Teach Me ?

4. If You Can't You Still Might

"We were racing" I admit with a soft laugh. "Um Josh do you got this?" I ask as he nods.

"Yea. See you in class" he adds as he grabs my cart and heads off to class while I stay back with Riley.

"What was that about?" she asks curiously with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Nothing" I shrug. "We've just been hanging out."

"Just hanging out?" she asks skeptically. "Why are you here so early?"

"Because I'm fighting with Derek and I needed a shower."

"What?" she asks confused.

"I haven't actually spoken to my boyfriend since Monday morning. He went out and got wasted the other night and last night I slept through our date so he went out on his own. I needed a shower so I came here, Josh was working out and we talked. That's it."

"I don't believe you. You like him" she argues as I roll my eyes.

"I don't like him. He's our TA and I have Derek."

"He's our TA not our teacher and you're fighting with Derek and may I remind you that even if you aren't supposed to like him that doesn't mean you don't."

"Riles please just drop it" I beg as I brush past her and head into class.

I grab lunch and head off to the library to eat and to think. I find my usual spot and plop down, I pull out my laptop and load up Facebook while I dig into my panini I was eating for lunch. I grab my phone and text Derek that we need to talk but I receive no response making me even more annoyed as I throw it back into my bag. The second I load up Facebook I see someone walking up to me.

"So what do I get for winning our race?" Josh asks smugly as he walks up to me making me laugh as I shake my head. It was crazy how I was pissed like thirty seconds ago and suddenly I had a smile glued to my face.

"You didn't win. Riley interfered."

"You didn't have to stay with her" he points out making me roll my eyes playfully as I close my laptop decidedly.

"Lunch. With me. If you want" I add as a smile spreads across his lips.

"I was hoping you'd say that" he says as he puts his food onto the table beside me and takes a seat. "I haven't exactly made any friends."

"Befriending a student probably isn't the best idea" I point out as I take a bite of my sandwich.

"No but I like talking to you and so far you're the only person that has actually looked at me and not gawked." I blush as I think about staring at him this morning.

"I gawked at you this morning" I point out as he laughs and takes a sip of his soda.

"Fine then maybe you're the only one I like doing it" he admits making a blush rise on my cheeks as I avert my eyes to the potato chips I had, I pull one out and pop it into my mouth. "That was forward. I'm sorry."

"It's okay" I smile softly as I hear my phone ding. "Just a sec" I say as I hold up a finger and pull out my phone.

DEREK: Talk about what? Who is he?

I glance up at Josh and my heart stops. He was my TA. He was nothing more. There was no he.

MAYA: You're crazy. You're the one out all night!

"Everything okay?" Josh asks as my phone dings again.

DEREK: You skipped our date!

MAYA: I fell asleep!

DEREK: I have plans tonight so don't wait up.

I sigh as I throw my phone down, running my fingers through my hair. "Maya" Josh says catching my attention. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" I say quickly. "Look I should go. I'll see you tomorrow" I add as I gather my stuff and rush out of the library.

"He's really not home?" Riley asks as I plop down onto the bed.

"Nope" I sigh as I fall back onto the mattress. "I don't know what to do Riles."

"I don't know either. You guys have never fought. I blame Josh."

"Why? He hasn't done anything. He's been really sweet."

"Exactly" she says bluntly. "Peaches you've known him for three days."

"It feels like forever" I admit.

"Snap out of it" she demands. "He's hot but that's all he is. You love Derek. Just like I love Lucas. This was fun for a day or two but you can't seriously think that Josh is better than Derek can you?"

I pause as I rack my brain trying to make sense of my feelings and I know the answer. "Of course not" I say as I let out a breath, not meaning a single word.