The second week of uni was officially over. Mattie swore by the end of this semester, her hair was going to fall out. She had Hobb's class again this morning and, again, she tried talking to him afterwards about any potential extra credit work. But he just referred her back to his TA.
Against her better judgment, Mattie sent Leo another email, asking for advice on how to get extra credit. She tried her best to not sound like she was begging.
Mattie saw Max again in the cafeteria, but she was on her way out while he was barely getting his food. Just like last time, he had been brave enough to get the main dish. It was fish with some kind of green sauce. Before leaving, he asked how she was coping with the homework for the Dicken's class. Mattie winced. That was one of the classes she had put on the backburner while she figured out how to pass Hobb's class. He offered his help and they agreed to meet this evening in the library.
It wasn't until halfway through her next class that Mattie regretted agreeing to this study session. Honestly, why was this literature class a requirement? She wasn't planning on using is in her future career.
All she wanted was to pass Hobb's class and this study session would take away time from her to figuring out how to do just that.
Evening came quickly after Mattie attended all her classes for the day. She went into the library, figuring Max was sitting in the literature section. But as soon as she walked in, she saw Leo hunched over his computer. He hadn't emailed her back and she was sure he had seen it by now.
Mattie took a deep breath and walked right up to him. He glanced up. "What?" he grumbled, his eyes back on his computer.
"You never responded to my email."
"I know."
Mattie bit her tongue. "Well, it'd be really helpful if you did. I don't want to fail this class, but I have no idea what kind of extra credit work to turn in."
Leo shrugged. "You're obviously smart enough. You'll figure it out."
Mattie frowned. Was that some kind of backhanded compliment? "Okay, but-"
Leo sighed loudly and began packing his things. "I think you're going to be late for a study session."
Mattie clenched her jaw as she watched him leave. Why was he so infuriating? He was the TA! He was supposed to be helpful and answer all these questions! If he didn't want to be bothered, then why did he even take this position?!
But she still had that study session, which she had no idea how Leo even knew about that. As she assumed, she found Max in the back in the literature section. He wasn't alone. A girl with bright pink hair sat next to him. They were sitting quite close and Mattie could tell with the glances and smiles the girl had that she obviously liked Max. At one point, Max even smiled with his teeth and that was when Mattie knew they would make a perfect couple.
She went to the table and sat across from them, trying to keep her frustration with Leo down. "Hey, Max helping you with Dicken's literature too?" Mattie asked.
The girl looked up. She smiled and actually gave Max a bashful look. "Yeah, literature isn't my strongest point. I'm Flash. Well, no, I'm sorry. My name is actually Francis, but I like for people to call me Flash instead. And it isn't because I'm flashy or anything. I mean, I know I have pink hair and all, but I just-" she interrupted herself and took a deep breath. "You can call me Flash."
Mattie held back a laugh at her ramblings and Max's obvious puppy eyes for her. "Right, well, Max, are you going to help us pass this class or what?"
After the study group, Mattie had decided she was going to keep talking to Max. Definitely for the rest of this semester, but probably for the rest of her time here. He was brilliant at understanding the literature homework and she was certain that she would pass this class with his help.
One less class to worry about, she thought to herself.
It was Sunday evening. Students were either getting last minute homework assignments done or trying to enjoy the last few hours of their weekend. Mattie was in her room alone, once again trying to find some extra credit work for Hobb's class. She hadn't seen Leo the rest of the weekend and he never responded to her email. She was tempted to send an email to complain to Hobb about his incompetent TA, but she was sure Hobb wouldn't care.
Her phone buzzed with a text. It was from Max. He and Flash were going out bowling with his siblings and he was inviting her. Mattie was touched at the invitation, but she really should be working on passing this class…
"Oh, what the hell." Mattie mumbled to herself. She replied, 'sure.'
He sent her the details. They were leaving in an hour. His oldest sister would be picking them up and they would be meeting the rest of his family there at the bowling alley.
Mattie got ready in ten minutes and spent the rest of the hour still working on Hobb's class. The time couldn't go any quicker though and Mattie slammed her computer shut when it was time to meet Max and Flash in the lobby of the men's dorm.
She saw Max and Flash before they saw her and saw their entwined hands. Mattie couldn't help the small grin and called out to them.
Flash let go of Max's hand and waved excitedly at Mattie. "Oh, I'm so glad you came!" she exclaimed, bursting with energy.
Mattie laughed. "Yeah, thanks for the invitation."
"You weren't working on anything important I hope?" Max asked.
Mattie shrugged. "Just some stuff for technology, but it's fine."
Flash scrunched her nose. "No, I can't do computer either. Words or computers. Math too. Well, computers is basically math, isn't it?"
Before Mattie could respond, a car pulled up and gave a short honk.
"That's our ride." Max said, grabbing Flash's hand and walking towards the car. He opened the back seat for Flash and he slid in next to her.
That left the front seat for Mattie. She opened the door and paused. "Mia?"
Mia's face brightened. "Mattie! I didn't know you were coming."
"Yeah, um, Max invited me. You're his sister." Mattie stated, rather than asked. It wasn't hard to connect the dots. Another pair of adopted siblings.
"Yes, Maxie's the youngest of us." Mia said with a fond smile at her brother.
Max smiled back. "And the best."
Mia rolled her eyes, but still kept smiling. "Ready for some fun then?"
The entire car ride, Flash asked Mia all kinds of questions. Apparently, Mia had a masters in design, which was exactly what Flash was working towards. It was a short car ride and Mattie was slightly grateful. As much as she was liking Flash, she wasn't sure if she could stand to hear about all the different shades of yellow and what each shade made a person feel.
The bowling alley was packed, which made sense with it being Sunday night. But the rest of Mia and Max's family had come a bit early to claim a lane. They grabbed their shoes and went to the lane where everyone else was. Mattie was in the back, trying to make sure not to lose Max when someone bumped her.
Normally, Mattie would've ignored it. It was a busy place, lots of people were trying to move around. It was probably an accident. But when she looked up to see who it was, she saw the cold, blue eyes of none other than Leo Elster.
Mattie stopped, enjoying the slightly surprised look on his face. "Really? You're the one that's surprised to see me here? If anything, I should be the one with the surprised look since it doesn't seem like you'd have many friends to even go out with."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "I'm not with friends. I'm with my family."
Mattie scoffed. "Doesn't surprise me that you don't have any friends. You are weird."
He blinked. "No I'm not." he said, actually managing to sound offended.
Mattie laughed. "Whatever. As hard as it may be for you, enjoy your time with your family." she turned around and hurried after Max, grateful he was practically a head taller than everyone else.
She finally caught up and saw Niska and Fred at the lane. Was she at the wrong one? But Mia, Max, and Flash were there too…
"Niska, I didn't know you invited Mattie." Fred said with a smile at her.
"I didn't." Niska deadpanned, taking a drink of her beer.
"I did. Mattie's my friend," Max said. "Mattie, this is my family."
Okay, so not two separate sets of adopted siblings. "Um, yeah. I know them. Um…Niska is actually my roommate."
"Niska! Why didn't you tell us?" Mia asked.
Niska shrugged. "Because I wasn't expecting her to come anywhere with us."
Mia sighed. "Niska, please be nice."
She threw her arms in the air. "Why does everyone tell me that?!"
Mattie shook her head. Yes, they were definitely siblings.
"Where did Leo go?" Max asked.
Mattie paused. Oh, he could not be talking about-
"Don't worry, Maxie. I just went to the bathroom right quick."
Shit.
Mattie couldn't believe it. Of course. Of course this was Leo Elster's family. Of course her new friend was his brother and her roommate was his sister and her favorite waitress at her new favorite café was his sister too.
Leo paused when he saw Mattie. "What…?"
"Oh, that's right. Leo's the TA of the class you're taking with Hobb right now," Niska said with a smirk. "Told you he's a tight ass."
Flash jumped up. "So who wants to start this game?" Inadvertently, she prevented a small argument between Leo and Niska.
The game started and Mattie didn't have to exchange any words with Leo. He would take his turn, but other than that, he sat with an actual pout on his face.
"So you're all Elster's then?" Mattie asked Max while waiting for her turn. Mia was up and she took a while, claiming she had to get her breathing just right before letting go of the ball.
Max nodded. "Yeah, grew up in the same foster home, but we weren't officially adopted until after Leo came to live with us."
"So he was the last one. Not you."
"Right, but age-wise, I'm the youngest. Leo was practically a brother to us when he came though. We were neighbors. His parents were the only ones on the street that actually let him play with us. When his parents died, our foster parents worked hard to make sure he could stay with us."
Mattie looked over at Leo. He still seemed to be pouting, but looked…at ease. If that was even possible to do while pouting.
Mia let go of her ball and it went in a fairly straight line until it hit all the pins, giving her a perfect strike. She screamed and jumped, making everyone laugh at her reaction and celebrate alongside her. Even Leo had a smile for her.
The rest of the evening, Mattie felt more and more relaxed with the Elster's. She could even ignore Niska's comments and actually thought it might be a good sign she was sarcastic with her. And the pout disappeared completely from Leo by the end of the night when Max finally hit a strike. Everyone erupted in cheers and Leo actually got up and hugged Max.
Leo let go of Max and let Flash hug him next. Mattie grinned as watched Flash press a kiss to Max's cheek and immediately the teasing began. Mattie laughed and she looked over at Leo. She didn't think it was possible for him to have a smile that bright.
He turned to look at her, still smiling, and it even seemed as if his smile grew when he looked at her. Then he squinted his eyes a little and the smile turned into a small frown. Leo quickly looked away and Mattie swore his cheeks were turning the slightest shade of pink.
Mattie glanced over at Mia and saw she was smirking at Leo. Leo looked up at her, saw the smirk, and glared at her.
Halfway through the third week, Mattie finally figured out what she would do for extra credit. And no, she wasn't going to tell Leo or even mention it to any of his family because she was sure they would tell him. He would most likely barge into her room and tell her she couldn't do that and say a bunch of other stuff.
No, it was better to take him by surprise.
She emailed him the extra credit assignment and CC'd Hobb to make sure he saw it too. An hour later, Leo found her in the cafeteria with Max. Her next class had been canceled and she thought maybe she could finally have a nice lunch with Max.
But when Leo showed up with his nostrils flaring, she knew a nice lunch was no longer an option.
"What is this?" Leo asked as he opened up his computer and pushed it to her.
Mattie looked down at the screen. Oh, it was her assignment. She smiled and looked up. "You said to figure something out for extra credit. So I did."
"Do you know how much trouble you could get in if I showed this to the school board?!"
Mattie narrowed her eyes. "This is only to prove a point and to show Hobb that I have to pass this class."
Leo's computer dinged and Mattie's phone buzzed at the same time. It was an email for both of them. From Hobb.
Mattie smirked as she read the email She looked up at Leo whose face was etched in a scowl. "Looks like Hobb doesn't want you to show the school board."
Leo clenched his jaw. "You don't know what you're asking for."
Mattie shrugged. "As long as I pass this class."
Leo slammed his computer shut and stuffed it back in his backpack.
"Are you still coming to dinner?"
Leo turned to look at Max, as if barely realizing he had been sitting there the entire time. "Right, yeah, I'll be there. Make sure Mia knows so she doesn't blow up my phone later." Leo gave Mattie one last glare, but then gave Max an affectionate pat on the shoulder before leaving the cafeteria.
Mattie waited until he was out of the cafeteria before turning to Max. "Is he always like that?"
Max looked up from his pizza. This time, even his stomach couldn't bear what they were serving today. "Like what?"
"Rude. Angry. Spiteful."
Max laughed. "No, he isn't. He's just very…" Max shrugged. "Hard to explain."
Mattie snorted. "Obviously, but it's clear he hates me."
Max frowned and shook his head. "Why would you think that?"
"Did you not hear him yelling at me just right now?"
"I can tell you for a fact that he doesn't hate you. If he did, he would've reported you already to the school board instead of just threatening you about it. Besides, when it comes to work with Hobb, he can be a little sensitive."
"So then why is he even his TA in the first place?"
Max pursed his lips and seemed to be gathering the correct words. "It's complicated, but it has to do with Leo's biological parents and Hobb's relationship with them. If you really want to know, ask Leo. I don't think he'd appreciate me telling you why," Max took a bite of his pizza. "So what exactly did you do that he wanted to report you to the school board?"