Chapter 13 - Team up with me (2/2)

She shook her head. ”I work alone.” More than once before classmates would approach her to work together, and it ended up that Sarah did all the work while they only put their names there. Since then she decided to work alone, and not let anyone mooch off her.

”It's better in a team.” Aiden persisted. He saw that she is about to reject him once more. ”I can be a good partner. Give me a chance.”

Sarah thought how his words are ambiguous, but while looking him in the eyes, she had a feeling that he is sincere. She succumbed and gave a small nod.

He exhaled and showed his devilish smile. ”We can talk more about it when we pick the topic.”

”Yes.” Sarah forced herself to look away, fearing that he might see that she is getting attracted to him.

After class, Vivian could not wait to be with Sarah out of earshot of others, ”We need to talk”.

Sarah checked time. ”Sure, there is time until dinner. Do you want to go to the café?”

~At the café~

Sarah and Vivian sat at a table in the corner. They warmed their hands while holding hot cups of coffee.

”Can you explain the recent developments?”, there was anticipation in Vivian's voice.

”What developments?”, Sarah was not sure what Vivian expects to hear.

Vivian tilted her head, ”You and Aiden”.

”There are no developments.” Sarah shook her head. ”We are friends.”

”Friends?”, Vivian didn't believe it.

”Yes, friends.”, Sarah responded before explaining further, ”We spoke more than once, and we have some things in common. I enjoy talking to him. So, if I need to label our relationship, I believe that 'friends' is the most appropriate”

”And you will be working together on a project for AI*...”, Vivian wanted Sarah to continue.

”Are you trying to say that there is more to it?”, Sarah started getting suspicious of Vivian's intentions.

Vivian hesitated when she heard that Sarah's voice is getting colder, but she could not drop this topic. ”He is very friendly towards you, and he is known not to approach opposite gender...”, she said carefully.

Sarah frowned before responding, ”I don't see anything wrong with being friendly. I'm also friendly towards him without any hidden intentions. As for him not approaching women, I heard about that already. But he is not approaching me, it's not like that… we are just talking”. Sarah discovered that she is a bit disappointed when she said that. Part of her hoped that it can be more than talking.

”I see...”, Vivian decided not to push this topic anymore. 'Sarah is definitely new at this. Does she not see how he is looking at her? Why her?'. Vivian could not help but feel a hint of jealousy. Aiden is very popular and being with him is something that many women from campus dream of. ”Where did you hear that he is not approaching women?”

Sarah told Vivian about young man with short hair from morning lecture. Vivian wanted to figure out who the man is, but with Sarah's vague description it was impossible to find out who he is. Sarah agreed to point him out to Vivian next time she gets a chance. Then Sarah told her about Mimi and Megan.

”It's amazing how many people directly approached you in such a short time just because you talked with Aiden! I don't know about that man, but Mimi and Megan openly showed that they are not friendly. You should watch your back.”, Vivian said while observing Sarah's reaction.

Sarah was in her own thoughts for few minutes before speaking, ”All of them are just like flies who can be ignored. If they come at me, I'm ready. Aiden is nice, and I don't want to tell him to stay away from me just because others are not approving.”