CHAPTER NINE: NICO’S POV (Can’t believe he’s here)

I lay on the bed of my dorm room tossing a baseball in the air and catching it. Alex was busy studying for the upcoming mid terms and I watched him.

I was glad that he was starting to feel better after his split from Julius. I was there when it had happened and all I can say is that Julius was a piece of shit.

Alex was a good kid. It really didn’t matter if he didn’t come from an affluent background like the rest of us, he was a smart and great person.

However, I could not shake the feeling that something was different about him. Ever since he returned from the party, he had been acting little odd.

It wasn’t exactly noticeable but the fact that I spend more time with him made me notice the changes.

I considered asking him if his one night stand had something to do with it or maybe it was a side effect of the breakup.

“Dude, you know that I can feel you staring at me right?” Alex asked without looking up from his notebook.

“Sorry about that” I apologized.

“It’s fine. I know you have a crush on me so I can’t say that I blame you anyway”

I laughed.

“Shut the hell up, Alex”

He laughed too and looked up at me. He cocked his head to the side slightly like he usually would when trying to figure something out.

“Is everything okay?” He asked and I nodded.

“Yeah. Everything’s peachy. Why?”

“Because you were staring at me for a good two minutes”

“Whose counting?”

“I am. Now,” he folded his arms, “Spill”

“It’s nothing really just wondering if you’re okay”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t know man, you’ve been a little bit off lately and I can’t really put my finger on it.”

“You really think so?”

“Yeah. Ever since that night of the party I don’t know, you’ve just been a bit different. Did something happen to you?”

Alex stared at me and then replied.

“Dude, I just had sex with a stranger and yes, we used protection”

“You know that’s not what I meant”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“It’s nothing. I really appreciate your concern but honestly, I am fine. I’m just a little stressed with mid terms and finals. There’s a lot of pressure to perform especially when I’m on a scholarship”

“Doesn’t really help that the new professor is a total douchebag”

Alex said nothing for a brief moment before finally agreeing with me.

“He is a little harsh”

“Professor Harper was never like that”

“Yeah. Why do you think he left anyway?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Dude was old maybe he just needed to retire and spend some time with his family or something”

“Probably. I guess all we can do now is put in more study hours so we can graduate and never have to see professor Walker’s face again”

I nodded.

“Damn right. I can’t believe he called me out like that too.”

Alex chuckled. “That was kinda funny”

“Boy, shut up”

At that moment my phone rang.

“Who is that?” Alex asked.

“Rita” I replied.

Alex sighed and returned to his notes.

“I already know how this story will end. I’m definitely sleeping alone tonight”

“Hush and let me get this”

I answered the call and she spoke from the other end.

“Hey, pretty boy”

Her voice was so pleasant to hear and I couldn’t help but smile as soon as I heard it.

“Hey, you. What’s up?”

“I’m doing okay. What are you doing?”

“I’m supposed to be studying but I’m doing nothing right now”

“Wanna hang out?”

“Yeah”

“Alright then, come over”

“Be there in a sec”

“See you soon, pretty boy”

She hung up and I got out of bed.

“Let me guess, you’re not coming back tonight?”

Alex asked and I playfully smacked the back of his head.

“Quit teasing me, Al”

“It’s not like I’m lying” he defended himself.

“Whatever”

I grabbed my car keys, wallet, and jacket. The power that Rita had over me was something I could not explain but all I knew was if she asked me to do something, I do it.

“I’m on my way out now”

“Hold up,” Alex tossed me a pack of condoms, “Don’t get my friend pregnant”

I chuckled and shook my head.

“Thanks dickhead”

“Say hello to Rita for me”

“Yeah yeah”

I moved out of our dorm which could have as well been a two bedroom apartment, got to my car and drove off. I texted Rita that i would be at her dorm in a few minutes.

I stopped by the 24/7 bakery and bought some cupcakes and cookies before finally heading over to her place.

She flung the door open after I rang the doorbell once and hugged me tight. She smelled so good.

“Hey, I’m glad that you could make it,” she held my hand and began to pull me inside, “Come on”

I stepped in and shut the door behind me.

All the dorms at Heldon were designed the same. They all had separate bedrooms and bathrooms.

Alex and I shared a room because I used to sleep walk and he would help me stay put. The sleepwalking has toned down but I suppose we have gotten a little too used to being in the same space.

“Where’s Dalia?” I asked.

Dalia was Rita’s dorm mate. She was a party animal and was hardly ever around which worked well for Rita.

“Where do you think?” She asked as she led me to her bedroom.

“Another party?” I asked as I took off my jacket and sat on her bed.

“As always”

Rita sat next to me and lit a rolled up blunt. Watching her smoke was such a sexy sight.

“I got you some cake and cookies”

I handed her the bag of treats and she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“You’re my fucking hero, you know that right?”

I blushed and laughed.

“Thanks”

She passed me the blunt and I took it and smoked from it. The buzz already began to kick in. Rita always knew where to get the best weed.

Nobody exactly knew who her plug was but she once told me it was a student who used the moniker “Barney the Dino” and very few people knew his real identity.

It didn’t matter as long as he delivered.

“How’s Alex doing?” She asked as she began to chew on a cookie.

“He’s okay I guess. A little weird”

“He’s probably still healing from the break up. Speaking of breakups, how’s my ex in law treating you guys?”

“To be honest, he’s a bit of a jerk”

“No surprise there. He was a jerk to my sister too”

I moved closer to her and held her hand.

“Hey, are you okay?”

She gave a small nod. I know that she wasn’t okay. To be honest, I didn’t like the guy either. He was the reason that Rita was scared of commitment.

She had witnessed the messy divorce and believed that all love stories ended badly. What made it even worse was how I couldn’t do anything about it.

“It’s just weird that he’s here. I see him sometimes and I just want to break a vase over his head or something”

“I can imagine. I’m really sorry about what he put your sister through. I’m sorry that you have to be in the same environment as him as well”

She sighed and shrugged.

“It sucks but i’m just glad that I at least have you and Alex around. Makes it a little easier”

I smiled at her and said nothing. We just stared at each other until she broke the silence.

“Nico?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to kiss me?”

“Yeah”

She smiled, sat herself on my lap, placed my hand on her ass and kissed me.

I was glad that I had taken that pack of condoms.