Page 32 of Mud, Love, and Chemistry

His lips tick up as his gaze drifts back to my phone. “Was I right, though?”

Reluctantly, I type in his suggestion, and unfortunately, he’s correct. “I would’ve gotten it eventually.”

“That’s a really strange way to say, ‘thank you.’”

I sneer and turn my back to him.

“Is that what the A in your initials stands for? Awful?”

An offended gasp escapes me as I turn to stare at him with my mouth agape. “Excuse me?”

He shrugs. “It would make sense.”

I don’t say anything. I just stand here glaring, wishing fiery laser beams would shoot from my eyes and melt him.

With a deep swallow he takes a hand from his pocket and adjusts his glasses. “Maybe it’s for AWOL since you disappeared so fast last Thursday. Didn’t want to stay to congratulate me on my victory?”

I ball my fist and take a step forward, ready to give him a what-for, when Dr. Hinkle strides up.

“Sorry, sorry,” he says as he fishes his keys from his pocket and unlocks the lab door.

Hiking my backpack higher on my shoulder, I file into the room with everyone else. Dr. Hinkle asks us to wait a minute before sitting so he can find his chart. I make sure to wait on the opposite side of the group from Sam.

Dr. Hinkle walks from table to table, pointing to spots and calling out names. At the second table, he says, “Dawson, Eastman, Erlenmeyer, Fredricks.”

My shoulders slump with defeat as I shuffle to my chair. As much as I saw this coming, it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. The bright side is, I’m not sitting next to him, which means we won’t be partners and will only have to work together when we have a table project.

It’s a small victory, but I’ll take it.

When Dr. Hinkle has everyone in their spots, he begins the tedious process of explaining how labs work. He goes over the agenda, the syllabus, the structure, the safety rules, and all the stuff around and in between. After that rip-roaring good time, he instructs us to use the last fifteen minutes to introduce ourselves to our group.

I take the initiative and go first. The spunky redhead across from me, Maya, goes next. She’s much too bubbly for my taste, but I smile and nod at her excitement.

When Sam’s turn comes, Maya gives him rapt attention. I don’t even know if she registers anyone else in the room. She certainly doesn’t pay much notice when our fourth tablemate, Micah, introduces himself.

I don’t know why, but it bugs me. It shouldn’t. I have no claim to Sam, nor do I want any. I should be happy that she’s drawing his attention away from me. In fact, I should be thanking her for keeping him occupied so he can’t pester me anymore. But instead, I find this weird jealousy creeping up my spine. I shake it off.

Sam flicks his gaze to me. “Cold, Brynn? Didn’t think the a/c was that bad in here.”

The familiarity in his tone makes my muscles tense, but the pompous smirk on his face is what boils my blood.

Dr. Hinkle saves me from making a scene by dismissing us. I all but rush out of the room, down the hall, and out the door. Frustrated tears begin to sting, but I refuse to let them out. Sam doesn’t deserve any more of mine.

This whole ignoring him plan might not work after all.

Once I exit the building, my chest loosens. With the sun shining brightly and the fresh air flooding my lungs, I can work on letting go of my frustrations with Sam.

I have to stop allowing him to get under my skin. We’re going to see each other every week, twice a week, for the whole year. I have to accept that he’s a jerk. He’s not the person I thought he was, and the sooner I come to terms with that, the better.

If Connor’s abandonment taught me anything, it’s that.

As my anger and frustration ebb, my annoyance with myself doesn’t. Partly, because of my reactions to Sam, but also because of my next class, hiking.

I’m an idiot for waiting three years to complete my physical education requirement. At least it’s hiking, one of my favorite things to do. Though, after our first class last week when all we did was go over the syllabus, I’m not exactly sure how Professor Duncan is going to fill an entire semester.

I could use a throw-away class, though.

My course load isn’t hefty this semester by any means, but it would be nice to have one class I don’t have to think too much about. This could be it. I already know how to prepare for a hike and what to do in case of emergencies. I even know first aid. Plus, most of our grade comes from the mid-term, final exam, and the two hikes we have to do.

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