Page 29 of Baseball and Shifters

“Says the one that’s already mated to her,” Bas chuffs. “Wouldn’t having all her mate bonds in place protect her more? We should be coming up with a plan to strengthen them as quickly as possible, not trying to keep them from forming.”

“Yeah. I am. And you know it was an accident. I didn’t just walk up to her and touch her without her permission. Maybe you’re right, but at the very least ask before you touch, okay? Can you promise me that much?”

Bas gives Lucas his word and they hug it out, hopefully squashing their issues for good. I'm proud of myself for initiating this conversation for a minute until I realize that at some point Liam left not only the conversation but the whole dorm.

Hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.

Bastian

After our conversation last night, today drags by. I planned to talk to Rachel in English but Liam foils that plan. The minute we get into the classroom, he drags us to the far end of the room away from where my Firefly sits hiding behind a curtain of ebony hair. The blonde-haired girl sitting next to her, Maya I think, keeps shooting daggers at me every time I look that way. When class is dismissed, I hurry into the hall leaving the sourpuss behind. I spot her weaving between bodies about halfway down the hall.

“Hey! Rachel! Wait up,” My shout draws her attention, and she turns to look at me.

Only instead of coming to me, or at least waiting for me to catch up, she lets out a squeak. She turns around, bolting down the hall, out of my line of sight. Feeling dejected I turn to head back for Liam only to find the man himself standing just behind me with a look that could kill.

Well,at least I can blame her running on him.

It’s not the kindest thought, but at least I don’t feel so rejected by my mate now. Liam and I head to meet up with Lucas and Derrick for lunch. After I’m done eating, I throw my trash away and rush back for our next class. As I hoped, I find Rachel already in class, but to my dismay, not only does she have Maya but a new addition as well. I don’t know her name, but from the look she’s giving me, she knows me.

Has my Firefly been talking about me?

That thought is enough of a consolation prize, and I make my way to a spot far enough away from them to make her friends stop glaring at me. Minutes later Liam joins me and Math quickly begins to feel like a repeat of the morning class with me trying to catch Rachel’s eye and her friends shooting daggers at me in return. By the end of class, I’m just ready to go back to my room and come up with a better plan because today was a total failure. Liam follows close behind me as we make our way out of Harold Hall and head towards the boys dorm.

When we arrive back at our dorm, we head in opposite directions towards our respective rooms. Once I'm alone in my room, I begin to unravel the events of today. By the time I’m done with homework, my plan to get Rachel’s attention has formed. Tomorrow will be a success, I’ll make sure of it.

Waking up on Thursday morning is easier than I expected. I get ready for my day and eat breakfast with an extra pep in my step because today I’m not taking any chances. I have a plan and single-minded focus. Step one of the plan, I need to be first to Self Defence. The second I’m dismissed from Creative Writing, I speed out the door and down the three flights ofstairs separating me from my next class. When I burst through the doors, I know that I’ve succeeded. The room is completely empty. I make a beeline for the guys’ locker room, and after quickly changing, I post up against the far wall to watch and wait for my Firefly to enter.

Minutes drag on like hours until finally the door to the female locker room swings outward and my Firefly flits into the room. She’s wearing a fitted, long-sleeved, black shirt and a sleek pair of workout leggings. I have to swipe the drool from my mouth when I catch sight of her ass in those pants. Knowing how Professor Rains partners us up, I make sure to stealthily position myself by my Firefly so she won’t be able to avoid me all class. Any time anyone starts walking in our direction, I glare at them until they wisely change direction, leaving me the only person within ten feet of her.

“Alright, class! Sparring time! You know the drill. Partner up,” Professor Rains chirps.

“Looks like it’s you and me, Firefly,” I say behind her.

She jumps at my voice, and I mentally chastise myself. I didn’t mean to scare her. I never want that.

“Where did you come from, and what’s with the nickname?” She scowls at me and it’s so fucking cute.

“It fits,” I tease her. “You’re just like a firefly, you brighten up any room and you disappear the second I take my eyes off you, but man are you pretty to look at.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the blush on her cheeks before Professor Rains interrupts whatever sassy comeback she was no doubt going to flay me with.

“Alright! Warm up! Everyone stretches before we move into sparring. There will be no pulled muscles in my class.”

Rachel flicks a glance at me, and I smirk before stepping to the side and starting my stretches. She fervently ignores my existence the entire time, but I can’t take my eyes off of her. Nowthat I know what she is, and that she forms mate bonds through touch, the layers and gloves make sense. She appears to be doing everything she can to prevent her mates from sealing the bond.

Too bad for her that didn’t work with Lucas.

She finally plops down on the mat a few feet away from me and starts stretching her arms over her head before folding forward to reach for her toes. The fabric clings to every curve as she moves, her back arching just enough to make my tiger purr. I mirror her movements with ease, shooting her a lopsided grin every time we make eye contact. When she twists to one side, I see a wince of pain shoot across her face.

“You’re gonna pull something if you keep forcing it,” I murmur, amusement lacing my voice. “Breathe into it.”

Rachel huffs but adjusts slightly, exhaling and leaning deeper into her stretch. “You’re surprisingly wise for someone who spends most of his time flexing in mirrors.”

A shocked chuckle escapes me. “Self-care comes in many forms.”

Before Rachel can offer another sassy come-back, Professor Rains claps her hands together, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet.

“Alright, everyone! We’re working on defensive techniques today. Specifically, escaping from unwanted contact. For this drill, your goal is to avoid being touched for as long as possible. And for our first demonstration…” Her bright blue eyes sparkle as they land on Rachel and I. “Rachel, Bas! You two are up.”

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