #1) - Katie Holland Page 0,17

needed to get out of this room. I dropped my controller and went to my room to change into workout clothes. I left without saying anything to the guys and went to the campus gym. My hands curled around the weights I was holding and I took out what I was feeling on my body. I was angry at myself, and angry at my parents for allowing my behavior all these years. I worked until my body felt weak. I looked up and saw Kayleigh running on the track. I put the weights down and went over to her.

“This is all you’re fault,” I yelled at her.

I could tell I scared her but right then I didn’t care. I stormed off and headed to my truck. I needed to clear my head before I went back to the dorm.

Chapter 13

Kayleigh

“What the hell was that all about?” Karma asked, stopping beside me on the track.

“I have no idea,” I admitted.

“Did you do something to piss him off?”

“Not that I know of. I haven’t even seen him today.”

“Maybe he’s got PMS,” Karma said with a smile.

“Or maybe he’s just an asshole like I’ve been telling you. Let’s forget about him and finish our run.”

We ran another few laps around the track. I tried my best to put Major out of my mind, but I kept replaying what he said. It didn’t make any sense. I didn’t know him well enough for him to be that mad at me.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in English the next morning. Was Major going to be nice or a dick, or maybe not even show at all? And then I wondered why I was even thinking about him. I needed to stop thinking about him and focus on school and swimming-- those were the two things that were going to benefit me in life, not some random guy.

Karma and I took the same seats as Monday and waited for the professor to get there. It seemed like 9:00 was too early for him too.

I was getting my laptop set up when Karma nudged me with her elbow. I looked to where she was looking and saw that Major had come to class, but decided to sit somewhere else. He still looked mad.

“I wonder what crawled up his ass and died,” Karma said.

“Who cares. Just forget about him. He can be an ass all he wants, as long as it’s away from me.”

The professor chose that moment to enter the room and start class. I was relieved to have something else to think about.

The day was going smoothly. I started the reading for English and managed to get through a full class of Algebra before my stomach growled. I packed up my bag and went to have lunch. Once again, just as I sat down to eat, Wes found me. He asked if he could sit with me and I agreed. I needed something to take my mind off my last class.

“So, how are classes going?” he asked.

“Okay, I guess. It’s going to be a very hectic semester between school and swimming.”

“How many classes are you taking?”

“Five. You?”

“Same. But, I know a lot of athletes that only take four and graduate in five years instead of four.”

“I think I’d rather do it this way,” I said. I was getting better at small talk. Yay for me.

“So,” he said, “I was wondering if I could ask you on a date?”

Shit, Karma was right. Don’t panic Kayleigh, you can handle this. “Um, that’s really nice of you but I don’t date anyone I’m on a team with. Actually, I don’t really date at all.”

“I see.” He sounded disappointed. “Oh well, can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said, and his smile was back. “Is it still okay if I eat with you?”

“Of course. You’re one of the very few people I know here.”

We talked until it was time for me to get to class. Now that the awkward part was out of the way he seemed a lot easier to talk to. I was hoping we could at least be friends.

When I got to Computer Science I was kind of dreading Major’s arrival. Where we sat on Monday had been our assigned seats for the year. The class was full so if Major came to class, he had to sit beside me.

Just before class started he slid into his chair. I didn’t acknowledge him and was going to pretend he wasn’t there. I had to pay attention if