I prefer to work alone, and if I am forced to work with someone, I would prefer them to be less bitchy about everything.
“I’m paying attention. Sorry, Harleigh just woke up. She’s been asleep for the last couple days, so I’m just checking in on her.”
He looks at me with this deep frown on his face and grunts. “Fine. Here’s the picture.” He hands me the canvas, and when I get a good look at what’s on it, I’m stunned.
This entire assignment was to get to know other people in the class and how they view art differently. That’s why one partner drew and the other brought it to life with colour. Two personalities coming together to make a masterpiece.
What Darren has just handed me isn’t anything I expected. He’s drawn an electric guitar with a background of trees, flowers, a tent and campfire along with a large Rottweiler sitting by the tent.
“You play?” I ask, and he nods. “Nice. Man, this is incredible. I can’t wait to bring this to life!” For the first time since getting this assignment, I’m genuinely excited. “Anything you don’t want me to do?”
He gives me a pointed stare.
“Yeah. Don’t make it look like shit,” he scoffs at me, but before I can answer him, the bell rings. Probably for the best considering I wanted to tell him to shove his attitude up his ass.
By the time I get some lunch and head back to Harleigh’s room she’s asleep again.
“Hey, beautiful. Wake up.” I shake her gently and she just mumbles something into her pillow and shakes her head making me chuckle.
“I have your favourite. You need to eat, Harleigh.” At the mention of food, she turns her head to look at me with one eye propped open.
“Mac and cheese?”
I laugh. I knew that would get her attention. “Would I really bring you anything else when you haven’t eaten in days?” I kiss her head before getting up to grab the lunch and utensils, and bring them over to the bed.
She’s been asleep for a couple days now. It freaked me out, but Dad told me to leave her be; that the stress she was under and the lack of sleep it caused meant her body just needed the time to rest. So, I listened. I’m glad I did, too. She has a lot more colour in her face than she did the last time she was awake.
“You spoil me, Bry.” She sits up, smiling at me, and I’m so glad to see it reach her eyes again. I have my happy girl back.
“Always, beautiful. Now eat up. You need to get some strength back into you so you can start coming to classes again. I miss the fuck out of you.”
She laughs, but nods and digs into her food, taking less than fifteen minutes to devour the entire plate.
Damn, she was hungrier than I thought. Not that I could blame her, I’m sure I would be too if I didn’t eat for two days.
“Thanks, Bry. I’m so full,” she groans as she pushes her empty container off her lap and onto the bed.
“Anytime. Text me what you want for dinner and I’ll grab it after class. I gotta go.” I kiss her lips softly as she pouts at me, and I’m so fucking tempted to just crawl into bed with her, but I think Dad would actually have my ass for skipping without a good reason.
And cuddling the woman you love? Not a good enough reason to him.
“Don’t look so sad, beautiful.” I chuckle at her. “One of us has to go to class so we aren’t both behind and can catch the other one up.”
She just sighs at me and lays back down in her mountain of pillows and covers.
“Fine. But I want ice cream too,” she mumbles, making me laugh.
“You got it.” I lean down and kiss her softly one more time before I get up and leave. Looking back at her before I close the door, I can see she’s already fast asleep.
12
Colten
Where the fuck has she been?! I haven’t seen her in almost three days, and I don’t like it. I don’t like the fact that Brian is still everywhere, but she is nowhere to be seen. I don’t like the constant look of concern on his face or the way he disappears at lunch every day to go see her, either.
It’s not like I can just come right out and ask where the fuck she is. He wouldn’t tell me shit, and I can’t exactly blame him. They both hate me. I wanted it that way.
Well, I thought I did. But the more time I spend watching her, the more I feel drawn to her. I don’t know what it means, and I don’t exactly want to dive into those feelings.
Fucking feelings. Now I’m sounding like a little bitch boy instead of a terrifying demon. This won’t do. She’s fucking with my head, and it needs to stop before she changes me. I don’t want to change. Fuck that shit. I like being the heartless asshole I’ve always been.
I don’t feel things for people that aren’t family. I don’t date, and I sure as fuck don’t care about some chick disappearing for a few days.
I’m Colten fucking Connerton. There’s no way in hell one woman is going to change me. It’s just not fucking possible.
“Yo, Colt!” Ugh, fucking asshats. I hate these people.
“What’s up, Pete?” I lift my chin in his direction momentarily.
Always playing the part of the legacy on campus. I hate it, and I hate all of them. Everyone but her.
“Where’s your newest play toy? Haven’t seen her around lately.”
I glare at him as the group laughs. I need to stop drawing attention to her when they’re around. I’ve been trying and mostly succeeding, but they still see me talking to her all the time when I corner her and Brian, trying to get a reaction from her.
I have this need to always be near her, even if it means pissing her off in the process. As long as I’m close, it doesn’t matter how.
“Fuck if I know, nor do I care. Why?” I try to keep my voice as even and nonchalant as possible, but it’s fucking difficult.
