Could this day get any fucking worse?

"You have got to be kidding me," growled Madeline.

"Did you use my card?" I asked.

She let out a frustrated breath. "Yes, but this damn thing still won't open!"

"We have to call the front desk." I sighed, trying not to show my irritation. Madeline was pissed enough for the both of us.

She pulled out her phone and started dialing.

"Do you think this is a sign that we shouldn't be roommates?" I joked, trying to keep things light because if I didn't, I might lose my fucking mind.

Stupid philosophy and all its stupid theories.

Ugh, not gonna think about it.

Last week, Madeline and I talked to our assigned roommates and made a deal with them to switch rooms. It surprised us how they didn't put up much of a fight.

Although, I bet my former roommate hated my guts and just grabbed the first opportunity to get away from me. We didn't run it by the admin. We doubted there would be a problem – at least, I hoped there wouldn't be.

"But we already checked, our RA is out."

Leaning against the wall, I watched Madeline pace back and forth in front of me while she was on the phone.

"Please," she begged. "Is there no other way? We're literally in our towels."

I looked down, wishing I had a robe.

"I understand," she paused, shoulders slumping in dismay. "Thank you."

"What did they say?"

"We have to go to the reception downstairs to get the key. They're short on staff so the girl who spoke to me can't leave the front desk unattended."

"Can't we ask someone to get it for us?"

She sighed. "No, security reasons."

I bit my lip, thinking. This would've been easier if Jamaica and Lilian lived on the same building. But they didn't.

I looked up and down the hallway. It was deserted because it was game day. We were the only ones here.

Letting out a deep breath, I said, "Since my name is listed on the dorm room, I have to be the one to get it."

"Bitch, I'm not letting you go down there on your own," she argued, looking at me as if I was crazy.

"Well, we better go and get the key right now 'cause we're gonna be late for the game. Scout's gonna be here any minute."

"Uh, think again. He's already here." With that, she nodded to something behind me. "Hey, Red."

My head whipped around and I came face to face with Scout. He looked fresh out of the shower, like me – only he had proper clothes on and I was still in my damn towel.

"You're early," I remarked.

He glanced at his wristwatch. "Nah, arrived just in time." When he raised his head, our eyes met. "What's going on?"

It was Madeline who answered first.

"We're in a teeny tiny bit of a situation here."

"We got locked out of our dorm room," I informed him, gesturing a hand to our door. "Our cards won't work."

Madeline demonstrated for Scout's benefit. It didn't even beep.

"We're just about to go to the front desk to get our key," I added.

Why didn't they just give it to us from the start in case something like this happened? I had no idea.

"Dressed like that?" asked Scout, his eyes traveling down my body and taking in everything – from my bare shoulders to my flip flops.

I shifted my body, feeling suddenly hot. Scout realized he'd been ogling, making him clear his throat and look away.

"Sorry."

"At least we're not naked," I mumbled. Then, I pinched the bridge of my nose. "My name is listed as the resident of this room so I'm the one who has to go down and get the key. This is such a hassle."

Scout removed his red Rutgers hoodie and handed it to me. "Wear this and use your towel as a skirt or something. I'll come with you to the front desk."

"You just saved my dignity!" cried Madeline, placing her hands on his shoulders and shaking him.

He smiled at her. "No problem."

I had a hard time putting on the sweatshirt while also holding the towel in place. Seeing my struggle, Scout chuckled before taking the sweatshirt from me and putting my head through the biggest hole then doing the same with my arms.

"Aw, isn't that the sweetest?" Madeline batted her eyelashes, with both hands on her chest. "Now I want a boyfriend, too."

I gave her a look, before turning to Scout. "Thanks."

He only nodded, watching me adjust the towel around my waist. After that, we walked down the corridor and pressed the down button on the elevator.

"How'd you do on that test you told me about the other day? Results came out this morning, right?" he asked, as we waited for the elevator.

Fuck, I was hoping to avoid that subject for the rest of eternity.

"Connie?"

The elevator dinged, and I entered before answering him.

"I failed," I said.

He stopped for beat, staring at me, then came to his senses and went inside the elevator, too. I pressed the button for the ground floor, and we stood in silence.

"Is there a make up test?" he asked.

I shook my head and sighed. "Nope, I have to get a solid A on my midterm if I want to have a GPA that's higher than the average."

"Shit."

"Yeah, it's shit."

"I'll help you study for it."

I looked at him in disbelief. "You don't even take this course."

"I don't mind," he replied, shrugging.

Was he fucking serious right now?

"You're too busy with basketball," I reasoned. "Don't forget, Crimson, you're still a rookie. You've got a lot to prove."

"I'm lucky if I get to play this season, let alone start."

The elevator stopped. When the doors opened, we stepped out.

"Usually," he continued, "they bench us first years so we can get used to the team dynamics before we're even allowed to play."

I frowned, tilting my head. "Oz and Alfie get to start this year."

That was why I couldn't get in touch with them even if I wanted. They had such busy schedules nowadays that they left early for Florida back in the summer to start training even when school hadn't started yet.

Scout let out a small laugh. "Alright, but here's the thing about that. First, Oz broke a couple of state records in high school. Second, the two of them have three National Championships under their belt. Third, University of Florida is out of good quarterbacks and Alfie has a pretty impressive arm. For now, he's their only hope of redemption." He shook his head, his face growing serious. "Can't imagine the pressure he's in right now."

Oz's call about Alfie suddenly came to mind. Before I could think more about it, Scout and I already reached the front desk.

I filled out some papers while Scout patiently waited beside me. After I signed, I got the key and we headed back upstairs.

"Seriously, though," I told him, just as I entered the elevator. "I don't want you to study lessons from a class that you're not even taking."

"I really don't mind," he insisted, following after me.

"I do," I said firmly, pressing the button for my floor.

I didn't want him to waste his time. What was he thinking, offering to help? He could spend his time with more productive things.

Two guys joined us in the elevator, making us shut up.

"Deadass, that was the best burger ever!"

One of the guys eyed me from head to toe, stopping at my bare legs. I glared at him, seeing if he would stop but the fucking pervert didn't.

I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind.

"The fu–"

Scout stepped forward, blocking me from the pervert's view. I looked up at him but all I saw was his broad back.

"Dude, you mind looking away? My girl's not comfortable being gawked at like that." He said it in a casual way, but I caught his jaw clench and his shoulders tense.

I sneaked a peek around Scout to see the pervert's reaction. His eyes widened like a squirrel about to run over by a truck.

"Oh, sorry."

The pervert's friend looked confused, but he remained quiet. He kept staring at Scout, though, as if he had a hard time figuring out something. After a few seconds, his expression changed to recognition.

"Hey, aren't you that guy on the video?" he asked, pointing to Scout.

"What video?"

"The social experiment one," he replied, all excited now. He looked like fanboy seeing his ultimate idol. "Yeah, I think you're him! Wow, that was really awesome what you and your friends did."

I guessed the video they were referring to was the one uploaded by Emma last week. It went viral on campus. Since we were living in the digital age and Scout wasn't bad to look at, the video spread out to different universities across the country.

Needless to say, everyone who had access to social media was now swooning over the redheaded Golden Boy.

"We were just doing the right thing," replied Scout, ever the humble one.

My eyes stayed on him, who was watching the floor number. He didn't seem to like the sudden attention. It must have reminded him of how folks looked at him back home because this guy right here sure looked at him like he walked on gold.

"No need to be modest," laughed Fanboy. Within seconds, he had his phone out. "Hey, can I take a selfie with you?"

"Why?" I asked.

Their eyes turned on me.

"'Cause he's famous," answered Fanboy, like it was the most obvious thing.

I didn't let up. "For what?"

"That video of him protecting that girl."

Scout and the others doing that shouldn't even be that momentous. It should be a norm. It was sad that being a decent human being was so fucking rare now.

"Say you take a selfie together," I said. "You post it on social media to brag... then what?"

Fanboy looked speechless. "I–"

"You'll delete it after a week when it's not such a big deal anymore, right?" I continued for him. "So what's the point?"

His face scrunched up as he tried to come up with something to say, but we reached our floor right on time.

Snorting, I said, "Thought so. C'mon, Crimson." I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the elevator. I didn't let go of him until the doors closed.

"How'd you know?" he asked.

I headed down the hall, not bothering to look at him. "What?"

"That I didn't want all that back there." He sounded amused. "Or was that you just being your b–" He immediately stopped, his eyes widening as if he just caught himself from saying something he'd regret. Clearing his throat, he tried to act cool. "...self?"

My eyes turned to slits from suspicion as I stopped walking and turned to him.

"You were about to say something else, weren't you?"

He feigned innocence. "No."

I burst out laughing. "You shithead. What was it?"

He gave me a questioning look.

"What was it, Crimson?"

He only shrugged. I watched him closely while I tried to recall what he said. It suddenly dawned on me, and I gasped.

"It was 'bitchy,' wasn't it?"

"Hmm?" he hummed, before he started walking again.

"Oh, my God!" I was laughing hysterically now, while I pointed a finger at him. "You were totally about to say my 'bitchy self!' That's the tamest fucking thing and you even hesitated!" I clutched my stomach, laughing my ass off. "You're so cute."

He shook his head at me, wearing a smile on his face like he couldn't believe I was laughing at him. But he was letting me, anyway.

"What are you guys laughing about?" asked Madeline when we came back.

He grinned. "Inside joke."

Huh, I guess we have an inside joke now.

Madeline smirked. "Mm-hmm."

Not wanting to receive more of her scrutinizing stare, I went for the door and unlocked it using the key. Finally.

"Thank God!" cried Madeline, before rushing inside.

"Go in and get ready," Scout told me. "I'll wait here."

I frowned in concern. "You can wait in your car, you know." He didn't have to keep standing out here like a weirdo.

"Don't worry about me." He flashed me a teasing grin. "I know I'm cute and all, but I can handle it."

I froze. It felt like there was a huge brick dropped on my head as I remembered that I unintentionally called him cute in the middle of my hysterics.

Fuuuuuck meeeee.

"Yeah, Anderson," he affirmed, chuckling. He leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "You called me cute."

There was a lump in my throat, and I forced it down.

"I meant it like a dog," I clarified. "You know, a pet."

Stepping back, he nodded condescendingly. "Uh-huh."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, I'll go change," I said as nonchalantly as I could, before slamming the door to his smug face.

* * * * *

Halftime just ended and the game was still tied.

"I'll go get some snacks," declared Brody, getting to his feet. He turned to us and asked, "You girls want anything?"

"Coke and a hotdog please," replied Lilian, giving him a wide smile.

Madeline raised a hand. "Same."

"Got it." Brody nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait up, man," called out Scout from beside me. Standing up, his eyes found mine. "Peanut butter froyo?"

I eyed him suspiciously. At my reaction, he chuckled.

"I always see you eating that," he explained.

I knew we were spending a lot of time together but that was still very observant of him. I could only nod in answer, to which he grinned and left with Brody.

"Our girl's looking hot!" Madeline whooped, looking down at the benches were the cheerleading squad was. "Go, Jamaicaaaaa!"

I couldn't help the laugh that came out of me. "Dude, you're supposed to be cheering for Gaige. He's the one on the field right now."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Is he doing well?"

My eyes flew back to the field. "Yeah, he's pretty good." Nothing compared to my friends, if I did say so myself. But Gaige was skilled enough to play for the pros.

"Then he doesn't need me cheering him on."

I shook my head in amusement at her logic. My eyes then traveled to Lilian and I suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Lils. You're majoring in Philosophy, right?"

"Still undecided between History or Philosophy. Why?"

I bit my bottom lip, hesitating. But then I decided to just go for it. "Can you help me with my Philosophy class?" I hated asking for help, but I'd rather ask for hers than Scout's. Call it pride. "I'm totally failing and I need to get an A on my midterm if I wanna keep my grades up."

"Oh," she said, letting it sink in. "Yes, I'll help you."

"Really?"

She nodded and gave me a soft smile. "Of course."

"Oh my God, thank you!" I almost cried, my arms flying around her in a hug. "I owe you big time for this!"

She giggled. "That's what sisters are for, isn't it?"

I stopped for a moment. "Yeah, I guess it is." I didn't think about it that way.

When I pulled away, Lilian smiled at me before bringing her attention back to the game. Before I could wallow in my thoughts about how these girls were becoming a real family to me, the boys came back.

Scout handed me my froyo and settled down on the seat next to mine.

"The third season of Black Mirror is coming out next week."

I was sniffing my froyo when my head whipped up to look at him.

"Already?" I thought it wouldn't come out 'til later this year.

"Yeah, wanna watch it together?"

"Uh, hell yeah!" Then, I remembered where we binge-watched last time. "Wait, don't tell me we're watching it in Devo's room."

"Sorry," he said, smiling sheepishly.

I groaned. "Why?"

Shrugging, he answered, "'Cause that's the only place we can watch without our roommates bugging us all the time."

Good point.

"Fine," I grumbled.

Just then, our side of the stadium with the Rutgers crowd stood up and cheered. Apparently, we scored a touchdown.

Getting to my feet along with everyone else, I raised a fist and yelled out an encouragement to the team – not like they could hear me.

I was no athlete but I was really into this shit.

I could feel Scout's eyes on me from my right. Turning my head sideways, I looked at him. He was standing up now, too.

"What?" I asked.

He stared at me some more, before smiling and looking away. "Nothing."

I watched him for a moment, then I decided to have a little fun of my own. My lips stretched into a teasing smile, as I leaned closer to him.

"What's with that look?"

"What look?" he said, appearing innocent as he continued to watch the game.

Damn, I really wanted to see this guy rattled.

"You're falling for me, aren't you?"

He grinned, completely unfazed. "Who knows?" His eyes then wandered to me. "Maybe I am."

My heartbeat accelerated and pounded against my chest. I tried to come up with something to say but I couldn't think of a good comeback.

Well, that fucking backfired.

I was the one who ended up getting rattled.

_____________

Next update: Thursday (April 25th)

Coming up next... Chapter 15: All Loved Up