03.The Chapter of broccoli pizza

Rose

I typed a quick message to my mother, letting her know that she should go to the double date with my father, putting the cell phone away afterwards, dodging a cluster of students who seemed excited about something when a body crashed into mine. Within a second I felt the grass impact with the side of my body, causing a sharp pain to surge.

I sat up, looking at the skinned side of my arm and all my dinner on the ground. Today is definitely not my day!

" Careful there, pussycat. You almost made me miss a reception," the guy who ran me over joked, walking away without even helping me up.

" Pussycat? What's your problem, you jackass," I stood up, shouting in response.

The jerk, who had already walked a few steps away, stopped, turning to me with a grin on his face before shamelessly sizing me up and walking back over to me.

" Sweetie, I really don't have time to pay attention to you right now, but I can give you my number, so we can set something up at another time.” He put his arm around my shoulder, causing me to look questioningly at him.

This interaction was drawing attention from the people who had been watching the impromptu football game, and it was clear that he was trying to impress the group of veterans with whom he was playing. But to the boy's misfortune, I didn't give a damn.

" Sweetie, are you training to join the team? " I faked a dazzled tone, causing his smile to widen before my expression turned serious, "In that case, you'd better stop touching me before I rip your hand off.”

His expression turned a little dull, removing the arm that had been around me.

" Better that way," I murmured, about to start walking away.

" Give me your number," he called.

" Not in a million years," I denied.

He didn't seem willing to give up, but before he could say anything, a male voice sounded behind me.

" Hey O'Donnel, now you're going to start knocking out girls to try to get closer? Are you that desperate?”

I turned around to find Allie's friend standing there with an almost arrogant posture, one hand in the pocket of his jeans jacket while the other hand held a cell phone.

" Get out, Davis," the guy muttered, finally pulling away.

" You dropped it," he held out the cell phone to me, "Christian Davis.”

I took the device from his hand, feeling relieved that I hadn't suffered any damage in the fall.

" Thank you, Rosemarie Miller-Campbell, or just Rose Campbell.” I sighed as I bent down and picked up what was left of my dinner, then threw it in the trash.

" I have an extra slice of pizza if you want it," he offered, pointing to a tree a few yards away where a paper bag and a paper cup had been abandoned, probably when the idiot had hit me.

For a second I considered that invitation, he was definitely using me to get closer to my friend, but I was going to get a free pizza, so why not?

" Sure " I shrugged.

" Jax O'Donnel, he has a brain the size of a pea, we went to high school together.” He pointed at the asshole who had run me over earlier " I'm sorry to inform you, but he probably won't leave you alone.”

" What encouraging news " I muttered, sitting down under the tree next to him, opening a message from my mother.

"What will you get out of this?"

"He promised me three hundred dollars if you accept"

I put the phone away after sending the message, deciding to pay attention to Christian.

" So, you're Allie's friend," he commented, offering me the paper cup.

"And you're the guy who wants to get her into bed," I replied, taking the glass from his hand.

He frowned, giving me a questioning expression.

" Did she tell you this?”

" No," I took a sip of the contents, grimacing as I handed it back to him.

Christian took the bag, opening it before pulling out two pizza boxes, handing one to me.

" You should ask her to leave at once, she's waiting, and... " I opened the package, and then grimaced " Broccoli pizza, really? You're here drinking green tea and eating broccoli pizza?”

" What's the problem? " he took a bite of his pizza, seeming to enjoy it.

This had to be a joke! This is definitely not my day.

" Let me guess, you're one of those people with a childish palate who thinks broccoli is bad," he sneered.

" I don't have a childish palate for not liking a vegetable," I muttered.

" Yes, you do. And that's a bit ironic for someone who dreams of becoming a doctor," he teased me.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, but I ignored it, turning to him, raising both eyebrows.

" I'm not going to become a doctor, I study visual arts.”

The information seemed to have surprised him somehow, Christian finished eating, putting the empty package into the bag once more.

" You came to the university to play at coloring? Really?”

I felt a wave of anger start to wash over me as I realized that in the end, he is just another jerk. And to think that I was actually finding him to be a nice guy.

" And you at least chose chemistry after watching too much Breaking Bad, didn't you? " I returned angrily.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at me with a suspicious expression.

" You're nothing like your friend, you know. " he stretched, taking the pizza from my hand and beginning to eat it before standing up.

" Hey, you gave me this," I raised my voice as I saw him start to walk toward the entrance of the Dorm.

" And you acted like a spoiled child, so I took it back," he returned, looking undeterred by my irritation.

A few people standing there stopped to watch our little clash, and if he thinks he's going to stay like this, he's very much mistaken!

I stood up, taking the paper bag and the cup of green tea he had left behind, and walked quickly, catching up with him when he was almost at the door of the villa.

Without a second thought I hurled the cup toward his head, smiling as I saw his body react when the icy liquid hit the back of his neck. Christian cringed, turning toward me with an annoyed expression, as everyone stopped to see what was happening.

" You forgot your fucking tea, you asshole!”

" What's the matter with you, you freak? " he growled.

" My problem is the number of idiots that are crossing my path today," I returned before walking past him, entering the building to the muffled laughter.

I walked to my room, flopping down on my bed immediately. Great, here I am, hungry and cranky. How could it get any worse?

I remembered my mother's message, opening it, feeling my bad mood improve a little.

"I want a hundred dollars. Enjoy the weekend and don't drink too much."

A small smile broke out on my face as I read her message, at least the two of them would have fun together. Deciding to get some sleep, I closed my eyes, but my moment of peace didn't last long. Allie entered the room a few minutes later, looking as if she was about to take off with such excitement.

" Rose, you'll never guess, I was talking to Liam about my interest in joining Sigma Sigma Kapa, one of the most exclusive sororities here on campus and he knows the president.”

" He seems to know everyone," I yawned.

" He promised to introduce me to her at a party tonight, so get ready, we have to go.” She was ecstatic.

This could be interesting, I hadn't been to any parties yet and I wouldn't pass up the chance to have some fun, even if I had no interest in joining any sorority.

" Okay, but I want to get something to eat first.”