You and I (You and I #1) Page 15

"What's wrong? Where do I start?" I retorted vastly amused at the outright disgruntlement on his face.

  But we were already at my turn off to my class I was surprised to find him matching steps to me.

  "Are you stalking me?" I asked amused by the thought. Barry shrugged his shoulders and asked," If I was?"

  "Nothing just wondering," I said. I was feeling strangely buoyant. I grinned up at him and he returned it with interest. Things were looking up I decided. But up for what? I wasn't sure. I could use a friend though especially now that Mark had gone and done a runner on me. Barry might just fit the bill.

  All my random disjointed thoughts screeched to an alarming halt when I glanced about me and saw that every student in campus had halted in their tracks to stare at me...us...him? I wasn't sure. I turned to question him but he only winked at me before he continued to stride forward without me. I stood there and stared for a moment unsure over what had just transpired but then a soft voice I vaguely recognised exclaimed excitedly over my shoulder," You know Lord Stanton? I heard he is an honest to goodness Earl of something or other in England. He is practically royalty and he spoke to you. He never speaks to anyone!"

  A blasted Earl. There was no way I was going there. Without hesitation I reached in to my pack where I had placed Barry's contact and passed it on to...Melissa?

  I could hear her squealing in delight long after I exited the little courtyard and entered yet another long corridor.

  "You shouldn't have done that," the husky whisper at my shoulder almost gave me a whiplash as I turned to see his face.

  "You shouldn't have been practically royal. Royalty and I have a history of not quite getting along," I stated vaguely, not wanting to get into details over it. Afterall, I could still vividly recall with painful clarity my hike through the great plains that one mad royal prince pain in the ass tricked me into. Nope if I've learnt anything at all from that encounter, it was to keep my distance from all blue bloods.

  I waited...and then waited some more. But his laughter rang out clear, loud and... long.

  "I'm not an Earl," he gasped out finally, wiping away the tears that were still rolling down his cheeks. I simply waited for more information than that. This time I would require more facts then to simply just believe.

  "My mother is American. She named me Earl. It’s my middle name," Barry Earl Stanton explained shrugging his shoulders indifferently. "My cousin was over from the UK recently and she made a great show of calling me Earl and displaying suitable esteem to purposely rouse just the sort of reaction that she did. She is a terrible prankster." Barry grinned unrepentantly not at all even mildly put out by his cousin’s outrageous work of deception.

  "So you're saying the entire campus simply bows down to you because they were ...are still… deceived by your cousin?" I questioned him, disbelievingly.

  "Well.... I am the founding partner of Stanton and Stanton, a fairly prestigious law firm that just about every student here wants to be a part of. A placement you so cavalierly gave away to just anyone," he murmured disappointedly. That made me feel bad.

  "I'm sorry I didn't know. I just have this terrible dislike for all things royal," I said stubbornly.

  "Things?"

  "You know what I mean," I waved my hand dismissively. "But now that I know you're normal could I get another one of those cards, pretty please?" I whined out pitifully. I was thinking this job as a gopher would be perfect for me. I had too much time on my hands to keep pondering over what might have been with Jake and Richard, had I stuck around to work things through rather than chickened out and headed for the hills. A job would fit in nicely and tire me out so that I would actually sleep at night instead of having the bizarre dreams that have been plaguing me nightly.

  I put on my most pouty and doe eyed face and held my breath as his electric blues lazily drifted across my features, assessingly.

  "Someday you're going to have to tell me just what your aversion to royals is all about," he stated finally before slipping a hand into his jacket and pulling out another of his cards.

  I squealed with joy. Grabbing the card I tucked it safely in my purse before shooting him a beaming smile.

  "Report on Monday," he said abruptly before turning heels and marching off. I too automatically turned heels to march off but then had to turn back when I realised my class was the other way. I took off to classes feeling cheered after what felt like such a long drawn out draught from happiness. I had something to look forward to. The excitement of a new job. I rushed in to class and this time laughed inwardly at all the looks of awe being thrown my way. Barry's cousin had a lot to answer for.