t w o | I'd Try

It was Friday night and I was at the campus barbeque—which was basically just another way for students to kick off the weekend. The hosting fraternities always threw them in the field when it was nearly dark outside so that they could light a fire near the bleachers and make a whole bonfire of it while mild drinks were passed around, and the whole event was a weekly thing now.

It would've been fun too, if I wasn't trying to study.

Mrs. James had pushed back the test date for some reason and of course, Ella was ecstatic. Me, though? Not so much. Especially when I'd spent all night studying for a test that was supposed to make up ten percent of our grade—a test that never happened. It wasn't that I didn't see I had more time to prep for it now, but the thing was, I would rather have had it done and over with. But now it was just looming ahead, even more daunting than before.

I didn't care, though. I was going to get this done by tonight and not stay up all night on the day before the test happened. Also, if I got it done by tonight, I'd have more time to focus on English class later in the week which was good because Mrs Samuels was getting pretty fickly these days.

But maybe trying to study at the campus bonfire wasn't one of my best ideas.

It was as I was thinking about all this and trying to get through the first sentence on top of the page when I heard a familiar voice.

"Are you a librarian, gorgeous? 'Cause I am checking you out."

Oh my God.

"Please tell me that isn't something you would actually use," I said to Josh, who was now currently strolling over to me towards the bleachers.

"It's cheesy as hell, but it's not that bad if you think about it." He argued, before he plucked the book right out of my hands. "Are you studying? Seriously, Riley? At the campus barbeque?"

I never liked Josh Taylor. He was a cocky asshole, and to top it off, he was Ella's ex. While they'd been dating, he'd been an angel the whole time. He'd also been with three other girls, but that we'd found out about much later.

Now, he'd taken up being an annoying presence in Ella's life and therefore unfortunately mine as well, because for some reason he actually wanted Ella to take him back.

I snatched the book back. "I'll have you know, I was only waiting for Ella. She went to get rid of her bag and grab a jacket from our room."

"So you wanted to read about Freud's general contributions to the field of psychology rather than, uh, I don't know, just finding me?"

"Don't be ridiculous, I have a test." I said. "And why on earth would I ever find you, anyway?"

"Forget that," said Josh as he leaned towards me. "Is there an airport nearby or is that just my heart taking off?"

I wrinkled my nose. Having gotten used to him throwing around cheesy things back when he was with Ella was a whole lot different than something this nauseating directed at me. "That one was honestly the worst I've ever heard."

"One of these days, you'll like my pickup lines, Riley," he murmured. "Ella's already coming around."

"Ella hates them. Kind of like how she hates you."

"And so she tells herself."

Keep on dreaming.

"I have a really good one, though," he insisted. "Seriously."

It was then that I thought maybe if he just got it out and done with, he'd leave quicker. I just rolled my eyes and waved my hand in a gesture that said come on, "Go for it."

He grinned, looking almost excited as he asked me, "Do you have a map?"

I felt my eyebrows knit in confusion. "Why?"

"That's because I'm getting lost in your eyes."

I groaned. "Okay, that's enough for today."

"Wait, wait, wait," he held his hands up. "I have more."

Kind of tired and fed up with being disturbed in the first place, I sighed to myself and tried being ruthless like Ella wanted me to be if Josh ever came around again, "Josh, seriously, you need to cut it out with whatever this is. And the bit where you're practically hounding us, too. You were caught cheating like, a million times before you were finally dumped, you asshole. Get over it and move on already, would you?"

He opened his mouth for no doubt, the same old spiel about being in love with Ella and whatnot when someone else cut in.

"Is he bothering you?" The statement was low-spoken, casual but undoubtedly effective over the quiet hum of the voices around us. I whipped my head to the side to see him standing a little distance ahead with his hands in his pockets, his eyes unmistakably on me and his blank expression didn't shed much light on what was going on his head. I found my eyes drifting to his hair, which had taken on an interesting shade next to the fire and tried to think of any explanation to justify what was happening.

Noah Archer never talked to me.

Next to me, Josh snorted outrageously. "Me? Bothering her? Ha, she wishes!"

"No, I do not," I whispered to him furiously, and then for some unhinged reason felt the need to repeat the same sentence aloud turning to Noah. "I really, really don't."

His eyes went from me to Josh, then zoomed in on the book in my hands before narrowing at me again. He turned towards the woods before casting a look at me over his shoulder.

Then what he said next blew me away.

"Why don't you walk with me?"

Me?

"Her?" Josh asked disbelievingly.

Asshole.

"Yeah, her," he confirmed.

I didn't know why he would ever ask me to walk with him. Not because I was so far out of his hemisphere or anything; I had a lot of friends around campus and even some who really enjoyed their popularity. I was a straight A student that volunteered at the dog shelter sometimes, and a lot of people knew that about me. Then again, I wouldn't say I was really popular—I was more part of the in-between crowd where what I did the day before didn't magically become famous overnight, but if I were to stand with a large group of people, I wouldn't blend in and become just another nameless person.

It was just that in comparison, Noah Archer was, well, Noah Archer. The fact that he was a year above me and our paths had never really crossed should've been enough. He didn't know me. And of course, I knew only knew about him—admiring someone's good looks from afar or offering condolences for their loss did not constitute for knowing a person. Maybe, I reasoned with myself, he thought he was saving me from having to sit there with Josh or something, but that couldn't have been it. Despite being a horrible person just overall, Josh was harmless. Odd enough as I thought Noah's offer was, I found myself wanting to go with him.

It sure beat staying with Josh.

There wasn't even a shred of hesitation as I grabbed my book and got to my feet. He was already moving towards the path in the trees, so I quickened my steps to catch up.

"Wait up!"

His steps slowed just slightly, but he didn't pause to wait for me.

"I don't think I've ever met a girl who read a book during the campus barbeque."

I didn't know just what I'd been expecting, but it definitely wasn't that.

"Don't you know? I find reading in the darkest and noisiest places imaginable fascinating," I went for a laugh, but that died when he gave me an unimpressed look.

Great. You're doing just great, Riley.

That's when he picked up his pace again and I followed. We weaved through the trees, moving along the path with the music from the barbeque playing—I could hear Halsey killing it with the Chainsmokers— in the background. The noise and the chatter was somewhat muted, and just a whole lot better to hear from over in the trees than back in the field. Small groups of people passed by every now and then, heading for the field, and Noah said nothing throughout.

The whole thing was almost kind of... nice.

It was when a guy barrelled past, obviously drunk and calling out full of spirit, "Redwood University forever, man!" for some insane reason, that Noah turned to his side to avoid him and his arm was held out in front of me, also pushing me to the side.

I appreciated that. If Josh had been around, he'd have shoved me in front of the drunk just for gags and happily watched us collide.

Again, I wondered why Noah was even here. He clearly didn't want to be at the barbeque, if walking away from it was any sign. He was a mystery to me, a great big question mark that I didn't know half the answers to.

But that didn't mean I wasn't curious.

"Where's your jacket?"

I pulled my gaze away from the blond stumbling away from us, still yelling with all his college love, and turned to Noah. He was looking at me, a slight frown of puzzlement on his face.

I didn't blame him. Now that I actually noticed, it was freezing out tonight.

Where was my jacket? I wondered to myself absently as I rubbed my arms.

Oh, right. I'd left it back at the bleachers where I'd been sitting with Josh.

It was stupid, honestly. But I really didn't want to back and get it. Not because I wanted to catch a cold or anything.

But because then I'd likely never have the chance to be near Noah Archer again.

And I didn't know just what exactly it was but it was almost as if I was being pulled to him. I didn't want to go now. I wanted to know him, even if it was for five minutes. Or at least, I'd try.

So I just shrugged.

If anything, he looked even more puzzled. He didn't waste too much time on it as he was turning away from me now, walking along the path.

Was he... just going to go now?

I wasn't surprised at all but I was still disappointed. I pulled back my hair behind my ear and decided to not be stupid and just go get my jacket. I'd also need to text Ella that I'd be studying in my room because I honestly did need to finish that today.

Just as I sighed at the sight of Noah walking further and further away, I pivoted and braced myself to head back to that noisy barbeque.

But before I could take a step in that direction, I heard him call out, "Not coming?"

I blinked.

He expected me to come with him.

I turned around to see him standing sideways in the middle of the path, his gaze on me.

But curious as I was about him, I was feeling the beginning of hesitance.

He stood still, clearly expecting an answer as he did, with his sharp blue eyes on me. Sharp blue eyes that were colder than anything I was ever used to, but there was a slight softness to the blow with the way he waited on my answer, like it actually mattered to him.

And that clinched it.

"I am," I grinned, not one for pretenses.

I grinned again when he waited for me to catch up to him. And then my night with Noah Archer began.

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Here's chapter two! Do vote, comment and let me know what you think.