CHAPTER FIVE
904 Words
Avena
‘I pressed harder on the wound, but the blood still gushed from my mother’s chest. "Please, Mom, don’t go," I pleaded.’
I shot up in bed, my big T-shirt sticking to my sweaty skin. “Just a dream,” I murmured to myself, trying to relax. But it wasn’t just a dream; it was a memory that kept coming back to haunt me. Sometimes I could go weeks without a nightmare, but when things got stressful, they would hit me every night.
And now, starting a new school far from home was definitely a source of stress.
Rubbing my eyes, I swung my legs out of bed, my feet slipping into flip-flops. Kendall, my roommate, snored softly in the next bed. She was half-covered with blankets, still in last night’s outfit—a black spandex miniskirt and sequined top. She had stumbled in after three in the morning, giggling and knocking into things. If this became a regular thing, I’d need to look for an apartment, but that meant finding a job first.
I grabbed my shower caddy and headed to the bathroom. Kael was right—this dorm was nice. The bathrooms were new, and the rooms had everything we needed.
After a quick shower, I brushed my teeth and dried my hair. When I returned, Kendall was still asleep. I tried to be quiet as I dressed, choosing a worn pair of jeans and one of my favorite T-shirts. It had "NErDy" spelled out using the periodic elements: nitrogen, erbium, and dysprosium. I smiled as I pulled it on. I was who I was, and it was better for people to know that upfront.
I grabbed my backpack, stuffed my wallet in the front pocket, and slipped my phone into my back pocket. The first stop of the day was the bookstore. Thankfully, my scholarship covered books and gave me a small allowance for supplies. But I had to maintain a 3.5 GPA, so focus was key.
As I pushed open the door, cool air hit me—probably due to the higher elevation. I thought about running back to grab a sweatshirt but decided not to waste time. Instead, I headed out toward the student center.
"Avena," a deep voice called out. I turned to see Kael walking toward me, dressed in school warm-ups and a hoodie, somehow pulling off a fashionable look.
“Hey,” I said hesitantly.
He smiled and held up a coffee holder. "I was looking for you. I didn’t know what you liked, so I brought options: black coffee, coffee with cream and sugar, a caramel coffee drink, and hot chocolate."
I blinked at him, surprised. “You brought four drinks?”
Kael nodded. “I figured it was the safest bet.”
“Why?”
"I told you—I didn’t know what you liked."
“No, why bring me anything at all?” I squinted at him suspiciously. “Is this some kind of hazing thing? Is there ex-lax in here?”
A smirk played on Kael’s lips, and his golden eyes seemed to gleam in the sunlight. “I just wanted to give you a friendly welcome.”
The word "friendship" sent a sinking feeling to my stomach, but I managed to force a smile. "Well, thanks, I guess."
I pulled the hot chocolate out of the container. "I can't stand coffee. Why would anyone willingly drink that bitter stuff?"
Kael tossed the other drinks into the trash and raised his own cup.
"Because it’s like the nectar of the gods."
I shook my head. "That’s a real waste of drinks and money."
He shrugged. "Had to be done." He reached into his duffel and pulled out a paper bag. "Muffin?"
I raised an eyebrow as I accepted the offering. "You’ve really got everything covered, don’t you?"
Kael flashed a grin that was almost too charming. "We aim to please. Where are you off to this early? Thought I’d catch you still in your pj’s." He wiggled his eyebrows at that.
I snorted and started walking. "That’s a little creepy."
"A guy can dream, right?"
I shook my head. "I’m going to the bookstore."
"Nice. I’ll come with you."
I glanced at him suspiciously. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Kael hesitated mid-step. "You seem like a good person."
It was such a simple answer, but it didn’t feel entirely genuine.
His eyes narrowed as he looked me over. "Where’s your coat or sweatshirt?"
I resumed walking. "Didn’t expect it to be this cold. It was warm yesterday."
Kael let out a low sound, almost like a growl, before heading to a nearby table. Setting down his coffee and bag, he tugged off his sweatshirt with one of those quick, single-handed motions that pulled it over his head. His T-shirt lifted slightly, revealing tanned abs and that V-shape you only see in movies. I tried not to stare.
He held out the sweatshirt to me. "Put this on."
"What? No, it’s yours. You’ll be cold."
"I just finished working out. I’m fine."
With abs like that, of course, he was.
"Avena…" Kael’s voice was low, sending a pleasant shiver through me.
"Alright, alright." I set down my hot chocolate and muffin.
Kael handed me the sweatshirt, and when our fingers brushed, a spark of electricity shot through me. My vision blurred, and before I knew it, I was falling.
- Writer
