Chapter Eleven
S neaking back into our room without a sound, I huffed a soft sigh in frustration. Who the fuck does he think he is telling me what to do? What makes him the goddamn boss? I needed to relax and keep my cool before I disturbed Heather. She slept as if nothing could wake her.
Lucky.
Eventually, I found myself dozing off after I took the last sip from my flask, trying to simmer the rising irritation.
Morning came faster than expected, with Heather awake at her desk, curling her red hair. She carefully parted each piece and twisted it until steam sizzled, reminding her to release that piece before it disintegrated on the metal plates.
“What time is it?” I asked, my voice sounding hoarse.
“Eight-forty-five,” she replied, twirling another piece around the curling wand. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna shower.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing my bag of toiletries, I left our room and trekked down the hall to the female bathrooms. A few girls were already in some of the showers; one had their music blasting, while another stall smelled of vanilla and lavender, filling the room along with the excessive amount of steam. I chose the shower second to last and slipped in, discarding my clothes and turning on the tap. Cold water shot out from the shower head, making me yelp with surprise. I quickly adjusted the temperature before sticking my head back underneath the waterfall of grimy city water.
I missed my filtered water back home.
I lathered, rinsed, and repeated the shampoo in my hair, letting the water soak my entire scalp. It felt good to just let the water touch my face, if only to hush the loudness of my thoughts for a few minutes. Finishing the shower in roughly ten minutes, I then wrapped the floor-length towel around my torso, only to remember I lost my other slipper and returned to my room. Rounding the corner, I was unprepared for the stiff body standing just outside my room, colliding right into them, head first.
“Ouch!” I yelped.
“Oh, crap, sorry! Remi?”
It all happened so fast that my head spun from the hit. “Uh… yeah, that’s… me.”
“Where’s your room?”
Man, that male voice sounded familiar. “Uh…”
My eyesight blurred from the pain; I couldn’t comprehend where I was standing.
“I just need to…”
“Whoa! Your towel!”
But I continued to rub my eyes, trying to subside the unwanted specks in my vision, until, eventually, they diminished from my line of sight. That was when I realized Kal’s hands were holding the towel around my body.
“Oh!” I tugged the towel away from his grasp and stepped back, wrapping it securely around me.
“Hi,” he said with a smile.
“Hi.”
“I wasn’t—”
“I know,” I interjected as my cheeks grew hot from embarrassment.
“Right. I’m sorry I almost knocked you out,” Kal apologized.
I started to laugh. “It wouldn’t be the first time… second.” Josh’s stupid face came to mind. The prick.
He also joined in with the laughter, his smile contagious and bright.
Then I remembered I was standing there wholly naked underneath a towel, wet hair dripping on the floor.
“Well, I’d better get back to my room and change,” I announced as if it wasn’t obvious.
Kal pushed back his blond hair from his eyes. “Yes, that would be a good idea.”
When did the air between us get so awkward? Maybe because I subconsciously rejected him the other day but agreed to his apology dinner that wasn’t an actual date.
I thought I made it known I wasn’t interested on a deeper level… was agreeing to the date sending that message? Shit.
“Right, well, see ya around, I guess.”
“Right. See ya.”
We stood facing each other, wondering who would move first, but my legs didn’t want to move; my mind had other ideas for us that involved a dark closet with no clothes. Because it was college, and no strings attached was my favorite game to play lately. The sudden urge to rip his clothes off and feel his naked body against my own left sinful feelings between my legs.
There was something seriously wrong with me.
I could blame it on Josh pissing me off earlier this morning, and I wouldn’t have minded blowing off some unnecessary steam.
“So,” I said.
“So,” Kal mimicked.
I took one step forward, testing the waters, and as he mirrored my movement, our bodies were suddenly inches from each other, which gave me more confidence to continue. Kal seemed to have caught on to my subtle attempt and proceeded to do the same thing, grabbing me by the hand and leading us to a nearby janitor’s closet.
We entered in a rush, desperate to touch one another as my body rested on one of the walls, his hands grabbing me by the waist.
“I never thought I would see you again,” I said, our breathing heavy with anticipation.
Kal’s hand brushed my wet hair away from my cheek, and his hot breath fanned my face. “Never say never.”
Other unspoken words passed between us as our heads leaned in, my hands reaching toward his face, pulling him into me, colliding our lips. He tasted of mint, freshly brushed teeth, and his tongue made no hesitation twirling with mine. Kal’s hands roamed my body, a satisfied groan emitting when he gripped my ass, lifting me into his arms, my legs secured around his waist. God, he tasted delicious. He bit my lip, pulling it back when the door opened, slamming against the wall.
“Kal?”
I jerked away from him, trying to slide off his body, pulling the towel higher on my chest, but Kal’s hands remained at my waist. “Fuck off, Chloe.” His eyes bored into mine; the attention was exhilarating yet embarrassing simultaneously.
Chloe was a dark-haired short stack with a sourpuss on her face as she glared at me like a nasty pile of dog shit. “Nah, I don’t think I will. Stop screwing with freshmen; we’re needed downstairs,” she said. Chloe left us with the door open, exposing our sins to the world.
Kal sighed heavily as his hands slipped off my waist. “She’s such a buzzkill.”
“Right.”
He tucked a wet, loose strand of hair behind my ear and then grazed his thumb over my lip where he bit it. “Is it wrong to say I don’t want to stop?”
I smirked. Kal knew how to make a girl swoon. “I think you’re needed downstairs.”
He chuckled and gestured for me to leave the closet first, and in the hall, I found my dirty clothes on the floor. Gathering my belongings, I was ready to escape, when Kal gently tugged me back, his expression somber. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Was wondering if we could finish what we started.” He tugged me closer as other students started to flood the hall.
I stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Maybe another time?”
The hall was getting too crowded, and I just wanted to change into something comfortable.
“Didn’t see you as the type of girl to deny a little fun.”
“I’m not denying the fun, but I think it’s our cue to move on for now.”
Kal’s lips brushed against my ear. “I’m not the one who started it. Looks like you have to finish it.”
I recoiled, untangling myself from him. “I may have started it, but it doesn’t mean I want to finish it. Excuse me, but I need to change.” I stormed off down the hall.
Entering my room, damp and mad, I tossed my dirty garments on my bed and started searching through my dresser drawers, opening and slamming them shut to find a clean pair of underwear and a bra.
Heather sat on her bed, watching me stomp around like a two-year-old throwing a fit. “Remi?”
“What?” I snapped, putting on my clothes and throwing the towel aside.
“Girl, what happened?”
“Men.” Now was not the time to ask questions.
“Anyone in particular?”
“Kal.”
“Wait, Kal? The hottie at the mixer?”
I wished she would stop the interrogation. “Yes. That very one.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not right now.” Afraid I might blow up in her face, I gave her a warning look before turning back around and facing the wall.
“Okay, well, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Great, thanks.”
To be honest, I had been too dramatic about what happened and needed to cool down before I showed up at the freshmen breakfast. Without a second thought, I hit the call button on Nickie’s contact page, aware our last fight wasn’t resolved, and waited through three rings until she picked up.
“Girl! What’s up?”
“I ran into Kal,” I huffed, picking at the fuzz balls on my bedspread.
“And?” she prompted.
“We were caught in the janitor’s closet, wearing only a towel.”
“Are you wearing a towel? Or are both of you wearing a towel?”
She had to be kidding me.
“ME!” My voice boomed through the speaker on her end, making her jump.
“Jesus, girl, it was a joke. Okay, so you got caught with him, big whoop. This isn’t your first rodeo.”
“I know, but this is different. I’m at an institute for higher education, not at some club in a tight-ass dress!”
Nickie began to laugh. “Earth to Remi, it’s been two days there and you’re acting strange. Get a grip, girl.”
Suddenly, Jeremy popped up behind Nickie. “Hey, Rem!”
“Jeremy, tell Remi to take a chill pill,” ordered Nickie.
I slid down to the floor, hugging my knees. For once, I wanted my two best friends to act responsibly and give me decent advice.
“I thought we sold all your mom’s Xanax last summer?” questioned Jeremy.
“Oh, yeah, we did,” Nickie remembered.
I leaned my head back against the door. “You’re both insufferable right now.”
“Hold up, chica. What’s going on? I’m parched for tea. Spill it, Lipton,” demanded Jeremy.
“Oh, Remi was caught in the janitor’s closet at school wearing only a towel with that hottie, Kal,” explained Nickie.
“Shut the fuck up! Did you do the nasty?” Jeremy inquired.
“No!” I exclaimed. Now they’re getting on my fucking nerves.
“Then why are you freaking out?” Jeremy asked.
“Because he expected us to continue after we got caught!” I snapped.
“Who the fuck cares? You said yourself you wanted no strings attached,” reminded Nickie.
Jeremy gave me a funny look. “Are you catching feelings?”
I rolled my eyes. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.”
Nickie propped her phone up so it showed her and Jeremy at his kitchen table. “Is there someone else?”
Why would she think… Josh’s infuriating smile and big hands came to mind. The way he looked upon my body as if the act alone was forbidden… the gentle touch of his fingers on my tattoo. No, no. He was with Nickie, and an arrogant ass.
They took my silence as defeat, and both began to laugh. “Honey, come home Friday night and take a break,” suggested Jeremy.
I bit my lip. “Maybe. I’ll see.”
“You better! It’s ladies’ night at Electric Haze!” gushed Nickie.
“You can see me dress in drag again. Loretta is dying to come out and play,” purred Jeremy.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, well, great. I’ll text you if I decide to go. Bye.” I hung up before any unnecessary chatter leaked through.
It was time for that dreadful freshmen breakfast.