by K. A Knight
“Let’s go,” I urge, trying to regulate my breathing as I blink back tears.
“You okay?” he asks, and I can hear the frown in his voice. I let my hair hang in a curtain between us as I recover. I force a smile and look at him.
“Fine, you ready?”
He searches my eyes and frowns harder, but turns forward and fires up the car before backing out of the drive. I look at my house, spotting Perv watching us out of the window, and I shiver in disgust. One of these days, he isn’t going to stop. It’s just one of the reasons why I need to get out of here and I need Max to teach me to look after myself.
“You know you can talk to me, right?” he questions, his voice harsh, and I spot his white knuckles on the wheel.
I can tell I’m worrying him, but this isn’t his problem, so I lay my hand on his arm, wincing as it pulls on my still sore side. “I’m fine, I was just worried about being late. Did Milo enjoy his walk?” I ask, changing the subject. I turn in my seat to face him, hiding my wince of pain. Luckily, he’s not staring at me but at the road.
“He enjoys everything, he’s such a happy dog,” Max answers, his voice stern, but there’s a soft curl of his lips, betraying his tone.
“He loves you,” I reply.
“Dogs love anyone who feeds them.” He shrugs.
“Nope, they don’t. They are a good judge of character, he loves you, must mean you’re a good man.” I smile, and he looks over at me then, his face closed off and dark. For a moment I forget who he is and why I shouldn’t be scared, and my breath catches at the utter lack of feeling there. It’s like everything is gone—his personality, feelings, there’s just nothing. His eyes are dead and cold, his face blank and terrifying.
“I’m not a good man, Scarlett, you better remember that.” His voice is the same, so cold and chilling that I want to look away, except I can’t because he’s trying to warn me, but I won’t accept him pushing me away now, not when we just got this close.
“I think you’re better than you think you are, or else why would you help me? Why would you adopt Milo? Why would you deliver Martha’s shopping every week? Yes, I know about that, because I’ve seen you, Max. You’re a good person, I just don’t think you know it,” I argue, and then look out of the window, leaving him to his thoughts.
He goes quiet then and I watch the road as we move through early morning traffic. We are earlier than I thought, so we head through a drive-through and he orders me a coffee, making me smile because he remembers what I said. He passes it over with a grin, a peace offering.
“Thank you, Max,” I say softy.
“You’re welcome,” he grumbles, sipping his own as he steers back onto the road with one hand.
We spend the rest of the drive in silence, and when we pull up at the university, I’m sad to go. I grab my bag, gripping my cup as I open the door, and turn to him with my mouth open.
“I’ll pick you up later, you have your phone?” he inquires, before I can say anything.
I nod, confused, and when he gestures, I grab it from my bag and hand it over. He messes with it for a minute before handing it back. “See you later, Scarlett. Try to stay out of trouble.” He winks and I laugh, slipping from the car before shutting the door behind me. He watches me again as I head down the path, so I finger wave and hurry to my first lecture with a smile on my face despite Perv’s actions this morning.
I wave goodbye to Nadia and slip into my second lecture. The big whiteboard and screen stand ready at the front with the guest lecturer setting up. The lecture hall consists of three columns of tiered seating with desks in front of them. I hurry up the steps, slipping into an open seat on the second to last row, and place my notebook and pen in front of me, ready to take notes. I’m putting my bag on the floor when something tugs on my hair. I whip my head up and groan when I spot the grinning face of Randy as he slips into the seat next to me. He reclines as far as he can in the seat, sprawling with no notebook, bag, or pen, just his phone as he watches me.
“Morning, sexy,” he teases.
“Morning,” I offer, then turn away, hoping if I ignore him then he might disappear. The guest lecturer clears his throat.
“Good morning, my name is Mr. Lewis and I will be talking to you today about colours and their purpose within both print and digital media.” He turns to the screen, clicking the device in his hand, and the slide changes to show off his teaching materials. I start to take notes, listening intently and marking down things to ask at the end of the lecture, and what to consider for research purposes.
“Psst, why are you ignoring me? Is it because I intimidate you? ‘Cause, girl, you have nothing to worry about. You are hella hot,” Randy says. I glance up to see him grinning at me and when he sees, he winks.
Ugh.
“I’m just trying to pay attention,” I whisper, and then turn back to the front, but he moves closer and when he starts talking, I can’t hear the lecturer over him.
“Aww, come on, talk to me. I’m bored. Why don’t we go out tonight?” he suggests, talking loud enough that the girl in front turns around and gives us the evil eye before facing the front again.
“Sorry,” I whisper to her. “I’m working,” I mumble to him, hoping he’ll drop it.
“Where do you work?” he asks, like he actually cares.
“A bar,” I mutter. Realising he isn’t getting the picture, I drop my pen—it’s not like I can take notes with him here anyway—and I lean back and look at him. “Look, I’m sorry, I have a boyfriend, so maybe you should ask someone else?” I try, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.
“He the one driving you to and from campus? The big one with the beard?” he questions, picking up my pen and playing with it. I frown as he flicks through my notebook and starts writing something.
“Yes, I mean, yes, can you please not?” I ask, snatching them back.
He laughs, sprawling back in his chair. “Sure thing, sexy. So, how about you break up with him and go out with me? I’m better looking, and I sure as hell bet I’m richer. You ever ridden in a Ferrari?” he inquires snobbishly.
I feel my phone vibrate in my bag at my feet and use it as an excuse to ignore him. He prattles on, not even realising I’m no longer listening. Boy, does he love the sound of his own voice. I bet he takes shirtless selfies while pouting as well. What a fuck boy, as Nadia would say. Reaching into my bag, my eyes on the lecturer, I snag my phone and pull it into my lap, shielding it from Randy. It buzzes again and I swipe it open to see two new texts. I grin when I spot the name “Max.” Even the way he labelled himself in my phone shows how mature and different he is. I instantly scroll through and change his name to “Hottie Next Door,” holding in my giggle as I open the messages.
Hottie Next Door: What do you want to eat tonight?
Hottie Next Door: Sorry for being snappy earlier, I didn’t sleep well, forgive me?
I glance up at Randy and the lecturer, but neither are paying attention to me, Randy is doodling in my book again and I hide a scowl by looking down at my phone and typing out a message.
Me: It’s okay, what do you fancy? :)
I sit, staring at the screen, impatiently waiting for him to reply. He doesn’t take long. The read message pops up and his message comes through straight away, another reason I like him. He plays no games.
Hottie Next Door: How about pizza?
I grin, does he know that’s my favourite food? It’s Max, so probably, he notices everything.
Me: Yes! With extra cheese.
Hottie Next Door: It’s a date.
My mouth drops open and I hover over the screen, not sure what to say. Does he mean it that way? He doesn’t take it back and I know he’s seen I’ve read it. My mouth goes dry and my palms clammy. Shit, shit, respond, Scar.
Me: See you then.
Wow, that was lame. I drop my phone to my lap with a cringe, but it doesn’t vibrate again so I close the messages. Just as I’m going to lock it, Randy snatches it from me.
&nb
sp; “Give it back,” I hiss at him.
He winks at me. “Don’t worry, just one second.”
“Randy, now,” I demand, holding out my hand.
He turns away so I can’t see what he’s doing before grinning at me and passing it back. I snatch it and thumb through, making sure he didn’t text anyone, but I can’t see what he did, so I slide it into my bag, grab my notebook, and turn back to the front, ignoring him again. The whole lecture stretches on and by the end, I haven’t heard anything Mr. Lewis was teaching thanks to Randy.
“See you later, sexy,” he whispers in my ear, before tugging on my hair again and sliding from his seat. He swaggers down the steps and slips out of the door while everyone else is gathering their stuff.
Maybe I should let Max kick his ass, might take him down a peg, or better yet, make Max teach me how and then I’ll do it.
The rest of the afternoon is spent in a design lesson, four hours where we get to work on our year-long projects. I lose myself in the music from my phone, concentrating on the screen in front of me as I paint. My phone buzzes a few times, and around the fifth message I start to get annoyed, so I pick it up, hoping it’s Max. No such luck.
Reggie: I miss you.
Reggie: Please, let’s try again.
Reggie: Why are you ignoring me?
Reggie: I heard you have a new boyfriend, is that true?
Reggie: Talk to me!
Ugh, I don’t bother replying. Instead, I pocket my phone and lock my screen. I get up, stretching, and I smile at a few people and make small talk as I head to the door and down the carpeted corridor. Paintings, photographs, and other projects from students are proudly displayed on the blue pin boards spanning from ceiling to floor on every available wall. The second floor of this building is made up of Mac labs for design, editing, and photography. On this side is all computer rooms, while the other side holds photo studios and recording rooms.
I stop at a vending machine and coffee machine, grabbing a bottle of water and some chocolate as my music blasts in my ears. A tap on my shoulder has me jumping. I yank out my headphones and gawk, clutching my chest. Josh is grinning at me and I smile, even as I reach out and smack his arm.
“You almost gave me a heart attack!” I scold, but I laugh anyway, his face is just so innocent and boyish. His brown hair messy on his head and his blue eyes are sparkling with mirth. He’s handsome, just a bit taller than me, and lean as hell with a...unique style. Right now, he’s sporting slacks, suspenders, and a white shirt with a hat on his head tipped to the side. It’s so Josh and makes me smile as I face him.
He’s in my design lab and we usually sit together—two troublemakers, Steve, our design teacher, calls us—but Josh wasn’t there today. “Skipping or just late?” I ask with a smile.
He groans. “Late, I was up working on that bloody album cover all night and then passed out, I missed all my morning lectures.”
“Uh-oh, least you’re here now. I gotta admit, it was quiet in there,” I tease as he pours himself a cup of coffee.
“Admit it, you missed me, short fry.” He laughs and I roll my eyes. He places a lid on his coffee and slings his arm around my shoulders, steering me back to the lab. “What did you get up to last night?” he inquires around a yawn.
“Work,” I admit and he groans. “But I also hung out with a guy,” I add. I tell Josh everything, we met in first year and have been inseparable ever since. He never judges me for my home life and understands why he can’t come there. Sometimes, he even lets me crash in his student accommodation, and I don’t judge him for moving as far away as possible from home as he could.
“Spill, woman, wait, it wasn’t cock face ex, was it?” He gawks down at me and I laugh.
“No.” We have to break apart to get through the doors and he slips into his empty computer chair next to mine, wiggling the mouse to bring up the log in for the Mac before he looks at me, grinning as he sips his coffee. “Well then, spill.”
I hesitate, should I really tell him? It’s not like Max and me are a thing, but we did hang out, that wasn’t a lie, and we are again tonight. “He’s the hot one from next door,” I whisper, looking around, but no one pays us any attention.
He wiggles his eyebrows, making me laugh. “It’s about time.” I gasp and hit him again, but he rolls away on his chair to avoid me. “What? I’m not an idiot, you don’t shut up about him.”
“Not true!” I laugh.
“Uh-huh, okay, well how about when you talk about him you nearly drool and your eyes go all gooey? So, the guy finally realised you were a woman?”
I turn back to my computer, hiding my blushing cheeks, and log in before glancing up at him. “Maybe, but honestly, I don’t know. He seems to and then he’ll pull away again. Maybe it’s the age difference?”
“Pu-lease, you’re an adult, almost twenty-one, and he’s like what, twenty-six? That’s nothing, maybe he notices but you never did?” He logs in too and boots up Photoshop, leaving it to load as he rolls closer and props his chin on my shoulder. “Sometimes, short fry, you don’t realise the effect you have on people. I bet he’s noticed plenty, but at least you finally crossed a line.” He gives me a one-armed hug and changes the subject, probably realising I don’t know what else to say. “Now, tell me if this is shit? I have five versions, each with like eight hundred layers, and honestly, something is bugging me on each one.”
Laughing because every designer knows the pain, I scoot over and go through each design and offer my suggestions. After that, I return to mine and we share my chocolate, teasing each other until the class is packing up. I stay ten minutes extra to compress some files before saving and logging out. Usually, if I wasn’t working, I would stay behind and get some more work in. It’s not like my laptop at home runs Photoshop and I couldn’t afford it if it did, so I have to do everything here.
Locking the computer, I toss my rubbish in the bin and look at Josh who’s biting his lower lip and mumbling about red not being red enough. “Come on, you need a break and I need to go.” He sighs but saves his work and logs out, stretching as he gets up.
“I swear, if I stare at the design for much longer, I’m going to go crazy,” he mutters.
Laughing, I get my bag and he drapes his arm around my shoulders as we leave the room, not bothering to shut and lock the door, since students will be in and out of here all night. The building is open twenty-four hours, and even I’ve come here sometimes to get away from everything, mainly my mum. “I’m going to Max’s tonight,” I tell him.
“Ooo, booty call?” he teases.
I elbow him in the side. “No, he’s getting us food and teaching me some self-defence.”
He pinches my side and pain racks through me. I’d forgotten about the grabbing from Perv, but Josh isn’t aware he caused me pain as he looks down at me while we walk. “What for? Just so you can feel him up? Or do I need to become your official bodyguard?”
“Bit of both.” I shrug and he pulls me to a stop.
“Should I be worried? What’s going on?” he questions, frowning.
“I’m fine, I just want to be able to protect myself,” I answer, then grab his arm and start walking again. He falls in by my side, silent for a moment.
“I think it’s so you can get him all sweaty,” he muses and I laugh.
“That too.”
We talk as we walk. He asks about my projects and we decide to do the next one together before I break away at the front of the building. “I better get going.”
“Don’t wanna keep hottie waiting,” he calls, walking away backwards. I snigger and turn. Spotting Max marching towards me, my eyes fly wide. His eyes are locked on me, but they flutter to Josh before he reaches me.
“I got worried when you didn’t turn up and you didn’t reply to my texts, everything okay?” he asks with a frown.
Ah shit, I had put my phone on ‘do not disturb.’ “Yeah, sorry, was just saving my projects, let’s go,” I say with a wide smile.
&nb
sp; He smirks down at me and grabs my bag, slinging it over his shoulder as we start walking. “Excited for me to kick your ass or pizza?”
“Both, definitely both.” I laugh.
He laughs with me and I almost stumble, but recover before he notices—yes, I’m breaking down one barrier at a time.
We pick up pizza on the way home, and he pulls up his drive and turns off the engine. I grab my bag as he gets the boxes and heads to unlock the door. “Down,” he orders Milo, as he pushes through the door. I follow behind him, gazing around as I go, realising I’ve never been in his house before.
The living room is bare, like really bare, and not how I imagined him to have decorated it. It looks old. I follow him to the kitchen, noting there are no pictures anywhere at all. The kitchen is brighter, but even then it’s stark and almost empty. Has he even decorated since he moved in? I’m thinking not. He ignores me as he opens the boxes and places them on the table. Next, he grabs two waters and sets them near the pizza before he finally glances at me. He spots me looking and cringes.
“Nice flowers,” I tease.
He smiles as he grabs Milo’s bowl and feeds the excited dog before sitting down. I place my bag on one chair and sit opposite him, grabbing a slice of pizza. We don’t talk as we eat and I’m proud to say he only eats one more slice than I do. That’s right, boys, I can out eat most guys, especially when it’s pizza.
Whoever said girls should order a salad is a fucking idiot. The ways to a woman’s heart are pizza, dogs, and muscles, and this man has all three. He sips his water and watches me as he leans back. “Let the food settle before we start. Do you have something to change into?” he asks, looking down at the dress I wore to university.
I nod, pointing at my bag. “Yes, I’ll get changed.”
“Okay, let me show you the bathroom.” He gets up and I follow, grabbing my bag.
