004 I Hate You Kane

*•Kane’s POV

I sensed the oddity in the atmosphere before I entered Plato’s. When I stepped in, I saw Bianca’s first and let out a visible sigh.

I was aware of Bianca’s attitude especially with those she deemed beneath her but I’d had a fucking long day and didn’t want to deal with whatever she’d no doubt started.

I turned to walk back out when I caught the side profile of the girl she was assaulting.

Noah?

That one definitely seemed to have a knack for getting in trouble. How had she managed to piss Bianca off on her first week. What an inconvenience, if it became a whole thing, my arrangement with Noah could get exposed. It wasn’t beyond Bianca to critically look into those she wanted to destroy.

“Great, now I have to deal with this.”

I approached the scene.

“That’s enough, Bianca.”

People's gazes shifted to me as I stood beside Bianca. My eyes fell to Noah who looked admittedly strange in a way I couldn’t quite place my finger on.

“What do you think you’re doing? Is this any way to behave?”

Bianca’s cheeks reddened as she glanced at the crowd then at me.

“Babe, just look at my dress—“ Bianca pointed at Noah. “She did this.”

“You’re causing a scene Bianca, just let it go. I’ll get you a new dress.”

Her ears perked up at the sound of that, she grabbed onto me.

“Really? Aww, thanks baby.”

She faced Noah, “See, we’re way above your status. Don’t forget that.”

Noah didn’t say anything back, she just looked pale and sweaty.

“Waiter.” I snapped my hand for the bus boy and he came running. “Get her some water and I’ll pay for a new meal.”

Noah stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

“Let’s go babe,” Bianca yanked my hand then she gave Noah one last look and scoffed.

We walked out hand in hand and headed for my dorm, partly because I just wanted to lay back and relax but Bianca wouldn’t let me be so I just let her tag along.

She noticed Noah’s door almost immediately. “No roommate yet?”

“No.” I answered simply.

“You should’ve just gotten a single like me. I don't know why you’d want to share your space with anyone. I mean, just imagine I ended up in a room with that… girl.” She made a disgusted face.

I ignored her comment as I scrolled through my phone. We didn’t have a very orthodox relationship. Bianca wouldn’t let me leave but she kept other girls at bay so I played into the relationship.

“Baby, I’m hungry. I couldn’t eat anything because of that girl.”

“I’ll make something.” I said getting up. Bianca would die before she stepped into the kitchen, at least I’d have some space.

I went about picking my ingredients, turning on the stove and chopping my veggies. I’d just turned up the heat when I noticed a clear plastic on the counter, just by the stove. I picked it up, it was a syringe with the remnants of something I couldn’t recognize. It had definitely been used.

I held it for a moment, my brain processing the implication. Noah was the last to leave the room so it must be hers, then her face flashed before my eyes. Her pale skin, the tired expression, the sweat.

Addiction?

Was she using?

I tossed the syringe into the garbage fully annoyed by that revelation. I hated people who didn’t care for their bodies. The sooner she left, the better.

Later that evening, after Bianca had her fill, I got a text from Noah asking if I had anyone over and if she could come in.

I stared at it long. The distaste rising in my mouth. I didn’t have a strong thought about her yet, asides the obvious annoyance, but seeing that syringe just formed an opinion of her in my mind that I couldn’t clear.

I told her I’d see Bianca out and she could come in when she saw us leave.

“Babe who’s texting you?”

“It’s just the guys, we need to have a quick meeting… I’ll see you out.”

“That’s fine, I’ll just wait here for you.”

“I’ll be back late.”

Bianca huffed, stood up with her arms crossed over her chest. “Fine, since you want me gone so bad, I’ll leave.”

“I don’t say that, Bianca.”

I ushered her out and walked after her. I waited till she was out of view before I went back inside. Noah was already waiting.

She seemed more normal now. I couldn’t help but wonder if in the few minutes I’d waited outside, she’d satisfied her urge with another injection. I walked towards my room without exchanging any words with her.

Despite my indifference, what she did was her business. All I had to do was mind my business.

“Hey,” she started making me stop in my tracks. “I umm, got you something.”

That caught my attention, I faced her and saw the little wrapped box in her hand. I raised an eyebrow as she stood awkwardly, hands stretched out for me to take the box.

“You shouldn’t be getting people gifts if you’re too broke to afford an apartment.”

That caught her off guard. I noted how she shifted, her brown eyes lost a bit of the spark they’d had when she first spoke.

“I wanted to thank you for helping me out and for letting me stay here so—“

“Bianca’s my girlfriend so I wasn’t helping you.”

She looked offended now.

“Right… no, you’re right. Clearly I overstepped in thinking you were a little decent.” Her tone was sharper at the end. “But you’ve never failed to prove to me that you’re a complete jerk.”

She angrily slammed the box on the kitchen counter.

“I’m just following your own rules. Or did you already forget so quickly?”

“Unlike you, some of us are actually nice people and we don’t look down on others. You and Bianca deserve yourselves. I can’t even say I’m surprised.”

I scoffed.

“Some would say you sound jealous.”

“Well then they’d be wrong. She stepped closer then, pointing her finger at my chest like she’d done before. “I hate you, Kane. That’s all I feel for you so get off your high—”

I caught her wrist before she could finish, and had her back against the wall in one step. I was close enough to feel her breath hitch.

“Careful, Noah.” My voice came out lower than I meant it to.

“I’ve told you, my. Name. Is. Nora.”

“Keep pushing and see what happens.” I replied, deliberately ignoring the correction. For a second, she didn’t say anything. Her eyes searched mine, then her jaw set, that stubborn defiance snapping back into place.

“What, are you going to hurt me? Go ahead.” She didn’t flinch. “Prove me right.”

The words landed harder than I expected. I let go, stepping back, disgusted with myself for a reason I couldn’t fully name.

“Get off your high horse and stop thinking every girl is in love with you,” she finished, straightening her shirt, refusing to look away even though her voice wasn’t quite steady.

She walked away and shut the door hard.

I looked at the box before turning to go to my own room.

The feeling was mutual.

She’d barged into my life and my space but she thought she had any right to an opinion of me? People like her loved being hypocritical, blaming everyone but themselves for their problems. She was basically using funds for an apartment to buy drugs.

Pathetic.

I went to sleep still annoyed at the confrontation.

The next morning I heard her wake up and leave her room. I tried to focus on other things but I was just too aware of her movements outside so I went to take a shower.

By the time I was done, I couldn't hear her footsteps or movement outside. She must’ve already left. Good.

I stepped out of my door.

The apartment was too quiet.

I don’t know what made me stop, made the back of my neck go cold before I’d even processed what I was looking at.

Then I saw her.

Noah was on the floor near the kitchen counter, one arm bent awkwardly beneath her, her skin turned a shade of grey I’d only seen once before in my life. My stomach dropped straight through the floor.

“Noah?”

Nothing.

“Noah!”