Free My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron Page B

training on how to help with those situations.” It was like banging my head against a brick wall.
    “I was really hoping that this could just be resolved, seeing as how it was a mistake to begin with.”
    “Well, there isn't really anything we can do right now. Unless there is an emergency, we have to keep places available for those who really need them. It sounds like it's more of a personality conflict. I'm going to recommend that you have some mediation with your RD, and you can come and see me in a few weeks, okay?”
    I wanted so, so much to say, “Are you fucking serious?” but that wouldn't have helped my case.
    “So there's nothing you can do?”
    “Not unless there is a direct threat. Has he threatened you? Don't be afraid to speak up.”
    I thought about it for half a second, but I knew if I told her Hunter had threatened me, then he would get in trouble and could get kicked out of school. Campus security would get involved, and he could even get arrested. As much as the image of Hunter in jail amused me, I couldn't be the one to put him there if he didn't deserve it. Seeing as how I was the one who technically assaulted him.
    I was stuck.
    “No, he hasn't.”
    “Okay. Here's my card. Never hesitate to call us if it's an emergency. Sounds like you two just need to have a chat. I'll have your RD contact you about setting up some mediation.” She stood and held out her hand, effectively ending the meeting. I had no choice but to stand, shake her hand and leave with her card clutched in my hand.
    What a fucking waste of time.
    I didn't know why I had expected anything more. In a university with around 12,000 undergraduate students, I was a number. That was why I'd chosen UMaine instead of a smaller college. Now I was paying for it.
    I stormed back to the apartment. Darah had gone home for the weekend to celebrate her mom's birthday, so she was already gone. Renee had a nursing group meeting, so I knew if anyone was going to be there, it would be Hunter. 
    I tried not to slam the door, but failed.
    “Rough day?” a male voice said.
    I glanced at the couch to find him sitting there with his guitar.  
    I held my composure for a second. 
    “You're on,” I said, walking over to him and sticking my hand in his face. “The bet, you're on.”
    He stared at my hand for a second and a slow smile spread across his face. 
    “Once we shake hands there is no going back.”
    I nodded, but pulled my hand back before he could touch me. 
    “There have to be some parameters. This whole thing about loving and hating can't be proved. I told you I hated you and punched you, but you didn't believe it. If I said I loved you right now, you wouldn't believe me. So how do we measure this?”
    “It's harder to say you love someone than to say you hate them. So you have to say the words. And they have to be real.”
    “How will you know they're real?”
    He shrugged. 
    “I'll know. You'll know.”
    “And the hate part?”
    “I'll know you hate me when I see that look in your eyes. I've seen it before, and I'll know.”
    “So you're going to determine this. I have no say?” I balled my hands at my sides, wanting to hit him.
    “I'm not forcing you to accept this. You can call housing and tell them that I'm sexually harassing you. They'll drag me to a disciplinary hearing and probably kick me out of school. You could say the word right now. But you aren't going to do that.”
    “I can't,” I said. As much as it would get him out of my life. “You're a jerk, but you're not that. If you were, I would have gotten rid of you so fast, your head would have spun around.”
    “Exactly. You're not a girl who puts up with anything. You can take care of yourself; you showed me that on the first night. You'll let me know when I've gone too far.”
    “I will.”
    “Okay, then.”
    “Okay,” I said, and we shook hands. I tried to let go, but he took my hand and pulled me so I crashed into his chest.
    “So, here we are.