00:00The intercon buzzed again. Caleb checked the screen and raked a hand through his hair.
00:06Dammit, my mother.
00:07He looked from the monitor to me, then back again, like both problems had arrived at once.
00:14Can you hide in your room for a few minutes?
00:16I stared at him. You want me to hide?
00:19He crossed the kitchen fast and lowered his voice.
00:22Just until she leaves, please.
00:25I hated how quickly that one word changed the air.
00:28Still, my bag was by the door.
00:31My shoes were on. I had planned to leave anyway.
00:35I could say I'm housekeeping.
00:37That made him winch.
00:39You don't even have a broom.
00:41I folded my arms.
00:44Good to know. I at least look underpaid enough for the role.
00:47His expression tightened.
00:49That's not what I meant.
00:51The intercon buzzed a third time.
00:53He opened my bedroom door himself and stepped aside.
00:58Half an hour. I'll handle it.
01:01I stayed behind the door and listened.
01:03A woman's voice floated through the apartment.
01:06Smooth and controlled.
01:08Caleb answered in the same easy tone he used with everyone outside these walls.
01:14The words blurred, but the distance didn't.
01:17When the apartment finally went quiet, there was a soft knock.
01:22Red?
01:23I moved closer, but kept the door mostly shut.
01:27I'm here.
01:28There was a pause on the other side.
01:30I have to go.
01:33So, I'll see you tonight?
01:34I should have said no.
01:37Instead, I heard myself answer.
01:40Sure.
01:41The second I stepped onto campus, I felt the lie of this place settle over everything.
01:47Students laughed on the grass with overpriced coffee in their hands.
01:51Backpacks hung off clean shoulders.
01:54Nobody looked like they had spent the morning hiding in a rich boy's guest room
01:58because they had nowhere else to go.
02:01I kept my chin up and walked faster.
02:04If I moved with enough purpose, maybe I would look like I belonged here too.
02:09I made it halfway across the quad, before a shadow fell over me.
02:13Caleb.
02:15Of course he looked effortless.
02:16Dark t-shirt, athletic bag slung over one shoulder.
02:20That same impossible face that made girls slow down when he passed.
02:23He matched my pace, like we had somewhere to be together.
02:26You left without saying goodbye.
02:29You were busy, hiding me from your mother.
02:33A couple walking past us turned to stare.
02:37Heat climbed up my neck, but I refused to lower my voice.
02:40Go away, Lockhart!
02:42He didn't.
02:44Did you eat?
02:45I looked at him then.
02:46Really looked.
02:48That was his first question.
02:51Not where I'd gone.
02:53Not whether I was grateful.
02:56Whether I'd eaten.
02:57I tightened my grip on my bag strap.
03:00Why do you care?
03:03He stopped walking.
03:06Students flowed around us in both directions.
03:09While he watched my face with a stillness that made the noise around us disappear.
03:14Because you're living in my apartment tonight.
03:18He followed me into the building.
03:20That alone should have been enough to annoy me.
03:23It wasn't.
03:25What annoyed me was how many people noticed.
03:28Heads turned.
03:29Whispers skimmed after us.
03:31Caleb Lockhart did not trail girls down hallways unless he planned to take them home.
03:36And I could feel everyone around us trying to decide what I was worth.
03:41If he had chosen me.
03:43I hated that question before they even asked it.
03:47I stopped so suddenly he almost walked into me.
03:51Do you always hunt people?
03:52In public?
03:53Caleb braced one hand on the locker beside my head.
03:56And leaned in just enough to block the hallway without touching me.
04:00Only the interesting ones.
04:03I'm serious.
04:05So am I.
04:07He said it lightly.
04:09But his eyes stayed on mine.
04:12Students squeezed past us around the narrow space he had created.
04:15A girl in a cheer rotiform glanced between us.
04:18And smiled.
04:20Like she was already telling this story to someone else.
04:23I pushed at Caleb's chest.
04:25He did not move.
04:27You're making a scene.
04:30You noticed?
04:31My pulse kicked harder when he lowered his head.
04:34Close enough for me to catch the clean scent of shope.
04:37And something citrus.
04:40Give me one reason.
04:43I shouldn't walk you home.
04:46Because I can walk myself.
04:50He looked at my mouth for one dangerous second.
04:54Then stepped back.
04:56Fine.
04:57I'll drive.
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