Anchoridge University

CHAPTER TWENTY

Darren’s POV:

Seeing her with those bloodsuckers and that cocky warlock all night had agitated Felix and me as well. And one of them had even kissed her. “She smells like those bloodsuckers and that Warlock. Put your scent on her!” Suddenly Felix took control, I watched as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the empty bathroom. He backed her up against the door and locked it. “Um Darren w-what’re you doing?” She stammered out.

“Felix what the f**k are you doing?” “I’m putting our scent on her what do you think?” I tried to take back control but he pushed back. “You’re freaking her out, look at her.” She was backed up against the door, looking up at me with big eyes. I could hear her heart racing. “Relax I’m not going to do anything she doesn’t want to do.” I sighed, if he went to far, I would take back control.

Celeste’s POV: Darren had suddenly pulled me into the bathroom and had me cornered up against the door. I was shocked to say the least but I didn’t get the feeling that he was going to hurt me. “Um Darren w-what’re you doing?” I stammered out. My cheeks felt like they were burning. Darren’s eyes looked darker than usual and he looked like he was arguing with himself internally about something. He focused back on me again and leaned over me.

He was staring at me intensely, I wanted to look away but I couldn’t, he was holding my gaze. His hand cupped my face and I couldn’t help but lean into the warmth of his touch. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he pulled me into a hug. It was comfortable and warm. I was confused but I hugged him back. I felt so small in his large frame. He pulled back from me just as quickly as he grabbed me. “Um sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized id been holding. “It’s ok. Lets get back out there. Shall we?” He nodded his head yes. Well this is awkward. I turned to leave, Darren reached around me to unlock the door. I hadn’t even realized that he locked it. We stepped back out into the crowded hall way. A girl suddenly pushed past me to get into the bathroom and hastily closed the door behind her. I stumbled Darren caught me, I quickly stood back up. “You alright?” I nodded my head yes and realized that he was still holding me. Blushing I pulled away from him. “Yeah she must have really had to go to the bathroom. She looked like she was gonna hurl.” “There you are Little Star.” I heard Zane from behind me, he put his hand on my shoulder. “Oh so I see you made it after all Darren.” Darren looked down at his hand on my shoulder and his expression hardened.

Well this is tense. “You were taking a while so I decided to come and find you, but it looks like someone beat me to it.” “Yeah the line to the bathroom took forever, was the rest of the movie any good?” Zane shrugged. “”It wasn’t interesting without you there.” I blushed and cleared my throat and looked between Darren and Zane. “I- uh should probably go and find Liza.” They both spoke at the same time and then glared at each other. “I’ll come with you.” I let out a nervous laugh. “Down boys, you can both help me.”

I made my way to the kitchen with both of them trailing behind me. Hoping she’d gone off to find more drinks. The kitchen was still crowded even though some people had cleared out to go see the DJ. I pushed my way to the counter and didn’t see Liza there. But I grabbed a drink for myself and quickly downed it. Tonight had gotten more complicated than I had expected. I didn’t know what to do with all this attention, it was making me tense.

I threw my drink in the trash and yelled over my shoulder at the guys. “Maybe she’s dancing, let’s check the living room.” I didn’t wait for their response, instead I made a beeline for the door. Pushing through the crowd of people. As I was making my way through the crowd I felt a hand on my ass. “Where you going sweetheart.” I turned around to slap the guy. But apparently I wasn’t fast enough. When I turned I saw Darren punching the guy in the face.

He stumbled backwards, he had been knocked out with one punch. The crowd parted for him letting him fall down. People turned to look at what was happening but just as quickly turned back to what they had been doing, with no concern at all. Darren shook out his fist that he had just hit him with, he turned back towards me and I swear I saw his eyes change again.

Zane was at my side in an instant. “Are you ok?” I looked up at him I nodded with my jaw dropped. He closed my mouth by pushing my jaw up with his finger. I turned to look at Darren. “He was drunk, but that’s no excuse. Come on let’s go.” I nodded and pushed my way through the crowd again. This time with them following closely behind me. We had made our way to the living room. I scanned the crowd and quickly saw Liza dancing with that guy she had been making out with earlier.

I heard Darren from behind me. “Well she sure moves on fast.” I blushed profusely and avoided looking at him. So he had seen. Zane grabbed my hand. “Well you found her, now let’s dance.” I looked between him and Darren. I didn’t want to ditch anybody. Zane lifted his eyebrow and Darren and gave him a smirk. “Feel free to join us.” Darren looked at Zane and lifted his eyebrow. “Actually I should probably go and find my roommate. See you around Celeste.” He gave me a wave and then turned around to walk away. “Come on Little Star let’s dance.”

Zane’s POV:

I finally ditched that mutt and had my little star all to myself again. His scent was all over her, I’ll have to do something about that. Luckily a slow song came on giving me an excuse to hold her. I had settled on a spot near the center of the room and turned towards her. Still holding her hand I pulled her near me, putting my hands on her waist. She blushed again and I couldn’t resist messing with her. “You’re blushing again Little Star. Do I make you nervous?” If it was possible she turned even redder, how adorable. I’m going to have to call her my little tomato of she keeps it up. “N-no. Why would you think that?” I brushed her cheek with my thumb. “Oh I don’t know. It could be because you’re turning into a little tomato as we speak.” She looked away embarrassed. “No t-that’s just the lighting.”

I laughed. “Ok little Star whatever you say.” The song changed to a more upbeat one. She took a step back from me but I still kept one hand on her waist. We started dancing to the new song and I looked up and saw Liza watching us from the other side of the room. I raised an eyebrow at her. I don’t know what kind of game she’s playing but she better leave my Little Star out of it.

Liza glanced up at me and raised her own eyebrow with a playful gleam in her eyes. She laughed and turned her attention back to her current toy. I turned back to Celeste and didn’t even see Liza make her way over to us. “Hey you two.” Celeste looked over at her. “Hey, I was thinking of heading out soon, you ok with that guy over there?” She nodded her head. “Yeah I was actually about to tell you the same thing.” Liza turned to me. “You mind making sure she gets back to her room?” I nodded my head. “It would be my pleasure.”

She turned around and waved goodbye to us making her way back to her new toy. I leaned over and spoke in Celeste’s ear so I didn’t have to shout, and to see her get flustered. “You ready to head out?” She nodded her head yes. “Yeah l-let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her back through the crowd.

Celeste’s POV:

Zane pulled me through the crowd all the way out to the front door, never letting go of my hand. We made our way out to the street and away from the crowd. People were still hanging out around all the houses, they would probably be out here all night. But it was already 2 in the morning and I felt like I had had enough excitement for the night. We started to walk down the street and make our way back towards the dorms. Once we were far enough from the crowd I took a deep breath of the fresh night air.

“So how was your first real party? Was it everything you imagined?” My cheeks flushed thinking about everything that had happened. “Um it was interesting to say the least.” Zane looked down at me. “Oh really, interesting how?” I started twiddling with my thumbs unsure how to answer that. “Um.” He started laughing whole heartedly. I stopped walking and glared at him, and he wiped tears from his eyes. “Oh I’m sorry Little Star, I just love making you all flustered.” I crossed my arms and huffed. Annoyed by how easily he was able to mess with me.

He stood straight up and held out his hand to me again. “Come on, let’s get you back to your room.” I hesitated but I took his hand and he smiled at me. I let him walk me back, I had drunk a lot and wasn’t the steadiest on my feet right now so I would take all the help I could get. I thankfully made it back to my room without embarrassing myself any further. I turned to unlock my door. “Thank you Zane for helping me get back." He held onto my hand preventing me from leaving. I looked down at our hands and he held on a little tighter.

I looked back up at him and he was staring down at me intensely not saying a word. He put his hand on my face and I jumped a little because it was cold but I didn’t completely pull away. My heart started racing and my cheeks were flushed. He let out a little chuckle and smiled at me. He brushed a stray curl behind my ear. “Oh Little Star, you’re so adorable I could just eat you up.” He was loving this, making me get all flustered. I glanced down at his lips and involuntary licked my own. He lifted an eyebrow at me and gave me a smirk.

Suddenly his lips were on mine. Softly at first, then I felt him pull me closer to him. He deepened the kiss and I fought to keep up with him. His hand gripped the back of my hair causing me to let out a little gasp, giving his tongue access to my mouth. His tongue was pierced too, it dominated me exploring all the corners of my mouth. I blushed wondering what it would feel like in other places. Just when I felt like I was going to run out of air he pulled away. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I first laid my eyes on you.” I was gasping for air. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol but I was feeling a little bold.

“And was it everything you hoped for?” I asked him still looking at his lips. He gave me a smile and leaned over close to my ear. “Better. I’ll see you later Little Star.” He was still smirking as he slowly walked away giving me a wink. Leaving me alone at my door still gasping for air.