Part 3 - Argh!
1410 Words
Benjamin’s POV
Argh. The redhead was really mad this time. Not the shouting kind of mad—more like silently dangerous. She drew an invisible line across the floor with her finger like we were in some kind of war zone. I guess this was her way of saying, “Don’t cross this.”
She was… weird. Old-school weird. You could tell from her clothes. Her suitcase was packed with nothing but button-ups and plain tees. No skirts, no cute jeans, no accessories. Not even lip balm, maybe?
“Don’t worry,” I said casually while unbuttoning my shirt, “I’m not into girls like you anyway.”
She turned to look, then immediately looked away—blushing, maybe? But the real shocker came next.
She pulled out a freaking bow.
And arrows. Real ones. Hand-carved.
“Whoa, whoa—what is that? You shoot?” I stepped back.
“Didn’t I already tell you my name?” she snapped, sitting down on the edge of her bed. “Joy.”
“Okay, Joy. So… you’re into archery?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
She stood and tucked the weapon beneath the mattress like it was just a book or something. She handled it so naturally, it sent chills down my spine.
“No real reason,” she said, deadpan.
I regretted wasting my time talking to this terrifying girl. But at least now I knew to sleep with one eye open.
“Don’t be scared,” she said, voice almost too calm. “I only hunt in the forest. We can get along fine… if you stop cornering me.”
She said it like she read my thoughts. Which was disturbing.
“Scared? You wish,” I shot back.
“So, you’ve been dancing since you were a kid?” she asked while putting away her clothes into the wardrobe like nothing had just happened.
I turned to face her.
“Joy Grace, right? You drew your line, and I totally agree with it. We don’t need to get to know each other. Let’s keep our conversations to zero from now on. Sound good?”
Her face stayed blank. “Fine. Humans are exhausting,” she muttered.
“What, like you’re not one?”
“I shouldn’t be,” she murmured, then turned away.
Right. Great. We’re roommates, not friends. I could live with that. I had better things to do—like proving to my father that I belonged at the top. Let’s see how long Little Miss Redhead can stay ahead of me.
⸻
Joy’s POV
Weak.
That’s the word that came to mind every time I looked at Benjamin—no matter how hard he tried to act otherwise.
If only I couldn’t hear his thoughts… then maybe I could just hate him in peace. But no. His constant mental noise drained me fast. That’s why I always came to the forest.
Out here, it was quiet. No loud dreams, no wishful thinking, no constant self-pity. Humans were so noisy. So dramatic. So arrogant. For beings so fragile.
I raised my bow as I spotted a bird in flight. I didn’t release the arrow though. The bird dropped suddenly, wings flapping awkwardly. It had fallen into someone’s trap. Its leg was badly injured.
“Sorry,” I whispered, kneeling down. “I was going to hunt you, but I’m not a coward. If you can’t fly, it wouldn’t be fair. So you’re coming with me.”
I cradled the bird in one arm, my bow slung across my back, arrows clinking softly. As I sprinted toward the clinic, a few people turned to stare. Probably wondering why I looked like I’d walked out of a medieval fantasy movie.
As I neared the door, someone actually jumped out of my way. Benjamin. Like he had a sixth sense when I was coming. He even opened the path for me without a word. Nice reflexes. Fear worked wonders.
I placed the bird gently on the exam table. A vet rushed over. Benjamin, however, was still standing there—watching me.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else?” I asked, not bothering to look at him.
He didn’t leave. Instead, he walked closer.
“You shot it and brought it here?” he asked, eyeing my bow like it was evidence. “Playing the victim now?”
“He was already like that when I found him,” I replied. “I was going to hunt him. But once I saw he was injured, I brought him here. Still wrong?”
“You meant to hurt him,” he said coldly. “Intent counts.”
I sighed. Deeply.
“There’s a difference, you i***t,” I muttered. “He would’ve been fair game if he was healthy and flying free. But he wasn’t. I just want things to be fair. Unlike you, who loves making assumptions.”
He didn’t reply. Just turned and walked away. Probably because he realized I had a point.
What is his deal anyway? Did I hit him too hard during our first collision and damage his brain?
Humans. So embarrassing.
-
Benjamin’s POV
The longbow rested confidently on Redhead’s shoulder like it belonged to her — like she was some kind of otherworldly warrior — and in her hand, a half-dead bird dangled like a prize. Seriously, how the hell did I end up sharing a room with someone who clearly escaped from a medieval fantasy novel? Or worse, a psychopath.
“He was already like that when I found him,” she replied. “I was going to hunt him. But once I saw he was injured, I brought him here. Still wrong?”
“You meant to hurt him,” he said coldly. “Intent counts.” I replied flatly, my dislike for her growing by the second.
“There’s a difference, you i***t,” she muttered. “He would’ve been fair game if he was healthy and flying free. But he wasn’t. I just want things to be fair. Unlike you, who loves making assumptions.”
She was trying to defend herself, again. Not that I cared. I walked away before I wasted more of my energy. I had better things to do — like training.
I found an empty practice room not far from the main hallway. Lucky me, one was still available. I signed up and got the passcode. Easy. Perks of having a powerful family name. As long as the room stayed comfortable, I wouldn’t complain. I didn’t even like social media — yeah, apparently that made me “mysterious” or “rude,” depending on who you ask.
I warmed up with a few sets of exercises, feeling the adrenaline wake my muscles. I was just getting into the rhythm when someone knocked on the door. Great timing.
I opened it. And there she was — Joy Grace — again. But this time, she wasn’t alone.
“Hey!” the other girl greeted me cheerfully. I had to admit — she was stunning. Sharp eyes, defined cheekbones, lips like a sketch out of a portrait book.
“All the rooms are taken,” she continued, “but you’re in here alone.”
“You want to join me?” I blurted out, faster than I meant to.
“If you don’t mind!” she smiled brightly.
I stepped aside, watching the contrast between the radiant new girl and Miss Bow-and-Bird standing quietly beside her with her usual death glare.
“You guys must know each other from the dorm, right?”
“We’re roommates,” I answered a little too quickly. Not proud, not embarrassed. Just… why was I even explaining this?
“Cute girl, handsome boy… Hmm, I’ll be hearing interesting stories soon, I bet,” she giggled and dropped her things in the corner. Joy followed in silence.
“My name is Joy! J-O-Y! Not ‘Redhead,’” she snapped, her brown eyes flaring.
Whatever. I leaned in slightly toward her.
“How did you even become friends with someone that pretty?” I whispered.
She swatted my arm away.
“Wow, so you are capable of being interested in a girl?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
She stared right at me.
“You’re arrogant. You’re narcissistic. You don’t do feelings. So save your curiosity before you end up hurting another human being.”
Damn.
She’s not wrong.
- Writer
