Page 3 of The Bitterness of Venom

I watch the small town pass before me. Cute little shops painted in bright colors, all exciting and cheerful.It’s gross.I think I even spot a candy store with a giant bunny painted on the front window. It’s not even Easter time. Quite frankly, April is so far in the future I shouldn’t be seeing any colorful eggs or bunnies. For fuck’s sake.

The main road is paved in white cobblestone, the crosswalks an annoying shade of blue. There are giant flags on every lamppost of the college. The bright blue and white of the college’s colors showing everyone’s school pride.

Gag.

Couldn’t be me.

I am here for one thing and one thing only. Get my degree, so I can make bank and… fine, forget my past. Act as if I haven’t come from the past that I have.

But enough with those super depressing thoughts.

The bus stops outside the campus apartments. Fortunately for me, my scholarship gives me the wiggle room to not have to get a dorm. Although, I couldn’t exactly afford an apartment on my own. So, I’ll be sharing with three other strangers. Nothing new for me.

I struggle to get my suitcases up the stairs. Because let’s be real, I don’t do cardio. Or any exercise, to be honest. I love bread and refuse to count calories. My thighs like it better that way.

I reach apartment thirteen with sweat on my forehead and my breathing irregular, making a wheezing noise. I don’t have health insurance, so that little noise will have to figure itself out on its own. Sticking my key in the door, I’m prepared for silence, however…

“Drink hot dog water!” comes a gruff voice.

“Right after I fuck your mom, I might.”

I come to a halt, the door smacking against the wall as two mammoth-sized men look over the black leather couch at me. The blond one’s mouth hangs open. “The fuck?”

Wide-eyed, I nod. “The fuck is right.”

The one next to him, dark hair shaved close to his scalp with the most prepossessing shade of ebony skin, smirks. “D will hate this.”

“This has got to be a joke.”

“Blaise?” the blond asks.

“That’s what my birth certificate says.”

He purses his lips. “This is a coed apartment, but I thought with the name, you were, well, a dude.” He looks at my chest, eyes flaring.

Sweet baby Satan. Men are pigs.

I snap my fingers, drawing his eyes to me. “My eyes are up here, douchebag.” I plant my hands on my hips. “Can someone show me to my room?”

“I got you,” tall, dark, and delicious says. “My name is Elisha,” he offers.

“Nice to meet you. Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”

He laughs, leading me down the hall where four bedroom doors are before opening the one closest to the living room. “This one is yours.” He pushes the generic white color door open.

It’s simple. A closet, desk, nightstand, and bed. And one lonely chest of drawers. “Perfect.”

“You’ll let me know if you need something?” He winks.

No, I wouldn’t. This is the worst. Men are my least favorite creatures. Although, I’m not big on people in general, but men by far sit on the top of my shit list.

Sighing, I roll my suitcases into the room with me and internally scream.

I smileat the girl behind the counter as I hand her my application. Paper applications are so rare in this day and age, I was surprised to see one. Next, I head over to the retro roller skating place. Apparently, it’s the place to be. Every college student hangs here. It’s twenty-one and up. There is a bar and grill inside. Dangerous as it sounds, you’re only allowed two drinks if you choose to skate. There is also an arcade, and their application for a job there, however, is online. After getting all the information I need, I head back to the apartment, stopping to pick up my order of sushi.

When I walk through the door, I’m greeted by Blondie. All tall and broad. Blue eyes that border on puppy dog eyes. He smiles, extending his hand. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m Jasper.”

I look at his hand and then swing my eyes up, narrowing mine on him.

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