Free King of Campus by Jennifer Sucevic Page B

surprised than me when he started bombarding me with text messages about a week before I came home.
    But after the way he’d hurt me, there was no way I was responding.  In fact, I do believe the words- he can go screw himself were bandied about in my conversations with Lexie more than a few times.
    And yeah, part of me does still feel that way… but I can’t deny that I’m suddenly feeling torn.  I mean, we were together for six months…  Not to mention those pathetic puppy dog eyes he keeps casting my way…
    I can practically feel myself caving.
    Taking a deep breath, I force it out slowly before replying truthfully, “I don’t know, Finn.”  My eyes fasten onto his as I allow him a small glimpse of my heartache.  “The way you just ended things,” I begin softly, “I was away from everything, everyone I knew, trying to get acclimated to a totally different culture.  What you did felt devastating at the time.”  Even thinking about it, brings back a surge of anger and sadness within me.
    Looking remorseful, he nods as if he completely understands what he did was wrong.  And maybe he really does.
    Who knows…
    “I just want a chance to show you that I’m not the same guy I was back then.”  Angling his big body towards me, he leans just a bit closer.  His eyes continue pleading with mine.  “I’m sure you’ve grown and changed in the fifteen months you were gone… well, so have I.  Give me a chance to prove that to you.  We were so good together, Ivy.”  His eyes search mine.  “Weren’t we?”
    Hundreds of unbidden memories tumble their way through my head as we sit and talk.  Because we did have fun together.  I’d fallen really hard for Finn freshman year.  With my front teeth sinking into my lower lip, I mull over the possibility of starting something up with him again.
    God… if Lexie knew I was even contemplating the idea of giving Finn another chance, she would string me up alive.  For whatever reason, she’d never liked him.  Not even in the beginning when I’d just started seeing him.  She thought he was nothing more than a cocky player who was running a game on me.
    But… I’d never felt that way.  Well, not until she started sending me all those pictures.
    He’d been so sweet.  Taking me out to eat.  Walking me to class.  Showing up with flowers.  Just little things like that.  Things that had burrowed easily under my skin.  And I guess, because of the situation with my dad, I’d been desperate to find someone to love.  Someone to feel connected to since I didn’t necessarily have that with my family.
    When I’d first arrived at Barnett, even though Lexie and I were rooming together, I’d still felt a bit lost.  The death of my mom when I’d been fifteen had all but devastated me.  And my dad remarrying six months later had only made everything worse.
    Right before the end of first semester, I’d met Finn at a party and he had literally swept me off my feet.  I mean, everyone on campus knew who Finn McKenzie was.  Superstar stud lacrosse player.  He was bright and handsome and well liked.
    The fact he’d sought me out to spend time with had made me feel special during a time when I hadn’t felt special to anybody.  Not since my mother had died.  In the six months we were together, not once had I ever suspected he might be cheating on me or seeing other girls behind my back.
    Not until Lexie started bombarding me with all those photos.  After a while I’d just stopped looking at them.  I kept them in a file and watched the number of pictures grow until everything I’d felt for Finn was gone.
    And now here he was.  Fifteen months later.  Wanting a second chance.
    Had he changed?
    Had he matured?
    He definitely looked more mature.  In the time I’d been gone, he’d lost the last of his cute boyishness.  His handsome face was all chiseled planes and angles.  His body was bigger.  Shoulders wider.  Waist tapered.  He was even more