Page 35 of Kiss Me in the Dark
I groan, sinking lower into my chair as I sketch random lines on the page.I shouldn’t be thinking like this.I don’t even like Fox.Hell, I’ve never even had a crush on him, but somehow, he’s the only thing I see lately.The worst part is, I can’t stop staring at him.Every time I walk into the apartment, my eyes betray me.They seek him out.Whether he’s shirtless, his wet hair dripping onto his bare shoulders, or casually smirking at me from across the room, I can’t look away.
This is messed up.
How did this happen?Why am I fantasizing about my obnoxious, straight roommate?It's like my mind has betrayed me, and no matter how much I try to snap myself out of it, the attraction only grows.Fox is an asshole —arrogant, rude, and completely insensitive.He treats me like garbage.But here I am, unable to stop thinking about him.It's a disaster.
I groan out loud, slumping over my desk.
“You okay?”A familiar voice pulls me back to reality.I lift my head and see Leanne sliding into the seat next to me, sunglasses perched on her head, though it's clearly not sunny inside the classroom.
“Oh, hey, Leanne.”I pull my earbuds out, grateful for the distraction.
She tilts her head, eyeing me carefully.“You just groaned out loud.What’s going on?”
“Sorry, didn’t realize I did that,” I mutter, shifting in my seat.“Just… thinking.”
“Let me guess, Fox?”Leanne smirks as she sets her books on the desk.She knows me too well.
I roll my eyes, but it’s useless denying it.“Maybe.”
“Aww, see?Even the universe wants you two together.He’s always giving you problems.That’s got to mean something.”She grins, clearly enjoying my misery.
I groan again, slumping further into my seat.“It’s not like that.”
“Okay, so what’s he done this time?”She turns to face me fully, her expression curious.
I bite my lip, unsure if I should even admit it.But who else am I going to talk to about this?“He’s… always having loud sex.With this crazy blonde girl, Lexi.It’s like… non-stop.”
Leanne giggles, raising an eyebrow.“And you’re jealous it’s not you?”
“Don’t say that!”I shoot her a look, but my face feels warm.“I’m not jealous.He’s straight.You know that.”
“Straight, sure.But you can’t deny you find him attractive.”
I fumble for a response, but she’s right, and I hate that she’s right.“It’s… it’s not like that,” I say weakly.“I mean, yeah, he’s good-looking.Everyone knows that.But I don’t have a crush on him.Please don’t say that.And don’t ever let him hear you say that.”
Leanne smirks, zipping her lips and miming tossing away the key.“Fine, fine.I’ll drop it.”She pauses.“But you’re right about one thing.He’s got a type—blondes.What’s up with that?”
“I don’t know.It’s like he’s got some weird fetish or something.Every girl he’s ever brought home is blonde.Including Lexi.”
Leanne lets out a laugh.“Yeah, I know Lexi.Fox's been sleeping with her for a long time now.Heard it was just a one-night thing to friends with benefits.They always fight and Fox would stop seeing her and they would go back to sleeping with different people.And after like a month, they go back to fucking each other.It's messed up.They’re a popular couple on campus.”
“How do you know all this shit?”
“Because Fox is sort of the campus heartthrob,” Leanne says with a shrug.“He’s one of those guys who doesn’t need to try, and everyone just throws themselves at him.He’s popular, hot, and the Chancellor’s son.What more could a girl want?”
“Not my problem,” I mumble, even though my brain doesn’t quite believe it.
“Anyway,” I sigh, changing the subject, “what are you doing here?You don’t even take this class.”
She shrugs, leaning back in her seat.“I did take it, actually.As a freshman.I failed it, though.So now I’m retaking it to fix my GPA before I get kicked out of college altogether.”
I raise an eyebrow.“Why are you just showing up now?”
She grins sheepishly, removing her sunglasses.Her eyes are red, clearly a leftover from last night.“I’ve been a little… wayward lately.Attending parties, getting wasted.You know, living that college life.”
“Clearly,” I mutter, eyeing her bloodshot eyes.
She sighs, pulling out her notebook.“Yeah, I figured it was time to get my act together before I flunk out.What about you?How are things—aside from Fox driving you insane?”
