"I wanna love you,
I want to love and treat you right.
I wanna love you every day and every night.
We'll be together, with a roof over our heads,
To share the shelter of a single bed.
Is this love? Is this love? Is this love?
Is this love that I'm feelin'?"
❁❁❁
"WAIT!" I CROAKED. Wes spun around as fast as lightening and reached to grab me. I shut my eyes tightly and let out a small shriek before realising he was only giving me a hug.
"Sorry!" Wes yelped and let go of me as if my skin was on fire. I bit my lip and ducked my head.
"I'm sorry," Wes mumbled again, suddenly taking an interest in his leather shoes. "I should've stood up for you back then. Maybe I could've done something before it got so messy."
"Yeah well, it's a little too late for that now," I mumbled, unconsciously reaching up to touch my bruise.
"Really, Alex. If there's anything I could do─"
"There's no need for that," I muttered, glancing up at him. "What are you really here for, Wesleigh?"
At my sharp tone, he winced and took a step back. I really wished that he would deny coming here with a secondary motive, but to my disappointment, he sighed and said, "Can't you do something about Jake getting expelled?"
"What?" I breathed, feeling my throat constrict uncomfortably.
"I know that the two of you had some kind of a fight, but is it really necessary to go so far as to get him expelled? Alex, getting expelled from Meilleur is like receiving a death sentence," Wes said quietly.
"I had nothing to do with his expulsion, Wes," I said, reaching up to pull down the hood of my jacket and revealing my face for him to see. Wes gasped in shock at the unsightly yellowed bruise that covered the majority of the left side of my face. "But if you ask me? He deserved it."
"Alex," Wes breathed, staring at the bruise in horror. I looked away, hugging my waist tightly. "Jake did this to you?"
I kept silent, and I heard Wes swallow before hesitantly pulling me into a hug. I couldn't bring myself to hug him back, and instead stood motionless in his arms.
"I'm sorry," Wes mumbled, releasing me. "I didn't know. Jake...it's not like him to do that. He was just really mad because you were with that bastard Robin Clair."
"What did Robin even do to make the whole group of you hate him so much, Wes? Hell, you told me you weren't like them! You said you didn't care," I asked, narrowing my eyes at him and backing away. "At least he was there for me when I didn't show up for classes. At least he tried to do something when he realised what Jake did to me. You? The only reason you came here was to try to get me to put in a good word for Jake so he wouldn't get expelled. Would you have even visited if it weren't for Jake?"
"It's not like that, Alex, and you know it," Wes practically pleaded. "I do care about you."
"Alexandra?" someone said, interrupting the both of us. I looked up to see Robin approaching the both of us, hands shoved into his pocket and a scowl on his face. The cut on Robin's bottom lip had turned a dark shade of red since I last saw him in the dining hall. Wes hesitated, swallowing.
"Robin," I said, scrunching my eyebrows together. What is he doing here?
"What are you doing here?" Robin asked, staring coldly at Wes. His looming figure and deep frown making it seem as if he was interrogating Wes for a serious crime.
"We were just talking," I mumbled, but Robin only narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Wes. He gingerly grabbed my small wrist in his hand and gave Wes a hard look.
"You've got some nerve coming here, Quentin," Robin stated, his jaw ticking. To my surprise, Wesleigh looked to the ground shamefully.
"Why?" I asked, looking between the two boys. Robin kept silent, boring holes into Wes with his glare.
"Why did Robin say that, Wes?" I pressed, frowning. Wes finally looked up, biting his lip. He cast Robin a helpless look, but if Robin felt a sliver of sympathy for him, it didn't show.
"I...I was the one who sent the picture," he mumbled quietly.
"What picture?" I asked, feeling confused. Then, realisation dawned on me just as Wes opened his mouth to explain.
"The picture of the two of you from the ball," Wes said quietly, hanging his head in shame.
"What picture?" I asked, feeling confused. Then, realisation dawned on me just as Wes opened his mouth to explain.
"The picture of the two of you from the ball," Wes said quietly, hanging his head in shame.
"So you invaded my privacy? And sold the picture to the press?" I asked in disbelief, my eyes welling up in tears. "Some kind of friend you are, Wes."
"I'm sorry, Alex. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for things to get so messy or for Jake to do that to you," Wes pleaded, reaching out to grab my hands but I swatted him away angrily. "I just, I just–"
"I don't want to listen to your excuses," I snapped, taking in a deep breath and willing myself to keep the tears at bay. Is this what betrayal feels like? Why would he do something like that, knowing full well of the disastrous consequences that would follow after?
"Did you even for a moment think of me? Of how I would feel? Did you hear the things our schoolmates said about me after the article was published?" I cried, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "You were the last person I would expect to do something like this!"
"I just had to show you the consequences of associating with people like him!" Wes yelled, snapping his head in the direction of where Robin stood. I was so caught up with emotion and Wes' betrayal that I had completely forgotten about Robin, who stood and watched our exchange with an unreadable expression on his pristine face.
"What?" I breathed. I was in utter shock and disbelief. All this time I had thought that Wes was different from Jake and his hateful friends, but as it turns out, he was exactly the same– if not worse. "You...you told me it didn't matter."
"I just had to make you understand, Alex. Please, I know what I did was wrong. I'm sorry. But it was what had to be done."
"You're insane," I managed to say. "You're crazy, Wes. You, Jake, Geraldine– all of you. Stuck in a, in a bubble of insecurity and hatred! They've never given you a reason to hate them, and yet you do. You hate them and obsess over them because you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous," Wes denied quickly, his voice cracking. "They don't deserve all the popularity. They're just like us, but everyone treats them like royalty. It's not fair!"
"It's because of people like you, Wes. Because you obsess over them, gossip about them. You give them the very power you detest them for having," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "All they did was exist."
"Alex, I–"
"She needs to rest," Robin stated suddenly, causing the both of us to snap our heads in his direction. "I think you've said enough, Quentin. And so has she."
"I'm not done!" Wes protested.
"Okay, so speak. What else do you have to say to her? Apologise again? Or continue to deny things?" Robin questioned, jutting his chin out and narrowing his eyes at Wes. "All that you are doing is wasting time."
Wes turned the same shade as his hair and opened and closed his mouth, speechless. He seemed to snap out of it after a few stunned seconds, swallowing hard.
"I'm sorry, Alex," Wes murmured in defeat, knowing that Robin was right. He had nothing to say– no excuses, no explanations for his actions. None that were in his favour, anyway.
Robin simply ignored him as he dragged me back to my room and shut the door in his face. Before the door closed shut, I caught a glimpse of Wes' slack-jawed expression.
"What was that for? I wasn't done talking to him!" I protested, pulling my arm out of his grip.
"He was just wasting time repeating the same things over and over again. He shouldn't be here so late, too," Robin said, matter-of-factly.
"And you should?" I retorted, my eyes narrowing.
"Yes, Alexandra. I should," Robin replied without hesitation.
"And why is that?" I demanded.
"Just because," Robin said, although he faltered slightly. For the first time, he looked like he didn't know what to say.
"Oh, come on," I said, crossing my arms. "You'd think that a smart ass like you would have a better answer than 'Just because'."
When Robin didn't reply, I pressed harder for an answer.
"If you're not going to give me a better answer, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"You want an answer?" Robin breathed, narrowing his eyes at me.
"In fact, I do!" I retorted, tapping my foot impatiently against the floor. Robin glared at me, irritation and something unidentifiable flashing through his dark blue eyes.
"Fine." Then, to my complete surprise, he grabbed my cheek gently and leaned forward, closing the distance between our lips. My eyes widened in shock, then slowly fluttered shut when his thumb stroked my cheek softly.
His lips, cold and full, pressed against my own, sending shivers down my spine. He held my cheek gently but firmly, his lips suddenly wavering. A hint of hesitation. I felt his other hand trail past my arm, my neck and finally coming to a stop on my chin, leaving a trail of flaming, tingling skin behind. With his fingers, he tilted my chin up towards him, and I allowed myself to kiss him back. Immediately, the stiffness in his bones relaxed. It was as if ice was melting.
When my lips moved in sync with his, I felt him relax slightly. I felt his lips slowly turn upwards into a smile and he held me tighter. We were so close it felt like we were being moulded into one. The lava in my veins were cooling down and the ice in his was melting. Melting...
What the hell are you doing, Alex! This is Robin Clair you're kissing! Robin Clair! The logical part of me yelled, snapping me out of my trance. Realising that, I used every ounce of strength I had to push him away. He stumbled back, but quickly caught himself.
"What the hell, Robin?" I scowled, reaching up to touch my tingling lips. Robin stared at me as if it was the first time he saw me. He looked so flustered that it was almost adorable, but quickly composed himself and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"You needed to shut up," Robin explained stiffly, adjusting the collar on his shirt. My eyes narrowed and I walked up to him with clenched fists.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You have no right to do that, you asshole!" I swore, punching him in the arm. Robin blinked, then his lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
"If I had no right, why did you kiss me back?" Robin asked in a matter-of-fact tone. I swore I saw a ghost of a smile on his stupid face, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, making me wonder if it was only just a trick of light.
"I-I─," I cursed myself for stuttering in front of him, but I was completely speechless. Why did I kiss him back? The last time I checked, the two of us could hardly stand each other. Satisfied at the lack of an answer, Robin smirked. I looked up to scold him, but he noticed the bruise on my cheek and frowned, causing me to duck my head in embarrassment.
"Sit down," Robin said, letting go of me before turning around to get the first aid kit. I clutched the wrist the he had let go off, trying to rub away the tingles.
"You can't just waltz around my dorm like you own it, you know," I said, stubbornly refusing to sit.
"I can buy this entire building if I wanted to, so don't tempt me. Now sit down," Robin muttered, gesturing to the sofa. I huffed, sitting down. I bit my lip, the very lips that were on Robin's a few minutes ago. It was still tingling. He grabbed the medicated cream out of the first aid kit and squeezed a small amount onto his fingers. Without a word, he began to slather the cream over the bruise on my face.
"You don't have to do this," I mumbled when he grabbed my chin gently and turned my head to one side. Robin shrugged, his passive expression softening.
"Don't bite your lip," Robin said, running a thumb over my bottom lip. My heart beat sped up. "You'll hurt yourself again."
"How did you find out?" I asked quietly. Any other person wouldn't have understood my question, but the both of us knew exactly what I was talking about. Robin hesitated, pausing for a moment.
"That's not important," he finally said, continuing to slather the cream across my cheek. "All that matters is that he's not coming back. It's the least I can do after getting you in trouble in the first place."
Was that an apology? Why would he apologise for something he wasn't responsible for?
"It's not your fault," I assured. Robin frowned slightly, looking unconvinced.
"It really isn't. You didn't make Jake do anything," I said, patting his hand reassuringly. Robin was silent, and I looked up at him only to realise that he was already staring at me with an unfathomable expression on his face.
"Alexandra," Robin said lowly, the curious glint in his eye never ceasing.
"What?" I asked, frowning slightly.
"Why do you defend me when it's much easier to put the blame on me instead?" Robin asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"It's not right to place the blame on someone else when it's clear whose fault it was," I said. "Besides, if anything, I should be thanking you."
At my reply, Robin raised his eyebrow. A sliver of surprise passed his eyes.
"Thanking...me?" he echoed, scrunching his eyebrows together, as if he could not understand why I would thank him for anything.
"Yeah," I said softly. Without thinking, my fingers reached towards his face, lightly grazing his busted lip. I frowned, my heart heavy with guilt. If not for me, he wouldn't have gotten punched. "You defended me, and got hurt because of me."
Robin's eyes softened, and he wrapped a hand around mine, pulling my hand away from his face.
"You might be the first person, other than my friends and April, that isn't so ready to put the blame on me when something goes wrong," he said. My frown softened and I offered him a small smile.
"Trust me, Robin. If I blamed you even just a little bit, you would have gotten a black eye of your own by now," I teased, causing him to roll his eyes. Then I remembered about the little encounter outside my dorm just a few moments ago, and couldn't help but ask, "What about Wes? How did you find out about him?"
"It wasn't hard to find out who the source of the picture was after I called the tabloid and...explained our situation," Robin said.
"By 'explained', you mean 'threatened to sue'?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. To my surprise, his lips loosened into a small smile.
"I'm not that bad of a tyrant, Alexandra," Robin defended, making me laugh out loud. He smeared the last of the ointment over my bruise carefully and blew lightly on my injury. Then, he screwed the cap back onto the tube of ointment.
"All done," he said, before placing everything back into the first aid kit and standing up abruptly, walking to the front door.
"What?" I breathed. I cursed myself for sounding so disappointed. Luckily, I don't think Robin noticed.
"I have business to attend to," he said, putting on his coat.
"It's really late," I pointed out, but Robin only shrugged.
"Time doesn't wait for anyone. Work is work," he said, making me frown slightly. I stood up front where I was and walked over to the door where Robin was already standing.
"Oh," I replied, looking at my feet as he shrugged his coat on.
"Alexandra?" he said, in a softer voice this time. I looked up at him.
"Yeah?"
"I know I should've asked first before, but can I kiss you?" Robin asked gently.
"W-what?" I sputtered. Robin moved closer to me, so close our noses almost touched. I looked into his hypnotising sapphire eyes, almost in a daze.
"Can I," Robin said slowly, staring into my eyes, "kiss you?"
"Y-yes? Wait, I mean no. I mean, I-I─," I stuttered, eyes widening and cheeks flaming. Robin drew back and I immediately craved his presence again.
"You don't know if you want me to," Robin stated. How does he manage to look so calm when my brain's practically melting into putty right now?
"It's not that. I'm just not ready," I muttered when I was confident I could speak without blurting out something embarrassing.
"I know. It's selfish of me to think you are, too."
"Thank you, Robin," I murmured, unconsciously stroking my bottom lip. I meant every word.
"You're welcome. Let me know, alright? When you figure it out," Robin said, the tips of his ears turning a delicate shade of pink. He raised his hand to cup my cheek, but thought better of it. Instead, he let his arm fall to his side, turning to walk away. Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist. He stiffened at my touch but turned around to face me anyway.
"See you tomorrow, Robin," I said softly, getting on my tippy-toes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. Robin blinked, taken aback for a moment. Then, his rosy lips slowly curved upwards into a brilliant smile, and he ducked his head in an attempt to hide it.
To my surprise, my heart fluttered at the sight of his pearly whites and I realised that it was the first time I saw him smiling so sincerely. Realising that, I couldn't help but smile in return to his adorable reaction.
Clearing his throat after he composed his silly grin, he nodded and waved a quick goodbye.
"See you, Alexandra."
❁❁❁
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Robin and Alex finally kissed! What do you guys think? Do you ship them (#Rolex)?
Song of the Chapter: Is This Love? // Corinne Bailey Rae