He put the car in gear and drove back to the building, his thoughts consumed by the strange encounter.
He couldn't help but wonder what Snow was hiding, and why she was so insistent on keeping their fake relationship a secret and why she wanted to help him.
As he parked the car and headed back to his apartment, Oliver couldn't shake off the feeling that he had just gotten himself into something much bigger than he had anticipated.
______
Violet confronted Snow as soon as she walked into the suite. "Snow, what's going on with you and Oliver?" Violet demanded, her voice low and even.
Snow raised an eyebrow, a hint of defiance in her eyes. "What are you talking about, Violet?"
Violet's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't play dumb with me, Snow. I saw you and Oliver acting all Romeo and Juliet out there. What's going on between you two?"
Snow shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "We're just hanging out, Violet. No big deal."
Violet's face turned red with rage. "Hanging out? You were kissing him, Snow! That's not just hanging out."
Snow sighed, rolling her eyes. "Violet, don't make a big deal out of this. It's nothing."
Violet's voice rose. "Nothing? You don't go after people ex and call it nothing,do you know a sh!t about GIRL CODE."
Minnie, who had been watching the exchange from the couch, finally intervened. "Stop it, you two. Can't you see I'm trying to rest here? I just got back from the hospital and am not dealing with this so soon."
Violette turned to Minnie, her voice dripping with venom. "You need to talk to your friend, Minnie. I need nothing."
Minnie looked taken aback by Violet's outburst, but she remained calm. "Violet, let's not jump to conclusions here. Maybe there's more to the story than we think."
Violet shook her head, her eyes blazing with anger. "I don't want to hear it, Minnie. You need to talk to Snow about her behavior. She's going to hurt someone someday."
Snow spoke up, her voice even. "Violet, that should come from someone who actually cares."
Violet's expression turned skeptical. "Really? That's all the points you could gather?"
Snow shrugged again. "Like I said, Violet, it's nothing."
Violet's anger boiled over. "Fine. Don't tell me the truth. But mark my words, Snow: you're playing with fire and it would leave you a burnt scar."
With that, Violet stormed out of the suite, leaving Snow and Minnie in an uncomfortable silence.
Minnie broke the silence, her voice soft. "Snow, what's going on? You can tell me."
Snow hesitated, then shook her head. "It's nothing, Minnie. Just Violet being dramatic."
Minnie looked unconvinced, but she didn't push the issue. Instead, she changed the subject. "Hey, What's going on?"
Snow smiled, grateful for the change in topic. "I would explain perfectly."
Minnie's eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical. "Snow, Spill it now. What's really going on between you and Oliver?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle.
Snow hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't want to lie to Minnie, but she couldn't tell her the truth about the contract either. So she settled for a half-truth.
"Okay, fine," Snow said, taking a deep breath. "Oliver and I...we just clicked, okay? It know it's odd but it's just.. You know. We've been spending a lot of time together, and I really like him."
Minnie's expression softened, her eyes filled with concern. "Snow, I'm worried about you. You're moving really fast with this guy. Are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?" she asked, her brow furrowed with worry.
Snow nodded, trying to reassure Minnie. "I know what I'm doing, Minnie. I promise. And it's not going to affect our friendship, including my friendship with Violet. I'll handle it."
Minnie looked uncertain, but she eventually nodded. "Okay, Snow. I trust you. But if anything goes wrong, you have to promise me you'll come to me."
Snow smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "I promise, Minnie. And I appreciate your concern. It means a lot to me."
Minnie's expression turned stern. "I'm just looking out for you, Snow. You're my friend, and I don't want to see you get hurt. You're always so independent and strong-willed, but sometimes I think you forget that you're human too."
Snow's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Minnie's words. She felt a deep sense of gratitude towards her friend, who always seemed to know exactly what to say to make her feel better.
"Thanks, Minnie," Snow whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "That means a lot coming from you."
Minnie opened her arms, and Snow walked into them, feeling a sense of comfort and security.
The two friends hugged each other tightly, holding each other for a long moment before finally pulling back.
"I'm just looking out for you, Snow," Minnie whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
Snow smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "I know, Minnie. And I appreciate it."
"You know this was exactly how you felt towards Leo too when you guys first met." Minnie burst out laughing.
"No...No... Something's different about this one." Snow felt uncertain about the unknown but felt really safe with Oliver.
Violet pulled herself from the door as she was eveasdropping on them but then she left with tears.
___
~MECHANICS OF MATERIAL CLASS- 4:30PM
The lecture hall was filled with students eager to learn about Mechanics of Materials.
Professor Patel stood at the front, scribbling equations on the board as he explained the concept of stress and strain.
Leo sat near the back, his eyes fixed on the professor as he tried to absorb every word.
He was determined to ace this class, and he knew that paying attention was key.
As the lecture drew to a close, Professor Patel opened the floor for questions.
Leo's hand shot up, and he was called upon to ask his question.
"Professor, can you explain the difference between tensile and compressive stress?" Leo asked, his voice clear and confident.
Professor Patel smiled, nodding his head. "Ah, excellent question, Leo. Tensile stress occurs when a material is stretched, while compressive stress occurs when a material is compressed. Think of it like a rubber band – when you stretch it, you're applying tensile stress, but when you squeeze it, you're applying compressive stress."
Leo nodded, satisfied with the answer. He glanced around the room, noticing a girl sitting below and across from him. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.
As the question-and-answer session continued, the girl's hand slowly rose, and Professor Patel called upon her.
"Yes, go ahead and ask your question," he encouraged.
The girl stood up, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Professor Patel. "Professor, can you explain how to calculate the modulus of elasticity for a material?"
Leo's eyes widened as he realized who the girl was – it was Julian.
Professor Patel smiled, impressed with Snow's question. "Ah, excellent question, Julian. The modulus of elasticity, also known as Young's modulus, can be calculated using the formula E = σ / ε, where E is the modulus of elasticity, σ is the stress, and ε is the strain."
Julian nodded, her eyes lighting up with understanding. Leo watched her.
When lesson were over he went there to talk to her. Leo reached her, he couldn't help but notice her striking physique. Her hair was a rich, dark brown color that cascaded down her back in loose waves.
Her eyes were a bright, piercing blue that sparkled with intelligence and warmth. Her lips were full and inviting, curled into a gentle smile as she greeted him.
"Leo, darling!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with delight. "It's been ages! How have you been?"
Leo's heart skipped a beat as he heard his name on her lips. He had forgotten that she used to call him Julian, a nickname that only a handful of people had ever used.
"I've been good, thanks," Leo replied, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in his chest. "Just busy with classes and stuff. How about you?"
Julian's smile widened as she launched into a story about her latest adventures.
Leo listened, entranced, as she spoke about her travels, her hobbies, and her passions.
Her voice was like music, melodious and soothing, with the unmistakable cadence of a British accent.
As they chatted, Leo was struck by Julian's effortless charm and poise. She had a way of making him feel like he was the only person in the room, listening intently to his every word and responding with thoughtful, insightful comments.
"I'm so glad we ran into each other," Julian said, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "I've missed you, Leo. You were one of my closest friends when I was an exchange student back in high school."
Leo's heart swelled with emotion as he remembered the good times they had shared. "I've missed you too, Julian," he replied, his voice sincere. "It's great to see you again."