Vicky

One of the reasons I hate higher education so much is the amount of ‎workload I have. I'm sitting on my bed, tired from doing nothing except trying my very best to understand the book in front of me. Nothing enters my head, not like that's new. I sigh, close the book and plop on the bed. The ac is turned on and I get more comfortable. Just as I'm about to sleep, my phone rings.

‎Its an unknown number. I am reluctant to answer it, but do anyways.

‎"Hello?" My phone slips from my hand and falls on my face. I cringe, really grateful I'm alone.

‎"I'm outside your dorm. Hurry." All the sleep is gone from my eyes. I recognize that voice too well. I could blame it on the sleep, but I know it's not. Then it dawns on me, why the hell is Archie calling me?

‎"Okay. I coming," I say, not even realizing he'd ended the call. The weather has gotten significantly colder, so I get another later of clothing to add to my sweatshirt and tee shirt. I get cold easily and for some masochistic reason, I always love being cold. I do it and regret though.

‎I, for some reason am trying to sneak out . I'm an adult who has very good use of my freewill, but the thought of anyone seeing me, Ander especially could give me a heart attack.

‎I get to the front door undetected, but woe unto me, Magnus opens it as I am about to, hitting me in the face. I yelp and use my hands to cover my face.

‎"Oh my God I've almost killed you." He says half serious. If it were Gideon or Jesse that hit me, they'd have apologized to me a 100 times by now.

‎I laugh a little. Mostly because I'm nervous and I laugh a lot when I'm nervous. The door didn't even hit me that hard. "It wasn't even that hard. There's no problem."

"So, where are you going? Don't tell me Vicky the hermit crab is going for a party?"

My first thought is to say yes. A party is the most sensinble thing to say. My phone rings before I can say anything. "I've got to take this."

"My car engine is on. Hurry."

I end the call this time and look at Magnus. "I'm going to be late. I'll see you later then."

"Then let me accompany you to the gate at least. We can form a cover story for the guards so they'll let you in after curfew. Ander and Kyle do it all the time."

I'm ready to oppose in the usual meek voice I use to talk to anyone who's not my mother, but his hands are already being thrown over my shoulder.

"So, who invited you? Or is it your faculty's party? Us Engineering students are so boring." One reason I like Magnus is his ability to talk for minutes unending without asking my opinion. He goes on to talk about his mates, then his professor, then some hot girl he saw the other day.

I'm half listening, because I'm thinking of how to ditch him and go see Archer. We finally reach downstairs and a smiley security guard is at the post today. I've never seen him before, not like I've ever had a need to leave my dorm room by 8 pm.

"Hey sir. How are the twins?" They fall into conversation and it could be a good time to leave. I'm almost afraid of what Ander is going to say when I reach his car by midnight. I might at the rate we're going.

"Ohhh yeah, before I forget. See, I was rambling and completely forgot I was with someone. My friend here is having a really huge case of indigestion. It's so terrible, he's not been able to sleep."

I'm a bad liar and an even worse actor, so I just stand there like a tree. A very nervous tree.

They fall into more conversation and finally, I'm let go.

"Can you even imagine Fred? That's crazy."

I have no idea which Fred I'm to imagine, but I nod anyways. He might be crazy. Finally, Archer's car comes to view. Magnus goes quiet beside me too. Archer spots me and calls me over.

"Am I seeing things? Isn't that Archer?"

"N-no. Archer just knows the location better. I'm going with him."

"Are you sure about that? Like you're a hundred percent sure. You won't feel uncomfortable?" I nod, very very unsure. Heck who knows if I'll be comfortable?

"Alright then. Enjoy yourself. If you're getting into any stranger's car, make sure to send me your location."

"You're starting to behave like Jesse."

"Nooo. I'm the fun one. I'll go now. Bye."

I wave bye and get into Archer's car. He doesn't look annoyed, like I thought he'd be.

"Nice to see my brother still has his horrible taste in friends."

Well hello to you too Archer. I keep that thought to myself though. I'm sitting, my hands on my thighs. I'm playing with the hem of my shirt. He isn't saying anything. All he does is stare outside the window and smoke a cigarette.

"Fasten your seatbelt. Let's go." He puts the car in drive and we're out of the campus in a 5 minutes record. That is thanks to Archer's suicidal driving skills.

We stop at the parking lot of some convenience store. He orders more cigarettes, this one having some kind of mint flavour. I do nothing but sit like an idiot.

"Talk about your family."

I turn to him, pointing at myself. "I should do what? "

"Talk about your family. Your school life, work, sex. I don't care whatever. Just speak. I want to hear your voice."

I can feel myself getting hot. Archer has always had a way with words. I pinch my fingers, looking for things to say.

"Well, school is killing me that's for sure. I don't even know why I started. Dad wanted me to take a gap year to focus on..." I trail off. I almost told him I went to therapy.

It doesn't even seem like he cares though. Just motions me to continue. The smoke is relaxing my shoulders too. "Well, I am homesick. When dad calls, i want to tell him to come get me, but I don't."

Archer finishes with his cigarette, and next thing, his lips are on mine. I whimper purely because I'm startled. I think he sees it as an encouragement, because he's unfastening my seatbelt and pulling me unto his lap.

We stay there, him just pecking my lips. Then, his tongue is parting my lips asking for entrance. I'm skeptical, but the cigarette smoke and his hands caressing my back relax me even further. My lips part and his teeth glide my tongue. I can taste the cigarette on him. Archer, even after all this time knows my weak points. My hips unconsciously do that rolling thing and I'm griding into Archer's hips. He gasps and pushes me back to my seat.

I'm flustred and confused. My hair is ruffled so I focus on fixing that and not on my swollen lips.

"Guess it's back. You may leave."

I turn to him confused. He doesn't meet my gaze. Just lights another cigarette. "Go away Vicky."

I'm confused as hell but I don't oppose. I hate transfered aggression. I come out of the car and he zooms off. I'm in the middle of Christ knows where. I call Jesse to come pick me when I'm completely out of hope.

He comes but someone is with him. Ander. I almost roll my eyes. Enough of the Matheos brothers for one night. Jesse asks me what happened, but I tell him I'm to exhausted to explain. He drops it. I'm glad.