(please don't forget to comment and vote. thank you so much for all the support)

➵➵➵

"This paper town has let me down too many times...I thought that I could trust you, never mind...I guess I'm too naive to read the signs"

~ Real Friends (CAMILA)

HANNAH 

How were the cherry tomatoes?

I smirked at Matthew's text. This was my last class of the day and it was almost over. My professor was going on and on about Article 2 of the constitution. I wasn't particularly listening. Senioritis was hitting me hard and I was ready to leave college. I would probably win the Olympics in track-and-field with how fast I would run out of here if I was told I'm graduating early.

I shot off a text to Matthew without being too obvious. Dr. Carson freaked whenever he saw phones in class. He was sweet, but old school; electronics were his enemy. Plus, I didn't want to get on his bad side.

I'll admit they were good.

Told you I never disappoint.

Haha. You know, you losing this Friday will negate your statement.

Are you implying we're going to lose?

Obviously. There's no way the ice can carry both teams when you and your ego are on it, too.

Rude. That was mean.

Truth hurts.

Not when it is false. My ego is regular-sized, thank you very much.

??? That doesn't sound like a statement a guy should make.

First of all, get your head out of the gutter. Secondly, there is nothing bad about being regularly sized.

Oh really?

You're like 5'4", the epitome of average. Should you be judging?

How rude.

Truth hurts.

Touche.

Now that I've won this ridiculous argument, when do you want me to bring you the tickets?

Around 3 is fine. But I'd prefer we met at a cafe or something.

Sure, if that makes you more comfortable.

It does.

Then it sounds good to me. Text me which cafe and I'll see you there.

How does Sheeps and Goats sound? They have the best coffee on campus.

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but as long as they have something to eat, I'm good.

They do. You'll like it.

Oh really?

Yeah. Trust me, I never disappoint.

I could almost see him smiling and shaking his head at me. Very funny. Shouldn't you be paying attention to class?

I sent him an eye-rolling emoji, but couldn't help the smile that pulled at my lips. I placed my phone back in my bag, deciding to listen to Matthew and pay attention. I know he was only kidding, but I really did need to listen. I was paying the school anyway.

The rest of the class went faster once I got hooked on the lecture. Class ended at 2:50 PM, so I decided to head straight to the cafe. The campus wasn't too busy and neither was the cafe. There was a small line to order, so I decided to hold a spot for when Matthew came.

He arrived a few seconds later, looking too good in those black jeans and a gray hoodie. He was looking at his phone as he walked in, but he looked up once the door closed behind him.

He looked up to meet my gaze, a big smile spreading across his lips. My heart sputtered, watching him approach me.

I swallowed hard, before reminding myself to be normal. "Hey, you."

Coming to a stop next to me, he nudged me on the side lightly. "So, this is a cafe, huh?"

"What did you think it was?" 

He shrugged. "I don't know. I've never been in here, but I've probably passed by it a million times."

"You never questioned how busy it got during lunch?"

"No, not really," he glanced down at me before looking up to the menu. "So, what do you recommend?"

"Uh, let's see. I love their brownies and chocolate chip cookies. They're both to die for."

We moved up a step as a customer finished giving their order. He looked back at me once we stopped again. "Alright, I'll try their brownie."

"I'll get the cookie then. You can have some to try if you want."

His eyes brightened a little. "Really?"

"Well, yeah. I'm nice like that." I offered him a smile that was too sweet to take seriously. 

He rolled his eyes at me. "You're so funny."

Before I could make a funny face at him, it was our turn to order. I got my usual latte with a cookie and he got water with a brownie.

I kept eyeing him as we sat down toward the back of the cafe. "You're only getting water?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

I shrugged. "Nothing. It's just, why not get tea or something? Since you're at a cafe, you know?"

He thought about it for a second. "I don't know. I don't like coffee that much; it makes me jittery. And I don't much like the taste of tea. So, water, it is."

"What about a smoothie?"

He gave me a short shake of his head. "Too sweet."

I tiled my head, taking him in. "You're interesting."

A slight blush washed over his cheeks, but he covered for it by distracting me with that smile of his. It was so freaking gorgeous, I almost found it difficult to breathe looking up at him. But before my lungs could start being dramatic, he changed the topic. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out two tickets. "Here."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, I need two tickets to get in?"

"No, it's for a plus one. You can bring someone with you so you feel safe."

That wiped the smile off my face. "Safe?"

"It's just, you looked like you really cared about safety...that night. You know, considering all the things you came to the party with," his serious tone washed over the space between us, hitting me like a ton of bricks. "So, I want you to feel safe at the game, too."

My breathing was too fast. I kept watching him intently, trying to get my breathing to slow down. Oh God, I probably looked insane that night, worrying over him like that. "I'm sorry if I crowded you that night. I wanted to make sure you were okay after..." I trailed off, fully remembering what had started this whole thing.

"After you got that girl off of me," he finished, his voice oddly smooth.

I gulped, looking up at him from my coffee. "I've been meaning to ask you how you're doing?"

His eyebrows arched. "I'm good."

"I meant, with what happened."

He let out a small cough but covered it up quickly. "I'm fine."

I managed to catch his fleeting gaze, trying to get a read on him. "You understand what she did was wrong, right?"

He swallowed, breaking eye contact. "Yeah, whatever."

The worry I suddenly felt mingled with panic and raced through my thoughts. I could see that he wasn't ready to talk about last night. Not yet, at least, and I tried my best to respect that. I looked up at him again. He was biting on his bottom lip, worrying it so much so that it was red. He wasn't looking at me anymore and was instead staring in the opposite direction. I didn't like how uncomfortable he looked. I wanted his carefree smile back. So, I went searching for it, despite every bone in my body telling me to push the subject of that night. "So, what happens if you lose this game?"

Finally, that caught his attention and his teeth left his bottom lip alone, his eyes catching mine. Relief washed over his features and when he responded, the tightness was gone from his voice. "I'll buy you dinner."

"Wait, your punishment for breaking a promise and losing a game is buying me dinner? Are you insulting me?"

"I never promised you that. I only told you the truth," he replied, a small smile appearing on his lips "and why would that be an insult?"

"Semantics," I waved his excuse away. "And you're insinuating that having dinner with me is punishment."

"Trust me, that's not what I meant at all," he explained, looking rather genuine, "I meant that if I lose, having dinner with you would make it better."

Holy shit. My heart sped up as my nerves almost skyrocketed through the high roof of the cafe.  I wanted to ask why that would make anything better but immediately knew that was another inappropriate question I couldn't ask him. So, instead, I awkwardly gestured to my chocolate chip cookie. "Want some?"

Chuckling, he nodded. "You did promise."

"Eh. I didn't promise. I just stated it as a fact."

He raised his eyebrow. "That's just semantics."

Now it was me who rolled my eyes at him. "And what happens if you win?"

His smile widened. "Easy. You buy dinner."

"I feel like this is a win-win situation for you and a lose-lose situation for me."

Narrowing his eyes in my direction, he said, "how so?"

"Well, if you lose, we have dinner together. If you win, we have dinner together. Not much of a difference there."

"Oh I assure you, It's a win-win situation for both of us," he countered, holding his palm to his heart. "I'm great company."

I laughed. "You're ridiculous. And so very humble."

He winked at me in response. 

I rolled my eyes at him once again, before breaking my cookie in half and handing him one half. "Here, eat your cookie."

He took it from me, quietly laughing. I couldn't help but join him; his laugh was infectious. 

➵➵➵

(please don't forget to comment and vote. thank you so much for all the support)

- what do you think about this story so far?