25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Lacey

"Are we inviting your roommate?"

"Of course we're inviting my roommate, she's the one who suggested a night out."

Cecelia's gruff voice floats through the dorm walls and I smile, hearing Maren's squeal of excitement.

"I'm so excited to see her! It's been so long."

"You literally saw her in the hallway last week."

"Yeah, but that's not the same as hanging out."

Closing my latest romance novel, I put it down on my nightstand before going out to greet Cecelia's friends.

"Are you ready to hit BEATS tonight?"

Maren squeals again, running over to throw her arms around me. I laugh, squeezing her back while Ava gives me a nod of acknowledgement over her shoulder .

After Cecelia joined my brother's weekly movie night, she declared we needed to instigate something similar for our own dorm. Two action movies later and Maren and Ava finally started acknowledging me in the hallways. Another three and suddenly I was cool enough to be considered a friend.

Although my relationship with Cecelia isn't a natural one, I realize now that our rocky start was a double-edged sword. I wasn't willing to put myself out there and she wasn't willing to look past the book nerd exterior.

The sex marathons are still a thing, but those nights I usually sleep over at Skylar's or we spend hours talking on the phone together. It might not be a perfect solution, but it's one that I can live with.

Maren grins, "This is my first time being the DD, but I think I can handle it."

Ava snorts, "You couldn't handle the alcohol last time, so let's hope this turns out better."

"I wasn't that bad."

"You made out with three different guys before passing out on the bathroom floor."

Maren shrugs, "You can't blame a girl for making her presence known."

I smile, adjusting the purse strap over my shoulder, "Actually, I have a surprise for all of you tonight. Especially you, Cecelia."

My roommate groans, "Don't tell me you bought me a romance book. That shit is not going to cut it tonight. "

"There are quite a few dark romances I think you would really enjoy." At her pinched expression I let out laugh, "But no. That's not your surprise."

Cecelia narrows her eyes and Ava lets out a hoot.

"The virgin has a dark side to her."

"She's not a virgin." Cecelia crosses her arms, giving her friend a glare, "And she can be a bitch sometimes. Don't go sprouting shit you don't know."

I wouldn't say being called a bitch is a compliment, but looking at the smile Cecelia sends my way, I'm pretty sure it was meant to be one.

"Uh, right. Who's ready to hit the road?"

Maren claps her hands, "Let's do this!"

The four of us leave the residence building together, amiably talking about the fast approaching finals when my phone starts to buzz.

NICO: [image]

NICO: Is two chains too many?

NICO: Or should I push for three?

My face splits into a grin when I pull open the photo, studying the glittering chains marking his bare torso. It's hard to tell if he's wearing a shirt or if it's completely unbuttoned.

ME: How many buttons will be undone?

NICO: Mi amor, come on. Always three.

I laugh, quickly typing a response.

ME: Two chains is classy, three is slutty.

NICO: Slutty it is .

ME: Date night?

NICO: You know it, babe.

NICO: What are you up to tonight?

"We're going to leave your ass in this parking lot if you don't get in."

Cecelia shouts the threat from the passenger seat and I laugh, dropping my phone back into my purse and rejoining the group of girls I've grown to call my friends.

"Vector, I'd like you to meet my roommate."

Stepping to the side, I let her take over the introduction. Cecelia smiles coyly at him, flicking a strand of green hair over her shoulder.

"Nice to meet you, Vector. I heard you're quite the lacrosse player."

He grins, "And I heard you're from the rival school. Not scared to be in enemy territory?"

"I've always found enemy lines to be more interesting."

Biting back a laugh, I turn and see Ava and Maren staring at me with wide eyes. When I brought them over to meet the varsity team, it took them a second for them to realize I wasn't joking. Skylar had told me exactly what part of the nightclub the lacrosse team hangs out in, so it was pretty easy to introduce my roommate to her rival crush.

"Hey, Gorgeous. Remember me? "

I turn to see a dark-haired guy step forward. It takes me a moment to recognize him as the one who tried to corner me against the bar.

"Fuck off, Walsh."

The harsh voice cuts through the crowd, making the guy flinch. Vector smiles, his tone no less sharp when he speaks again.

"You know she's with Sky."

"Fine." He bites off the word, looking less handsome by the second, "Would you mind introducing me to your friends, Lacey?"

Shooting Vector a grateful smile, I turn and face the girls.

"Be careful with this one. He gets handsy when he's drunk."

Ava shrugs, tossing back her drink, "Sounds good to me. What's your position, pretty boy?"

He grins, "Forward. I'm the one who scores the goals."

Rolling my eyes, I turn to talk to Maren, but she's already chatting up a different lacrosse player. It's déjà vu, being back in Silverwood's nightclub without my girl squad, except this time I know exactly who I'm looking for.

Slipping into the crowd, I make my way along the edge of the dance floor, avoiding the mass of sweaty bodies dancing and grinding in time to the music. The shock of white hair stands out against the dim lighting, those mismatched eyes searching the crowd for my arrival .

I duck my head and creep past, sliding along the wall so I can shimmy up behind him. Carefully slipping my hands around his waist, I press myself flush against his back.

"Looking for someone?"

A quiet laugh echoes through him, the hard ridge of his shoulders digging into my collarbone.

"Just a girl with the worst coordination."

"How tragic. Any chance I know her?"

"Highly likely." Skylar turns around, a smile painting his eyes and face in equal measure, "She goes to the rival school. Same as you, I believe."

"Now there's a coincidence. Do you think she goes to therapy as well?"

"Odds are high."

I laugh, leaning forward and pressing a kiss against his lips. He's still smiling when he kisses me back, his fingers grazing the sliver of skin between my crop top and jeans.

"I like what you're wearing."

"I knew you would."

It didn't take me long to realize Skylar is a tactile learner. He touches and feels his way through life, using physical sensors to memorize the simplest of things.

And I just happen to be his favourite subject of study.

The nightclub's music is blasting through the speakers, the heavy base driving the hips of university students of all shapes and sizes. It's not the type of music I like dancing to, but that doesn't stop me from roping my hands around his neck and pulling him closer.

"I'm not a good dancer, Flower." He whispers the confession in my ear, his hands resting on the small of my back, "I failed this unit in gym class."

"That makes two of us."

Resting my head on his shoulder, I hear him huff out a laugh before taking my hand. Slowly we start to dance, our steps awkward and unsteady as the rap song blasts overheard.

The nightclub fades away as we hold each other, swaying to a beat that only the two of us can hear. I close my eyes, knowing with absolutely certainty that this is what my love story looks like. Not a fairytale ending, but a real moment.

One that exists only between Skylar and me.

"Hey, Skylar?"

"Yes, Flower?"

"I love you."

He pulls back to look at me, those beautiful eyes so much brighter than the first time I saw them. It's the perfect moment, so naturally I had to ruin it.

Tripping over my own two feet, I stumble into the person beside me. Skylar is quick to catch me, but not quick enough to stop the embarrassment from coating my cheeks.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

I'm so flustered that it takes me a while to look at the guy's face. When I finally do, that perfect moment evaporates into a distant memory .

Because the person staring back at me is none other than Jerrell Thompson.

Skylar

I hate him even more in person.

"Lacey doll, those clumsy feet of yours are always getting you into trouble." Jerrell flashes her a grin, "Don't go hurting yourself to get my attention."

"I-I'm not." She's flustered and stuttering and her anxiety has a spark of anger igniting inside me. It took less than ten seconds for Jerrell to introduce himself and crack a joke at Lacey's expense.

I really fucking hate this guy.

"I have to say, I'm surprised to see you here." He raises a brow, flicking his eyes down her body, "The girl I knew never went out past her curfew."

She swallows and I quickly reach over to grab her hand. Her fingers latch onto mine and I gently brush my thumb over her skin so she knows I'm not going anywhere.

"I-I…" Lacey gulps down a breath, squeezing my hand tightly, "I'm not the girl you used to know. Not anymore."

"Apparently not." He grins, as if the charming smile is enough to disarm her, "We'll have to reconnect so I can see what's different."

"No."

The simple word is spoken quietly but forcefully. Jerrell blinks a couple of times, as if he's not used to his ex-girlfriends rejecting him.

"No?"

"That's right." Lacey clears her throat, forcing her shoulders back, "I don't want anything to do with you, Jerrell. And I would appreciate it if you would leave us alone."

Jerrell glances at me for the first time.

"Looks like you aren't the girl I used to know." He flicks his eyes over my face, down my body, and lets out a laugh, "Especially if you went from me to this."

I stare at him, taking in the preppy clothes and athletic frame. He's a good-looking guy if you ignore the stench of entitlement and frat boy vibe he's got going on.

The rich boy aesthetic didn't come as a surprise, but his size did.

Given the fact Lacey has never once commented on my small frame, I figured her ex-boyfriend must have been similar in stature. It's not uncommon for tall girls to end up with shorter guys, so I didn't give it much thought when the conversation of my size never came up.

Clearly, that was a misassumption on my part.

Jerrell stands about three inches above me with an extra thirty pounds of muscle. He's nowhere near the size of a varsity athlete, but still big enough to tower over me.

Something which he seems to enjoy doing .

He lets out another laugh, "Could you not find an adequate replacement for me? Wanted to branch out and lock down the biggest freak in town?"

Lacey clutches my hand tightly, her cheeks flushed with anger, "Don't say that."

"No, I'm serious. Look at this guy." He grins, staring at my face like it's the punchline, "I don't even know which eye to look at. You know they invented coloured contacts for a reason, right?"

The question is directed at me, but I stay silent. It's nothing I haven't heard before and there's no use in adding fuel to a fire that's bound to burn out of control.

Besides, I'd rather have him attack me than my flower.

"Shut the fuck up, Jerrell." Lacey spites out the words, her voice more venomous than I've ever heard it, "You're being a dick for no reason."

"You're no fun anymore, Lacey doll. I was just meeting your new beau."

"She's not your doll."

It's the first thing I've said to him, and the anger in my voice has Jerrell taking a step back. The fear in his eyes quickly fades when he remembers the size difference between us.

"Oh yeah? Does that make her your doll?" He takes a step closer, looking down on me, "Or does that make you hers?"

My breathing goes shallow as I glare back at him, the familiar claws of anger sinking into my skin .

"Skylar, let's go home." Lacey tugs my hand, her fingers still wrapped around mine, "I don't want to be here anymore."

"Looks like your owner is pulling the leash." Jerrell flashes me a grin and it takes all my will power not to punch it right off his face.

"Skylar. Let's go."

The plea in Lacey's voice is what pulls me away, the unbreakable clasp of her hand keeping me from doing something stupid.

Shaking my head, I turn and walk away. We don't make it two steps before Jerrell's taunting voice breaks through the crowd.

"Oh, and Skylar? I hope you enjoy my sloppy seconds."

Ten seconds go by and nobody moves.

And then I explode.

My control shatters as I lunge for him, the rage in my bloodstream fuelling the need to make him bleed.

I'm going to rip every fucking limb off his body.

A hand yanks me back, the fingers clenched around mine refusing to let me get close enough to start shredding skin. Jerking against the hold, I try and rip my hand free from Lacey's grip, but she holds on.

"Skylar. Look at me."

"Let me go, Flower." I snap my teeth at her, but she doesn't release my hand.

"No. I'm not going to let go. Do you know why?"

My whole body is shaking as I look at her, the soft edges of her face staring down the monster inside of me .

"You made a vow, Skylar. And you promised me you were going to keep it."

"Let. Me. Go."

"No." She shakes her head, lifting her free hand to touch my face, "I'm not going to let you go, Skylar. Not now, not ever."

She runs a finger along my eyebrow and I freeze, staring into her glistening green eyes.

"Don't let him get into your head. Focus on me."

Her finger glides between my brows and down the slope of my nose. She follows it along the edges of my cheekbones, gently tracing my face.

Instead of getting me to draw, she's drawing me.

She keeps going, painting my skin with love even while I seethe from the inside out. Her fingers never stray from my face, the gentle touch reminding me of all the times we've had together, all the moments we've stolen for ourselves.

"Come on, Skylar. Focus on the art."

I can see the tears in her eyes, the tears that could easily turn into fear if I let my temper control me the way it did my father.

The way it does my brother.

The thought sobers me enough to suck in a breath and give her a nod. The pressure beneath my skin is enough to make me want to scream, but the fog in my mind has cleared to the point where I know exactly what I have to do.

Turning around, I clamp a lock down on my anger and face Jerrell fucking Thompson.

"Have you learned what the word ‘no' means yet? "

He freezes and Lacey sucks in a breath beside me. Gently prying my fingers out of her loosened grip, I start closing the distance between us.

"It's only two letters. Usually taught by kindergarten."

His face contorts into an unflattering sneer, "Fuck off, freak. You don't know what you're talking about."

"I think I do, actually. Most rapists have a problem understanding the simplest of terms and you don't seem to be an exception."

A circle has formed around us, the tension rising with the murmurs going around the suddenly empty dance floor. Jerrell is visibly agitated, his jaw clenching harder with every word that comes out of my mouth.

"You think you're a hero? I'm about to kick your ass in front of all your friends."

I shrug, "I don't have any friends. And I'm not a hero."

He blinks a few times before recovering. Glancing at Lacey over my shoulder, he gives her a mocking smile.

"Found yourself a real winner, doll. Did you make him wait for bad sex too?"

I recapture his attention by tapping his chest.

"We're not talking about her right now. We're talking about you."

Jerrell responds by shoving me and I go stumbling backwards. The strength of my anger flows through me like a drug, but I fight it. I fight to stay in control, to keep the promise I made to my flower .

Because I'm not the only one who made a promise.

Walking back up to the guy I've murdered fourteen times on paper, I reach up and flick him on the nose.

"Learn to respect women, Jerrell, and maybe you wouldn't be such a pathetic piece of shit."

I don't get a chance to blink before he tackles me to the floor.