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Re-written 05/2022

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"Hey," Raven walks into class dropping her bag on the table. I take her bag placing it on the floor. I had my food already prepared on the table. "Sorry." She rolls her eyes.

"Hi, you are late." I look at her briefly before turning my attention to the cutting board, chopping up the sun-dried tomatoes.

"Uh, I know. I went to Croakington to see you, so we could walk together."

"I'm sorry, I left early."

"Yeah, I know that know. Anywho, Darren seems nice..." I look at her trying to figure out where she is going with this conversation. "I was wondering if you don't mind putting in a good word for me."

"I barely know them," I tell her.

"But you will get to know them, right?" She took the skillet, adding olive oil to it. "I mean no rush, you just moved into the house."

"I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises, these guys aren't lik—"

"I can handle it, Char. I'm a big girl."

"Whatever you say, don't get your hopes up. These are the guys of Croakington, but enough talking about them we need to start our pasta. This is the dish that will help Professor Duggan in deciding if I'm ready for the culinary program in LA. You know how much it means to me."

"I know." She huffs, turning on the burner.

The Prestigious Ramona Culinary Academy is my entire life. I have dreamed of going to that school for as long as I could remember. All the top Chefs attended that academy and their lives have changed for the better. I could see myself now, walking up the steps to a new beginning. A life I always wanted, I will continue to live out the Withers chef dream.

Raven and I worked well together. Always knowing what the other was going to do or ask next. I was thrilled that she decided to take a course in culinary this year. She was never into cooking, but I guess since she has free time she would take a few lessons.

Forty-five minutes later the Bistro Chicken Pasta was finished and I got through it without punching Raven in the face on many occasions. Normally, when we cook with one another everything runs smoothly however, today was off by a landslide, she was making mistakes one after the other. I had to stop a few times to ask her was she ok? If this dish wasn't so important to me I wouldn't have cared about her mistakes, but it was important.

Professor Duggan walks to our station, looking at the pasta.

"Presentation perfectly delivered, this is a ten." I look over at Raven, nodding. I didn't want to get too excited because Professor Duggan knows how to kill someone's happiness in mere seconds. She picks up the fork taking a nice serving of the pasta. "Wow, this is delicious a perfect ten. Charlotte, you have a great talent for this, PRCA will be honored to have you there next year."

"Thank you so much, Professor Duggan." A smile tugs at my lips, this is amazing. I'm the only one on campus who is trying to get into PRCA and this right there was a good thing. Only one student per University was sent to that school. Last year five students had to battle it out with their dishes and maintain a 3.0 GPA. I have a 3.5 GPA and that will be easy to maintain of course staying away from the male specimen is top on the list. I have to woo over Professor Duggan with all my dishes so she can sign off the paperwork that will get me into the Academy.

"Why didn't you tell her that I helped you with this dish?" Raven asks once Professor Duggan moved on to the next station.

"Raven, you nearly ruined the dish and I didn't think you would want to be credited for anything cooking wise seeing this is your free class." I shoulder bump her in a playful way. What is her problem?

"You're right." She turns her back to me, digging in her purse.

"I'm sorry," I turn her towards me. "In the future, if you want to get credit for a dish just let me know or speak up next time. I don't see a problem with you doing so. It's not like you are trying to get into PRCA too. You're a Fashion major. Come on let's get this cleaned up. I have to meet Everett next period." I say, already beginning to clean our station.

"I was kidding Char, this is your class. Why are you going to see Everett Sawyer? I thought you would be with Chase Tucker; he seems more suitable to be your hero. You two falling for each other would be a perfect romance."

I roll my eyes. Back when Chase was just Chase and not Chase of Croakington, I could see myself falling for him. Now he is just a self-absorbed asshole. In a sense, he is still the same from middle school.

"First, can you stop saying their whole name? Two, what I am seeing Everett for is none of your business, and third of all, Chase and I will never happen. He is not what I want in a boyfriend."

"How do you know what you want in a boyfriend, if you never had one before? That's like saying I don't like Johnny Deep and never seen any of his movies."

"What?" I tilt my head to the side staring at her crazy. "Like that doesn't even make sense. Sheesh, Rave. If you wanna give advice stop comparing things to stuff that doesn't make any sense."

"It does make sense; you probably inhaled too much flour or something, but please enlighten me on what it is you want in a boyfriend?"

"I don't know, just not someone like Chase."

"You know when girls say stuff like that; they usually end up with that guy. It's a known fact."

"You read too many romance novels."

"And you don't read enough."

I look up at the clock and curse under my breath; I have to meet Everett back at the house. I guess class ran a bit longer than normal. I look over to see Raven, staring at me.

"Hey." I smile.

"Go ahead; I'll finish cleaning up here." She playfully waves me off.

"Are you sure?" I say, but already reaching for my satchel.

"Yes, I have to talk to Duggan."

"About?"

"I might miss a few classes due to Fashion Week in New York."

"Oh, that sounds cool. I would love to stay about it bu—"

"It's ok, go ahead. We will talk later on tonight about it. I share my info and you have to share yours about Mr. Sawyer."

"Fine, I'll catch you later." I kiss her on the cheek.

I rushed across campus back to the house. Everett stopped by my room last night asking if I can help him with a business idea. He didn't tell me what it was, but he asked nicely and I want the guys to like me so, I said yes. I start helping one and then another. If the school couldn't find a dorm for me, I'm going to make nice with these guys until then. I unlock the front door walking into the living room.

"Sorry, I am la—oh I didn't know everyone was going to be here." I take in my surroundings. The seven frat brothers all are present, with their heads buried in books. This was a sight to see. I know they said they take studying seriously but I never thought I would actually see it.

"I stopped by your room to tell you that the guys are going to be here, but you left hella early. Like, who gets up at five in the morning unless there is some sporting event? No one." he smiles.

"I have an eight am cooking class. So, do you want to go into the dining room to work?" I turn slightly towards the kitchen.

"Actually, that business idea I needed help with includes these guys too. I hope you would still help me, even though it's an us not a me anymore."

Was he serious? He tricked me. I look around the room and everyone is staring at me. I think everyone is. I can't get myself to look over in Chase's general direction. After last night, I don't think I should help out. He might think I'm pushing myself into his circle of brotherhood.

"Actually, I don't think I can help. I don't want to intrude on anyone. I just got here yesterday." I glance over at Chase and he is looking down at his phone.

"So?" Darren scoffs, closing his notebook. "We all need to pass this class. This project is due a month before graduation. The outlines are due in two months. Yes, we are starting early because this is something we want to do once we graduate college. Well, some of us." He looks over to Vincent.

"I don't want you guys to feel like I'm forcing myself to fit in with you all. I don't mind being on the outside, really I don't. I have been doing it for years now." I give them all a weak smile. "And I won't be here for much longer anyway."

"We would really appreciate your help on this project. We won't rush you into anything. If you can do it that would be cool and if you can't then, either way, it would be cool." Austin looks around at the guys then back to me. "No sweat Charlotte."

"Sorry and good luck on that project." I make a fast exit running up the stairs to my room. I'm so out of my comfort zone here. I was always a people pleaser, I wanted people to like me and I guess that is what I was trying to do here. Trying to get Everett to like me, so maybe he could put in a good word to the other guys—to Chase that I was an amazing person.

Ten minutes later there is a knock on my door. I open it expecting to see Darren or Everett, but not Chase. We stood in awkward silence for a few seconds, but it seemed much longer than that. I cleared my throat grabbing his attention. He looked into my eyes a lump caught in my throat.

Crap!

This isn't good. I can't feel anything for him, I just can't and I won't.

"The guys and I were talking and we want you to help us on this project," he says the word we like its poisonous or something.

"But you don't want me to help?" I know he doesn't. It's written all over his stupidly handsome face.

"It's not what I want at this point time. If my fellow brothers feel like you are who we need to help us, who am I to go against them? So if you don't want to help because of what I said last night, I'm sorry. I should have never said that to you—when you were only trying to be nice." His speech sounds rehearse and it angers me just a tad, I bet the guys are the ones who told him what to say. "So are you willing to come back downstairs and help us?"


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