Chapter 74 The library pact
Chapter 074
RAVENNA
I wanted to ask him who Atlas was. And why he was angry at me when he clearly had stood there while I touched him.
Or was he controlled? Locked out? Or had no idea what I was doing in the first place?
Shit!
I had no idea about all this werewolf bullshit.
Darius grabbed his shirt from the table and yanked it back over his head roughly, his movements jerky with barely controlled anger.
"What was that about?" I asked, confusion clear in my voice. "Why are you angry now?"
He ignored my question completely, turning away to gather his things. "We are doing nightly study sessions from now on. Here in the library. You and me working on this project together properly."
I blinked at the sudden change of subject. "What? Why would I agree to that?"
"Because we are partners and this needs to get done correctly," he shot back, finally looking at me again. "Unless you want to fail this course."
I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. "Fine. But we do it on my terms. I choose when we meet and for how long."
"Agreed," he replied immediately, which surprised me. I had expected more of a fight.
We stood there in awkward silence for a moment before he finally turned and walked out of the library without another word, leaving me standing alone amongst the books trying to process everything that had just happened.
"Asshole," I muttered although the words were beginning to become meaningless to me.
I carefully gathered my thing, not feeling the urge to continue working
I returned back to the lounge, Samantha was still sprawled on the bed asleep.
The following morning, I was woken up far too early by my phone pinging repeatedly with incoming messages.
I groaned and reached for it blindly, squinting at the bright screen.
It was a text from Dorian.
Hey morning, Ravenna. Hope I didn't wake you up?"
I blinked repeatedly before typing out a response to him. "Yes Dorian, you did. And let there be a tangible reason for disturbing my beauty sleep or else you're treating me to lunch."
Three dots appeared as he began typing immediately. First he sent a laughing emoji. Then a crying emoji. "I do have a favor to ask. Can you help me arrange a study session with Samantha."
A grin spread across my lips immediately. "Why?"
"I really want to spend time with her but did not know how to ask without seeming too forward or making things awkward between us. So that's why I'm asking you."
I smiled and replied immediately. "I a. absolutely on it and would make this happen for him."
I dropped my phone back onto my nightstand and rolled over to look at Samantha, who was still fast asleep in her bed across the room.
A plan was already forming in my mind.
A few hours later, after we had both gotten up and ready for the day, I casually asked, "What are you doing today, Sam?"
She shrugged whilst brushing her hair. "Probably sleeping and reading. Maybe catching up on that television series I have been watching. Why?"
I clicked my tongue in disapproval. "That sounds incredibly boring."
She frowned at me in the mirror. "It is not boring. It is relaxing. And when do you start thinking about how boring my life was?"
"Same thing," I countered to her first words. "You need to get out more. Have some fun and meet people."
"I meet people every day in classes," she pointed out reasonably.
I decided to just go for it directly. "I was thinking you should study with Dorian today. He is brilliant at maths, and I know you have been struggling with some of the concepts Professor Williams has been teaching. He could really help you."
Samantha's entire body went rigid. "Absolutely not. That is not happening."
"Why not?" I pressed, sitting up on my bed to look at her properly. "He is nice, smart and genuinely wants to help you. What is the problem?"
"The problem is that it would be weird and awkward," she insisted, her face turning slightly pink. "We barely know each other."
"That is exactly why you should study together," I argued. "So you can get to know each other better. What is the real reason you do not want to, Sam?"
She was quiet for a long moment, clearly debating whether to tell me the truth.
Finally, she sighed deeply. "Because I like him, alright? And spending time alone with him is going to make me like him even more, and I do not want to get hurt when he inevitably loses interest."
My heart melted at her confession. "Oh Sam. You cannot live your life being afraid of getting hurt. Sometimes you have to take risks."
We talked for another twenty minutes, going back and forth whilst I slowly wore down her resistance.
Eventually, she agreed reluctantly to study with Dorian that afternoon, though she made me promise to stay nearby in case things got too uncomfortable.
"Now we need to find you something to wear," I announced, jumping up and heading to her wardrobe.
"It is just studying," Samantha protested. "I do not need to dress up for that."
"You absolutely do," I corrected, already pulling out different options and holding them up. "First impressions are important, even if this is not technically a first meeting."
I finally settled on a soft blue jumper that brought out her eyes and a pair of jeans that fit her perfectly.
She complained the entire time I was helping her get ready, but I could see the excitement hiding beneath her nerves.
That evening while Samantha went for study, I headed out for my own study session with Darius, my stomach fluttering with a mixture of anticipation and dread.
When I reached the library, I pushed open the door and immediately spotted him already waiting at the same table from last night.