Fueled Hate: A Dark College Bully Romance

by A. J. Logan

  “Dayum. Not bad at all, Sadie,” Willow whispers as I finally snap out of my dazed state and drag my eyes away from him.

  “That’s him,” I whisper to her, trying my best to avoid glancing in his direction again. I should avoid embarrassing myself further because I’ll probably just continue staring like an idiot. But really … what’re the chances he’s in my class?

  “Who?” Willow doesn’t mind embarrassing herself because she keeps a watchful eye on him without hesitation.

  “The guy that stopped when I had a flat. He just appeared out of nowhere and said he would help with the tire.” Much like he’d just appeared here out of nowhere.

  “You never mentioned him.” Willow continues examining our fellow classmate.

  “Nothing to mention. I told him I didn’t need help and changed the tire myself.”

  “Of course you did.” Willow is amused, but I’m not sure if it’s by what I said or by the newest arrival at Haine University. “I would’ve let him help change a few things.”

  “Where’s Parker? I’m sure he’ll change anything you want.” I purposely mention her boyfriend when unexpected jealousy rises in me. It’s not something I’ve ever felt towards Willow because she’s been such a great friend and I want nothing but the best for her. Also, I’ve always had Kyle, so there’s never been any sort of competing-for-a-guy’s-attention scenario between us. And also, she scored in the boyfriend department with Parker because he thinks the sun rises and sets with her, so there’s something about her eye fucking my Good Samaritan that rubs me the wrong way.

  “Hm, I was just looking, but that’s never bothered Parker or you before.” She eyes me curiously with a smirk.

  Shuffling my notebook around, I avoid her observation because it doesn’t make sense to me either. I don’t even know his name, for crying out loud. When I peek in his direction, I find he’s watching me. How did he end up in this class? I don’t believe in coincidences. Quickly looking away, I attempt to refocus on anything else. Luckily, the professor begins class, allowing for some distraction. Unfortunately, it does little to divert my attention from the mysterious guy who’s watching my every move.

  After what feels like an eternity, the professor finally dismisses us, and I briskly gather my things and leave the room.

  “Hey, why are you in such a hurry?” Willow asks as she jogs up behind me.

  “No reason. Levi never responded to any of my messages all week.” It’s not only an attempt to change the subject but it’s also legitimately on my mind.

  “He’s probably just been busy. It is the beginning of his senior year of high school.” Willow scans the courtyard as we duck into McCarthy Hall, headed for our favorite place on campus, Coyote Café. It’s our daily habit to sit in the café with a cup of coffee as we study for class. Willow’s always claimed to need noise instead of the quiet that our old dorm room (and new apartment) provide, and I always need coffee.

  “I’m sure he is.” I grab a cup of coffee and head to our usual table, thankful that it’s open. We have a few backup places to sit, but it’s not the same. There’s something about the routine that helps my brain kick into gear for a study session. Yet, today my brain doesn’t seem to get the hint. I can’t focus on anything that I should be.

  “Have you messaged your dad?” Willow drops her things on the table as she sits across from me.

  “No, he has enough on his plate already, and it’s probably nothing.” Because Levi usually ignores me half of the time anyways, especially when the conversation involves anything of significance. I had some hope during the summer when Levi seemed to be headed on a good path, but he flipped a bitch and was back to his same old ways. Our dad keeps insisting it’s only a phase. Maybe he’s right. Or maybe he’s in denial. Or maybe he’s hoping the same as me, that something will spark inside of Levi and he’ll actually start enjoying life again and make the best of his senior year. Since our mom died, Levi has done nothing but strive to flush his life down the drain despite my dad’s efforts to keep him on the straight and narrow and my fruitless endeavor to be a positive example. How can you help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves? You can’t. It’s like spinning in circles. You’re moving but never making any progress.

  “I’ll call my dad this evening if I don’t hear back from Levi by then.” I flip open my planner and pull out the syllabus for government, jotting down important dates. With the mess that my mind is, writing everything down provides some insurance.

  “Kyle just walked in,” Willow says with disdain as she glares across the room.

  After not hearing from him all night or even this morning, I’ve had zero lingering thoughts that something could have happened to him, no worried musings over possible terrible scenarios that kept him from meeting me—nope, this was typical Kyle. If he thinks I’ll muster a friendly attitude, he’s out of his mind, especially when I spot him walking up to the table with a cocky smile in place.

  “Hey, babe. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Kyle leans over to kiss me but I move back, out of his reach, looking up to him as his arrogant smile remains in place.

  “You could’ve easily found me last night at Big Tobe’s. You know, for our anniversary date.”

  He nonchalantly drops into the seat beside me. “Andrew had a bad situation that I had to help him out with. I couldn’t bail on him.”

  “But you bailed on me. Again.” I’m unable to bite back my anger, but it’s still aimed more at myself. He’s a dickhead because I allow him to be one. It’s evident by his relaxed demeanor that he knew he could stand me up and everything would be fine the next day … because I’ll overlook it, like I always do. It pisses me off, yet I’m still unable to do anything about it.

  “I couldn’t leave Andrew hanging.”

  “You had no problem leaving me hanging. You could’ve at least called so I didn’t sit there like an idiot all evening.” I go back to writing in my planner even though my anger grows at his lack of concern for anything but his stupid friend. That jerk goes out of his way to cause trouble in our relationship, not that we need any help in that department.

  Kyle leans forward, his lips against my ear as he whispers, “Don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you tonight.” His hand rubs up my back, sending a nauseating feeling sailing through my stomach.

  I know he’s clueless, but does he really think I’m going to jump on his dick and pretend everything is fine? There hasn’t been much in that general department in the last two years, so why would this make that any more likely? Nothing has been the same in the last two years.

  “Or now if you want to go back to my place,” he says as he moves to kiss me, his hand dropping to my ass.

  “Don’t touch me.” I shove my hands against his chest, forcing him back as I jerk away. My elbow hits my planner and knocks my coffee over. “Damn it,” I mumble, standing to swoop all my things off the table before they’re covered in coffee. Willow jumps up to grab some napkins.

  “Way to go, babe,” Kyle mocks.

  The muscles in my hands tense as they clutch my rescued belongings to my chest, and I stare down at the spilled coffee. The coffee that I really needed. I’m barely holding myself together, and Kyle sure as hell isn’t helping. “You need to leave. Now.”

  “I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” Willow says as she drops a pile of napkins onto the table, grabbing a few as she begins wiping up the liquid.

  “No one cares what you think,” Kyle hisses as he glares at Willow.

  “I care what she thinks.” And she’s right. She’s always right. I’ve just avoided admitting that the hopeless idiot is as pointless as our so-called relationship. I help Willow wipe up the mess as I say flatly, “You can go now.”

  “Sadie, I’m sorry. My phone was dead, and it was late by the time I got home, so I didn’t want to call in case you were already asleep.”

  I don’t want to hear his bullshit excuses, and I won’t allow him to be rude to Willow. Just
because I put up with it doesn’t mean I’ll let him treat my best friend like that.

  “Need a hand?” a deep, familiar voice says from behind me. The Good Samaritan steps beside me, looking at the spilled coffee.

  “What are you doing here?” The question pops out before I can think twice.

  “Getting some coffee.” He motions to the table as he continues, “Looks like you could use another cup too.”

  “Who are you?” Kyle asks, to which his only answer is a chuckle from Willow.

  “No. Not here. Here.” I wave around the room, feeling as crazy as I probably sound. “The same school. The same class. The same coffee place. The same road last night.”

  “Last night?” Kyle asks, standing from his chair as he moves beside me. “What happened last night?”

  Ignoring Kyle, I keep my attention where I can’t help but focus because none of it makes sense. Maybe him being a student, but what are the chances he’s in my class too? And why the hell is it bothering me so bad? “Who are you, and why are you here?”

  “Dylan, and I’m guessing for the same reason you are. This is a university, after all. And I happened to be passing by last night. Didn’t know I left such an impression on you.”

  Oh, he left an impression all right. Last night and right now, although the charming smile he’s flashing my way is having a much different effect now than it had last night on the side of the road. It shouldn’t be. Yet, my eyes are focused on his mouth. Which he takes note of, and his smile grows bigger.

  “What the hell is going on, Sadie?” Kyle interrupts, stepping between me and Dylan, effectively blocking my view.

  “Nothing. Will you leave already?” I’d assumed he already had; all thoughts of him evaporated when I focused on Dylan. That can’t be a good thing … at least not relationship-wise.

  “It doesn’t seem like nothing. Who the hell is this, and what did you do with him last night?” Kyle jabs a finger in Dylan’s direction but keeps his accusatory glare on me.

  “Really, Kyle? Now you’re concerned about what I was doing last night.” How ironic. My night had been the last thing on his mind a few minutes ago.

  “Yes. Last night. What. Happened?”

  “I watched her change … a tire.” A devilish smile replaces the charming one when he pauses halfway through the sentence, his eyes never wavering from mine. Dylan might be trying to push Kyle’s buttons, but he’s freakin’ hammering on mine merely with his presence. There’d been a time when I’d gotten giddy at the sight of Kyle, but I don’t ever remember feeling like this … like there’s an invisible pull drawing me to him.

  “Oh, wow,” Willow says with amusement. “Glad someone was there for her last night.”

  Kyle ignores the remark as he remains focused on Dylan.

  Dylan takes a calculated step back, his eyes running down my body, then back up before returning to my lips as he says, “Anytime.”

  Dangerous. This guy has danger written all over him. Not in the psycho-murderer manner like I’d first feared, but in the heartbreaker way. Like, a serious enticer. His temptation is scary exciting, and I fear once he embeds his charming allure in my heart, I’ll regret ever having known him. Because he’s too much; it would be like playing with fire. When he leaves, and I have no doubt he’ll leave, I’ll have to mend my broken pieces back together. Again.

  Kyle remains rigid as we watch Dylan walk away. “What the fuck was that about?”

  “I told you—it was nothing. Not that you deserve an explanation, but I ended our stupid anniversary night with a flat tire on the side of the road in the rain.” I go back to cleaning the table, and when I step over to the trash can, Kyle follows.

  “You could’ve called me,” he says, his body blocking me from returning to the table.

  Folding my arms across my chest, I look up to meet his furious eyes. “I did … for hours while I sat at Big Tobe’s, waiting on you in a stupid dress for our stupid anniversary. You didn’t answer. Why would I call you when I’m perfectly capable of changing a flat tire myself? Besides, I thought your phone was dead.”

  “Call me next time.” He remains tense, looking in Dylan’s direction. Kyle doesn’t care that I had a flat, he only cares that Dylan was there.

  “I didn’t need your help last night, and I won’t need your help next time.”

  “But you sure needed his.”

  “No. I didn’t. That’s why he watched me change the tire.” Stepping around him, I return to the table, plop down in the chair, and relax when Kyle finally heads out of the café.

  “Interesting,” Willow says.

  “No, he’s not,” I say flatly, grabbing a few of the remaining napkins to dry off my planner and notebook.

  “I didn’t say he was interesting, so that makes it even more interesting.”

  “Strange, weird, and annoying, yes. Interesting, no, so let’s just drop it.” Please, because he’s pulling me in all kinds of ways that I shouldn’t be wanting to go. Someone should tell that to my body, though, because I’m not sure my mind is in control where Dylan is concerned.

  “Fine. But I have to say that I already like Dylan. He seems to really piss off Kyle.”

  “Of course you do,” I say, jotting down some notes until a paper cup is placed on the center of the paper. Looking up, Dylan is walking away with a matching cup in his hand.

  “Interesting indeed,” Willow snickers.

  “Stop.” I shake my head, moving the cup aside to continue jotting down some important dates to remember while trying to forget everything Willow is correct about. “It’s just a cup of coffee.”

  “Mm-hmm,” she says but thankfully drops the topic and resumes her studies. We sit for an hour, though I’m no more prepared for my next class than I was before. The only thing I usually have under control is my courses, so this isn’t making me feel good about the semester. This semester is supposed to be different. I’m supposed to be happy, participate in my life as my dad keeps telling me to do, but the only thing I feel is miserable and confused.

  3

  Dylan

  Out of all the guys she could date, why would she be with that fucker? It’s obvious she’s out of his league in more than one way, so why is she with him? More importantly, why the fuck do I care? She’s not the reason I’m here.

  The vibration of my phone pulls me from my thoughts, and I look at the screen to see the call I knew would come sooner or later. I might as well answer because my mom is not going to give up until I do. Taking a deep breath, I say hello into the phone.

  “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all morning.”

  Guilt consumes me because I know exactly what she fears—that something bad had happened. “I’m fine, Mom. I was in class earlier and couldn’t answer.”

  “How is the new school?”

  “It’s good.”

  “Are you sure? You can take some time off if you need to and enroll at the university back here next semester.”

  “I’m sure. I’m missing y’all, but the change of scenery has been good. How are you doing? How’s Emma?” I ask about my little sister to change the topic; anything to distract her from asking more questions that I don’t want to answer. I don’t need a semester off. I need to be here. That’s not debatable.

  “She’s doing good. The only thing she keeps talking about is how much better second grade is than first.” I hear the smile in my mom’s voice as she speaks but the deep sigh tells me the smile has vanished. “She keeps asking when you’re coming home.”

  My eyes close as I picture my little sister’s smiling face. “Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can.” It kills me to be away, but this is where I need to be. Clutching the phone to my ear, I open my eyes just in time to spot Kyle headed my way.

  The bastard stops about two feet away, an angry stare on his face as he remains silent.

  “I’ll call you later. Love you,” I say into the phone then disconnect the call as soon as I hear my mom tell me bye and sh
e loves me too. Shoving the phone into the front pocket of my jeans, I keep my eyes glued to the douchebag in front of me. Sadie is nowhere in sight, but I have a feeling she will be the topic of conversation.

  “What were you doing with Sadie last night?”

  Yep. She is the key. “I wasn’t with her, just watching her.” I’m unable to suppress the smirk as his rage grows.

  Kyle stalks forward, eliminating the distance between us to get in my face. “Stay the fuck away from my girlfriend.”

  “Why are you so worried if she’s yours?”

  “I’m not worried, but you should be if you go anywhere near her again.”

  “I’ll try to keep that in mind next time.” His threat, whether empty or not, doesn’t concern me in the least. I have experience with pain, and the greatest pain of my life wasn’t inflicted physically. That’s the sort I can take. It’s the internal torment that I can’t handle any more of. Maybe that’s why I’m enjoying the suffering he’s experiencing—he’s wondering if someone he cares so much about—or at least thinks he does—is going to be ripped away from him.

  “There won’t be a next time.”

  “Then why are you so worried?”

  “You’re right.” Kyle takes a quick look over me then meets my eye, taking a slow step back. “I don’t have a fucking thing to worry about.”

  The cocky smirk doesn’t match his stiff body language as he finally saunters off. He’s worried. And if he’s not, he should be.

  4

  Sadie

  Concentration. I need to concentrate. It’s been my goal for the last hour, but my mind refuses to cooperate. Leaning back on my bed, I survey the books scattered in front of me. The history textbook is still open to the same page it’s been on for the last twenty minutes. Simple reading and note-taking doesn’t seem to be within my ability at the moment. Slamming the textbook shut, I toss it near my feet as I lightly tap my head against the wooden headboard. It’s official. Any hope of starting fresh this semester is out.