It is only when the glass dome dulls with evening light do I realise that Zander and I have spent nearly the entire day in the library together.

I sneak a look at the guy I want to annihilate and irritation spikes when I see him completely immersed in his book. His face is so utterly relaxed and it causes a spike of worry to flare up within.

This shouldn't be happening. It shouldn't be that easy for him, especially since he's supposed to be dating someone else.

I shut my book with a small thump and begin to gather my things in a rush.

This breaks Zander's concentration and his eyebrows raise. "Are you supposed to be somewhere?"

Another flare of irritation burns my skin. Of course I am! Anywhere but here, with him.

"Yes." I mutter, trying my hardest to keep the edge out of my voice and failing miserably.

I'm sure he notices, which is why he all but chases me down the winding staircase.

There are students all around us, more have piled into the library after their evening classes. He doesn't dare say a word with the amount of wandering eyes around us but as soon as we exit the library he tugs my wrist.

"Did I do something? You're running away like Cinderella when the clock's about to strike at midnight."

Outside the sun has begun to set and a soft breeze pushes some of my hair over my face. The waning sun casts an orange glow over Zander's face, it makes his honey brown eyes more golden. I realise we're standing too close to each other and slip my wrist out of his grasp.

"What are we doing?" I finally say, my words soft like a ghost, wafting in the wind between us. "What are you doing?"

He frowns, confusion etched into every inch of his face. "We're not doing anything."

There's that non chalance that has burned me up from the beginning. "We are. You spent the entire day with me, alone in the library while your girlfriend was just a table away. Why don't we just have dinner and call it a date?"

He must either love my sarcasm or be oblivious to it because Zander's eyes crinkle with smug delight. "Is that you finally asking me out?"

"I don't do chasing, remember?" I seethe and then march down the steps, away from him but the guy is relentless.

"Look I did what you wanted. I posted that comment, I told everyone my intentions. You know I'm interested, Danielle. This is the first time I've ever made such a public statement and you make it seem like I'm some asshole who's playing girls left, right and centre." There's no amusement in his voice anymore, Zander Wyatt is borderline angry.

I stop walking and turn around, my heart thumping because Zander nearly walks right into me. He places his hands on my shoulders to stop himself and there's so much chatter all around us, from students lying on the grass or passing by. I turn to the side to see a few people staring at us, their eyes wide when they recognise Zander.

"You call a single comment on an online thread a 'public statement'?" I whisper and his eyes narrow before he groans in frustration. He releases me and runs a hand through his hair.

"You're so difficult, you know that? But I've tried so hard and yet I can't seem to stay away."

More and more heads have turned. They're gazes feel like fire burning my skin but Zander only looks at me, unfazed by all the unwanted attention.

This conversation is too personal, we need to go somewhere else before someone starts taking a video or something.

"Follow me," I say softly and his eyebrows raise in question.

I lead him down the stony footpath, past a row of mulberry bushes and lemon trees. The chemistry labs are usually closed for cleaning during this hour so I walk down the side of the brick building and turn into one of the corridors.

Zander's right behind me, the scent of him envelopes me. I notice he always smells so fresh, like early morning air, or the most unpolluted parts of the forest.

I lean against the wall, letting it take my weight as I gaze up at him. "I'm not your friend, Zander. I don't want to be either. If you want to spend more time with me, you can't be half-in, half-out."

"What do you mean? I practically told the entire college I want you." He raises his shoulders in exasperation, palms facing the ceiling as he shrugs.

"You have a girlfriend," I point out. "And a forum is hardly the entire college."

Zander's gaze hardens and I try to stand up taller but am only eye level with his chin. There's a black mole right below the corner of his lip and it's suddenly distracting me. I've never noticed that before.

Silence permeates the air around us, the only sounds coming from crickets in the bushes and insects buzzing in nearby bushes.

"Brooklyn's not a girlfriend." He says in a tone I've never heard before, hard and cold. "I've never had a girlfriend, none of them were and there's a good reason for that."

It's hard not to think about Elizabeth when he says this. She seemed convinced they were a couple all those months ago. She thought she could change him.

"That's not what Brooklyn's friends said. This isn't fair, Zander. Either you want me or you want her..."

He slams a palm against the wall, making me jump in my skin. "Brooklyn and I went on ONE date and nothing ever since. It's got nothing to do with her, I can't seem to get you out of my head. Ever since you told me off on campus, ever since that night after the party. I tried to move on, but you keep showing up and I've realised I can't fight it anymore. I want you, Danielle. Only you."

He was busy staring at the garden during his rant but when he shifts to see me cowering in fear, he quickly steps back. He lifts his hand and then places it on the wall cautiously, looking afraid that I might run away.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He adds quietly. "But you have to admit there's been push and pull from your side as well. You can deny it all you want but there's some thing between us, Danielle. I know you feel it too."

It takes me a moment to regain composure. "You're delusional."

"Why did you dress up as a cheerleader that day, Danielle? I know you don't play the sport. And why are you so fixated on those forums about me, about the things they say I do?"

I look away, or at least try to. "Like I said you're delusional. A clearly ego centric person who thinks everything revolves around him."

He smirks and there's that damn dimple on full display. "And you're a bad liar."

I cross my arms over my chest, my cheeks flushed. "This conversation is going no where."

I turn to the side to leave but he places another hand softly against the wall, his arms caging me in.

He leans in and my body tenses like a wound up coil. "Are you sure you want me to go all out with this?" He gestures between the both of us. "Because Zander Wyatt does nothing halfway."

I gulp softly at the challenge in his eyes, a teasing glint reflecting the lights above us.

My silence makes him smile smugly, this is probably the first time I'm at a loss for words around him.

"Well?" He asks again and I clear my throat.

"I'll believe it when I see it," I say but inside my stomach has started to feel queasy, an unease settling into my veins. Am I even ready for the repercussions?

Zander takes my admission as an invitation. He leans closer and whispers into my ear, causing goosebumps to spread across my skin and down my neck.

"Be careful for what you wish for, Danielle."

*

The soft swooshing of clothes being washed reverberates around me and I swing my legs from side to side, waiting for our laundry to be done.

Remember the deal I made with my two evil friends when I started all of this? Their help in exchange for laundry? So now I'm here, not only waiting for one load to finish but three. I groan, thinking about all the folding to be done once the drying is over.

Stacy's clothes consist of mainly cheer uniforms and party dresses but Daphne's took up more than one entire load. The girl hardly leaves her room, how does one person have so much laundry when they don't ever go anywhere?

The last group of chattering girls leave the room and silence ensues. I suddenly think of Zander and wonder what he means by going all out. Is he going to write a proposal on campus walls like he said during our conversation at Luke's house or worse?

I quickly shake my head, getting rid of the horrifying thought. He can't do that, it would be vandalism and even a politician's son/famous footballer can't get away with stuff like that.

Maybe he's going to ask me out on the busy walkway between campus buildings. I remember an old movie where the lead guy makes his juniors sing to the girl in the library till she accepts his proposal. The mere thought of it already fills me with humiliation.

What was I thinking? I want him exclusive but that doesn't mean he has to shout about it to the entire campus.

The more scenarios I conjure, the more outlandish they get so I quickly stand up and begin to jump around, shaking my limbs like I'm warming up before a run. Maybe the shaking will stop my overthinking.

"Umm, am I interrupting something?"

Luke's voice is a symphony that has been etched into my brain. It makes me shriek in embarrassment, my ass hitting the washing machine behind me when I jump back.

He's trying hard not to laugh when he walks in with a basket of laundry and I quickly adjust my sweat pants and loose grey hoodie, suddenly feeling self conscious.

I've never seen him here before. Why is he here, when I look like this?

"Luke, hey," I say stupidly, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear and smoothening it down.

He flashes me a smile that makes standing without support so much harder. I lean against the counter top, watching him as he loads the dryer with a few clothes and shuts the door before turning around.

"Doesn't the student athlete housing have their own laundry room?" I ask him curiously when he makes his way toward me.

He's also wearing sweatpants and a flimsy shirt, the material so thin I can see the smooth outline of his toned stomach when he sits down next to me.

"Well I needed the walk." He pauses and his cheeks flush. "I also may or may not have bumped into Stacy and Daphne on the way back and they may or may not have mentioned that you were here doing their laundry. And I may or may not have decided that some company would be better than doing laundry alone."

"That's a long walk." I'm smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

Luke waves me off nonchalantly. "It's nothing. I have to clock in those steps for coach. This has got nothing to do with you, okay?"

"Of course," I agree, still smiling.

"By the way I'm sorry for being such a dry texter. I'm really more of a 'phone call' kind of guy. What about you?"

I suddenly realise that in my Zander-revenge induced haze, I'd forgotten to text him back today. "No, I'm the fool who never replied. I'm a 'phone call' kind of person as well."

Luke nods. "Noted, that's a relief. Okay, what else.." His eyebrows bunch together in concentration and he looks so deep in thought.

"Ice cream or the blended smoothie?" He finally says.

"What?" His expression made me think he was going to ask me about my five year plan or something. "I guess, ice cream. I prefer eating it to drinking it, you know?"

Luke grins. "Agreed."

"Okay, my turn. Pizza or spaghetti?" I ask.

"Lasagna all the way," He answers automatically.

"That wasn't even in the options!" I complain and he proceeds to explain that they're basically made up of the same things.

We continue this conversation till both our laundry's are done and he helps me fold my bundle of clothes when he's done with his.

He insists on carrying both baskets as we walk back to my dorm and when we stop outside I realise I don't want to go in.

"See you tomorrow?" I say, feeling bad that he's been balancing so many clothes.

"Maybe." He teases. "Maybe I will see you on the field during practice?"

The team has practice tomorrow for their game next week. I hardly ever go to those, I've never had much reason to.

Until now.

"We'll see," I say and then I grab the basket from him. "Thanks for the company."

"Like wise." He says, his voice like honey, melting my nerves.

I rush up the stairs and head to my room. My body feeling giddy as I get ready for bed and when the phone rings I grab it like my life depends on it.

"Goodnight, Danielle." Luke murmurs and it feels like he's right next to me. I want him here, next to me.

"Goodnight, Luke." I say, a foreign longing in my voice.

Guysss, I'm back. Sorry for the long break I had some non writing related work and now that that's over I'm back and will be posting every week like usual. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!