Chapter 8

"Are you okay?" Cam asked me and I nodded stabbing my fork into my food making it hit the glass plate, probably leaving a scratch.
"Just ex problems,” I plastered a fake smile on my face. Liam was an ex-boyfriend of mine. We dated for a while and it ended badly. His job wouldn't let him date anyone outside of work. Weird? I thought so too, that is until I found out he worked as some agent for his government or whatever. I didn't get much information on the topic so I really don't have much to share besides the fact that it's over for good.
Ashton quickly noticed I didn't want to talk about it and decided to change the subject. “So what's your major?"
"Business management,” I said honestly. Business management was something I had always wanted to do.
"So, why are you guys here?" I asked them curiously, hoping I didn't sound too intruding.
"Well, you probably know by now this school started allowing students at age sixteen to enter. I came here at that age since my father wanted me to go to an excellent school and this just so happened to be the one,” he said and I scrunched up my nose, was this school really that good.
"An all boy's school is probably the best you can go to; the education is excellent and you stay focused on your major without distractions," Leon said and I bit my lip thinking over everything he said. It was probably true, but if that's the case then why am I here attending instead of Jeff. He's sixteen, he's old enough.
Your father teaches higher classes and your dad would recognize him.
Right.
"I thought you got sent here or something I didn't know this school was that great."
"It's still a university, you apply and they'll let you know if you got in. The only difference from this university and the rest is that you find out immediately. They honestly pay people to just sit there and decide whether people are accepted or not. But believe it or not, it's still number one Ivy League boy's school in the country," Ashton said, looking almost smug by the fact.
"Why would your father send you here at age sixteen?" I asked him while unconsciously moving the ice around in my drink with the straw.
“I have to be prepared to take over my father’s company at age twenty one,” Leon said like it was obvious.
"Same here," Cam pitched in and Ashton nodded agreeing.
"So does everyone here take over their parents company?" I asked and Cam snorted.
"Obviously, I mean they would be stupid not to. This school is the top school and in order to get in it costs thousands of dollars. There are only a few students here that have scholarships everyone else is paying the full price. It's pretty cheap if you ask me," Cam said, shrugging and I looked at them curiously.
“How much does it cost to go here?"
"You sure do ask lots of questions, Jason. Didn't you look up anything before you applied?" Ashton questioned and I gave him a sheepish smile while shaking my head.  "For every month it's some high payment in the upper thousands. I don't pay attention to how much comes out since my payment is just automatically taken out, but it's not bad. Maybe around $20,000 or so,” he explained and I couldn't help but choke on my own spit. How on Earth did my mom get me in here? There is no way my father would agree to pay that much every month. I mean yes, we're not poor, but we're not exactly rich either. She must of got me a scholarship or something but I don't know exactly she would do that since there are no school records anywhere for a guy name Jason Lockwood.
Remind me to have that conversation with her another day.
Yeah, whatever.
"You okay?" Leon asked me and I nodded giving them a thumbs up, clearing my throat from all the coughing I just did after almost choking and dying.
Dramatic much.
Ignoring my conscious, I took a long sip of my drink, letting the liquid sooth my sore and now scratchy throat.
"Hey, um, I have to go call someone. So maybe I'll see you guys in one of my classes?" I said in an almost questioning tone as I stood. The only nodded and said their goodbyes before filling their face with food.
I quickly exited the cafeteria, throwing away my food on the way out. I took the short walk and found my way outside. I took time to observe the campus, looking for a quiet reserved place. It didn't take long to find a nearby tree that was a decent distance. Taking out my phone, I immediately called Mia. My hands drummed against my leg anxiously as I waited for her to pick up.
"Hello?" Mia's voice sounded through the phone and I sighed in relief at hearing one of my best friend's voice.
"What the hell is he doing back in America?" I asked through clenched teeth, glaring at the building.
"I think he was working on another mission or something since he was leaving court,” Mia said, and I narrowed my eyes.
"He couldn't bother to come say hi?" I said and Mia sighed.
“I understand you miss him, C, but you are doing better off without him. He's just another hoe,” she told me and I scoffed, but still smiled slightly as I imagined my friend chewing her gum loudly and snapping her fingers while saying that.
My eyes caught sight on a familiar figure and my smile dropped. “Mia, what college did Nathan say he was going to again?" I asked and I could imagine her shrugging as she said, "I don't know, did he even tell us?" she asked and I bit my lip, squinting my eyes at the figure walking to the door.
"Well, it doesn't matter now because I just found out,” I said, slightly surprised at his appearance. Instead of wearing a pair of shorts and a shirt with some sports team on it like he usually did; he was wearing grey trousers and a white buttoned up shirt that was tucked in with a black blazer.
"What?" Mia said, sounding like she was chewing on a piece of gum, a usual thing for her.
"Nathan is at this school,” I told her watching as the door shut behind my other close friend. “He was dressed all nice and just got out of a freaking limo."
What the hell? Are we talking about the same Nathan here? The I'm-too-cool-to-wear-anything-but-my-boxers guy? You know the one with the beat up cavalier that he's been driving since freshman year?" Mia asked.
"This school is for the rich, Mia. You know the people that are on top of the latter. I thought he was having financial problems,” I said with a slightly questioning tone.
"Really? I thought it was some boarding school?" Mia said and I hummed in agreement.
"That's what I thought until today. It's just like any other university except it starts accepting students at a younger age. It's like some program they can join or something,” I said closing my eyes and leaning my head against the tree.
"Are you going to go after Nate?" she questioned and I shook my head before quickly remembering she couldn't see me.
"No, he can't know I'm here,” I told her and she sighed.
"Good luck with that. Nathan knows you better than you know yourself. It'll take him less than a minute to recognize you. The boy's seen you half naked, in your underwear and has even slept in the same bed as you,” Mia said and I nodded, knowing she was right. She didn't mean sexually, of course, but we were close friends. The change in front of each other and sleep in the same bed type of friends.
Mia suddenly gasped loudly, gaining my attention. "Shit, Claire! Liam just hugged another girl,” Mia said and I scowled remembering why I originally called her.
"Are you stalking him?" I asked curiously, and I heard nothing, but a crunch of some type of food.
"Of course, I'm your best friend. Do you really I think I'm going to just let your ex hang around LA and not spy on him? C'mon, C, you should know me by now. Plus Beth is busy, so I’m chilling by myself at the moment,” Mia said in a duh tone before gasping again. "Oh, oh, oh!"
“What?" I asked her, feeling slightly nervous.
“He just gave her a kiss on the cheek!" she told me furiously.
“He's from Europe. That's not that uncommon there. I mean some people kiss their friends on the cheeks just as a greeting,” I said, remembering what I learned in French class years ago. The phone went silent for a minute before she responded with an 'oh' making me shake my head at her all while chuckling lightly to myself.
"Oh, wait he is- damn watch where you're going you ass,” Mia yelled and I raised an eyebrow, a smile making its way on my lips at my crazy friend.
"You okay?" I asked and she huffed.
"No, some ASSHOLE just bumped into me.” I laughed knowing she yelled that only so he could hear her. “Wait you spilled something on me! I just got this shirt you mother fu-"
"Mia!" I yelled into the phone, trying to get her attention but she only ignored me, continuing to go on at the guy.
"Get back here you ass! This is a white shirt; whatever the hell you just spilled on me is going to stain! Hey!"
"I'll talk to you later Mia," I said, still completely amused.
"You son of a-" I ended the call, rolling my eyes. I'm sure everyone has a crazy friend like her. I headed up to my dorm room and I opened it just as Caiden was stripping off his pants.
"Hey," I said, awkwardly making sure my voice was deeper, as usual. He looked up at me and rolled his eyes, going back to what he was doing. Climbing into his bed, he turned on his TV and changed the channel to The Walking Dead making me gasp.
"Hey, I love this show!" I said sliding off my shoes and hopping on my bed excitedly. Caiden didn't even acknowledge my comment and kept his eyes on the TV while eating some popcorn.
"I don't need you anymore. I'd be fine if you died.” My jaw dropped at the TV. How could he say something like that to his father? I mean Rick was in a coma on the couch while there were walkers outside.
I glanced over to see if Caiden had any emotion to Carl but he was staring blankly at the screen. I noticed he never put any pants back on. Was it normal for guys to just sit on their bed in nothing but their boxers and watch TV? I mean girls do just walk around in their bras and underwear when they're by themselves but we don't do that when there is someone we barely know is in the room. Well, at least some of us don't. Sighing, I laid down and continued to watch my favorite show thinking this day is almost over.