“Thanks for this.” He smirks at me and he opens the car door.
The car comes to a stop and I see Columbia. I did not realize how much I missed it until I am back. Michael and I walk in through the busy doors, as we do everyone notices. I can see groups of girls whispering and looking at Michael. We walk along the hallway and I notice Katharine standing with her bother Leo, talking to a few others. I do not want her to see me, how can I explain why I am with Michael, She will go crazy. Michael spots her and he walks in front of me briskly. As we pass her, she sees us and immediately walks over.
“So this is where you have been?” I turn to her and my heart begins to race. “Katharine, this is it not what it looks like,” I say hoping that she will back down. “It looks pretty obvious to me.”
“Michael and I are just friends,” I say desperately.
“You expect me to believe that?” I see Michael starting to get annoyed so he jumps in.
“Katharine listen, Alanna and I are friends that is all, so please can you let this go?”
“Let it go, are you crazy? You treated me like dirt; it was clear that you were into Alanna now here you are with her and you expect me to believe that nothing is going on?” Katharine says in a voice that is too loud, everyone is staring and now I see Katharine’s Brother Leo, heading over in our direction.
“What’s going on here?” He says in cool calm voice.
“Nothing and that’s what I am trying to explain to your sister,” I say with a desperate look on my face.
“Alanna I thought that you were my friend?”
“I am Katharine and I would never do anything to hurt you. Michael is just a friend, I am still with Adrian and I love him.”
“Alanna you have to see it from my point of view.”
“I do and I know it looks bad, but there is nothing going on.” Katharine racks her brain for what to say next, I can see that her face is changing as she tries to stay whatever is on her mind.
“Alanna maybe I do believe you, but you should be with me. You know how he treated me and you shouldn’t be his friend, if you are mine.” I look to Michael, flashing him a look of sorry for what I am about to say.
“I love Adrian and if I am to be with him, I have to tolerate Michael.” I feel guilty as soon as I say it. I wish I could turn to him and tell him that, it is not just that I have to tolerate him because I am with Adrian. However, it is because I do want him in my life and for my own reasons. Not just the fact that he is family to Adrian however, I cannot I do not want to upset Katharine anymore and what she believes does not have to be the truth. She is a close friend that I do not want to fall out with and if she thinks that I am just tolerating Michael, then I will not let her think otherwise.
“Alanna Okay,” Katharine says and I am shocked when she hugs me. Katharine finally breaks free and I walk again along the hallway with Michael.
“That was a good performance you put on back there.”
“I can’t argue with her and it’s easier on everyone, if she believes that I don’t really like you. You know I didn’t mean what I said, right?”
“Yes, I know.” I smile up at him.
“Would you mind waiting here for a second?” I say to Michael as I stop outside the main office.
“Sure,” I again smile at him. I knock on the office door and Mrs Henderson tells me to come in.
“Miss Hart, how lovely to see you,” She says smiling from ear to ear, I cannot help but think of how needed that donation was. When I first started here at Columbia, Mrs Henderson was not my biggest fan.
“How can I help you?”
“I was wondering about finals, has the board reached a decision yet?”
“The decision is to be expected today.”
“I see and how do you think it will go?”
“To be honest, I would be surprised if they approved you. However, they are most happy with the size and the generosity of the donation from Mr Black, which could possibly tip the scales in your favor.”
“Can you give me a call to let me know the outcome?”
“Of course, now have a nice day.”
I go out into the hall and see Michael standing surrounded by girls. There is one of every hair color and they are all fighting for his attention. I look at how pathetic they look and how they are so desperate, to gather round him like that. Nevertheless, why do I care? They are only looking at a cute guy and there is no harm in that, but I feel uneasy about it. I know that Michael can talk to as many girls as he likes, but that does not mean that I want him to. I walk over and take his arm; I look up to him and say,
“Let’s go now, okay?” He looks at me but does not say a word. He nods to girls and walks away with me. I let go of his arm when we reach the room. Michael has look of confusion on his face and I try not to notice it, as I do not want to explain to him what just happened. I rummage in my bag and find the key, as I open the door I see Michael take out his phone. I turn to him,