Chapter 4

The campus warmed with spring.

The field was full of students, all of them bright with the season.

Reg noticed soon enough that I really had stopped coming to him.

I didn't get to class early to save him a front-row seat anymore.

On rainy days I no longer messaged him to bring an umbrella.

Even the eight a.m. sign-in he hated most.

When the professor called his name, I just turned the pages of my book, quiet, looking right past it.

Wednesday morning, the advisor posted a formal reprimand in the group chat.

Reg had skipped class three times running, and the whole department heard about it.

At noon, while I was eating in the dining hall, my phone buzzed.

Reg had sent a string of accusations.

"Why didn't you wake me today?"

"When the professor took roll, why didn't you answer for me?"

"Do you even know I got called out in front of the whole department? It's humiliating!"

I swallowed my mouthful of rice and set down my chopsticks.

I typed, unhurried.

"Am I your mother?"

"Am I supposed to get you up every single day?"

After I sent it, his end went quiet for a long time.

I figured he probably thought I was just sulking, saving up for some big blowup.

Sure I'd cave in a few days.

Because before, all it took was him going a little cold on me, and I'd be the one who went running back.

That night, my roommate dragged me out to walk the field.

We'd just reached the stands when the whole area lit up with cold sparklers.

Several drones circled in the night sky, spelling out a line of words.

"Edna Henson, be my girlfriend."

The crowd erupted.

I froze where I stood.

Matthew Stephens, the department's famous, admired senior, stood there in a white shirt, holding a bouquet of baby's breath.

My favorite.

He came through the crowd and stopped in front of me.

His eyes were sincere and warm.

"Edna, I've been watching you for a long time."

"I know how independent you are, how impressive."

"I want to go to the library with you, enter competitions with you, from here on."

The students around us started egging it on.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

Right then, a furious shout came from the edge of the crowd.

"Move!"

Reg shoved the people in front of him aside and came charging in, out of breath.

Emily trailed behind him, her face a little pale.

Reg pushed Matthew back with one hand and jabbed a finger at my face, yelling.

"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind!"

His eyes were red, his chest heaving.

"Do you even know what you're doing!"

He turned to look at Matthew, then swept his gaze over the ring of students who'd come to watch.

His voice was so loud it nearly cracked.

"She already has a boyfriend!"