Chapter Twelve
Harshal
I’m frozen as I stand in my bedroom. The bed is made, there’s flowers, and a card on it as well. I know I didn’t fix my bed this morning because I woke up late and I definitely don’t recognize the flowers and card. I walk to my bed and grab the card to read it.
You are the light in a dark room
That lights up many people’s world
Keep on being you and you’ll be just fine
Then in big, neat handwriting that looks like a males handwriting, it says,
The power you hold unknowingly
can be exhilarating even to those
in the dark...
Who did this? Did Brunelle do this? I hear her come out of the bathroom and enter the kitchen so I do as well.
“Did you do this?” I ask, holding up the card.
“Oh so you found the stuff you left in class.” She says.
I frown, confused.
“What?” I ask.
“One of your classmates came by and said that you left something in math class and they decided to drop it off for you.” Brunelle explains.
I’m silent. And she sighs.
“I’m thinking he didn’t want you to know he did this, but I caught him hiding behind the dishwasher.” She adds.
My eyes advert to the dishwasher then back to her.
“The guy you went to Vegas with was here so I’m assuming he did it.” She says.
Fucking Wraith! He had to do this because it’s obvious Brunelle didn’t do it, and I hardly know anyone else on campus enough for them to do this for me.
And the motherfucker made my day especially since the day I had at work today wasn’t particularly great.
I would rather die than tell him that though.
“Oh and guess what?” Brunelle says excitedly.
“What?” I ask.
“There’s a race happening this Saturday, hosted by a Frat house and we’re going.” She says.
“Uh who said I was going?” I ask.
“Me.” she grins.
“What if I needed that night to study?” I ask.
“That’s what the day is for.” She says. “There’s no way out of this, we’re going regardless if you want to or not, you need to get out more and experience life at a young age before it’s too late. I mean you haven’t had a boyfriend since high school and when’s the last time you’ve been fucked?”
“What does my sex life have to do with anything?” I ask.
“So it’s been a while.” Brunelle says as if she’s taking notes about me.
I roll my eyes and head back into my room, closing the door behind me.
“Make sure you wear something sexy so guys will literally drool after you.” Brunelle shouts through the closed door.
I shake my head and pick up the flowers to smell them.
They smell nice and I want to throw them away, but they’ve helped with the tension I felt when I came home.
Instead, I go find a glass, put some water in it and place the flowers inside, putting them on my nightstand where they’ll stay until they die.
Damn Wraith! And damn Brunelle for forcing me to go to this race.
***
I’m currently sitting in the school library about to pull my hair out as I do homework.
I’m also regretting my life choices of becoming a nurse because nursing school if fucking torture!
I’ve been in here for the past forty minutes stuck on one damn assignment.
The rest of my classes for the day had been canceled so I’m doing my homework, waiting for Brunelle to have her lunch break.
I’ve seen Wraith around on campus but still haven’t stopped him to confront him about the gifts he gave me the other day and I don’t know if I want to scold him or thank him for it.
Honestly now that I’m thinking about it I think it’s best that he doesn’t know I know he did what he did. I’m deep in thought, not focusing on my work like I should be, when someone sits beside me. I look over and internally groan.
“What do you want?” I spit out.
Wraith doesn’t say anything, just pulls his work out and starts working on it. I look around me and see multiple open tables for him to study at.
“That tables open.” I point at a random spot.
He shakes his head his eyes glued to his homework. “Can’t focus over there.”
What? Maybe I should go over there and leave him here. But then again I am the one who was here first not him so he should be the one to leave.
“Why did you pick the table I’m at?” I ask.
“It’s a table where I can focus on my homework.” He says as if it’s obvious.
I just stare at him in disbelief. His hand reaches out and grasps my chin. He uses his grip on my face to point it down at my own homework.
“Focus Grey Eyes, besides, it’s not like we don’t know each other.” He says.
“I hardly know you.” I grumble.
“Well you can get to know me.” he says, finally looking up from his homework and holding his hand out for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Wraith we share a math class.”
The emotion I’m feeling is indescribable at the moment and I’m frozen in place. What. The fuck?
“And you are?” he asks to fill the silence.
“You’re supposed to be quiet in a library.” I state.
“And yet you’re the one who started talking to me.” he turns back to his homework.
I glance at his assignment and see that he’s actually done some work in the little time he’s been here. Sighing in defeat I stay quiet and let him finish his homework while I struggle to do the same.
I’m focused on my homework and finally move past the assignment I’ve been stuck on when Wraith scares me by speaking.
“Do you need help?”
I jump and look at him. He’s packed up and his whole chair is facing me.
“Have you been watching me do my work?” I ask.
He shrugs nonchalantly. “You’re more entertaining than you think.”
“Am I entertaining or are you just obsessed with me?” I ask.
He’s silent as he examines me and I shift in my chair, suddenly uncomfortable.
“Being obsessed with someone is weird, don’t think?” he asks. “And I don’t get obsessed with things I can’t have.”
“And you think you can have me?” I ask.
“Oh, I know I can, it’s just the matter of you accepting the truth or not... it’s up to you.” He says.
He’s rendered me speechless and not in a good way. Who is this man?! My phone buzzes with a text on the table loudly and I quickly pick it up to keep from disturbing others trying to read and or study in peace. Looking at the text I see it’s from Brunelle.
Brunelle: Class is finally over meet me in the main parking lot on campus.
“Where are y’all going?” Wraith asks.
I see him peaking over my shoulder and reading the text so I quickly turn the screen off and shove my phone in my back pocket as I stand.
“To lunch.” I respond. “Nosy.”
He stands too as I pack up. Once I’m packed up I walk to the exit of the library with Wraith following me.
“I don’t need you to follow me to lunch.” I say over my shoulder.
“No, you don’t, but having company doesn’t hurt either.” He says.
“It can.” I mumble.
“But my company doesn't.” he argues.
Giving up I focus on walking to the main parking lot when a guy bumps into me. He looks to be in his late thirties, early forties, dressed in an expensive looking suit. He looks at me and then at Wraith. The guy almost sneers at Wraith before his eyes turn back to me.
“Be careful who you hangout with.” He tells me. “Even though he is beautiful he’s very dangerous, ready to strike at any moment. That or his enemies becomes yours as well.”
Wraith’s body visibly tightens and he balls his hands into fists and if he were a cartoon character I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’d have steam racing out of his ears.
“Watch it, motherfucker!” Wraith growls.
I look at the man and take note that he’s a Mexican man so I’m assuming he teaches a Spanish class somewhere on campus. The guy holds his hands up in surrender.
“I’m just reciting I a little saying I saw online.” He says before walking away.
Wraith takes a step after him and I quickly latch onto his wrist, stopping him.
“Don’t, you don’t want to get expelled for fighting a teacher.” I reason.
He looks at me and I see some of his anger go away.
He then storms off in another direction, separate from mine and the Mexican guy.
I stand in place for a long moment trying to figure out what the hell just happened but I start to get a headache so I leave it alone and continue to meet with Brunelle.
***
We end up at Withems Grill and Chill for the second time this semester and we just got our orders when Wraith enters the place with an annoyed frown on his face.
Coming right after him is Emma and Kinsely with schoolgirl grins on their face.
They’re both dressed as schoolgirls too.
Plaid skirts, girly, frilly button-down shirts, and black chokers to match the outfit.
They even have dainty schoolgirl shoes on.
Brunelle giggles and I turn my attention back to her.
“It’s not Halloween yet.” Brunelle comments.
“What about their outfits is scary?” I ask.
Brunelle looks at me.
“You know good and well that us college students like to dress up as sexy schoolgirls or boys for Halloween. For us Halloween isn’t about being scary it’s about being sexy while bloody.
” She states. “To be honest with you I was surprised when I saw some cute guys dressed as sexy schoolboys for Halloween last year on Insta.”
My attention turns back to Wraith and I quickly advert my eyes back to Brunelle when I see him leaning against the wall, watching me with his arms crossed. I place a fry in my mouth.
“He’s looking at you.” Brunelle says.
“I know.” I snap. “Keep talking, keep me distracted.”
“Oh-kay.” She says slowly. “Speaking of Halloween have you decided what you’re going to be?”
I shrug.
“Why would I?” I ask.
“Uh because we’re in college which means we have to go to someone Halloween party or a night club or something!” Brunelle responds.
“You are serious about this college life aren’t you?” I smirk.
“Yeah, want the grandkids to know that I wasn’t always a bum who sat on the couch all the time watching murder cases being solved on TV.” She says.
“That’s... specific.” I comment. “So you’re going to give up your reality TV shows then?”