He drives all the way with his hand in mine. Slowing down the car when the path becomes a bit rockier, I watch in fascination as he drives into the bush. He stops on a slight incline and gets out, coming around to open my door. I climb out and he entwines his fingers in mine, then he starts walking. We come to a stop and I look down, my breath hitches at the sight in front of me. The waterfall is glittering in the late afternoon sun, and the water is as blue as the sky on a clear summer’s day.
“I come out here to think,” he says pulling me as he walks slowly down the hill. We step over the rocks, walking down until we arrive at the bottom of the waterfall. He kicks off his shoes and sits down. I didn’t notice before, but something seems a little off with him.
“Something’s wrong. What’s wrong?” I ask him, he doesn’t look at me as he flicks a rock into the water.
“We friends?” he asks me.
I don’t know how to answer that. Would a nervous friend count?
“Yeah, I guess so. You do stalk me after all. So I guess that counts as a base for friendship.”
“I’ve never been just friends…” he gestures with air quotes, “…with a girl before.” He looks to me, and those chocolate eyes burn into me.
“I can see why.” I laugh just a little, and he raises his eyebrows in question. “Most girls will just want your body, not your friendship,” I say shrugging my shoulders. He knows this, I’ve seen girls try with him all the time. I avoid it.
“Yet, you don’t want to.”
“I think we start at friendship… I don’t think I could handle you yet,” I say shaking my head.
I can’t, I seriously couldn’t handle him. He is just… too much of everything. And if I’m being honest, if I went there, I don’t think I would want to come up for air. He’s that intoxicating.
“So tell me, why all the bloom and gloom?”
Geez, bloom and gloom? I can’t think straight. I meant doom and gloom.
He shakes his head at me. “Your words… you’re so odd.”
I nod my head. I only seem to be like this around him, stupid nerves.
“It’s my father,” is all he says. He throws another rock, this one doesn’t skim across the top. Instead, it lands hard, breaking the surface before it goes down.
“Is he not nice?” I ask him confused.
He shakes his head. “He’s dying.”
My mouth hangs open, I don’t know what to say.
He throws another rock, hard. “Fuck! That felt good. I haven’t told anyone. I don’t even think Turner has—” he stops, and I see his shoulders sink. He stares at the water just watching, while we sit there in silence. Me having no idea how to comfort someone with a dying father. I don’t know the first thing to say to soothe him. I reach for his hand, clasping it in mine. Squeezing it every now and then, as we sit there and watch the water—the beautifulness of it, the crystal clearness of it. I wonder what creatures are in there?
“It’s getting late,” he eventually says. We haven’t spoken much except for when he occasionally picks up a rock and then throws it into the water as I wait for more tit-bits of information that he wants to share. He drops my hand, throwing one last rock.
“Wanna watch some movies… maybe?” I ask him, hoping it’s company that he needs. He stands and offers me his hand as I get up. I take it and love the warmth and strength it gives me. I don’t think he should be alone, and movies seem to be the safest option.
“My place?” he asks.
I shrug my shoulders. “Sure… but I pick.”
His lip twitches just barely as we move to the car and he opens my door. His hands don’t touch me this time, and I almost whimper at the loss. He points out landmarks on the way to the frat house. Once we’re there, we both get out and climb the steps. I hear the chant of males inside and follow Taj. He pulls me past everyone, his hand back in mine, suffocating it with his warm one while pulling me up the stairs. His room is at the end of the hall.
When we step inside, I notice a queen bed made with black sheets and a sofa sitting in front of it. There’s a television and surround sound hanging from a couple of speakers on his wall. He walks over to a cabinet and pulls it open then waves his hand at it for me to choose. I look up and down, going through it all—no surprise most of it is action films, which I love. But one movie stands out and I pull it from the case. He shakes his head and I smile.
“That’s Chris Hemsworth isn’t it?” he asks walking to the television. I nod my head. He puts The Avengers into the DVD player and sits down next to me. I pull the pillow up to the side and lay my head on it tucking my legs behind my bum. I just about doze off about half way through the movie until I feel him pull my legs across his. His hands start at the soles of my feet, and before I can thank him, I’m asleep.
Chapter 6
I wake on the same sofa I was sitting on last night while watching the movie. I shoot up remembering I have a class this morning. Looking around for my shoes, I throw the blanket that was on me to the floor, closely followed by the pillows. The door opens and Taj walks in, with nothing but a pair of jeans hanging dangerously low on his hips. He stops dead with a toothbrush in his mouth and his head drops. I look through my legs as my ass in the air and my hands are on the floor searching around for my cell. But really I’ve just been caught ogling his fine ass body as well. I see curvatures when he flexes in all the right places, and a V, and off that v hangs jeans. I want to pull them down.
“I have class.” My voice comes out husky and raw, so I shake my head and stand up. He doesn’t move as he stands there and watches me fumble around. “I need my cell,” I say trying to correct my voice. I find my shoes, then my cell, and just as I go to run past him, his arm shoots out and he stops me. I look down, the muscles in those arms flex—they’re tanned and his skin is clear. I want to touch, but I keep my hands to myself and focus on not touching. He reaches out with the other, his toothbrush still in hand, and then I watch in fascination as his hand reaches for my face. He places my glasses on, and I hate that he’s done that. I see him well enough without them, but now with them, I see everything much more clearly. The faint hairline that trails down to his pants and disappearing. “Bye,” I say pushing past his hand.
I run out of the house, I don’t notice anyone as I leave. Everyone must be either in class or asleep. I make it to my room grabbing my bag and then run to my class.
When I finally arrive I sit down trying to catch my breath. The chair next to me is pulled back and Turner takes a seat. I groan, but don’t say anything. He starts tapping his pencil on the desk and doesn’t stop. Just tap, tap… tap, tap. My hand flies out and covers his with mine to stop the incessant noise.
“You and my brother, hey?” He leans in, I pull back not wanting to have any sort of conversation with him over this. “It won’t work you know, but it’s fun watching girls try.” He cackles next to me like a girl, and I do my best to ignore him, to try to not even look or be interested in what he has to say as the class goes on. He starts to do little things that wrack on my nerves.
He’s tapping the pencil again, another one that he’s pulled from his pocket. My teeth start to grind, then he starts to tap his foot while I sit there clutching my hands together, trying to not let it rile me up. But both of those things together, are making me anxious, and most of all annoyed. I’m not paying attention to the professor now, all my focus is on him, and I’m inches away from punching him in the face.
Just as I’m thinking of the best way to hit him, without hurting him, or even more importantly hurting me because of his size and muscle, we’re saved by the bell. I’m the first to jump from my chair, and the first to make it to the door. I listen to his chuckle as I leave, but I don’t really care, because as long as I’m away from that, I will be happy.
Not having any more classes today, I head back to my room at the dorm. When I get there, Nash is laying on her bed, a magazine in hand, upside down. I don’t even bother telling her when I close the door
behind me. She drops the magazine lower, popping her head out from the top and smiles brightly.
“Look…” She turns the magazine to face me, still upside down. When I take a closer look it’s Taj, dressed in some fancy ass clothes, chest exposed, and a wicked smirk plastered on his face. And it’s upside down, of all things. “Tell me… is his body like that? Tell me? Tell me? His brother’s is mighty fine if I do say so myself, but I bet Taj’s is way better. Like way… way… way better.” The magazine lays down next to her, his face, his smile is now staring at me. I have to walk away and sit on my bed to get away from it, he’s just everywhere lately. And a part of me enjoys the fact that he’s everywhere, while the other says run bitch run.
“He has the body that’s for sure.” I don’t look up for her reaction, I can hear it in her gasp. I remove my glasses and wipe them before placing them back on my face.
“You fucked him, didn’t you? Oh my God, you got the golden apple, the one every wants on this campus. Hell, probably even alive.” She starts to laugh.
“You do have his brother… if I remember correctly,” I tell her. She nods her head, a small smile touching her lips.
“Turner is good, with his… mouth.” She full-on smiles now.
“I disagree, he’s annoying every time he opens it.”
She laughs at me and picks up her magazine again, turning it the right way around to start reading. “Don’t fall for him, Skye. I can see him hurting you. He stays away from relationships for a reason.”
I don’t give that comment an answer. There’s no need for one. I don’t even know what I feel for him, let alone worrying more about the situation as it stands now.
Nash starts to chat on her cell, and I automatically know it’s Turner by the way she speaks to him. Her voice drops lower, her hands start moving as if he can see her. I shake my head at her and get off the bed grabbing my bag. I need to go to the library to study for an English exam. I was hoping to do it here, but as soon as I hear, ‘come over,’ leave her mouth I start moving. I know what they will be doing, and I don’t want to be here to have to listen to it, let alone see it.
***
I’ve been hauled up in here for over an hour and my stomach is starting to grumble. I need to eat dinner, I forgot to eat lunch apart from a banana that I snacked on around the middle of the day. Just as I’m closing the computer, I notice someone sitting next to me with his computer open, and pen to mouth while he chews on it. I haven’t seen him before, I don’t even know who he is. But the frown lines on his forehead and around his eyes indicates he’s having trouble. Just as I stand he looks up at me, then back down to his computer before he looks back up again.
“You studying for the exam as well?” he asks just as I push my chair in, my forehead scrunches in confusion and my glasses fall down my nose.
“Sorry, we’re in English Lit together. You sit just down from me usually with Turner.” Cue eye roll. I don’t mean to do it, it’s just his name that caused the automatic reaction. His hands go up in defense, and he smirks. “I figured he wasn’t welcome, he seems to do nothing but annoy you.” The stranger in front of me stands as well, closing his laptop and offering me his hand. “Henry…”
I juggle my books and laptop into my other hand as I shake his hand. “Skye,” I say smiling. Then my belly starts to grumble, very loudly too.
He smirks at me. “I was just heading to work. You should come. They have the best burgers.”
My mouth waters at the sound of the word ‘burgers.’ I’m ravenous.
“Is it far?” I ask as he starts to place everything in his backpack. I look at him, closely this time. Actually admiring him. He isn’t ugly, he isn’t cocky. He is actually very attractive. Being slightly shorter than Taj, and not as defined as him either, but I bet not many girls turn away from Henry when he speaks.
“Nope. Just across the street.”
My eyes squint with confusion. I’ve walked out the front of campus before and not once have I seen a burger joint anywhere.
He laughs at me. “It’s actually hidden. If you go to the ice cream shop across the road, and in-between the clothing store, it’s just down that little alleyway. It doesn’t have any signs. Actually, it doesn’t need them. Mostly their business is regulars and college students. They’re very busy… word of mouth and all that.”
“You’re not secretly trying to get me down an alleyway to murder me, are you?” I ask as we start to walk out the doors of the library. I grab my cell and switch it to camera. “Smile,” I say snapping a photo. He does, he smiles, and his smile is perfect. “Just in case you are,” I say shrugging my shoulders and tucking my cell into the back of jean’s pocket. He laughs at me as we start to walk off campus.
“So I take it you aren’t actually friends with Turner?”
“I wouldn’t call us friends, no. I’d call it more… him sleeping with my roommate, so I have to put up with him.” I laugh.
“He can be very full on, but then again he’s always been like that. Even through high school,” he says catching me off guard.
“Are you friends with him?” He stops when he realizes I’ve stopped, and turns to face me.
“I wouldn’t go as to far as to say that, but yes, I’ve known them all a long time.”
I start walking again. It’s getting darker now, so when we reach the alleyway I’m a little hesitant to step down it. That is until I hear the loud voices of others coming from further down the alleyway. I follow him, the stone walls are painted in various colors, only a touch of light at the beginning until you step in further. A small diner sits at the end. You wouldn’t be able to see it from the street if you weren’t looking hard enough. Fake grass is underneath my feet. Henry opens the doors and my ears are flooded with jazz music and I notice faces at every table. Henry turns back to me and smiles before he reaches out and captures my wrists, pulling me past everyone to the front of the shop. It seems everyone knows about this place but me. He pulls a stool from behind the counter and waves a hand for me to sit down as he walks behind. I watch as he puts on his apron, then starts making a burger. He catches me staring several times, winking at me as he begins to sing along.
“M’lady,” he says placing a thick shake and burger in front of me. I look at it and my stomach tightens. Bacon, beef, salad, what more could I ask for. I want to devour it right now, but that would be rude, so I look up smiling pulling money from my front pocket and offering to pay for it. He pushes my money back before he grins and walks off to continue cooking again.
I consume the whole thing, and between each bite Henry pops over to ask me how it tastes. Most of the time I can’t speak so my thumb goes up, and he laughs at me and returns to his work. He hasn’t stopped since he walked in the door—it seems it’s order after order. I play with my cell, waiting for him to slow down a little so I can thank him before I leave.
“The best you’ve eaten?” he asks, surprising me and I almost drop my cell. I laugh as I catch it and nod my head.
“I think I may eat here for every meal, every day,” I tell him. His eyes twinkle as he laughs at me. “Though, it may send me broke. My mother wouldn’t love that!”
“I’ll see you in class tomorrow?” he asks turning back to me after his name was called. I nod my head and thank him. I try offering to pay again, but he pushes the money back to me.
I leave with a belly full of food and smile on my face.
He’s normal and I like him.
Chapter 7
Before Turner gets the chance to take the seat next to me, I look around the room trying to find somewhere else to sit, hoping Turner won’t find me. As I look to the back of the class, I notice Henry with his head down, pen in mouth, sitting by himself. He’s two rows behind where I normally sit. I walk up and place my things down on the opposite side, hoping his body will hide me from Turner’s sight. He doesn’t look up when I take the seat next to him. Actually, he doesn’t even move, his eyes are concentrating on what he’s reading. I wai
t before I speak, to see if he can work out what he’s trying so hard to focus on.
“If you squint harder it usually helps,” I say to him. He does squint harder before he realizes it’s me, looks up and smiles.
“Hey,” he says relaxing his face and looking up. “You not sitting in your usual spot today?” His mouth goes tight trying to hide the smile that wants to break out.
I shake my head. That’s when I hear Turner’s voice, I scoot back into the seat blocking him from seeing me. Henry looks at me confused.
“He’s looking for you,” Henry says looking away from Turner. “He’s sitting with his mates,” he tells me and I instantly relax. “You really don’t like him?” he asks concerned.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just he’s so full on. Too much for me. I can only take him in small doses.”
Henry laughs and it makes my mouth twitch. I like him, I click with him. He’s nothing like the others. He’s easy to talk to, to be around. Just normal.
“What’s that smile for?” he questions while looking at me. The professor walks in and the room goes quiet.
“You’re one of the first normal people I’ve spoken to. Everyone is just so… full on. Too much,” I tell him.
“Well, thanks. If it makes you feel any better, I’m one of five children, so normal is a compliment to me.” He doesn’t say another word for the rest of the class. We don’t even look at each other. It’s just peaceful, and for the first time since I’ve met Turner and Taj, I can actually concentrate without being annoyed or distracted.
***
Turner spots me when I stand, I’d completely forgotten about him during the class. His annoyingness wasn’t consuming me. He raises and eyebrow as he walks out, looks from Henry to me and doesn’t stop. I roll my eyes even though he can no longer see me and I start to follow Henry out the door.
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