True Intention

Ch 3- What's her deal, anyway?

Soren POV

Imagine my surprise when there was an entirely new girl suddenly attending third year BoA classes with me and my friends.

A damn hot one.

For me to notice, that's something different. Never been into girls that much. Not because I don't like them, no, I just have never felt that spark everyone talks about. The kind my parents had, the kind I wanted.

It's pretty rare for someone you've never laid eyes on to appear in third year college classes. Sometimes, in other programs, but not usually Visual Arts. Eastern was more picky on your early artistic credits and verifying you actually picked up the necessary principles. On top of that, for all this girl was hiding s**t, she was undeniably attractive. Smoking hot, in fact. My artist's eye, of course, saw through the loose clothing and clear jewelry. I was certain the glasses were as fake as her blue eyes.

She was hiding, and the fact that she was had me intrigued. Most times girls seemed like they wanted to put everything they had on display rather than cover it up. I'd been chased enough to have that opinion. Usually if a girl was hiding something it was like, their zits under makeup or a belly pooch with clever dressing. Not hiding their whole-ass self behind a disguise.

The artsy vibe and piercings reminded me of my ex, Janet, but all similarity ended there. Janet was one of those fakely dark people. Pretended to be into gothy s**t until you really got to know her. And unfortunately, I had. More than I wanted to, in the end. Thank god I was smart enough to insist on my own raincoats, every time after the first. Because when I found out how generous she was with her lady parts, well, let's just say I dodged a bullet. I'd thought we were exclusive, but I guess she never got the memo. She flipped her s**t when I broke it off, and half the girls on campus wanted to fill her shoes.

I hadn't even been interested until she managed to get me into bed at a party. I don't think I'd wanted that either, but she'd managed it, and then cried to me about being pregnant. No, I don't have a kid, because she was f*****g lying. I'm not evil, so at first I'd dated her, but obviously it didn't last long.

I was not, however, on the lookout for a companion. In high school I'd been the art nerd everyone ignored... which I am so not complaining about, by the way... and it put me at a disadvantage learning about girls and social s**t. I didn't really care, I just didn't want to be used and possibly given a disease. I was fine with my imagination, and this new girl? My imaginings about her were going straight to my spank bank. Tonight. I wondered if I could convince her to model for me. Her f**k off vibe was pretty strong, but I was willing to try.

I didn't miss the looks from the other guys in the department, and I made sure to stare them down. I may have been a nerd a few years ago, but I was not any longer. I was fit, and I knew how to kick someone's ass. I'd made sure to learn my lesson from Janet's weirdness and strange threats from her other bed-mates. Thankfully, words were enough to get them to back off, but I was not taking any chances. I followed her quick exit, watching her buy food and attempt to hide herself.

It almost looked like she was trying to hide from someone specific.

I looked around, but nobody was following her. There was the occasional student wandering through the area, but none of them seemed to be seeking anyone. Our introductions were vastly amusing, and as much as she wanted to hide it, I saw the flash of interest in her eyes. Good. I had this sense that we were kindred spirits, but that she was trying so hard to fight even saying her name, it was going to be a massive challenge. I was further delighted to find that all of our classes this semester would be together. I didn't miss the shade she got as a result of my attention, but it didn't concern me, especially. If things went the way I wanted, I didn't give a rat's ass what anyone said or posted on f*****g social media. Cowards.

I could not stand any form of bullying. Not a single girl that glared was ever going to be a blip on my radar, because if you can't handle competition and act like a regular human, you weren't going to be given a bit of my time or effort.

I'd worked hard to get into this quadruplex thingy for gifted students for that very reason. All the stupid social bullshit. I'd been lucky that my only real friends had gotten two of the slots, leaving the fourth open. Imagine my utter delight to find a luscious feminine behind sticking out of our fridge, sure it belonged to roomie number four. The shorts read "Juicy" right over what was definitely a juicy ass. Even better when she turned around and it was Naomi. The glasses and fake-ass blue eyes were still in place, but I got to see just what she'd been hiding, and I had not been wrong. She was it for me, I just knew it.

The woman was the stuff dreams, especially wet ones, were made of. Curvy and toned at the same time. s**t, she had no bra on, and I could see the outline of her pierced n*****s. I resisted the urge to bite my lip and be any more obvious than I already was.

Her hair was down from that messy bun, though if I was honest, I'd liked the view it gave me of her long white neck. Her hair hung smooth and burgundy to just under her breasts. But yeah, this hairstyle? These pajamas? This was the real her, along with the tattoos I could see. They were all in vertical kanji, looked like Japanese. One on her left upper thigh, one on her right rib cage, and the last in the middle of her shoulder blades- I'd seen that one when she stood up. Her navel piercing, with a skull dangling, was on full display, and it was hard to miss her n****e barbells in the tight little cami. They weren't huge t**s, but they were certainly nice ones.

Full C-cups, at least, but I wasn't exactly an expert on breasts. I just knew I really liked these ones in particular.

Apparently, my appearance had rendered her speechless. I tilted my head playfully.

"Did they not mention this house is co-ed, Naomi?" I asked coyly. Naomi just shook her head as her cheeks flushed. Archer and Enzo bustled in from a Panda Express run, chattering as they absentmindedly placed bags on the counter. The poor girl was frozen, and if I didn't move it, I was going to be battling my best friends for the hidden hottie in our midst. I moved over next to her and stood possessively over her. Good, she seems to have no idea what that even means, moving closer to me as the one person in the room she actually knows. The boys both stopped dead in their tracks, then grinned at me as they observed the girl who had now effectively tucked herself under my arm, plastered against my side.

Was she shaking? Weird.

"Well, well. Look who is the first to bring a girl home, huh? Thought you were totally done with chicks anyway after Janet, Soren." The loudest of the bunch, Enzo, crowed. He flipped his black curls out of his face as his brown eyes twinkled with amusement. Archer, the quiet broody one with a dark brown faux-hawk and piercing blue eyes, tilted his head curiously but said nothing. He knew I'd say whatever needed to be said and waited.

"Hey guys, this is Naomi Ward, our fourth roommate. She just moved into the spot from Rylan leaving last year, and she's in our classes. Probably the same course of study." I said through gritted teeth. At least he hadn't made me sound like a man-w***e, I guess. Archer stuck out a hand.

"Archer Conley. Pleasure, Naomi. Saw you in class earlier." Was all he said in his serious, gruff voice. Naomi, realizing that these two boneheads were safe, sadly moved away from my side, though still noticeably close. She took his hand, and he looked surprised. "Firm grip you got there." He actually grinned. Enzo shoved him aside, sticking his hand out with a goofy smirk.

"Heyyy, I'm Enzo Ayala. Great to meet you, Naomi. Single?" He asked, waggling his brows. I could tell Naomi was a little more hesitant to take his hand, but she did anyway. "Oh, wow, Arch, you were not kiddin' about her grip! Damn!" He put on his best flirty smile, but it dropped back to a smirk when I glared at him over Naomi's head. "Well, it's a good thing we got extra food. Hope you like orange chicken!" She nodded, still saying nothing. They split up the food and stood around the island eating, while the guys talked about their day. Naomi just observed.

"Thanks for the food, see you later." Was all she said softly before disappearing upstairs like her ass was on fire. Enzo elbowed me as his eyes followed her.

"Bro, what's up with her?" He asked, clearly stunned.

"Just because not everyone talks like you do, doesn't mean there's anything up with them." Archer grumbled, rolling his eyes. Enzo pointed at him.

"Even you talk more than she does. That's saying something, Bro." Enzo snarked back.

"I don't know her whole story yet. I do know she is hiding herself from everyone, though. It was like pulling teeth just to get her name today." I said thoughtfully. "She almost seems... afraid?" Archer nodded in agreement.

"So, you want us to watch out for her then?" Enzo asked. "Saw you staking your claim Bro. Hope she's actually single cuz otherwise that s**t's gonna be embarrassing." He looked way too cheerful at the prospect that I could have my heart broken.

This guy was supposed to be my f*****g friend. Well, he was the one that certainly pushed himself into mine and Archer's friendship, years ago. It was weird then, and was still weird. He was the loud, brash one, but at the same time he was a good guy, and for all he seemed to delight in my potentially disastrous "claim," I knew he'd always have my back. Probably even let me cry on his shoulder, but obviously Archer would get that honor.

"If you guys don't mind, yeah. Just subtle recon though, Enzo. No crazy over-the-top weirdness that scares her even more. Record suspicious stuff though." I said. Enzo is a great guy, just really overenthusiastic and quirky. Archer put a hand on my shoulder and nodded his agreement. "Thanks guys. I don't even get why I'm worried, but seriously, you two came in, and she started shaking like a leaf."

"Hopefully she starts to trust enough to open up. Seems like trauma, and it always helps to have friends you can talk to." Archer said. Trust the broody guy to summarize things succinctly without it being stalkerish.

I can't deny though, that my thoughts were nowhere near pristine, even if I tried.

I wanted her.

Failure was not an option.