That even those of us that are inherently evil are supposed to be able to access that shit.
I’m not the only one who’s noticed Harleigh Roe, either. I see other guys looking at her, watching her with desire in their eyes, but I seem to be the only one watching with anger. Anger and something else I don’t even want to acknowledge.
Another student, Darren Conners, looks at her with this deep-seated hatred that I can’t seem to figure out. He’s a loner, a nobody who hates being around people even more than I do.
As far as I know, he has never once had an interaction with her, and if he keeps watching her like a lion watches its prey, I will be forced to take action against him.
No one is going to hurt Harleigh, not even me. I may want to break her, but he looks like he wants to kill her, and that shit isn’t happening.
None of it is.
8
Harleigh
When our final class ends, I feel so drained that half of me wants to play the overdramatic drama queen and ask Bry to carry me back to the dorms.
He’d do it too, but I like being independent. Even if that means walking my zombie ass back to the dorms and face-planting on the bed until morning.
“Beautiful, you look exhausted.” He plants his large palms on my shoulders. “You’re swaying on your feet.”
I am? Huh, I didn’t feel that, but this feels nice.
I smile at my inner monologue.
I have got it bad for this boy.
I giggle at the idea of him being a boy.
Boys don’t exactly do what we did this morning. He is ALLLLL man.
“Harleigh, I am so glad I am all man to you, but I think I need to get you to bed.” He laughs as he starts guiding me out of the room. “And for the record, I’ve got it bad for you too, beautiful.”
I groan, mentally chastising myself about talking out loud.
“Mmm.” I lean into the curve of his arm as he wraps it around my waist to help hold me up. “Bry Bry, I need sleep, but I don’t want to be alone. Will you stay with me? You’re tired too, right? I mean you look amazing. How do you look amazing with so little sleep? You’re handsome and I like you. C—” Bry covers my mouth with his hand
“Harleigh, you’re babbling and talking too fast for me to keep up.” He chuckles at me. “Yes, I am exhausted, and yes I will stay with you. I believe I owe you some answers to questions I’m sure are bouncing around in that beautiful brain of yours.”
I giggle, leaning into him harder as he guides me to the dorms. He’s so warm and comfy.
By the time we get to my room, Bry is all but dragging me. When we stop, I force myself to function long enough to unlock the door before he swings me up in his arms and I lay on his chest. The last thing I remember is nuzzling his neck when everything fades.
When I finally wake up a few hours later, I find Bry asleep beside me. He promised he would stay, and he did. I take a moment to look at him while I try and take control of the emotions raging in my mind and heart.
The past couple days have worn us both out, and I hate that I’m going to add more stress on him to answer my questions, but there is still so much I need to know.
My stomach growls bringing me back to the reality that I haven’t eaten a single thing today. I was too tired to even think about food, but I’m starting to regret that choice now.
I contemplate waking him up to come to the cafeteria with me, but I decide against it. I will get food and bring it back for us, then wake him up.
Once I throw on an oversized hoodie and my sneakers, I head out the door leaving a peacefully sleeping Brian behind.
It doesn’t take me too long to grab the food and head back. Thank God the cafeteria wasn’t busy this time of night. All I want to do is get some food into my system and cuddle with Brian while I get some answers to the questions being tossed around in my mind.
I’m happy to see Orion sitting outside my window when I get back.
“Hey there, buddy!” I say, opening the window to pet him. “Where did you go last time, huh? I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” I pet him until he’s happily purring into my hand.
Brian stirs awake behind me. “Who are you talking to?” His voice is full of sleep.
“Orion.” He looks this way like he wants to say something, but I don’t give him the chance. “I just got back from the cafeteria. I woke up starving, so I grabbed us some dinner. Figured we could eat then talk?” I ask and he nods lazily, making his way over to me and wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“Still going to pretend I don’t exist, Orion?”
He gives him a look that says ‘obviously’, and jumps down to the floor.
“Guess he just hasn’t warmed up to you,” I say, chuckling as I pull away from them to set up dinner. Orion follows me.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I was starving. Like I really need to eat,” I faux whine.
He laughs at me as he helps me set up the plates. It’s not much, just some spaghetti and a couple ham and cheese sandwiches, but it hits the spot as we sit down to eat.
When we’ve had dinner and cleaned up after ourselves, we make our way over to the bed where Orion is currently curled up and sleeping. I’m not sure why he likes to spend time with me once in a while, but I don’t mind. He’s fluffy, cuddly, and cute.
I love cats.
