The last time I checked, the cafeteria did not have a petting zoo. However, you would think that it had from the deep predatory noises made from behind my back.

"How was your weekend?" I asked the quarterback, ignoring the snarling from Stone.

"Could have been better." Chase answered before chuckling "I had to finish my first draft of that essay for English."

"How did you get on?"

He looked to be debating and then answered honestly "I don't really know. At least you sent me some notes. They helped a lot."

I let out a laugh at him. He had absolutely no faith that he had done well.

Trying to reassure him, I joked "As long as you have not written about Shakespeare liking pasta for your setting paragraph then I think you will be fine."

"Mr Dankworth has his standards too high." Chase tried to argue "The old man thinks we are all are actually interested in what he is teaching."

"Hey" I pointed to him dramatically "Do not insult Mr Dankworth. You have had an extension on your essay. It is justified that he is expecting a better essay from someone that has had an extra week to do it."

Chase laughed but he looked more amused at the sight behind me. I followed to where he was looking at a glowering Stone.

His glare was intense and stoic. The glowering was an indication that his rage was barely being contained. The dark eyes switched to a deep feral hunger as he set his sights on me.

I rolled my eyes and looked back at Chase.

"Maybe another study session would be helpful for my final draft." The quarterback said as he kept his eyes trained behind me "Ella. You free?"

Stone spoke for the first time since the arrival of Chase, and it was more of a bark than words "Fuck off."

Mockingly laughing, Chase did walk away. Not without sending a few smug looks to an already fuming giant.

I swivelled around in my seat and turned to Stone "Why should I not go with him?"

His eyes softened as I met his gaze.

Only slightly though because the intensity between us remained. The challenge had us deadlocked. It was so fierce that I had to look away from him to stop myself from feeling on fire.

I noticed that Lacey had disappeared. She had probably taken the hint from Stone's scowl and lack of conversing.

He did not even acknowledge her as she left the table.

Stone finally answered my question "Because I do not want you to."

"So, if you tell me to jump then I ask how high?" I sarcastically remarked before I stated, "That is not a good enough reason."

"Either you get rid of him, or I get rid of him." He gnarled, his voice deepening at the last part hinting that getting rid of part involved violence.

I laughed at his dramatics.