Chapter 21

Cassie was already worried since Daniel had promised her the night before that he would decide and let her know whether he was willing to be with her regardless of her orientation. The tension had kept her awake for much of the night, and she was now exhausted and anxious. As she sped along the college hallway, her mind was racing with ideas about what Daniel would say.

She was distracted and did not notice Peter coming in the opposite direction until she collided with him. The impact dropped her notebook and phone to the floor.

Peter smirked, looking down at her stuff. "Be careful, Cassie," he warned. "This is exactly how you are going to drop your scores and good grades. Perhaps you should concentrate less on Steven or Ryker and more on not falling behind."

Cassie's cheeks reddened with rage. She instantly bent down on her knees to pick up her things. She stood up and faced Peter's mocking glare with strong determination.

Cassie pointed a finger at him. "You know, you'll go to your grave with this unfulfilled wish because that's not going to happen. I am not dropping anything, least of all my grades."

Peter's eyes gleamed with arrogance. "It's just a matter of time because soon I will be in first position."

She moved closer to Peter, her eyes burning. "You wish. Because, if memory serves me correctly, we scored the same last time. "I'm not going to let you win so easily."
Peter scoffed. "Keep telling yourself this. I can see the cracks, Cassie. You're falling, and it will only get worse."

Cassie shook her head. "The only flaws here are in your logic, Peter. You might have the ego, but I have the motivation. I'll see you at the top if you can make it there."

Cassie stepped into the classroom, and after the lecture, her legs began to tremble because the following class is Maths, and Daniel will be there, and this is it; she must face whatever Daniel decides.

Cassie's heart fell when she realized Daniel was not in the class—that had never happened before. Cassie began to wait for him, and when the lecture began and Daniel failed to show up, she sighed, forced herself not to cry, and concentrated on the lecture since she must always remain strong.

Cassie was wrapping up her things when she noticed someone standing behind she thought it must be Peter waiting to irritate her. Cassie closed her eyes and stood up holding a book in her hand to hit him. “If you say one more…”

Daniel was taken aback and Cassie also refrained to complete her sentence. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Cassie yelled in frustration. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why the fuck you missed the class?”

Daniel adjusted his bag on his shoulder. “Can we talk outside the class please?”

Cassie had already made up her mind so she put everything in her bag and stormed out of the class without uttering a word. Daniel followed her. “Why are you so angry?”

Cassie turned to Daniel. “I am not angry just in a hurry to meet Steven.”

Daniel squinted. “And what about me and my answer to you about us?”

Cassie adjusted her glasses. “I know your answer and trust me I completely understand it hurts but trust me I’ll manage.”

Cassie was about to go away but Daniel held her arm and pulled her back. “Cassie, at least give me a chance to talk.”

Cassie realized once again she was not letting him talk so she nodded.

Daniel responded. “I am in.”

Cassie looked at him and a smile spread on her lips. She covered her mouth with her hands. “OMG.”

Daniel sighed. “I don’t know how it will turn out but I am ready to give it a shot.”

Cassie told him. “If we were not in a college I would have kissed you.”

Daniel nodded. “I am sure you do because I would have done the same.”

Cassie asked. “Why you missed the lecture?”

Daniel responded. “I woke up late because last night I didn’t sleep at all,” he looked at his phone “I have to go because yesterday I left Rita in the middle.”

Cassie raised her brow. “I can’t leave her until she’ll be good in maths.”

Cassie waved him. “Just try not to kiss her.” and then she rushed to the practice court to meet Steven.

Steven was playing with his team under the supervision of his snobbish coach. He was just able to wave her. Cassie went out of the court and was sitting alone in a foyer. Cassie was reading her Lit’s upcoming drama and Ryker closed her book. Cassie jolted and looked at him in anger. “What the hell?”

Ryker asked. “Are you and my loser half-brother fought over something?”

Cassie opened her mouth but Ryker flicked his hand. “Whatever, I am not interested,” he grabbed her arms and started to walk “We are going to a special place.”

Cassie giggled. “How many places do you have for me?”

Ryker didn’t answer instead he drove her to the place and when they were standing outside the Arcade Arena. Cassie looked at him. “Are you ready to lose?”

Ryker responded. “Let's get started!”

Cassie tried her hand at a claw machine, her tongue sticking out concentration as she moved the claw towards a stuffed unicorn. She was successful in obtaining the reward, which she proudly displayed. Ryker cheered for her and then challenged her to a game of air hockey.

The puck bounced back and forth between them, with both of them laughing and shouting encouragement and humorous taunting. Cassie scored the winning goal, and Ryker raised his hands in fake frustration. "You're on fire today, Cassie!"

Next, they went to the laser tag arena. Divided into two teams, Cassie grinned as she sneaked up on Ryker and tagged him. "Gotcha!"

They took a break for lunch and enjoyed pizza and soda before returning home. The whole time in the arena Ryker forgot that he was there to fulfill his revenge and when they reached her place he told Cassie. “I had a blast today. Thank you for coming.”

Cassie adjusted her glasses. “Yeah, we had a good time.”

Cassie was about to open the door when Ryker pulled her close to him and kissed her. At that moment Cassie realized she also wanted him to kiss her so badly her hands buried in his hair and his hands cupping her face. Kissing was about to get intense when Cassie’s phone buzzed and it was Steven.