Chapter Text
It was no surprise to everyone how much Bela was dreading the beginning of second semester. Mostly to do with the inevitable deal she made with her mother.
“I’ll cut you a deal Beta. You take professor’s biochem class next semester and I’ll convince your dad to be a little more supportive.”
So there she was walking across the courtyard to biochem. She guessed it could’ve been under worse pretences. Heck, if it was not for her mom, her comedy writing dream would be out the window.
Although, through her walk, her mood seemed a little brighter. That is when she saw Eric from a short distance away. She couldn’t help but smile to herself at the mir obviousness of him speed walking away from her.
This seemed to perk her up more. Although Eric and she developed an acquaintance/friendship (more in Bela’s eyes than his) dynamic, he still was unsure when it came to her presence. It never seemed to bother Bela though, she found it humorous.
What she found even funnier was making him even more embarrassed.
“Eric!” She began to yell out. She knows he heard her, she could see his shoulders stiffening, running a hand through his front hair strands. But he remained walking down the concrete pathway as the sun shined on his brown hair, almost glowing from the sunlight. ‘Since when did he grow out his hair, hm.’
This did not seem to stop Bela. She chuckled to herself.
“Eric!” She yelled louder, most likely loud enough that all of the campus probably heard. Once again, no answer. She began speed walking closer to him.
That speed walking ultimately turned into jogging, as she finally made it close enough to walk next to him. He finally turned to look at her.
“Oh hey.”
“Oh hey?” she laughed, incredulous, bunting her hip against his, “I yelled your name out. Twice. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Oh you mean that screechy voice was you?” he says, with no interest, “Sorry I thought it was a dying goat.”
Bela snorts, “I know you saw me, I saw you speed walking,” she began as she was going to comment on the other thing he said, “Thank you. What can I say?” she shrugs proudly, “my larynx is sore from screaming during climax.”
She laughs quietly to herself when she notices his eyebrows slightly raised. “Of course you would brag about that while managing to make it sound so nerdy. Sounds like something Taylor Tomlinson would say during her comedy special.”
“Not everyone’s life has to be as boring as yours, Eric. Surprised you even manage to have anything to write about given your average life. FYI, I happen to adore Taylor Tomlimson,” Bela winked, continuing to walk beside him,“so, how’s it going? How was semester break?”
“Alright I guess. I went home, it was nice seeing my dads again. Pretty good getting that break, I needed it. The Catullan is slowly managing to gain back it’s footing,” he explained, “I’ve decided I’d just take full rains as editor rather than finding another co-editor, seeing as the majority of the board are, you know-”
“Jerks? Dicks? Entitled misogynists?” she began to question, adding a little giggle each time she said something.
Eric rolled his eyes, but she knew he couldn’t refrain himself from smiling, “Yeah that,” he pointed. “But yeah, It’s been hard trying to get them to be motivated, now that a lot of our staff has left.”
“Sorry,” she says apologetically, she can see him shaking his head though.
“Don’t be, you did what you had to do,” he reassured, “funny how they seem to suddenly have a problem with female writers now that they chose to be in your group.”
“Gross,” she proclaimed, “they’re just jealous that we’re stealing all the women away from them, serves them right. No offence?”
“None taken,” He shrugs, “enough about me. What about you? I can see Little Miss. Sunshine is doing better since last semester, that’s good to see.”
Bela giggles at the nickname, “It’s been good. I went home too. It was nice getting to see my parents, I was surprised by how homesick I was. Evangeline, Jo, and I are glad that we have the basic prep worked out for the group and we can finally start beginning to be more serious about the writing.”
“That’s good. You needed something good in your life.”
Bela could tell that part of Eric still felt guilty about how he reacted to the assault.
“But yeah, too bad my parents are making me take biochem in order to keep doing comedy. But it is what it is I guess,” she shrugged.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he says, genuinely, “I can’t imagine being in that position.”
Bela smiles, “It’s fine,” she sighed, “anyway, I’d have to get going, see you around?”
He nodded, “Yeah.”
She grinned ear to ear, “Thanks, it was nice talking to you.”
Bela was sitting down in her seat in the lecture hall at her biochem class. She was pretty smart when it came to the material studied. But it was the lack of heart she had with the sciences that really brought her down.
She was lazily dangling her pencil while tapping her foot on the ground, waiting for class to start so she could get out sooner. She got progressively more impatient as the seconds went by. The seats started filling as she still remained to still be making no eye contact with her fellow classmates.
“I’m sorry is this seat taken?” She heard a low male voice say.
She looked up, she felt herself mentally discombobulate. This guy was so attractive. He had dark hair and olive-brown eyes which had little specks of green in them. He had these cute smile lines when he smiled that just made Bela seem to melt under his gaze.
“Um, is it? I can sit somewhere els-” he starts, but Bela cuts him off.
“N-no, you can sit here,” she stuttered, surprised at her sudden nervous tone. “I’m Bela.”
He smiled, “Cool. Konas.”
As Professor Hawkins began to start his class, Bela took little peaks at her next-seat neighbour and decided that maybe this class would begin to be her favourite.