4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Anastasia
" M eg, I’m telling you, this asshole finds every single opportunity to single me out. It’s almost like he’s pissed off that I’m not ready to kneel at his feet and kiss his ass just because of his looks," I scoff, taking a large bite from the sandwich I grabbed from the dining hall.
Seated at the back of the dining hall, we all stick to ourselves. Thankfully, Meg and Elijah value their privacy just as much as I do.
"I had a friend in your English class tell me he was glaring at your desk the whole time you were there," Elijah grins. "Whatever you said to him, it definitely pissed him off." His grin widens as he adds, "She also told me Mr. Ackerman wasn’t the only yummy man in the classroom giving you googly eyes. Who’s this boy you're scene partners with?"
I freeze mid-bite, scanning the dining hall until I spot him.
Seated with a group of other guys wearing baseball hoodies, Walker is laughing it up, grinning like he owns the place.
"Blondie over there with the baseball boys." I point. "Walker."
Both Meg and Elijah turn their heads to give him a good, long look.
"Rich boy?" Meg jokes, nudging my shoulder lightly.
"Right, because this college isn’t full of privilege?" I gripe, rolling my eyes.
Elijah’s smile grows mischievously.
"What are you-"
"Hey, Walker!" Elijah suddenly exclaims, his voice ringing loudly across the dining hall.
I watch as Walker’s head snaps in our direction, and I quickly cover my face with my hands.
"Elijah, what the hell?" I whisper angrily.
"If he wants to come to one of our movie nights, I think it’s only fair we meet him first and evaluate," Elijah says with a wicked grin.
"Elijah-"
"You called me?" Walker says, his voice filled with surprise and amusement as he approaches our table.
Sensing him right behind me, I pull my head up from the table, my cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment, the heat creeping up my neck.
"My friends wanted to say hi," I manage to grin, kicking Elijah under the table to snap him out of whatever judgmental thoughts he’s having.
Walker gives me a warm smile, settling down next to me without hesitation.
"Well, here I am."
I watch as my friends give him a once-over, their silent assessment making the air feel heavier.
"So, Walker," Megan begins, locking eyes with him, "what are your intentions with our dear Ana?"
My stomach tightens as she shoots him a searing gaze, her tone all business.
Elijah leans forward, adding his own bite to the conversation.
"Follow-up question: what about her made you want to single her out in English?"
I could die right now.
Walker meets their challenge with ease, his voice steady.
"Honestly, I thought she was extremely beautiful, and it was clear that if I didn’t say something to her, someone else would." He glances at me, his honesty making my heart flutter. "So I took a chance on talking to her, and she invited me to your little movie night."
Elijah taps his chin, nodding slowly, clearly sizing him up.
"And if you were to come to said movie night, could we count on you to bring snacks?" he asks, mimicking the act of drinking with a hand gesture.
I guess his potential wealth doesn’t matter too much anymore.
"I can most definitely bring the best snack." Walker laughs.
Just as I start to breathe easier, I feel his hand gently settle on my thigh. The touch startles me, a rush of nerves sweeping through my body.
I glance down at his hand, my heart racing as the sensation sinks in.
Resting my hand over his, I give his fingers a soft squeeze, silently reassuring him that the touch is more than welcome.
Once Megan and Elijah have gone back to their own conversation, Walker leans in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispers, "Sorry, that was nerve-wracking as hell, and I didn’t know what to do with my hand."
I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. I let myself relax into the feeling of his hand still resting on me.
"It’s okay," I whisper back, allowing the connection between us to settle comfortably.
"So, Walker," Elijah starts up again, his voice smooth with curiosity. "How well do you know those players on the baseball team?"
Objective #2 for Elijah: find more bi-curious men.
I roll my eyes inwardly, excusing myself from the conversation. I grab my tray and make my way toward the bins by the back exit of the dining hall. Tossing away my empty items, the chill of the outside air washes over me as it creeps into the dining hall, calling me to step outside for a moment of relief.
I glance back at the table. The three of them are deep in conversation, so lost in their exchange that they won’t notice if I take a few minutes to breathe.
Stepping outside, I’m met with the quiet stillness of the courtyard. Most students are in class or back in the dining hall, leaving me with the peaceful solitude of the open space.
The golden leaves have begun to turn a murky brown, a subtle sign that winter is on its way. I take in the sight of the gothic architecture that defines the campus, leaning against the wall between two grand pillars, feeling the cool stone against my back, hidden from the world.
I close my eyes, letting the calm of the courtyard seep into my bones.
These moments of stillness bring clarity.
Maybe life doesn’t have to feel like a fine line I’m constantly walking. Maybe I can indulge in the warmth of Walker’s presence and find some solace in my chaotic life.
“Anastasia?”
The voice that cuts through the quiet is grating, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
My eyes snap open, and my heart pounds faster with each beat. Standing in front of me with that cocky, infuriating expression, Cole blocks my view of the peaceful courtyard. He’s standing uncomfortably close, his body radiating heat that makes my skin prickle.
Where the hell is his little sleaze?
“What do you want?” I snap, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
The last thing I want is to entertain a conversation with this man.
"You always were so mouthy," Cole scoffs, taking another step closer. I feel the cool concrete of the wall behind me press into my back, the pillars shielding my friends from seeing how dangerously close he is.
"Which is why I'm here," he continues, his voice low. "I heard whispers the cops might extend their suspect list to this university. If they come sniffing around, the last thing I need is your big mouth saying the wrong thing."
I try to block out the memories of that night, but they claw at the edges of my mind. I shake my head, trying to push them away.
"You know what happened wasn’t my fault. You are the one-"
"You are the one who walked away, Ana," he hisses, his voice venomous. He shoves me back into the wall, the impact stealing my breath for a moment. His hand presses possessively against my hip, while the other closes around my throat, pinning me in place.
I freeze, petrified, unable to move.
"You are the one who got out and tried to help. You compromised both of us," he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin. He squeezes my neck, and I feel my head spin, dizziness creeping in. "I’m finally getting my life together," he whispers, tightening his grip. "The last thing I need is my slutty little ex running her mouth and ruining it all."
His words cut through me, and I gasp, struggling for air.
"Consider this a reminder of how easily I can overpower you," he sneers. "I figured after the first time you wouldn’t need a reminder."
I try to pry his hand off my throat, but it’s like he doesn’t even see me.
"C-Cole, I can’t breathe-"
He laughs darkly.
"Funny. You always loved it when I did this while fucking you-"
"What the fuck is going on?" a voice hisses, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Instantly, Cole drops his hand from my throat, and before I can gather myself, he slams his lips onto mine. The kiss is fierce and suffocating, barely giving me a chance to breathe as he forces it upon me. My mind races as I shove him away, rubbing my sore throat, shaking with fear from the weight of what just happened.
I wish I could scrub my face clean, but all I can do is wipe my lips with my hand, trying to erase the feeling.
"Just saying goodbye to an old flame," Cole scoffs, shrugging nonchalantly. "She was struggling to take a hint," he mutters, glaring at me like I’m the problem.
Noah stands there, watching the exchange with a disapproving look, his eyes barely flicking in Cole’s direction.
"Get to class before I write you up," Noah snaps, his voice sharp. "Ms. Burns, stay back for a moment."
Cole shrugs his shoulders, walking away but not before giving me one last warning look, a silent threat hanging between us. He heads back inside, and only once he’s gone do I let out a shaky sob, running my hand through my hair in frustration. Finally, I release the cough that’s been stuck in my throat, but it turns into a dry gag as I rub at my tender skin, trying to soothe the burn.
"Here to gloat about this morning?" I snap, my voice rough with emotion.
The last thing I need right now is Mr. Ackerman’s presence.
"What did he do to you?" Noah asks, his tone suddenly serious, much more than it was this morning.
"He told you, didn’t he?" I spit, my voice bitter. "Satiating the needs of his whore ex who can’t take no for an answer-"
"That’s what he said?" Noah snaps back, stepping closer to me. His eyes narrow. "I want you to tell me what really happened."
My hand instinctively presses to my throat, the memory of Cole’s words still fresh in my mind.
"Consider this a reminder of how easily I can overpower you."
"A lapse in judgment on my end," I lie, my voice shaky. "It really isn’t important-"
"Then show me your neck," Noah demands, his voice firm. "You’ve been hiding it since I got here."
Shaking my head, I try to push past him, desperate to avoid this conversation.
"I’m not doing this with you-"
Without warning, he grabs my wrist, pulling my hand away from my throat. His grip tightens as he takes the side of my face, using my hair to tug my head back, exposing the evidence of Cole’s brash touch. I freeze, stunned by his force, unable to move.
Noah’s gaze fixes on my neck, and I watch him take a step closer, his fingers tightening on my hair, pulling me into his control.
"I told you to show me your neck," he whispers, his voice dangerously soft.
His long fingers slide down my throat, and I feel a shiver run through me, my heart racing. His smirk deepens as he watches my reaction.
"Your heart is racing right now, Anastasia."
Regretfully, warmth floods between my legs the moment he says my full name in that tone. I glance around, my heart pounding, checking to see if anyone is witnessing this.
"No one is here. Just me," he warns, as if he’s reading my mind. "Next time I tell you to do something-" He pauses, leaning in so close that his lips graze my ear. "Listen."
He lets go of my face and hair, stepping back as if nothing happened, brushing off his front as if he hadn’t just had his hands all over me.
This is something I can report.
This is something I should report.
That is wrong.
So why the hell am I slick with my own desires right now?
I fight the urge to ignore everything that just happened and find my voice, taking a step toward Noah.
"I am not your problem, Noah," I hiss, throwing his first name at him like a challenge. "Do that again, and I’ll report your ass to administration," I snap, my tone sharp, my anger flaring.
He watches me, lips curling into a smirk, and then takes a step back, hands raised in mock surrender.
"See you in class, Ms. Burns."
He is the farthest thing from afraid.
Saying nothing more, I turn and walk away, the tightness in my chest shifting, now confused.
How did I go from fearful to lustful in the span of mere seconds?