Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

The whole class erupted in a buzz. I could feel eyes darting toward me like bullets. What possessed this guy to read that note in front of the class?

“That should be enough entertainment for you today, kids!”

I glared at Caleb. He was smirking, completely unrepentant. I wanted to kick him in the balls and wipe that smirk off his face.

I didn’t even wait for the professor. I just ran out of there.

“Red, wait!”

I whipped around, ready to cut him to pieces. “You have two strikes already,” I hissed, balling my hands into fists to keep from punching his face.

His smile disappeared. “Does that mean I only have one more left?”

I scoffed and whipped around, making sure my long hair struck his irritatingly gorgeous face.

“Ouch. That hurt.”

Good! But that didn’t give me any satisfaction. I was so embarrassed, so mad…

I kept walking. I knew he was following me, because I could hear his footsteps trying to catch up. I walked faster, almost running, and threw a glare over my shoulder.

“Red, no!”

And just as I turned, my face slammed into the glass door.

My head spun as my face throbbed. Livid now and mortified beyond belief, I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. I knew people were staring and laughing at me. I could hear them.

Nobody’s fault but mine.

“Leave me alone!” I fumed.

I wrenched the doors open, hoping one would slam back in his face. I just wanted to hide somewhere.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I gritted my teeth, ignoring him.

“Red, what’s wrong?”

I stopped in my tracks and shot him an incredulous look. “Are you serious?”

He looked startled by my anger. I was bristling.

“Are you really that mad?” he asked quietly, his eyes gentle as they studied my face.

I hesitated for a few seconds, processing the emotions churning in my stomach. “I don’t like being cornered,” I said finally. “I don’t like catering to a self-indulgent child. And most of all, I don’t like being forced to do something I don’t like.”

His eyes widened in shock before they turned flat and cold.

“Got it,” he said in a clipped tone before he turned and strode away.

* * *

In the two weeks that followed, we avoided each other.

I woke up early and cooked his meals, storing his dinner in the fridge and leaving a note for him to heat it up.

I attended my classes diligently and took the bus to work after. If I didn’t go to the library after work, I hung out with Kara. I avoided coming home early every day just in case Caleb decided to seek me out. But he never did. There was an emptiness in my chest that I couldn’t understand, but I ignored it. I just had to.