"It's a rather fitting name for the place," Cameron adds.
Cocking a brow, I get more intel on Cameron and Zella's relationship. "And you've been there?"
"Born and raised," is all he offers.
So, they grew up together. "Ah, so you two." I wave my pen between the two of them.
Zella blushes, and Cameron chuckles and answers, "Best friends since seven."
I eye Cam. Who has a female best friend for that long and doesn't want to bang her? He reads my mind because he leans back in his chair and smirks.
Zella clears things up. "Yup. Best friends right here. I love him like my brother."
Hmm. My skepticism was enough for her to read since she feels like she has to reassure me. Cameron, though, his expression never changes at her brother comment. So maybe he does only see her as a friend.
Cameron breaks the awkward moment. "Well, this has been fun, but I need to run."
"Yeah, I've got dinner plans with my roommate, Milani." Zella says as if she had forgotten about her plans.
I shut my laptop and gather my things along with Zella and Cam. Zella stands and slips on her light purple ballet flats. I've started to notice the girl prefers to be barefoot.
We are quiet as we file out of the study room. Cameron chats with Zella about nothing of importance as we take the elevator down to the first floor and leave the library. Once outside the building, Zella catches my arm as I turn to walk in the opposite direction.
Looking down at her tiny hand wrapped around the crook of my elbow causes me to pause and wonder what it would be like to have her in my arms. I pull my eyes to her face, and I'm greeted with that amazingly sweet smile of hers.
"Hey, whatever you find will be more than what I have now, so thank you. And don't sweat it if you can't find anything at all. Maybe, it was just meant to be—me never knowing them." Her smile turns sad, and I immediately fight off the urge to tell her I'll find her parents.
I bite my tongue because the last thing I want to do is promise something I can't deliver. So, I go with, "I'll do what I can, Zella."
There's no way around it. I know I'll be spending my night and next several days trying to find out as much as I can about Zella's parents.
7
Zella
"Remember, as you come in, please find your test from last week. If you don't pick it up, the grade won't change. It's already been entered in the grade book," the prof tells us as we all file into the room. We had our first Western Culture and Humanities test last week, and while I thought it was pretty easy, Wells and Cameron did not. I'm guessing, due to Ryker's blasé attitude toward it, that it was hard for him too.
Before taking the test, we were instructed to fold it in half, write our names on the back upper corner, which now makes sense as I can see all our tests piled up on the desk, in the folded form.
"A-F is in on the desk to the left. G-N on my desk and O-Z on the podium. Please be quick about it, people," the prof yells again.
I quickly look through the stack and find my test. As I climb the stairs to our normal seats, I open up my test and see a neatly written "A" in the corner. I smile. All in a day's work. Both Cameron and Wells follow behind me as we find out seats and sit.
"So, how'd you do, boys?"
"Meh, C plus," Wells grumbles.
Cameron shows me his test, and I'm happy to see a B minus.
I pat him on the back. "Nice job, Cameron."
Just then, Ryker shoves into the row in front of Cameron and me and folds himself into the seat next to Wells.
"What about you? How did you do, Ryker?" Cameron asks.
Ryker casually shrugs a shoulder. He opens up his test to see his grade. His facial expression doesn't change when he says, "Fine."
I can't tell if it's the truth or if he's just playing it off.
The prof calls the class to order, and Ryker and Wells turn forward. I pull out my notebook and pen, and as I look up toward the front of the room, I catch a glimpse of Ryker's test. The way it sits on the tiny desk in front of him leaves a gap between the folded pages. In red ink, I see a "D".
Bummer. I knew he was struggling during our study session, but I didn't realize it was that bad. I wonder if he'd take my help if I offered to tutor him. This stuff is easy, so helping him catch up would be easy.
Right then, I make a decision to offer my help next time we are together.
Later that evening, after eating dinner with the guys. Cameron heads off to Atlantica Athletic Center, and Wells, to meet Louisa.
Ryker walks me home. He’s unusually quiet tonight, and I wonder if his grade has got him down.
"Hey, so I accidentally saw what you got on your test." I give him a shy smile. It was an accident, but I was curious.
He grins down at me. "Oh yeah, an accident, huh? Nosy much?" He bumps the side of his arm into mine, and I know he doesn't really care that I saw.
"Yeah. I wanted to tell you that if you are interested, I'd happily be willing to help you get caught up." Please say yes, please say yes.
"Is that so?" He looks away from me and focuses on the path in front of us.
"Culture and Humanities is kind of my wheelhouse." I don't care; I'll toot my own horn. Especially when it gets him to smile. "I could help you in exchange for finding info on my parents. I'd be happy with any kind of information you could find me."
My hopes are high, but he's still looking forward and not at me.
This isn't going to go my way.
He twists his lips as he considers his words. "Look, Blondie, your offer is appreciated, but I don't need help. I can pull things around on my own."
My hope deflates like a day-old balloon. I wanted to help him, but I also wanted an excuse to spend time with him, alone.
"Hey." He chuckles as he slows our pace to stop. "That's the saddest look I've seen all day." When he turns toward me, his normal, easy-going smirk is back. "Are you sad because you don't get to teach someone all you know about extremely boring humanities stuff or that you don't get to spend one-on-one time with yours truly?" He leans down a little as he's so much taller than me. "Cause I gotta tell ya, if you want some one-on-one time, all you gotta do is ask."
I've done a good job at mastering not blushing at everything he says. At this moment, it's taking everything in me to fight the smolder.
I give him my sweetest smile. "No, I just felt bad for you and that lonely D." I wink at him and start walking again. I leave him chuckling behind me. Seconds later, he catches up with me. "You sure are fun, Blondie."
I momentarily tuck my chin into my shoulder while I hide my pleased smile.
"Oh, I did want to tell you, I have actually been looking into your birth parents. I don't have a lot of information, but I'm getting there."
I stumble to a halt at his words. I can't believe it. He might actually find them. I know he said he was just looking into things, but I currently have nothing to go on, so whatever he finds will be amazing. "Really?" I squeak.
"Really, really." The smile on his face is so authentic, I can't stop myself. I jump into his unsuspecting arms and hug him.