Two Dustin

"WHAT?!" we both shouted in unison.

We looked at one another again, scowling.

"There has to be a mistake," Markus said, a pleading tone in his voice. "My scholarship guarantees me a private room."

"So does mine," I added, grabbing a sheet of paper from my bag. I held it up, pointing to a paragraph at the very bottom. "It says so right there!"

Markus lifted an eyebrow in my direction. "Oh my god, it can read."

Anger boiled in my chest. I'd met his kind before. They were all the same. "Listen here, you elitist little shit–"

"Knock it off!" Tania barked, pulling my attention off the emo jackass once more. "You two are roommates. That's just the way of it. I can't do anything about it, so if you want to go to the admin building and bitch, be my guest." Her eyes flashed green and her body swelled to fill the doorway. "But I will not have you two starting a fistfight in my dorm. Is that clear?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Tania–"

"Is that clear, Markus?"

"Fine, yes. Whatever. Clear. Happy?"

I thought she was going to clock him just for good measure. But to my surprise, she took a deep breath, and her body began to shrink once more. However, her eyes continued to glow as if giving a warning to any who might try to cross her.

"But I am going to the admin building."

Tania sighed. "I did everything I could to stop this from happening. Honestly. I even tried to get some other people to triple up so you'd have the room to yourself." She glanced at me. "And you too. I know it's part of your scholarship, but we just have too many students this year to accommodate that."

"That's a bullshit excuse," Markus snapped. "So I have to share my room with some mutt because the Dean can't fucking count?"

"Watch it," I growled, clenching my fists. "Unless you want to end up with all your fucking teeth on the floor."

"Oh, go chase your tail," he scoffed, waving me away.

"Why don't you shove your broomstick up your ass. Maybe that'll help dislodge the bug you've got stuffed up there."

"Listen," Tania sighed. "I'm not gonna stand here and watch you two bicker all fucking day. This is what's going on. You can fight admin if you want, but nothing will come of it." Her eyes narrowed as she pointed a finger at us both. "But if either of you walk out of this building with a single scratch or I hear of magic used against one another, I will have you both on academic probation. And that means your scholarships as well."

"What the fuck, Tania? I thought we were friends?"

"We are friends," she replied. "But you're being a dick."

I couldn't help a small giggle.

"And that goes double for you, Mr. high-and-mighty! Just because you're the captain of the football team and everyone worships you, that doesn't mean you get a free pass for being an asshole. Get over yourself."

With that, she turned on her heel, slamming the door behind her.

We both stood there for a long moment, staring at the door and refusing to look at one another. I thought maybe I should say something to this guy, considering he was my new roommate and all. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. He'd already shown his true colors. He was an elitist witch, just like the rest of them. I could already taste the stench of magic and privilege in the room. Not to mention, a quick glance at his shoes and his floating Armani suitcase told me he had more money in his piggy bank than my family had made in their entire lives.

And he was on a full-ride scholarship, too. Fucker.

With a huff, Markus stomped across the room, a flick of his wrist sending the suitcase crashing into the wall. He flopped down on the bed, throwing an arm over his eyes to block out the light. The suitcase remained lifeless on the bed beside him, the floating charm gone.

For a moment I just stood there, staring at him. Was he crying because he didn't get his way? That wouldn't surprise me. He seemed the type. Then again, maybe he was doing everything in his power not to throw a tantrum and blow up our entire dorm room with his magic. Things like that had happened in the past. Witches were known to be deeply emotional and unstable creatures. I had a feeling he was no different.

But I also didn't care enough to look into it any further. Instead, I dropped my paperwork on my bed and crawled back up on my desk. My bowl of cereal was now soggy, and the Cheerios had practically turned into oatmeal. I couldn't help but be pissed about it. The guy ruined my fucking snack.

"Do you think you could chew a little quieter, please?" Markus snapped. "I know it's hard when you're not eating on the floor, but please try."

"No," I replied coolly, slurping the milk from my bowl as loudly as I could. "If you don't like it, go back home to your mansion."

"You been stalking me or something?"

"I just know your type. Only a spoiled little rich brat throws a tantrum like the one you just did."

Markus huffed, stomping his hard-soled shoes on the ground as he stood up. "I'm going to the admin building."

"Good. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

"Fuck you."

"Mmm. Not likely."

Giving his desk a frustrated kick, Markus stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The moment he was gone, I breathed a sigh of relief. I placed my bowl down on the desk, no longer interested in its mushy contents. Slipping off the desk, I flopped onto my mattress, my arms splayed wide as I stared up at the cracking paint on the white ceiling.

I really didn't want a roommate. I had way too much on my plate to have to worry about putting up with somebody else in my life. Especially someone like Markus. My grades had to stay up, practice ran late into the night sometimes, and getting home from games could mean coming in at four in the morning. Nobody liked to share a room with someone who had that kind of schedule. And, without a doubt, I would get my head bitten off about it.

Taking a deep breath, I laced my fingers behind my head, trying to let go of the tension already building in my shoulders. As I did, I noticed something in the air, a sort of sweetness that hadn't caught my attention before. It was light, like jasmine on a warm summer day. But mixed in was the unmistakable scent of magic.

It was his scent.

I grumbled, throwing my arm over my nose in an attempt to snuff it out. When that didn't work, I forced myself up from the bed and pulled one of the windows wide, hoping that would air the place out.

Magic always tickled the inside of my nose. It gave me that feeling like I was about to sneeze but couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. And witches oozed that scent, especially the powerful ones. Judging by how much magic was already in the air, Markus must have been quite the talented witch, probably from one of those old families that had more power than was good for them.

The jasmine scent, however… that I sort of liked. And that realization caught me off guard. Not only was it pleasant, but it caused some stirring in the pit of my stomach before sinking down to my balls.

"No," I said aloud, palming my twitching cock through my boxers. "Absolutely not. You stop that right this fucking instant."

I glanced around at my duffel bags, which were only partially unpacked. They could wait until later. Right now, I needed to get out of my dorm and away from that… intoxicating smell.

I stripped off my boxers and tossed them onto the bed before pulling on a pair of shorts. Running in boxers was awful. Besides, the less clothing I had when I shifted, the better. I left my dorm room behind in a huff.

Running was my least favorite activity in all the world. But it was the only thing that made sure I could think of nothing else. Back home, I had a trail through the woods that I liked to follow, but out here, it was just wilderness beyond the boundary of the school. All I had to do was make sure I had my school ring on so that I could get back through the barrier.

However, even as I started to jog, I was struck with the realization that I'd have to return eventually. Classes started in a couple of days, and there was no way I could go home a failure. My entire family was counting on me to go pro, and the only way to do that was by leading the school football team to victory this year. If we didn't win, I didn't get drafted. And if I didn't get drafted, the only thing I could look forward to was a long life in rural Ohio with my disappointed father.

And that was as close to hell as anyone could get.