chapter 4

Carmen's POV:

"So what is function of this equation?" Mia asked pointing to one of the math problems on the piece of paper in front of me. I stared down at the math worksheet almost willing it to grow a pair of legs and walk away. We have been here in the library for over 3 hours now doing homework and some studying and my head was about to explode. My eyes were going crossed from staring down at words this entire time.  

Right now Mia was trying to help me with some difficult math questions but I just couldn't seem to get it. Math was definitely not my strong suit and by now I just wanted to rip it into shreds. No matter what Mia did to try and explain it to me I couldn't get the right answer. In the last 30 minutes we had been doing this we have only done one problem, one!  

"I don't know." I mumbled from between my arms. I was laying down on my arms on the table.  

"Carmen come on."  

As much as I loved Mia and knew she was trying to help I just wanted to stuff a pillow in her face. She wouldn't let me give up, which was a good thing, but at the same time aggravating. It wasn't like Mia didn't know what she was talking because she did but the way she was explaining it just wasn't clicking. In that moment I never needed/wanted my brother so bad.  

Whenever I needed help with math homework either Cris or Adny would help me. Something about the way they explained it just clicked and I got it. Especially with Cris, he just knew the right things to say to me and is usually the one to help. But sadly both him and Andy were busy right now heading to their next football game. With it being an away game Mia and I were the only ones here, even Amy could go with the cheer team.  

It was Friday afternoon, a full week after the party and a full week after seeing Gage. The week had flown by pretty quickly thanks to surprise quizzes, tons of homework and essays, and future tests coming up. It was like the professors all got together and thought it would be a great idea putting multiple tests on the same day; hence the 3 hour study session.  

The only time I had seen Gabriel was during English class Monday and Thursday but since both of us were so busy we hadn't said more than 10 words to one another. It sucked that we only had two classes together and I still didn't even have his phone number; I was kicking my butt for that one. It was strange at how I missed him even though it has only been a week. For some odd reason I just wanted to talk to him even if it was for a few minutes.  

Along with Gabriel I didn't see much of my brother nor Andrew. Everyone was trying to stay a float with assignments and for the boys they had practice on top of everything. The one time I did see them was when all four of us went to dinner on Wednesday.  

At first the dinner was awkward since there seemed to be tension between Andrew and I and surprisingly between Mia and Cris. But thankfully it passed by and we returned to our normal selves. Andrew had apologized for leaving on the dance floor like he did. As much as I wanted to hate him for it I wasn't mad at all. In fact I was kind of glad. Glad that it happened because if it didn't I wouldn't have had a good time with Gabriel instead. It was weird but I couldn't explain it. In some ways I was stupid for forgiving Andrew so easily but it was just who I was. I forgave and forgot, it was better that way instead of holding a grudge against him forever; it would have made a difference anyways.  

The day after the party we stuck to being home. Mia didn't even stumble in until 5 that morning wearing the same clothes as she had on the night before. I knew she had hooked up with someone but every time I brought it up she just changed the topic or didn't answer. She either regretted it or she hadn't wrapped her head around it yet. I knew she would tell me eventually so I didn't push it. Because she was dead tired and hung over she didn't question where I went for which I was glad. I doubted she even knew I left so early anyways.  

"Carmen what is the function." Mia urged me.  

"I don't know and don't care. Can we be done?"  

"No just one more."  

"But it is a Friday Mia! I don't want to be here anymore." That was a big deal for me to say. I usually could spend hours here at the library but that of course was only when I wanted to read for pleasure, not to do homework. "I've got all weekend do it."  

Mia was quiet for a few minutes before mumbling 'fine' under her breath. I took it as a victory. If I continued on doing anymore homework my head would literally explode and it didn't help that I hadn't eaten in a while.  

"So since we are done studying what do you want to do now?" She asked leaning back in the comfy chairs we were sitting on. That was one nice thing about this library, the chairs were super comfortable.  

"How about we eat?" I offered already drooling at the thought of pizza or something.  

"Carmen it is only 3 o'clock if we eat now we will be hungry in a few hours." Mia reasoned.  

"You'll be hungry." I muttered back meaning for it to be an insult but instead made me look stupid. Oh you know the usual.  

"We could go work out or something then eat." Tilting my head so I could see Mia I gave her a look. We both knew that wasn't going to happen.  

"We could-" She started to say but my cell phone decided to ring loudly interrupting her. Since I forgot to turn down the volume Every Avenue's song "Someday, Somehow" came blaring through the speakers. People around us turned and glared at me for interrupting the quiet atmosphere. Not even bothered by it I just ignored them and answered the call.  

"Hello?"  

"Hey Car-bear!" Came a familiar voice through the phone. I sat up straight and let a smile take over my face.  

"Daniel!"  

"Someone is excited to hear from me I see."  

"Of course. You are my knight in shining armor Daniel." I teased.  

"Well this knight is wondering what you are doing at the moment." He asked.  

"Just sitting in the library, why?"  

"How would you like to come hang out with me. Gabriel is currently in class so I am severely bored." Daniel pleaded. I could practically see him pouting through the phone.  

"Want to go hang out with Daniel?" I asked over to Mia.  

"Which one is Daniel again?" She asked.  

"Gabriel's friend." I supplied.

"Sure why not." Mia shrugged grabbing her things.  

"Sure. Mia and I are free." I answered to Daniel.  

"I'm going to pass the library in just a minute. Want to meet me down here?"  

"Sounds good. We will be down in a minute." Saying a quick goodbye Mia and I gathered our things before leaving our table and heading out to met Daniel. There wasn't anything else to do anyways, plus Daniel was good company.  

It didn't take us long to leave the library and find Daniel leaning against the side of the building waiting for us. Seeing him I didn't realize how much I missed seeing other people besides my inner circle of friends. It has been a little while since I saw Daniel last, it was almost like he was a stranger.  

"Is that who I think it is?" Daniel yelled pushing away from the wall. "Is that the one, the only, Carmen Rosi?!" He placed a hand to his chest and made his eyes go really wide. I couldn't help but let out a laugh at him.  

"If we are greeting each other like this I'm on board." I grinned at him.  

"Of course you would." Mia elbowed me. I went to reply only to be grabbed and lifted off the ground. Daniel had his arms wrapped around my waist tightly and was moving us around in circles. My laugh echoed around us as I held onto him not wanting to be dropped.  

"Daniel put me down!" He twirled me around for another second before finally setting me back on my feet. I giggled and slapped his shoulder. "Thanks for that."  

"No problem." He grinned back at me. "Your turn?" He looked over at Mia who took a step back and shook her head.  

"So what did you want to do?" I asked changing the subject.  

"Well Gabe gets out of class in half an hour, than he has a fight around 7 or so. How about we go to my place until he comes back then we can go eat?" Daniel offered. As much as I wanted to eat right now I found myself nodding. Neither Mia or I had any plans whatsoever.  

"Fine by me." Mia said. We followed alongside Daniel as he lead us to where he lived. I figured he lived on campus and probably with Gabriel, although I wasn't entirely sure.  

"So Gabriel has a fight?" I asked as we walked.  

"Yeah and the guy is pretty hard to beat. He has only ever lost 2 fights and he has a few inches on Gabe." Not an ounce of worry was evident in Daniel's tone as he told us this.  

"Aren't you worried for him? What if he gets really hurt?" I found myself asking. I mean if this guy was bigger than Gabriel I don't think it will end well, no matter how good he is.  

"Not worried at all. Gabe knows what he is doing, plus this guy is an amateur anyways." He waved me off.  

"Like that helps." I muttered under my breath.  

We walked for another 5 minutes before coming to another dorm building. It actually wasn't as far from our building surprisingly. It was one of the 'newer' dorm buildings that was remodeled over the summer, just like ours.  

"Welcome to my humble abode." Daniel opened the door and gestured for us to enter. Not knowing what to expect I took a deep breath not wanting to smell the stinky-ness that two boys can conjure up.  

Walking inside I didn't expect the place to be so...clean. It kind of had the same layout as our place but the kitchen and living room seemed larger. I had thought that the living room would be a mess of clothes, plates, bottles but instead it was spotless. There were a few pillows on the couch and below the flat screen TV I could see multiple gaming systems. From where I was standing I could even see the kitchen wasn't dirty at all. There were a few plates in the sink but that was it. It may even be cleaner than Macey and I's place. Very uncommon when it comes to guys.  

"This is-" I started.  

"Really nice." Mia finished for me. 

"And clean."  

"What you think all guys like making messes?" Mia and I shared a look but didn't say anything. Daniel rolled his eyes at us but pushed it aside. "Do you want anything to drink? We have coke, water, alcohol."  

"Really alcohol? It is 3 o'clock in the afternoon!"  

"So? It is happy hour somewhere sweetheart."  

"I'll just have water." Mia said.  

"Me too."  

I gently sat my book bag on the ground by the door and made my way to the couch. It looked beyond comfortable and I just had to see for myself. The dark leather was my weakness apparently.  

"Here." Daniel said just as I sat down. He didn't even give me a heads up before he threw a water bottle at me. Thankfully I caught it just in time, throwing him a glare.  

"So what are you majoring in Mia?" Daniel asked as soon as they sat down beside me.