Chapter 16: Downward Dog

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Tuesday morning meant ecology with Professor Hannigan

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Tuesday morning meant ecology with Professor Hannigan. A little over a month into the semester, and I was already dreading going. Not because of the class or the professor, both I loved. It was because of my innate ability to think only of Liam and his drama while in that class. Tell me, why of all classes, did it have to be the one class I enjoyed the most, to veer off in thought? Why couldn't it have been PreCal or something else mindlessly boring?

Well not today, Satan, not today.

Walking in early like normal, I took my usual seat and began going over my notes. Despite my talent to daydream, I was doing well and staying ahead in the class. We had a test coming up and I was feeling fairly confident. Though, a few study sessions wouldn't hurt.

"Ready to ace that test?"

I looked up to see Nathan sliding in his seat next to me, displaying a lazy grin as he side-glanced my notes. His hair was tousled a bit and his clothes slightly disheveled like he rolled out of bed and ran here, but despite that, he managed to still look pulled together.

"Talking to me now that Liam's not here?" I asked, deciding to call him out and cut to the chase.

His smile faltered only momentarily, before turning into a smirk that was too cute for his own good.

"Alright, alright. Straight to the point, I see. It's well deserved too." He straightened in his chair, clearing his throat and turning back to face me. "Honestly, I'm sorry about that. I had a feeling you knew I left more so because of him." 

"Yeah, it didn't take me long to figure out. So, why did you?"

"Honestly, I wish I could say. The bottom line is that Liam is my friend. I could tell he wanted to talk to you, and I knew you were in good hands."

"I was in good hands? Is that why you made it a point to give me your number and reiterate to call if I needed anything?"

He chuckled, unaffected by my comment. "That wasn't because I don't trust Liam. It was because, despite my friendship with him, I'd also like it if we were friends."

I searched his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity in them. Students were beginning to fill up the room, causing my attention to shift and disrupting the bubble we had been in.

I turned my attention back to him. "Okay, I believe you. I would like it if we were friends too."

He broke out in a childish grin and let out a breath he was holding. "Yeah?"

I nodded, offering him my own smile before curiosity got the best of me. "So, you're friends with Liam? Why do you think he wanted to talk to me?"

Nathan visibly tensed, suddenly seeming nervous before regaining his composure. He went to open his mouth just as Professor Hannigan stepped into the classroom.

"Maybe another time." He mouthed and I nodded, turning my attention to the front.

As I sat and listened to the lecture and my mind randomly drifted to what Nathan was going to tell me about Liam, I realized Satan won again that class.

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