The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (11 page)

             
I hid behind my easel hoping he wouldn't see me. I even thought about throwing my stuff on the empty chair next to mine so he would think that seat was taken. Please don't see me; please don't sit next to me. Please don't sit next to me. I repeated over and over again, but of course my pleas were too late.

             
“Lucky me,” Tristan said, taking the open chair next to mine. “Don't you look ravishing?”

             
I ignored him and tried to pay attention to the teacher. “I don't know what to do with you?” he said shaking his head pretending to look distraught. “First you show up at my door begging to have your way with me, now you're taking the same class as me. I must say, this is very unhealthy behavior,” Tristan whispered quietly behind his easel.

             
“What?” I exclaimed a little louder than I intended to.

             
“I would appreciate not being disrupted during a lecture,” the professor raised her voice and scolded in my general direction making me sink behind my easel, embarrassed. Tristan put his finger to his mouth shushing me. I just glared at him as he pretended to be an astute student.

             
“Class, today I'm going to let you paint whatever you want. I want to see what you have to offer. You have the remainder of class to create whatever your heart desires.”

             
“You know what my heart desires?” Tristan asked me.

             
“It would require you to have one to hear it's desires,” I said, picking up my paint brush.

             
“Ouch, you're cold Ella. You know, if you ever need someone to warm up that ice in your veins, I'm your guy.”

             
As much as I wanted to glare at him, I couldn't help but smile and tried to hide it. He was relentless. I never met someone who was so arrogant and yet kind of intriguing at the same time. I don't know what it was about Tristan, but for some reason I started to find myself drawn to him. Maybe I was attracted to his looks, or maybe it was his eyes. When I looked into his them I could tell there was something hidden deep down, or...

             
“Ella, I have a hard time concentrating when you keep staring at me,” Tristan said.

             
“I wasn't staring,” I said, quickly looking away.

             
“I think you need to stop this little act.”

             
“What act?”

             
“Pretending you don't like me.”

             
“I'm not pretending. I don't like you.”

             
He turned to me and took my hand. “You don't have to fight it. You know you want to.”

             
“Want to what?” I asked, trying to make my voice sound more assertive, but it was hard with the way he was holding my hand.

             
“Kiss me,” he replied.

             
“Hardly,” I spat, ripping my hand from his and going back to my painting. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me, but I refused to acknowledge him.

             
I could see out of the corner of my eye he was sitting sideways, with his arms crossed, studying me. I tried really hard to ignore him, but failed. “What!”

             
“You just can't help yourself, can you?” he said, that cocky smile twitching at the corner of his lips. Thankfully by now the class was nearly over and people were packing up.

             
“You know what you are?” I said turning to him, finally, not able to control myself.

             
“Wonderful,” he said, spreading his arms wide.

             
“Annoying!” I cleaned up my stuff quickly and left the room before he had the chance to comment.

             
“Ella wait!” Jack called after me.

             
“UGH! That Tristan really gets under my skin,” I said clutching my books close to my chest.

             
“Just ignore him and he'll eventually go away. Once he sees he can't get to you, he'll get bored and move on.”

             
“That's actually a really good idea, thanks Jack,” I smiled giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I gotta hurry to my next class. See you around,” I said walking off.

             
Jack was right. I just have to ignore Tristan and he'll go away. The problem was he wasn't always that easy to ignore.

The next art class, Tristan was actually there on time. He sat in the same seat he did before and when he saw me he offered me the seat next to him. I ignored him and sat with Jack in the front. I did the same thing all week. Where ever Tristan sat, I sat on the opposite side and not once did he speak to me. I think he was finally getting the hint. By Friday I was glad it was almost the weekend. I would be free to relax and take it easy.

             
“So what do you want to do this weekend?” Josie asked, dumping her books on the floor.

             
“I think I just want to relax this weekend. The first week was a little intense so I think I need to chill and let it all sink in.”

             
“This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain boy down the hall you're trying to avoid, would it?”

             
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” I said, sitting down at my desk and opening up my books.

             
“You can stop pretending. I know you're not really reading,” Josie said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at me.

             
I sighed and turned around to face her. “Look Josie, I'm just trying to concentrate on my schoolwork for now. End of story.”

             
“Fine,” she grumbled.

I spent all weekend in my room going over my schoolwork and catching up on sleep. Josie spent most of her time at the sorority house. I didn't mind. It was nice to have some peace and quiet. By week three I had a routine down and got into the flow of things. I still didn’t have any nightmares or visions of the man with glowing eyes. I still missed Kyle, but each passing day it hurt less, making it easier for me to enjoy life. I was finally moving forward in the right direction. Things were actually normal for once.

             
“Well good morning,” Tristan cooed as I passed him on the way to the bathroom - so much for my streak of normalcy. I nodded at him, not wanting to engage in any type of conversation with him this early in the morning. He smiled and continued on his way. This was how it has been between us. He would say hi to me if we passed each other but that was about it and that was enough. If I was being honest though, I kind of missed his endless attempts of trying to woo me.

             
Over the next few days I went to all my classes and spent the afternoons hanging with Jack or Josie at the student center. It was a nice change of pace from what I had to deal with at home. I was really starting to like college. I even joined a study group with some of my classmates. Josie called me nerd, but I didn't care. It felt liberating to be able to make my own decisions for once.

“So what are your plans for the weekend?” Tristan asked me as I sat down in the only chair available, which I'm sure wasn't a coincidence.

             
“I will be studying for my ethics test coming up on Monday,” I replied, keeping it simple.

             
“I took a few ethics courses if you would like a study partner?” he offered.

             
“No, thank you.”

             
“Are you afraid I might outsmart you?”

             
I laughed. “No, not at all, but I do think you and I have two different ideas of what it means to study.”

             
“That's interesting because I thought studying meant a person reviewing a certain subject of text for a continued amount of time until that said information was committed to memory, but if you have a different idea I'd love to hear it,” he said, resting his chin on his hand and giving me his full attention.

             
“You're incorrigible, you know that.”

             
“Are you asking me what that means or telling me that’s what I am? Because if you have to ask maybe next time you should use words you know the definition of.”

             
“Oh my god,” I said, putting my head in my hands. “Do you ever stop?”

             
“Stop what?” he asked, looking genuinely confused. Not knowing what else to say I went back to my painting. Tristan didn't say another word for the rest of class and for that I was thankful.

             
When class was over, I cleaned up my station, and collected my things. “So what time do you want me to come over?” Tristan asked.

             
“What?” I asked, not sure I heard him right.

             
“To study.”

             
“Uh, yeah, I think it's better if I study alone. Besides, wouldn't want you to miss out on any killer parties.”

             
“I've been to enough parties to know that they're only killer if I'm in attendance,” he smirked.

             
“Well then I wouldn't want you to disappoint your fans.”

             
“You ready, Ella?” Jack asked, saving me from Tristan.

             
“Yeah,” I replied and bent down to grab my books.

             
“We still on for six tonight?” Jack asked, making me want to stuff a sock in his mouth.

             
“Six is perfect. I'll bring the drinks,” Tristan said running out.

             
“No, Tristan...” I was too late.

             
“What was that all about?” Jack asked.

             
“Sorry, but it looks like we have another study partner,” I said, sighing.

             
Josie wanted the room that night to entertain some guest so we moved our study session to the student center which I thought actually work out better. I opened up my books and got to work right away. Jack offered to get some coffee while we worked. He pulled out the chair next to me and had a seat. “Did you grab sugar?” I asked him and then realized it wasn't Jack who was sitting next to me.

             
“No, but I could give you some,” Tristan said, leaning in like he was about to kiss me.

             
I pushed him back. “What are you doing here?”

             
“You said six o'clock, right?”

             
“How'd you even know where I was?”

             
“I went to your room first and then Josie told me you guys were here.”

             
Of course she did. I made a mental note to yell at her later. “I' m telling you now I really need to study so if you insist on staying, no funny business,” I warned.

             
“Wouldn't dare,” he said trying to be serious. “So what are we studying?”

             
I sighed, not able to find a way around this. “The accepted set of moral values and corporate standards of conduct in a business organization.”

             
“Ah, Business Ethics, not as complex as Vexillology, but I think I can manage.” I looked at him dumbfounded. “Vexillology? The study of flags,” he explained.

             
“You just made that up,” I said not believing him.

             
“You don't believe me? Look it up,” he challenged.

             
“Let me guess, this is something you learned from your word of the day calendar? Something to impress the ladies to make you seem smart?”

             
“Is it working?”

             
“No.” Jack returned with the coffees and took a seat. “Jack, this is Tristan. I hope you don't mind but he'll be joining us.”

             
“Hey man,” Jack said, extending a hand to be polite. Tristan shook it, but had a defensive look on his face when he did. “Three heads are better than one right?” Jack joked. “Oh you know what, I forgot cream,” Jack stood up. “Can I get you anything?” Jack offered Tristan. He shook his head no.

             
“I always thought three's a crowd,” Tristan said after Jack left.

             
“I would agree but some people can't take the hint,” I said directing the comment at Tristan.

             
“Is Jack a little slow? You want me tell him to take a hike?” I opened my mouth but there were no words. “No?”