To clear his thoughts but...

Rachel still had biology followed by a long lab session, which meant she wouldn’t be done for several more hours. Using her as a human shield against Tammy wasn’t an option.

David knew he’d have to confront Tammy eventually and fix what he’d done to her. They were exes for a reason. After everything his lies had cost him today, he could finally admit that Tammy had every right to be sick of his bullshit.

Still, a darker, more vindictive part of his mind whispered that just because he’d earned the curse didn’t mean he deserved the way she constantly tried to get under his skin. She might have been justified in breaking up with him, but that didn’t give her a free pass to torment him at every opportunity.

What he actually wanted wasn’t for her to still be hung up on him. All David knew was that he just wanted Tammy to stop harassing him. Making her obsessed with him, especially after she was the one who ended things, was the last thing he needed.

Then again… when he’d walked into Eveline’s office earlier, all he had wanted was to avoid getting lectured. He’d been having a slightly stressful day and was already fretting about what he’d said to Tammy on the bus. Clearly his plans had needed a serious rework.

Because since when did 'avoiding a lecture' include de-aging the head of the Literature department, violently fucking her over her own desk, and then knocking her up?

Short answer: they weren’t.

finding a bench David dropped onto a quiet bench just outside the main building and let out a tired sigh. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus, but his body had other ideas. Every muscle ached in that deep, satisfied way that only came from being thoroughly used. Sex with Eveline had been intense, sure, but it still didn’t come close to what he and Rachel had done earlier that morning.

He needed to come clean with Rachel about everything. She’d remember every change anyway, so hiding it was pointless. Besides, wishing his problems away with the curse felt like a terrible idea. It was still a curse, after all. He doubted it would let him off that easily.

“Hey, loser.”

The familiar, unwelcome voice sliced through his thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. When David opened his eyes, Andrea Edwards was standing over him, arms crossed, hazel eyes narrowed in clear disapproval.

Long black hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, the purple highlights catching the sunlight while the pink dip-dyed tips brushed against her lightly skin. She wore a simple black crop top that hugged her average but perky breasts, paired with fitted jeans that showed off her lightly toned abs and arms. Even in casual campus clothes she looked effortlessly put-together — and just as effortlessly hostile.

Andrea had always been more Tammy’s friend than his. Most days she treated him like background noise, something you simply stepped over on the way to better things. The fact that she was bothering to acknowledge him at all meant something was wrong.

“You looking in a mirror?” David shot back before he could stop himself.

Andrea’s eyes narrowed further. A sharp, mocking laugh escaped her. “Don’t play dumb with me, David. I saw Tammy right after you two got off the bus. She looked completely messed up — red-faced, distracted, like she didn’t even know where she was going. So what the fuck did you say to her?”

David leaned back against the bench, trying to keep his voice casual. “Why do you care so much?”

Andrea rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Because she’s my friend, genius. And unlike you, I actually give a shit when something’s obviously wrong with her. So spill it. What kind of bullshit did you feed her this time? Did you lie to her again? Try to worm your way back in? Or did you finally say something so stupid even Tammy couldn’t ignore it?”

A faint flicker of irritation stirred in David’s chest. Her condescending tone was already grating on him, but he kept his face neutral and stayed silent.

Andrea didn’t wait long. She scoffed, shifting her weight so the crop top rode up slightly, exposing a sliver of toned stomach. “Seriously? You’re just going to sit there and say nothing? That’s your big plan?”

Still David opted to give no answer.

She let out a short, humourless laugh. “Wow. Cat got your tongue already? Or are you just hoping I’ll get bored and walk away?” Another pause. “Newsflash, loser, that’s not happening. I’ve got all afternoon.”

The second jab landed harder. David’s fingers tightened around the edge of the bench, but he **** himself to stay quiet.

Andrea smirked, clearly enjoying the silence she thought she was forcing. Leaning in closer, she dropped her voice into mock sweetness. “Come on, David. Just tell me what you said. Or are you actually scared I’ll tell everyone what a pathetic piece of work you really are? Because we both know you are.”

The slow, steady drip of her nastiness was starting to get under David’s skin. His jaw tightened, but he still bit his tongue.

She straightened up again, arms crossed tighter across her chest, and stared down at him for a long moment. Then she shook her head, disappointment dripping from the gesture. “You know what? This is exactly why Tammy dumped you in the first place. You’re so fucking spineless you can’t even own up to your own shit. Pathetic.”

His grip on the bench grew firmer. Irritation was building now, hot and prickly in his chest, but he still held it in.

Andrea wasn’t finished. Tilting her head, she let her voice turn even more saccharine and cruel. “Or maybe you’re just embarrassed. Big tough guy on the bus, running your mouth, and now you can’t even look me in the eye when someone calls you on it. Classic David.”