A problem with thin walls.

AIDEN'S POV. 

Ryder and I spent the following week trying to ignore each other—but he made ignoring people, the one thing I was good at, completely impossible.

Ryder was always bringing girls back to the dorm—he claimed they followed him. He never cleaned his side of the room, never lowered his voice, never cared how late it was when he stumbled in smelling like someone else’s perfume.

My father tried to get me moved to a different room, and for the first time in two years, the school shut him down without a second thought.

I didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not.

I was halfway down the path to my class when something smacked the back of my head.

“Ow—what the hell—”

“Morning, Glass God!” Ava’s voice chimed, bright and unapologetic.

I sighed before I even turned around. Of course it was her. Ava stood there grinning, hands behind her back like she hadn’t just assaulted me in public.

“You’re going to crack my skull one of these days,” I muttered, already walking away.

She fell into step beside me easily. “Relax. Your brain is priceless. I’d never damage campus property.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re exhausting.”

“And yet you love me,” she said sweetly. “So. Can I come over later?”

I stopped walking.

That made her stop too.

“You never come over,” I said slowly, studying her face. “Why now?”

She blinked once, then smiled wider. Way too innocent. “Of course I have a reason.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Ava.”

“Okay, okay,” she laughed. “Fine. I need an excuse to see Ryder.”

My face fell.

Anger rose fast and hot in my chest. Ryder had only been here a week, and somehow half the girls on campus had already paraded through my room like it was a tourist attraction. I was starting to seriously doubt if he was gay—or if the word even meant the same thing to him as it did to me.

“No,” I said flatly, resuming my walk.

She scoffed. “I don’t need your permission to see him.”

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t need to use my room as a way to fulfill your fantasy either.”

“C'mon,” she pressured. “This is the first time I actually want to come to your dorm.”

“I don't recall asking you to come over either,” I shot back. 

She snorted, rolling her eyes. I thought that was the end of the topic, but I was wrong, it was only the beginning. 

“So what’s he like?”

“Annoying.”

She gasped dramatically. “And hot.”

I shot her a glare.

She giggled. “You didn’t deny it.”

I clenched my jaw. “Every girl on this campus talks about him like he’s some kind of god.”

“Well,” she shrugged, “he kind of looks like one.”

“He’s gay,” I snapped. 

She nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. That’s what makes him hotter.”

I stopped walking again. “What?”

She sighed dreamily. “I know I can never have him. But two guys kissing?” She fanned herself. “That’s all I want in life.”

“Don’t act like a creep,” I said, disgusted.

She laughed. “Too late.”

She bumped my shoulder. “So can I come over? Just to introduce myself. As your friend.”

“You can go yourself,” I said coldly. “Leave me out of it.”

She pouted. “At least describe him. it's the least you can do since you don't want to introduce me to him.”

I ignored her. 

A normal person with brains would have connected the dots and shut the fuck off. But Ava being Ava won't. 

Brain was the only luxury she didn't have. 

“I don’t know why you’re getting mad,” she continued. “You should be happy. Your roommate is the campus fantasy.”

“I want him out,” I snapped.

She blinked. “Out?”

“Yes. He’s loud. Disorganised. Always around people. Always—” I stopped myself.

“Always?” She smiled, her lips curled into a mischievous smirk. 

I was going to say naked, but thank goodness I didn't. It would have fueled her questions. 

And I didn't want to think of Ryder's body. I can't count how many times I went hard just hearing his soft mumbles as he sleeps. Or how hard I become, hearing his low, but moans as he touches himself. 

“Always being himself,” I quickly said, swallowing the lump in my throat. 

She burst out laughing. “I would kill to live with Ryder.”

I didn’t respond.

After lectures, she was there again. I have never seen Ava this determined for anything in my life. 

“I’m coming over,” she announced.

“Why do you like making my life more difficult?” I groaned. 

“I just want to see him,” she defended. 

“He posts pictures of himself every day,” I said tiredly. “Just stalk his socials like everyone else.”

Riss, one of my friends—someone my father hated simply because he was Black—laughed behind me.

“Ryder’s the party guy. Cool. Rich. Knows what’s up. You should be more like him, man.”

I groaned. “Not you too.”

“He’s a bit overrated though,” Riss added thoughtfully. “Girls just trip over him because he’s a bad boy.”

I nodded immediately. “Exactly.”

Ava snapped her fingers. “Okay. I won’t come over if you answer one question.”

“Dont fall for it.” My brain shouted. But as usual I didn't listen. 

I hesitated. “Fine.”

She leaned in. “Is it true he’s really ten inches?”

I raised a brow. “Ryder’s six-three.”

She burst into laughter, hitting my shoulder repeatedly.

Riss shook his head. “That’s not what she meant.”

Realisation hit me like a truck.

My mouth dropped open. “That’s disgusting.”

“You’re sick,” I added.

Riss sighed. “Never ask a guy that again. They’ll think you’re a creep.”

She laughed harder. “That’s why I ask people who already know I’m a creep.”

I walked away.

She followed.

“I can tell just by looking at him,” she called out. 

“Well, see you guys later,” Riss called out and followed the other way. But Ava followed me all the way to my dorm.

I tried to shut the door in her face but she pushed past me. 

Unfortunately Ryder was in the room. 

“Hi,” Ava greeted Ryder, coolly like she wasn't just screwing him in her imagination a few seconds ago. 

Ryder was sprawled on his couch, phone in hand, completely unbothered. He looked up when the door slammed shut. 

“What do we have here?” Ryder asked, removing the plugs from his ears. 

Ava cleared her throat, giving me a side eye. But I ignored her. 

I was already focused on the sound coming from my bedroom. Ryder’s expression gave nothing away, but the look on Ava’s face told me I hadn’t imagined it.

It was unmistakably moaning. 

Something in me prayed it was p**n just left to play loudly in the room — which was disgusting by the way.

I rushed forward, pushing the door open. Immediately I froze. 

There were two strange naked guys on my bed — making out. 

Two idiots were making out on my bed.