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then meet me at Drakes tomorrow for lunch.”
    He shakes his head. “Nat—”
    “Stew,” I growl, “if you say no, I suggest you get up and find another place to sit.”
    His gray eyes soften, and his voice shakes a little. “Nat, please. I think I love you. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
    I don’t answer. Instead, I jerk my hand free and turn my attention to my backpack, pretending to search for something so I won’t have to look at him. My eyes sting as he rejects me yet again, and I blurt, “You don’t love me.” 
    “Yes. Yes, I do,” he whispers. “My Dad won’t let me see you. You know that. If word got around campus that we’re together, it’s only a matter of time before he finds out.”
    “So that’s it then. Your dad says no, and you won’t fight for us. Stew, if you loved me, you’d stand up to him.”
    “Do you know how hellish my life would be if I defy him? I’d loose everything.”
    “You’re being dramatic. He wouldn’t kick you out on the street because you’re with me. He isn’t that evil.” My eyes meet his. “If you love me, you’ll prove it.”
    He bites his lip. “You don’t know my dad. He would send me off somewhere…away from you.” 
    “No he wouldn’t.” I shake my head and then turn away from him. “Besides, you’re an adult. He can’t control your life or force you to go anywhere.” 
    He sighs heavily and starts to gather his things. “You don’t get it.” 
    He’s really going to move. Do I mean nothing to him at all? My body trembles and I debate on running from the room before I burst into tears. 
    Just as he rises and his tall frame towers over me, Woods turns her attention to him. “Have a seat young man.” Stew slumps back in his seat with a thud while the professor explains we need to work together with our tablemate on our project.
    Great. Forty more minutes to go and the last thing I want to do is talk to Stew. I need to toughen up. If he’s going to write me off, then I have every right to give him the cold shoulder and treat him like every other snob on this campus.
    I take out my black notebook and turn to a crispy new sheet. “Ideas?” I ask dryly, not making eye contact with him.
    “Nat?” he whispers.
    No way am I going to forgive him for this. “Look Stew, I’m done talking. Let’s just get through this project, so we can go our separate ways.”
    He raises his eyebrows, blows a rush of air out of his nostrils and looks away from me. “Fine.”
      

Chapter Six
    I have to come up with an idea for my art project A.S.A.P. because my list of possibilities is due at the next class, and I don’t think Woods will find a blank sheet of paper very amusing.
    I park my car in front of the local bookstore and go into mission mode. I head through the front door and make my way to the books on famous paintings. Something in here has to spark my masterpiece. It’s nice in the store and I can totally get lost in the sea of books. This may be just what I need to clear my head and get my mind off Stew.  
    I search through all the titles and pull a few books from the shelf. There’s not much to choose from in this little Mom and Pop shop, but still, I’m able to find a few to thumb through. The smell of paper and coffee fill the room, relaxing me. I sit Indian style in the middle of the aisle and get to work.
    “Are you my secret stalker?” My zone is broken. Rick, the hot new guy I saw earlier today, cradles a bundle of books in his hands. When I meet his gaze, he winks at me. I roll my eyes.
    What’s this guy’s deal? 
    “Maybe I should ask you the same question,” I retort and direct my attention back to my book.
    He smiles as he sits beside me. After tilting my book so he can read the title, he raises an eyebrow. “Art books, huh?”
    “It’s for a project. What do you have?” He runs his hand through his thick, dark hair, almost like he’s nervous. I sort through the stack he set on the floor. There are several