Fragile

Chapter 5

I hesitated when I reached 304. The lights weren't on, but it was still daytime, so that wasn't unusual. I crept closer in hopes of hearing footsteps. No sound. I ever so gently pressed myself to the door, but I still couldn't hear anything. Was he sleeping? Or was he really missing like I feared? 

"What are you doing?" 

I yelped at the sudden voice, whirling around so fast I almost fell. My heart was pounding. 

Noah stood a few feet away from me, holding a small grocery bag in one hand. The knuckles that held the bag were bloody. I noticed his other hand was the same. "What happened?" I blurted before slapping my hand over my mouth. 

He scoffed and slid past me, unlocking his door. "Come on in." 

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I entered a boy's room for the first time. I was hesitant at first to even pass over the threshold. But I also didn't want to prove to Noah that I was a chicken shit. He gently closed the door behind me, and I tried to mask my flinch at the sound. 

"How brave of you to come into the lion's den," he mused, setting his bag on his unmade bed. 

The room wasn't exactly clean, but it wasn't dirty either. One side of the room was completely empty, so it was clear he didn't have a roommate. He had dark curtains that blocked most light and aside from a hoodie cast over his desk chair, there wasn't much to the room. Very minimalist. Very dark. 

"If you wanted to pull something you would've done it last night." 

He clicked his tongue at my response. "Fair. What are you doing here then?" 

I fiddled with my fingers anxiously. What was I doing here? I wanted to see if he was okay, but saying that out loud felt extremely stupid. Apologizing also felt weird. "I was curious." 

"Hmm?" He hummed, plopping down on his bed. He proceeded to manspread in front of me, eyes alight with mischief, like a cat that spotted a fresh mouse. "Curious about what?" 

I hadn't thought that far ahead. For as many lies as I told, you would've thought I'd be better at telling them. "I want to make sure I know where to avoid you." 

"By finding my dorm?" 

"N-now that I know you're on the third floor, I'll just avoid it entirely," I stammered, avoiding eye contact. 

It was a bad move. He had caught me, and with ease. He stood so that he towered over my tiny frame, backing me up until my back smacked against the wall. He was so close, his face only inches from mine. "I wasn't aware fairies could tell lies." 

In any other situation, that nickname would've been laughable. Only laughter was the farthest from my mind being trapped by his large, muscular frame. I felt a strange churning in my core. "W-what?" 

His eyes, I realized, were a deep hazel. From afar they seemed brown, but up close like this, specks of green and gold swirled around the iris. His dark hair fell forward, his plump lips a soft and luscious pink. He was... absolutely captivating. 

"If you wanted to see me, you should just say so." 

Chills went up and down my spine, my eyes wide. "I-I didn't..." I couldn't even formulate coherent thoughts. 

Then, his warmth that encased me left, and was replaced by cold. He chuckled to himself as he walked to his bag, pulling out a canned soda. He waved it at me. "Want one? Or is soda not apart of your innocent girl act?" 

My cheeks burned, this time with humiliation, and even a little anger. I felt tears prick my eyes, but I forced them back. He wanted to see me cry, I couldn't let him have the satisfaction, no matter how much of a crybaby I was. 

"Since you seem perfectly fine, my work here is done." 

"Were you worried I wasn't?" 

I twitched. "Why did you punch Charles?" 

"Because he drugged you." 

"He didn't drug me." 

"Even if he didn't, he gave you the drink," he opened his can with a sizzle, slurping the bubbles. "He also let you get carried out by a strange dude without asking questions." 

"He..." Did he see me get carried out? I couldn't remember, and I didn't know who to believe. The whole night didn't even feel real. "No matter what, violence isn't-" 

"You're going to lecture me on violence for saving you?" his voice was bitter now. "Don't forget, Fay, you would be raped if I didn't do anything." 

I flinched at the word. "Can you stop saying-" 

"Rape? That's the truth isn't it? You could've been rapedddd," he dragged out the word. "I stopped that from happening. I took you to the hospital. Most people would, I don't know, thank me, but you? You are mad that I punched the person who caused all this." 

The tears were getting harder to hold back. "I never asked for your help." 

"Fine, my bad. Next time get raped to your heart's content." 

I flinched again. "Stop it!" 

"Stop what?" he demanded, his voice raising as well. "What have I done that was so wrong?" 

The faucet turned, and hot tears spilled down my cheeks. "I don't know what you want from me, but I'm not some toy you can play with," I said. I hated how much my voice trembled. "Thanks for last night. But I don't need your help again." 

I turned on my heel and stormed out, but not before I heard. "We'll see."