Page 16 of Learning to Love

"I don't know what you've heard, but I'm not a bad person. Just give me a chance, and you'll see that."

"I've not heard much. Jake is probably many things, but he's not a rat. I don't know what's going on with you two, and I know there are two sides to every story. I don't think you're a bad person, but I don't know you well enough to make that decision. I must be completely honest with you, though, I've already picked a side, and it's his. That's non-negotiable."

Benji jumps up from his seat, only to move three rows to the back of me. He slams his book down on the desk in the process. Making me jump, I lift almost off my seat. Someone has anger issues, and he scares me a little bit. He had a crazy look in his eyes. I'm going to beg Jake to stay away from him because I sure as heck plan on doing just that. I don't know what kind of person he is, but that angry little boy fit he just participated in did nothing to help his case with me.

Everyone in the room is looking at us now. Jaxon included. He is standing near the door but comes over and sits beside me when I wave at him. He is smiling like he just won the lottery. "Georgia, sometimes the trash just takes itself out!"

Jaxon turns around and looks at Benji, challenging him. He still has that giant lottery-winning smile firmly in place. The whole class is eerily quiet. All of us are looking back and forth between the two football players. I do nothing. I'm not too fond of confrontation. However, I wouldn't want a fight to break out. I whisper to him, pleading my case. "Jaxon, please turn around. He's not worth losing your scholarship or the risk of never getting the chance to enter the NFL Draft, either. Please. Please, turn around."

The only sign that I can tell he heard me is the level of his facial intensity has gone from 100 to 80. The vein in his throat is no longer ticking. So, that’s a good sign. Right? Jaxon won’t back down though. He stares a hole through Benji.

I look over at Benji's face, and I want to punch him right then and there. Doesn't he know how close he is to being hit in his right eye? I want to give him a matching pair of black eyes. He's smirking, like, well, like an asshat. His expression gives nothing away. If he's scared, he's hiding it well. I knew this boy was two sandwiches short of a picnic.

The professor calls the class to attention, only then does Jaxon turn around. He grabs his cellphone out of his pocket and quickly sends a text to someone. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the recipient of that text. I blush and bend my head down so that no one can see my blushing red mess of a face. Makeup can't even hide my embarrassment.

I take a deep breath and try to focus on what the professor is saying. I've always been good at taking notes for class and I hope the tradition continues. I've almost got a sixth sense regarding what a teacher deems essential, which is beneficial when taking a test. Summer classes are always tricky because you have a whole semester worth of work to learn in such a short period. We have a term paper due next week. Plus, we need to have the first ten chapters of our textbook read by next Wednesday because that's when we will have our first test over all that material. I'm overwhelmed, and I think my social life will be over before it ever really begins. I won't be able to leave my dorm room like ever! Bye, Sex King! It was nice while it lasted.

Jaxon laughs at the expression on my face. The professor has given us a few minutes to chat while printing out our syllabuses. "I got you, Georgia. Don't let this good lookin' face and body fool you. I'm a genius when it comes to the Sciences."

"I'm glad one of us is! I mean, I've always been an honor student and good grades have always come naturally to me, but this is the first time I've had an actual social life. Yes, I know, sad but true."

He shakes his head. "Seems like we have some years to make up for Georgia! Stick with us, kid, we're gonna take you places."

I laugh. Minus Jake, Jaxon is my favorite Fearless Five member. "The only time we will get to see each other now is when we study together and in class. I'm never leaving the library or my dorm room again. Please say that you'll be my study buddy, though? Please."

He gives me his most "serious" face. "Yes! We'll be like besties and braid each other's hair as we talk about Photosynthesis and Darwinism!"

He cracks me up. "You're crazy! But that's why you're my second favorite."

His smile is genuine. "Good deal. I'll be sure to tell everybody!"

I pinch his arm. "You better not!"

He winks at me which means he will tell them all as soon as he sees them. I laugh. "But seriously, Georgia, you have to balance work and play. It'll be hard, to begin with, but you'll figure it out."

I nod and grab my syllabus from the professor as we walk out of the classroom. The sky is dark, and it looks like it may rain later on today. I feel his penetrating gaze before I see him. He's standing by a tree near the exit. He looks posed, but his expression changes when I meet his stare. Jake smiles and starts walking toward us.

"Hey, Georgia."

"Hey, Jake." He gives me a quick hug and takes my book bag from my shoulder. I could melt right where I stand. I love that he's a bad boy, but he's still got manners. That's important.

He growls as he sees Benji leaving the class. "Jaxon said, that ASSHAT over there upset you. What did he say?"

I shoot daggers at the back of Jaxon's head. He conveniently sped up and turned his head after Jake's statement. "Shhhhh....Nothing really."

"I don't care if he hears me. Georgia, you told me honesty would be the only way this worked between us."

I roll my eyes. I thought boys didn't listen to what girls say. "First of all, he came and sat by me, not because he wanted my company either. I'm almost certain it was to bother you. He wanted to make sure I knew he wasn't a bad person. I told him that I didn't know him well enough to decide if he was a good or bad person. However, I did make sure he knew that I had already chosen a side."

He grins. Big. "Which is?"

I roll my eyes. As if he didn't know. "Yours, duh. He got this crazy look in his eyes. Like he was mentally unstable and had just broken out of the loony bin. He got up quickly and went to another seat. Not to mention that Jaxon almost got in a fight with him because of what he did."

"Don't worry about him. He's not mentally unstable. He's just a dick."

He gives Jaxon a high-five! "My man!"

"You didn't see the look I saw. I'm willing to bet he's nuttier than a five-pound fruitcake. Please, stay away from him as best as you can. Just ignore him."