"I'm here for a good education at a prestigious university." He pushes off the tree, closing the distance between us. "The fact that you happen to be here is just an unfortunate coincidence."
"Unfortunate," I repeat. "Right."
"Unless..." He tilts his head. "Unless you're still not over what happened. In which case, this might be awkward."
"I'm completely over it."
"Then there's no problem." He smiles again, sharp and cutting. "We're just two people from the same hometown who happen to attend the same school. Adults. Mature. Capable of coexisting."
He's baiting me. Trying to get a reaction.
I won't give him one.
"Fine. You want the tour? Let's go." I start walking toward the academic buildings. "Try to keep up."
"Oh, I'm very good at keeping up." He falls into step beside me, close enough that I can smell his cologne. Something expensive and unfamiliar. "I've gotten much faster since high school. In a lot of ways."
I ignore the innuendo and launch into my scripted tour spiel. "Thornhill was founded in 1889 by?—"
"I read the website. Skip the history lesson."
"The history is important?—"
"What's important is where I need to be and when. I don't care about dead founders." He pulls out his phone. "I have Business Administration, Statistics, and Mandarin this semester. Where are those buildings?"
Business Administration. Of course. The same college as me. We'll have overlapping classes, requirements, and professors.
This is a nightmare.
"Business is in Sterling Hall. That building—" I point across the quad. "Statistics is in the math and science complex. And Mandarin is in the language center."
"Show me Sterling."
It's not a request.
I lead him to Sterling Hall, keeping several feet of distance between us. Students pass by, some waving at me, others curious about the new guy. Ethan garners attention, he always did. That particular combination of attractive and untouchable that makes people want to get closer.
"You're popular here," he observes. "Friends with everyone."
"I'm social. Unlike some people."
"I'm plenty social. Just selective about who deserves my time."
"And I didn't deserve it, right? That's what you said. In front of everyone at winter formal."
The words are out before I can stop them.
Ethan goes very still. For just a second, something crosses his face, pain? Regret? Before the mask slides back into place.
"You remember the exact wording. Flattering."
"Hard to forget when someone humiliates you in front of your entire school."
"Maybe you should have taken the hint earlier. Would have saved us both the embarrassment."
I stop walking. Turn to face him fully. "You're really going to pretend that's how it was? That I was some pathetic girl throwing herself at you?"
"Weren't you?"