Page 40 of Unwritten Rules

Every day I was returning from Uni in a zombified form, barely managing to eat whatever the staff put in front of me before hitting the hay, forgoing any further tub soakings, opting to inhale Nate’s sheets with gusto instead.

On Wednesday, Cal introduced me to his friend Desmond, a man of very few words but blatantly obsessed with one of our classmates. Unfortunately, Des refuses to do anything about it other than pair with her for every project or class work that requires teamwork.

“He’s a pussy pants.”

Cal has proven to be exactly my type of person, with little to no regard for filters.

I love it.

“I have an idea.”

It’s Friday, and we’re finished for the week, at long freaking last. The two boys, who room together just off campus, are walking me back to a waiting Roland, when the girl – I believe her name is Penny, though Des mumbled it, so I can’t be altogether too sure – speed-walks past us, heading for the car park.

“Who fancies hitting a bar? I’ve nothing to do and precisely no one to do it with.” I lace my fingers together, pleading with the two boys on either side of me. “Pretty please with sugar on top?”

Cal throws a long, pale arm over my shoulder. “Make it a pool table at The Nook with tequila on top, and you’re onto a winner.”

“Deal.” I shrug out from under his arm, turning to Des, whose dark brows are puckered in apparent confusion as we carry him along for the ride on our shenanigans.

“I need another girl for our squad, so just hang tight. Be right back, guys.”

Jogging backwards along the path, I waggle my eyebrows at the two of them, eventually turning about and catching up on the speed-walking object of Desmond’s affections.

“Hey, Penny?”

She keeps moving until I reach her, stepping in front of her to pull her up short. “Oops, excuse me.”

The girl tugs some EarPods from her ears.

“Oh, excuse me. I didn’t…um, see you.” She sounds so hesitant, almost afraid of her own shadow.

“Hi, Penny!” I thrust my hand out and plough on. “My name is Mila DeMarco. We have History of the English Language and Classic Literature together.”

Recognition flickers across her features, and she nods, a hesitant smile tugging on her pink lips.

“It’s Percy, not Penny.” Her words are quieter than a whisper.

I grimace at my error.

Desmond and those damn mumbles.

“Oops, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Happens all the time.”

“So…Percy. I was wondering if you’re busy now. I’m headed for a few drinks to unwind after my first week, but it’s with some guys, and I was hoping to inject a little oestrogen to offset their testosterone if you’re up for it.”

She nibbles her lip hesitantly, and I rush on, afraid to give her the chance to mull it over.

“First round’s on me! I’d really like to get to know you.” I smile my brightest smile, shoving my hands into my jeans pockets as I rock back on my heels, shooting up a quick prayer that she comes along.

I can absolutely see Des’s infatuation. She’s absolutely adorable.

She’s not too much taller than my minuscule 5’4”. Her face is pale with a dusting of the sweetest freckles smattered across her button nose, framed by a mass of curly brown shoulder-length hair.

But it’s her eyes that catch and hold you. One dark brown, one deep blue, both almost hidden behind gigantic black-rimmed glasses that make those eyes look impossibly bigger.

Letting her abused lip fall free, she smiles cautiously and nods once. “Okay, why not?”