The night was chilly. The alcohol wore off. The streets were silent. Somehow, all these aspects of the evening went ignored while I was with Eli. I should've called an Uber.

My cheeks were raw from the number of times I wiped them with my sleeve. My eyes felt cried out. My nose was itchy from all the sniffles. It was crazy how quickly my emotions shifted throughout the night. I should've called an Uber.

I shivered in my cardigan. I just had to look cute for Elijah. Now, look at you, walking in the cold by yourself. I checked my phone occasionally for directions and any messages from him until I remembered I never gave him my number. So lovestruck you can't even think straight.

What was a five-minute drive from campus was a twenty-five-minute walk for me. I should've called an Uber. I was so focused on wallowing in my own self-pity that I didn't think my idea through.

Just as I could make out the outline of the familiar campus, an angry breeze almost knocked me over. I wanted to curse the world out. Why didn't I call a fucking Uber?

A week later, I was in the dining hall when someone tapped my shoulder. I almost choked on my food as my eyes met his.

I hastily took my headphones off as Elijah took a seat beside me. My eyes flicked to his lips as they moved. "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" I asked.

"Just saying hi." He smiled.

"Oh, hi."

"Haven't seen you at the store lately." He started, his signature smile still playing on his lips. "You cheating on me?"

My smile was tight as I forced a chuckle. "No, just been busy."

"Yeah, I've seen you at the library."

"And you didn't say hi? How rude." I attempted to lighten the awkward mood by joking with him.

"Speaking of being rude," He looked at me pointedly. "You was too cute to say bye on Thursday?"

"You were busy sucking the life out of your girlfriend's face." I shrugged with forced nonchalance. "I didn't want to interrupt."

"Touché." He leaned back in his seat. "Not my girlfriend though."

"So, you just go around devouring random girls' faces. Gotcha."

He snorted, "So, you're jealous."

"You wish." I wiped my hands and threw my napkin down onto the plate. I put my jacket on and started getting ready to leave.

"Don't be like that." He groaned and stood, ready to follow me to my next destination.

"What is it that you want from me exactly?" I asked as I made my way to the conveyor belt for dirty dishes.

"I'm having another party tonight at my apartment. It's going to be different from last week, I promise." His hands shot up immediately as I took a sharp intake of breath. "I only invited my friends and I think you'll like them."

"It sounds like a sausage fest," I grumbled.

"How dare you?" He feigned disdain. "Those guys at my job are not my only friends, Verona."

"Oh, you have other lady friends?" He nodded in response. "Do you kiss all of your lady friends like that?" I raised my eyebrows with a smirk.

He bit back his smile and shook his head. "If that's the case, can I be your lady friend too?" I batted my lashes at him.

"And I thought I was bold." For a moment, I thought I saw a light shade of red tint his cheeks as he smiled.

That was way too forward. I've gotta tone it down.

"I'll think about it." I shrugged, walking away.

"I know you don't have anything planned." He said from behind me.

I held back a grimace. Why the hell is he so loud? I ignored his teasing and continued to my next class of the day.

I took my seat in the very back of the large lecture hall. "Well, well, well. Look who it is." Eli's voice startled me. I whipped my head around to see him standing by the door.

He walked down the steps dramatically, keeping my gaze. "What do you want now?" I groaned.

"I'm here to bother you during lecture, of course." He smiled, ruffling my hair as he scooted past me further into the row. "Move your legs, Verona." He exclaimed as he playfully struggled to get through.

Sighing, I begrudgingly shifted my legs to let him in. He plopped down beside me after getting settled. His face contorted as he squinted. "You can barely see anything from up here."

I shushed him as the lecture began, putting us through an hour and a half of torture. The only thing that kept me awake was Eli's occasional questions to me concerning the lecture and that our legs continuously brushed up against each other.

As class came to an end, Eli leaned over and whispered in my ear. "Give me your number."

Stunned, I quickly turned to face him. Our noses were mere inches apart. My cheeks flushed and my eyes widened, but Eli only smirked. "So I can give you my address for tonight."

I closed my eyes to avoid his mocking gaze. I inhaled deeply, wincing at my embarrassing actions. "Right, of course." We exchanged phones, Elijah not bothering to hide his laughter.

"Don't be shy, girl. Give me the Insta too." He pushed his phone back into my hands when I tried to pass it to him. He had already taken it upon himself to follow his account from my phone.

Reluctantly, I typed in my username and followed myself from his account. My account was private, and my average user engagement was pitiful compared to his. My DMs were dry while he had over 60 unopened messages.

A text message appeared on the screen from "Maybe: Anaïs". It was a picture captioned: "I miss you E" with a kissy face. My heart jumped and my cheeks flushed as I quickly dropped his phone onto his desk. I wouldn't want him thinking I was snooping.

"W-what time does it start?" I was flustered as I tried to keep my gaze forward.

"It should start at 9." He said, placing my phone on top of my notebook. "You better be there." He narrowed his eyes at me as his tone became slightly threatening.

"I said I'd think about it." My eyebrows furrowed as I challenged him.

"Anyway," He rolled his eyes. "Wear something cute." Without another word, he stepped over me and exited the classroom.