Selena’s on the floor shaking with red liquid all over her body. Is that blood?
My heart pumps wildly and I try to make sense of this. Vince rushes to her but she pushes him away, shouting for Jax. I try to comfort her, but I don’t even think she notices, she just asks for Jax.
“Selena.” I say calmly. “It’s okay, he’s almost here.”
My phone rings and I answer immediately. “H-hello?”
“Isabel? What’s wrong?”
“S-Seb, it’s, it’s-” I’m unable to continue my sentence as Jax finally arrives and goes to Selena.
“Isabel!” I hear Sebastian shouting on the phone and I realize he’s been calling my name for a while. A sob tears through me knowing I was at home and could have prevented this. Someone was in here, someone did this to her while I was here.
“Where are you? Isabel, where the fuck are you?”
“H-Home. Something happened with Selena.” I whisper.
“I’m on the way. Almost there.” He says before I hear screeching tires and honks through the line.
“Be careful!” I admonish.
“Be there in five.” He says before hanging up.
I hear the shower running and I know Jax is in there with Selena. I sit on the couch and look at Vince.
“What happened?”
“From what I know, someone put a bucket on the hinge of her door so that when she opens it, the content inside falls on her.”
“What was inside?” Goosebumps coat my body as Vince sits next to me. I lean forward and place my head in between my thighs, needing to take in more air. Vince places a hand on my back soothingly and rubs.
“I read the note. It’s meant to be cow blood.” I tense up immediately. “Don’t worry. It’s not. Jax tasted it. Apparently, it’s water mixed with paint or something.” Before I can ask more, I hear a panting Sebastian snarl from the doorway.
“Get off of her.” He says tersely, coming towards us. Vince stands up and I don’t look at where he goes. Sebastian sits next to me and pulls me in his arms. It feels so good to be in his arms. I feel safe. Tears fall down my face as I hold on to him.
“Oh god, Sebastian! This is my fault.”
“Shhh.” He comforts me. His hands rub up and down my back. I tell him through gasping breaths and tears what happened.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He whispers in my ear.
“How is it okay?” I shout and push back to look at him. “I should have known! I was here the whole day! I should have heard something and done-”
“You were fucking here?” He shouts. “And you could have done what? Confronted the psycho so he could have hurt you too? You not hearing anything probably saved your life.”
“But I-I could’ve-”
“Don’t. When I think about what could have … please stop crying.” He begs, sounding a lot softer now. He uses his thumbs to wipe my tears away. “You couldn’t have done anything. You couldn’t have done anything.” He repeats, trying to drill the message into my head. “Come here.” He pulls me to him.
I wake up sometime later, with my head on Sebastian’s chest on my bed. I don’t even recall falling asleep or being moved here.
“Sebastian?” I look up then immediately stand up, needing to know how Selena is.
“Woah.” Sebastian says, pulling me into his arms.
“Sebastian, let me go. I need to see if she’s okay.”
“She’s asleep, you’ll talk to her when she wakes up.” He replies softly.
“Yeah, of course. Jax probably wants to ask me some questions, right?”
“Yeah, but you don’t need to go now. Take as long as you need. I told him to give you time.”
“I can go now.” I say.
“Are you sure? You don’t need to-”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I interrupt. “And we need to figure out who did this.”
“I know, but you were shaking when I came in and I couldn’t fucking stop you. Take as long as you want.” It surprises me how much he seems to care.
“Seb, I’m okay.” I promise. I head to the door before I’m pulled back by Sebastian. He’s looking at me nervously, clenching and unclenching his fists, as if he’s unsure about what he’s about to do. He releases a breath and heads to my closet. He grabs the first hoodie he sees and passes it to me.
My pajama barely covers my body but it’s only Jax. I could be naked, and he wouldn’t notice. I’m also not wearing a bra, which is probably why he just gestured to my chest.
“Just wear it, okay?” He says the words quickly as if he doesn’t want to say them, but can’t help himself.
“It’s just Jax out there.”
“And Vince.” He responds. Is he seriously jealous of Vince because he was trying to comfort me? I’m about to ask but decide to do so later.
After putting on the hoodie, he takes my hand and leads us outside. Jax looks between Sebastian and me quizzically. I ignore his confusion and ask him about Selena. His parents are worse than we thought possible. He believes they did this. We talk for a while and I realize Jax is staring at Sebastian’s arm around my waist. I’m almost on his lap and his other hand is caressing my bare thigh. I realize what we look like.
We look … like a couple. I tense up at the thought. Earlier when I was freaking out, all I wanted was Sebastian and when he came, all my worries disappeared. When he held me, nothing felt safer and I melted into him like I needed him. When did his touch become the only one, I wanted to comfort me?
Looking at him as Jax continues talking, our last interaction comes to mind. The way he brushed me off and the odd way he’s been acting.
I need to create a distance between us. This is Sebastian no-girlfriend Carter. It’s okay, I rationalize. Today was a unique occurrence and it won’t happen again. Starting from tomorrow, we’ll go back to how things were – just sex.
“I’m going back in there. I don’t want her to wake up alone. I’ll give her a couple of hours to sleep before we pack some of her things. She’s staying with me and I suggest you stay somewhere else too Isabel, it’s not safe here.” Jax says, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“You think it’s that serious? I mean I was in the apartment when whoever it was, was here.” I respond, noticing that Sebastian closes his eyes tightly before turning his face, hiding his expression from me. “Surely, if they wanted something from me, they would have done something already.”
“You’re staying with me.” Sebastian states. No way, we need distance. I’m afraid of what I’ll feel if I were to stay with him. I just want to protect myself and my heart.
“Sebastian, it’s fine. I’ll stay at Alayna’s.”
Before he can respond, Selena emerges. I immediately hug her to my chest.
“God Selena, I was so worried.” I choke out.
“I’m fine.” She says strongly.
“Listen, I got this from my drawer.” I hand her my rape whistle. The college gave every student one during orientation – but since Selena joined later, she wasn’t given one. “I know its use is specified for rape, but it is so loud. If anything were to happen and you’re alone… Just keep it on you at all times.”
“Thanks, Isa, but that’s your only one, right?” She asks, but I don’t care. I’m not the one in danger.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get her another one.” Sebastian says roughly from behind me.
“Okay, let’s meet up tomorrow?” She asks. “Want to come to Jax’s? We can have girls night there. Oh! Where are you staying?”
“Alayna’s.” I say as Sebastian says, “Mine.”
“Fuck no.” He responds. “Someone wants Selena, and everyone knows you’re two peas in a pod. Don’t you think if someone can break in here, they can break-in at Alayna’s down the hall?”
“We will talk about this later, now it’s about her.” I look at Sebastian. “Yes, about tomorrow. And please text me when you get to Jax’s!”
Selena and Jax eventually leave and I go pack my bag. I don’t take
much, considering I’m staying at Alayna’s down the hall. I finish and change into a t-shirt and jeans. Sebastian sits silently on the bed behind me and I know Vince is still outside. So, I’m hoping I can get away if I distract them both.
“I’m going to the bathroom. Meet me in the living room and we’ll go to mine.” Sebastian says. I nod as an idea forms in my head. As soon as I hear the bathroom door lock, I grab a paper and quickly write, ‘I’m going to Alayna’s. I’ll be safe. I’ll text you later.’
I hurry out and Vince stops me.
“I’m going to Alayna’s. Tell Sebastian to go home.”
“Wait.” Vince says. “Aren’t you staying with Mr. Carter?”
“Oh no, we decided otherwise.” I turn and nervously rush to Alayna’s room down the hall.
“Hey girl!” She quickly opens her door. I get in and slam it shut.
“Woah, you okay?” She asks.
“I think so.” I want to tell her about what happened tonight, but I’m still nervous about the fact I just ran away from Sebastian.
“Isa, you’re freaking me out here.”
Before I can respond, I hear banging from down the hall, loud, quick banging on every dorm room. Doors open and close as I hear Sebastian shouting my name. The banging proceeds on every door in the hallway, before it lands on Alayna’s door.
“Isa! Is that Sebastian?” She asks. I contemplate what to do, but his banging is insistent.
“Open the fucking door Isabel, NOW!” I yank the door open to diffuse the situation. By now, the whole floor is probably in the corridor watching Sebastian’s outburst.
“Sebastian.” I whisper, and in the next second, I’m thrown over his left shoulder.
“Sebastian!” I shout.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” He threatens. “Vince! Take her bag and bring it to my apartment.” He shouts before walking off furiously.
“Sebastian put me down!” I yell as we pass all the girls on the floor.
“Stop talking. You have no fucking idea how angry I am right now!”
“How angry you are? I want to stay at Alayna’s! How does that have anything to do with you?” I try to wiggle from his hold, but it’s useless. “Put me down!”
“Nope.”
We reach his car and he places me on the passenger seat and buckles me in. He goes to the driver seat and locks the doors before furiously driving off. The whole way to his place is silent, both of us, fuming. How dare he control me like this?
We reach his apartment and he pulls me roughly inside.
“You,” he seethes out, “are staying here whether you like it or not. Do you not understand that they could use you to get to Selena?”
“I was in my dorm the whole time the psycho was in our apartment! They don’t want me!”
“I don’t fucking care! You’re staying here.”
“You can’t force me!”
He smiles angrily in response and calls someone.
“Hey, Alayna. Yeah, well tonight someone broke into Selena and Isabel’s dorm. They tried to hurt Selena… yeah, they’re both okay. Now Isabel is being an idiot thinking that staying with you will keep her safe.” He smiles at something she says. “I’m glad we both agree that Isabel,” he says, looking directly at me, “won’t be fucking safe at yours!”
Shit, he got Alayna on his side. He hangs up the phone and looks at me. Someone knocks, and it’s Vince with my bag. Sebastian takes it and then turns back to look at me.
“Sleep in the guest bedroom across my bedroom. I’ll be in mine.” He walks off.
I go to the room and sit on the bed with my head in my hands. All I wanted was to prevent romantic feelings from developing. But haven’t they already?
I know that if I’m here, we’ll cross lines we aren’t meant to. It’ll be too hard for me to contain my emotions. Is it so bad that I want to protect my heart? He ignored me yesterday, brushed me off, and yet today, I’m meant to accept staying with him? Why’s he so hot and cold? He forces me to stay with him but easily disregards me at other times.
I change into a tank top and sleeping shorts, brush my teeth in the ensuite bathroom and go to bed. I want him beside me, holding me like he did when we slept together.
My guilt overwhelms me. I’m not an idiot. I know I acted like a child running away. But I reacted on impulse and … fear. I don’t want to fall for the unattainable Sebastian Carter. But still, I know I upset him. After tossing and turning for ages, I’m still unable to sleep. I leave my room and sneak to his.
“Seb?” I call out tentatively and slip the door open, but he’s not here. I walk down the stairs and find him in the bar drinking a glass of whiskey. He gulps it all in one go as I quietly enter the room.
“S-Seb?” I stutter, afraid of his reaction.
“Go back to your room.” He demands.
I ignore him and hesitantly join him on the couch. I reach out to touch him, but he flinches away.
“Sebastian, I just – I’m sorry. I reacted stupidly and –”
“Go the fuck upstairs, Isabel!” He snaps, looking at me with evident fury.
“I-”
“Go!” He shouts and I immediately get up and rush back to my room.
The next morning, I wake up alone. Sebastian is nowhere in the apartment, but I do receive a text letting me know I’ll have a bodyguard following me around until the issue with Jax’s parents is solved. I dial Selena as I walk to college.
“Morning.” She mumbles.
“Hey, still in bed?” I laugh.
“Yeah.” I hear her yawn.
“Shall I call you later?”
“No. I should get up anyways. How are you?”
“Well, Sebastian is furious with me.” I hear the sadness in my voice.
“How come?”
“I did something stupid. But I couldn’t help it! He wanted me to stay with him and my god, he’s just too perfect! It’ll end up breaking my heart if I stay with him… it’s already hard enough not to develop feelings as it is now. I want to keep it purely sexual. But living with him, being with him all the time, how can I keep the emotions away?”
“Oh, Isa.” Selena begins, and I hear her leaving the room to go somewhere more private. “I’m not taking his side, but everyone knows you’re my best friend. Staying at Alayna’s doesn’t make sense. Someone is targeting me, and they could very possibly use you. They can do the same to Alayna’s dorm. Not only is it easy to break in there, but it would bring Alayna into this mess.”
I slap my forehead when I realize how stupid I truly was. “You’re right.”
“I just want you safe Isa, I’d hate myself if something were to happen to you.”
“Don’t worry Selena, they could’ve done something to me already. I was home when they came in.”
“Hmm, I still worry Isa. About Seb … I’ve never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you, and I’ve seen him with other women.”
“Oh my god! Don’t mention other women.” Jealousy takes hold of me powerfully.
She laughs lightly and continues. “You can’t see it, but he looks at you like you’re the only person in the room. I don’t want to give you false hope, I’m saying it like I see it. Remember what you told me when I was worried about my feelings for Jax? You said ‘Just let yourself feel. There’s nothing more beautiful than letting yourself fall deeply and madly in love with no reservations. Yes, the ending might destroy you, but the journey, god Isa, the journey will be earth-shattering.”
I remember that day like it was yesterday. “But it’s different. You and Jax weren’t just having sex. You were obsessed with each other from the day you met.”
“That’s not how it was. There were many barriers in Jax I had to break down.”
“I remember.”
“Why don’t you tell him you want more? Cause it’s obvious that you do. And from what I can see, he does too.”
I contemplate that for a while. I do want something more with Sebastian, want us to be offic
ial, or at least be heading in that direction. At some point, I developed feelings for him, and he’s become all I can think about. But the truth is, I’m not sure he’d want the same thing.
“I won’t lie, I do want more. There’s something so intense between us, so raw. But the worst part is, I- I think I’d be okay with settling for ‘friends with benefits’ because I don’t want to lose him. How pathetic is that?”
Taming Sebastian (Sawson's Royal College Book 2) Page 9