Page 47 of Ink & Ambition

I don’t dwell on that fact, there’s no reason to. Instead, I head inside and tell my roommates about my date in two days. Of course, Danika reacts exactly as I expected, just with more excited arm punches than I really needed.

Chapter Twenty

Margot

Therearesomanyeyes on me that I have to check four separate times to ensure that I’m fully clothed. After confirming every single time, I have to think of the next logical conclusion as to why everyone on campus is staring at me as I walk through the quad this morning.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I’m glad for the distraction. A text from Alex rolls in followed by a video link.

It's a hit!

The podcast!With Ryan asking me out and Danika ripping every strand of hair out of my body last night, I nearly forgot that we went public yesterday. The video link takes me to our website where there are over fifty thousand views and counting. Hundreds of comments roll in and I switch over to the editing side of the website and notice even more questions from viewers, too. Alex was right. We might need to reassess Saturday’s show.

Taking a seat on a bench in the quad, I click back to the video link and skim through the comments. Hundreds of themmention how hot Alex is, which he absolutely does not need to inflate his ego even more. Even more comments about how charming he is, which I can’t deny either.

The grin doesn’t leave my face as I continue to skim the page. Until I find them. The comments about me.

Who is this girl? Never seen her in my life.

Why is Alex Prescott doing a podcast with this nobody? I volunteer as tribute.

Petition for Alex to do this show by himself… or at least with someone more relevant.That comment had far too many likes for me. Closing my phone, I squeeze my eyes shut to block out the noise I just read and the eyes all around me. My phone vibrates in my hand, and I peek my eyes open just enough to see the name before sending it to voicemail.

Immediately, Alex calls again, but I ignore it. Noticing the time, I head to the library to hide in my study room until class in an hour. When I close the door to Study Room G6, I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. Even walking into the library, there were eyes on me. Whispers everywhere. It’s like everyone on campus has seen the first episode. Plopping in the seat, I pull my phone out of my back pocket as it continues to vibrate. This time from texts.

Sunshine, ignore those stupid comments

Most of these people have no idea what they're talking about

I say most because those comments about me being hot are totally spot on

I roll my eyes, but his humor can’t break me from this mood. I knew this was a bad idea from the beginning. I knew Ishould’ve stayed behind the scenes. My phone vibrates one last time, and I read the text before shoving it into my backpack, all unanswered.

Where are you?

I’m not ready to talk to Alex about this. He’s going to be too overwhelmingly optimistic about it and I want to wallow. Taking out my laptop, I start working on the article about the alumni gala. I might as well take my mind off my failures by completing work I actually enjoy doing.

After thirty minutes of vigorous typing, a knock is heard on the study room door.What the?“Occupied,” I yell as I continue writing. .

Another, louder knock and then an urgent voice calling for “sunshine.” The knock persists until I get up out of my seat and open the door.

“What are you doing here? How did you even know I was here?”

Alex rolls passed me into the room. “I know you have a break in your schedule at this time on Tuesdays. Doesn’t take a genius to deduce where you might be.”He knows my schedule?

Closing the door behind him, I wander back over to my chair, content to ignore him. Even though he showed up and ramrodded his way into my study room, it doesn't mean I need to talk to him.

Alex closes my laptop screen, almost taking out my fingers with it.

“Hey!”

“I’m not letting you do this. I’m not letting you give up.” He sat himself on the table, his feet resting on the chair next to mine.

“I’m not doing anything. But you have to admit, I was right. I told you I shouldn’t have been in front of the camera.”

Alex sighs and it sounds like he’s been holding it in for decades. “That is bullshit and you know it. Fuck those people. All they’ve done is give us a new goal: Prove them wrong.”

“That’s easy for you to say. Nothing ever stops you, frat boy.” I don’t mean for the nickname to sound harsh, but I can’t help the way it slipped off my tongue. Either way, Alex doesn’t let the jest shake him.

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