Chapter Six

Forty minutes later they all passed their test papers from back to front and the class representative gathered the papers together and handed them to the professor.

"We'll meet again tomorrow." Professor Peters said and walked out of the lecture room with his test papers and immediately he left, the students started chattering asking each other how they did on their tests.

"How did yours go?" Ethan asked Saira. "I think I'll get a B."

"If I get less than an A, I'll be forced to read harder than I'm doing now." Saira said.

"Why? School is not that hard."

"Well, not for people who come from rich families unlike some of us who are here on scholarship." She rolled her eyes and sighed then used her fist to massage her neck, turned left, right and sighed again.

"Tired?" He asked.

"Very. I burnt the midnight oil reading textbooks when I could have easily browsed through my notes." She huffed out a breath. 

"Are you mad at Harry for losing your notes?"

"Who wouldn't be? but... it's okay." Saira said. "I'm not one to bear grudges and he apologized."

"Did he?" Ethan tried to remember if Harry had apologized for losing Saira's notes but he came up short. "I don't think so."

"I just won't give him my notes next time."

Ethan chuckled.

Saira felt his laugh cause a tingle to race up her spine and goosebumps to appear on her arms. She wondered why every little thing he did affected her when it didn't happen like that with Daniel and she was meeting the guy for the first time!

"Um... I have to go." She grabbed her bag from under her seat and stood up hastily. "It was nice meeting you Ethan." She smiled shyly.

Ethan stood up and handed her the spiral bind book. "I believe Harry still owes you an apology."

"What's this?" She opened the book and gasped when she realized what it was. "I thought... he said his dog ate it, right?"

"I might have threatened to castrate him if he didn't find a way to return it to you." Ethan shrugged.

"Oh my gosh! Thank you!" She threw her arms around his waist excitedly. "Thank you!"

The chatter in class stopped at once as everyone turned simultaneously to stare at them. Everyone knew Ethan Delnoi hated any form of PDA even if it was an innocent friendly hug but they were more surprised to see that he didn't push her away.

Saira released him looking very embarrassed. She'd not meant to hug him but she'd been so happy that she couldn't stop herself in time.

"You're welcome." Ethan replied in a husky voice. "Um... I'll see you around." He turned and walked away. He got outside and leaned against the wall to steady his racing heart. He'd not expected that hug but even if he'd expected it... he wasnt sure he'd have done anything about it.

"Bro, you okay?" Harry asked.

Ethan looked at Harry. "Yeah. I'm fine." He pushed away from the wall. 

"You allowed her to hug you."

"She caught me off guard and besides she wasn't hugging me without a reason." Ethan informed him.

"This is the second time you're defending her." Harry accused. "Are you falling for this girl?"

"Are you crazy?" Ethan bristled. "She's not my type."

A sharp intake of breath from the doorway got their attention and they turned to see Saira standing there looking as if she'd been about to say something before she heard what he said.

"Do you need anything?" Ethan asked her.

"Uh... I just... I just wanted to say sorry for what I did earlier." Saira said.

"It's fine." Ethan waved it away. "Harry, apologize to Saira for yesterday."

"There's no..."

"I'm sorry." Harry cut her off. 

"It's okay." Saira smiled. "Excuse me." She hurried off.

"So... She heard that." Harry muttered.

Ethan sighed. He'd been right when he said that she wasn't his type but he now felt like a jerk for saying that after seeing the look on her face.

"I'm starving. Let's go grab some pizza." Harry suggested.

"Go with George instead." Ethan patted him on the shoulder and sauntered off.

~~~~~

Darina sat on a concrete bench in the corridor of the architectural department waiting for Ethan. She'd tried calling him but he didn't pick her calls and then he switched off his phone later which annoyed her because he was so fond of doing that but he was Ethan Delnoi.

She perked up when she saw him crossing the lawn towards her and she stood up to greet him but the look on his face stopped her from doing whatever she'd planned to do.

"You have ten minutes and after that, I'm out of here." Ethan joined her on the bench.

Darina turned to face him. "Um... I was thinking we'd go to a restaurant and after that a bar to have some good time."

Ethan pursed his lips as he thought about what she said then he remembered that he'd promised his mother that he'd attend a charity event in her place at the governor's residence.

"I won't be free Saturday." Ethan spoke up. "Our families were invited to the charity event that the governor's throwing, remember?"

"I'm not going."

"I promised my mom I'll go in her place. I can spare a few hours on Friday." He said.

"A few hours?!" She gaped at him in disbelief.

"Take it or leave it." He rose to his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. "It'll be our very last time together."

"Why are you hell bent on denying what you really feel for me huh? You can't possibly tell me that you don't even feel a sliver of love for me!" She flared up.

"I'll just... go." Ethan muttered and walked away. God forbid that he let her tempt him into exchanging useless words with her again. He was done!.

"Ethan!" Darina screamed and ran after him when he didn't stop. Her stilettos tripped her and she let out a scream as she fell on the grass.

Ethan stopped and turned to look at her. "I told you those heels will be the death of your legs one day." He snorted. "Guess I was right."

"Won't you help me up?"

"I haven't eaten all day." He called over his shoulder. "My strength has waned."

"Ethan!" She cried.

Ethan waved over his shoulder and continued on his way.

"I hate you." She muttered under her breath angrily. 

Daniel saw the whole scene as he walked to one of his classes and shook his head as he watched his step brother walk away without a concern for the lady's well-being.

"Are you okay?" Daniel crossed the lawn to meet her.

Darina looked up at Daniel with a frown. "Does it look like I'm fine?" She spat. "Help me up."

Daniel helped her to her feet gently and made sure she was able to stand before he released her.

"Thank you." She snapped and dusted herself off.

"You're welcome."

Darina looked around the courtyard hoping no one had seen her fall except Daniel and was glad when she noticed it was empty.

"You didn't take a video, right?" She demanded through gritted teeth.

"No."

"Good." She said and flounced off. 

"This is the last straw." Darina thought as she unlocked her car, opened the door and got in behind the wheel then slammed the door shut and started the car after tossing her bag on the passenger seat. 

She was going to show Ethan Davion Delnoi that he was not the only insanely gorgeous man in the world. She would get herself a new boyfriend and knew exactly who it was going to be. She grinned and drove off.

Ethan was driving towards the main gate of the school when he saw Saira walking with her shoulders slumped on the sidewalk. He slowed down when he'd have sped off and pressed a button that automatically had the window rolled down.

"Hi Saira." He greeted. "Going somewhere?"

Saira looked up and turned her head surprised to see Ethan. She wondered why he was still talking to her after what he'd said about her but then... it could be that he'd been talking about another girl and not her.

"Hi." She waved. "I'm going home."

"Hop in. I'll give you a ride."

"Er... Your route is a long way from mine." She told him. "I don't want to be a bother."

"You're not. Get in." He smiled.

Saira blushed and did as he said. She fastened her seatbelt and he drove off.

"Thank you." She said.

"It's nothing." Ethan said. It was something - something huge because he never willingly gave a girl a ride to her house. He seriously hoped that Harry wasn't right about him falling for Saira.

"Nice car." She commented trying to break the silence.

"Old car." He quipped.

"How old?"

"A year and six months."

"And that's old?" Her eyes widened. "You can still sell this car almost the same amount you bought it."

Ethan shrugged. "Or I could give it to someone."

"No way!" She gasped then she got herself and cleared her throat. "Well... It's yours to do with as you wish." She muttered.

"I'm...sorry about what I said the other time." Ethan apologized. God! He was turning into a wuss! The only other person he ever apologized to was his mother and that was only when he really regretted offending her.

"For what?" Saira looked genuinely curious.

Ethan looked at her confused. Either she didn't know what he was apologizing for or she was a great actress. He'd go with the former.

"You didn't offend me." She frowned.

"You don't remember?" He asked.

"Remember what?" She feigned ignorance.

"That I said... you're not my type?" He replied.

"So... he had been talking about her." Saira thought.