Chapter 2: Exam hustle

Cole

6 years later

It was our last week in California, me and Clara were here for our college. We were done with our college now and had a flight early morning on the following Friday back to New York.

“I am saying this for the fifth and the last time cupcake get up and get ready” I say it with all the seriousness

“2 minutes baby” Clara replied pulling her comforter over her head snuggling more in it

I wish I could snuggle into her. Nope, not now. She needs to go to the university

“Yes, sure. And then you can say bye to being graduated and spend a whole year here alone because I am not staying back” I threatened

“What do you mean” Clara replied grumpily from inside the comforter

“It’s already 9:50 am cupcake, and if you do not get up now you are going to miss your exams and…..” I did not get to complete myself as Clara shot up from her bed

“Why did you not wake me up early, what am I going to do now? I do not want to miss my exam. OMG how can I be so careless! Can you drive me pleaseeeee” she pleaded struggling to collect her clothes and necessities on her way to the washroom

However, she stumbled on her own foot and landed on her ass squealing

“Why does it have to happen every time” Clara screamed frustratingly, I ran to her sighing at her carelessness

“Cupcake” I pecked her lips and hugged her for a minute before picking her up and walking towards the washroom and placed her feet down, making sure she was fine and turned the shower on. Taking the supplies from her hand I walked out of the shower

“You get cleaned and I will ready your thing meanwhile, okay” I said before walking out of the washroom getting a small nod and a thank you in approval

I was just done putting her clothes out on the counter of her wardrobe when she walked out of the bathroom, this is probably her quickest 5 minutes routine she did there. She swiped the clothes I laid out for her quickly getting into them not before giving me a good look at her smooth and silky lushes body, I grabbed he chin between my thumb and forefinger and pulled her for a quick kiss before leaving her to get ready before things could get escalated and we both regret it if she missed her exam. I picked her bag which was packed with her laptop and her required supplies and walked out to make her breakfast.

The aroma of pancakes filled the kitchen before I heard my sweet cupcake yelling “COLE, I DO NOT NEED BREAKFAST RIGHT NOW. WHAT I WANT IS; YOU TO DRIVE ME TO THE CAMPUS BEFORE MY EXAM BEGINS”

She always screams on top of her lungs.

“Sit” I meet her eyes saying it to make sure she knew I meant business; I served her pancakes with chocolate sauce as per her taste and pulled a bar stool for her to sit.

“Eat your breakfast and we can be on the road sooner” I simply said shrugging my shoulders making it clear we will not leave if she does not eat her breakfast.

“I will eat it after I am done with my exam, Cole” she pleaded realizing getting mad at the only person who can drive her to the campus in record time is not wise

“If you want me to drive you to campus before your exam starts, I suggest you better hurry up because I am not moving an inch until you finish your breakfast” I said passing her the cutlery and pulling her towards the counter to sit on the stool

“I HATE YOU” Clara said irritatingly before she sat down with a thud and started to devour her breakfast.

Did she just. No she does not mean it

“CUPCAKE” Cole called out warningly but she just ignored me royally and focused on her breakfast.

I sat on the stool adjacent to hers watching Clara eat her breakfast not saying a word, hurt about what she said minutes ago.

As she was finishing her last bite, I picked up her bag and walk towards the garage. Gulping the remaining juice in the glass she walked out to the garage and sat in the car while I opened the garage door. I checked her seatbelt; this is what I always do every time she gets in the car, before walking to my seat behind the wheel.

Once she had forgotten to put on the seatbelt and she almost hurt herself when I had to press the breaks hard as the car in front of us halted out of the eyes. From then it is like a ritual for me.

The ride to the campus was silent neither I nor Clara spoke, I know she was worried and afraid that she might miss her exam and it irritated her when I made her do her breakfast when she was already running late, but if she had not had her breakfast, she would have not been able to focus on her exam which would have been worse than just being late, but that can’t be an excuse for what see said. Her words hurt me even if they were said unintentionally

She was up late-night studying and had a lite dinner yesterday so having breakfast was a must. I noticed she kept glancing towards me once in a while but did not dare speak now. The 25 minute drive was cut short to 15 minutes with my expert driving. I halted the car in the parking lot and as I was about to walk out to get her door when Clara held my wrist and pulled me to face her.

I could see tears in her eyes, but before I could say anything my lips were captured my her

“Sorry” she apologized crashing her lips onto mine. I was shocked and not responding but when she demanded to enter I gave in letting her take the lead, and oh boy did she surprise me. I moved my hands to hold her cheeks then moved my figures to entangle them with her naturally silky-smooth hairs, I pulled them a little and slip my tongue fighting for dominance as I grew impatient; Clara gave up making me smile into our kiss.

I bit her bottom lip punishingly making Clara hiss but my tongue immediately licked her lips to soothe the pain. I pulled back and stared back into her eyes making sure I had her complete attention “Never say that again cupcake. You hurt me too much, you know I need you like I do my next breath or maybe even more” She placed her warm had on mine which was on her cheeks giving me a small squeeze

“Never again and I am sorry I said that, but I swear I did not mean it” she said as a tear slipped her eyes onto my fingers

“I know baby, I know” I assured her kissing her tear away and cleaning her face with the back of knuckles

“And rest assured revenge will be taken when you will be back from your exam. But for now, hurry up and take your sexy ass to the campus” I winked grinning at Clara as she placed her forehead on my smiling.

“I love you” she said before she kissed me passionately. As we broke the kiss, I soothed Clara’s hair then picked her bag from the back seat and moved out to open her door

“I will be here to pick you up when you are done, okay. All the best for your exams. Love you my cupcake” I said helping her with the bag and pecking her cheeks nudging her towards the campus.