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"It's not right for lecturers to keep you back." Damien muttered as he finished his breakfast. "Yesterday I was there for hours."
"Is that why you didn't get home until six?" Laura asked.
He nodded. "Damn them."
"What'd you do?" Katherine wondered.
He shifted in his seat. "I told him to fuck off."
All of us scowled.
"What? He kept picking on me I wasn't in a great mood!"
"Doesn't give you the right to tell him that." I said. I stood up and walked to the sink to dump my bowl and spoon inside.
"He let me off by not telling the Dean but I have to help him every Monday after class for the next three weeks."
The doorbell rang.
Everyone looked at each other and Lucas sighed. "I'll get it then,"
I was slightly nervous for todays lecture with Michael. Acting normal seemed easy enough. But easier said than done.
Luke walked in with a smile and turned to me. I raised a brow at him but in walked my brother. I scowled at him. "And you're here on a Tuesday because?"
He shrugged a shoulder. "School was cancelled."
"I highly doubt that." I walked over to him. "Does mom or dad know you're here?"
He shook his head and pouted his bottom lip. "If you give me this day I'll owe you forever."
"What homework did you not do?" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Advanced Math and my teacher said she'd put me in detention for tomorrow. I can't do tomorrow I have a music class after school."
"You're going to have to stay here I have a lecture in about twenty minutes that I have to leave for about... now." I grabbed my bag from the floor next to the table.
"Oh. Can't you just skip it and come with me to the mall? I need to get some stuff."
I scoffed. "No! I'm not skipping my lecture for you, Aaron." Everyone stood up and made their way to the door. Damien introduced himself to my brother with a manly handshake and left the room.
"Look, stay here. You know where the main building is if you need me. Text me later okay?" I pecked his cheek. "Don't snoop through my stuff."
Before he could say another word, we all piled out of the house.
We made it to class with about five minutes to spare. My heart pounded in my chest as Kate opened the door to the classroom. I walked in with a glance to his desk to see that he wasn't here. I sighed with relief but then I wondered if he was coming in. He wouldn't not come... Would he? I still never found out the real reason as to why he wasn't in for the other week.
We sat in our seats patiently and finally he walked in. Without even realizing what I was doing, I was watching his every move. I watched the way his body moved toward his desk with ease.
Today he was wearing grey trousers, a light blue shirt and a dark blue tie. I moved my gaze from his body to his face. His mouth was in a slight smile as he went into the store room and took out two rows of books. His eyes seemed to sparkle some. He's obviously in a great mood.
He loosened his tie as he straightened his back.
And then he looked up at me.
He held my gaze for a split second. In that second I saw a twinge of amusement but at what, I wasn't sure.
He turned away from me, his lips still curled into a smile. "Listen up. New assignment. Read this book, The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau by November 2nd. We'll discuss it in class and then you'll write me an essay. Simple enough right?"
Some of the class agreed and laughed.
"Evie, come hand these out for me please."
I rolled my eyes as I stood up and walked down the steps. He waited behind his desk looking down at a sheet of paper and straightened out when I got closer. He picked up half of the books in one hand and turned to me. He smiled politely at me like any other teacher would. Except I saw right through it.
As he handed them to me, his hand brushed mine sending small bolts of electricity up and down my arm.
I narrowed my eyes at him before turning around and starting on the first row all the way to the third row until I had to go back. As he handed me a few of the books, some dropped on the floor. I went to pick some up at the same time as him.
We ducked behind his desk and he took this time to say, "Have you changed shampoo?"
I laughed quietly. "Ah, yes I did."
He surprised me by reaching out and fingering a lock of my hair. "Strawberry?"
I opened my mouth to reply but he stood up. I followed quickly after with all of the books in hand. I clenched my jaw to stop the blush from hitting my face. I handed the books to everyone and sat down with a sigh.
Kate smiled harmlessly at me.
"What?" I snapped.
She shrugged. "Nothing! Someone's got their panties in a twist."
I turned back to Reeves as he briefed us on our assignment. After about half hour I was finally concentrating and not daydreaming about him. But then the door opened interrupting class revealing a middle-aged woman. "Professor Reeves? I'm sorry to interrupt but I have to talk to an Evangeline O'Shea?"
I raised my head from my arms and raised my hand.
"Oh. There's a young man outside demanding to see you. He says it's an emergency?"
I narrowed my eyes. "What's his name?"
"Aaron?" She replied.
Kate, Laura and Damien giggled. I collected my books from my desk, shoved them into my bag, shrugged on my knit cardigan and started to stand when Reeves said, "He's interrupting my class."
I walked down the steps and looked up at him. All traces of happiness had wiped off his face completely. He now looked a little pissed off... Jealousy?
If only he knew it was my brother... Not that I was going to tell him yet.
"Don't worry. You've explained what you needed to anyway so I should be able to get on with it just fine." I smiled at him but that only made his jaw tick.
The woman led me out of the room to the entrance to the library where Aaron waited patiently. I hadn't noticed until now that he was wearing a patterned thick cream cardigan, dark blue wash jeans, Nikes and a White t-shirt underneath. He's definitely changed since coming here. I like the way he dressed.
He stood up with a smirk. "Thank you,"
The woman nodded her head and started down the hall. I caught him off guard and punched his arm. "Asshole." He slung his arm over my shoulder but I pushed him away. "I can't believe you did that."
"It's over now! Let's go to the mall I am starving."
I sighed and glanced a Michael's class as we walked toward the exit.
I just know I was going to pay for that.
**
"You what?!" I whisper yelled. "You brought me here to get your top lip pierced?!"
Aaron picked up a French fry and stuffed it in his mouth. "Yeah."
"What did mom say?"
"She said I could get one. I have the money and stuff I just need you there."
"What do you think mom will say when you come home with a silver ball on your lip when you were supposed to be at school?"
He leant back in his chair and smirked. "I'll say I got it done after school of course. Thus explaining why you were with me thus backing-up why you're dropping me home today."
I looked around the food court and sighed.
I knew he's always wanted it pierced but I didn't think I was gonna be there when he got it done.
His blue eyes shone with excitement as he leaned forward. "Come on Evie. Be a great big sister and let me have this one! I'll owe you big."
I ran my hand through my hair.
"I love you." He added with a smile.
"Fine." I said. "Where?"
He stood up and grabbed my arm to pull me up. "This place called Adrenaline. It's next to Hot Topic."
"I haven't even been to the mall yet and you know where everything is." I pried his fingers off my arm and followed him through the large mall. "How much is this costing you?"
"39.50. 40 dollars."
I rolled my eyes. "What did dad say."
"He doesn't know and won't until I get home with it tonight."
I laughed. Hard. I actually had to stop to catch my breath. Aaron looked around seeing if people were watching but I didn't care! I wiped the tears from my eyes as I calmed down. "Dad will go ape shit."
He waved it away. "He'll live."
"Wait a sec how old do you have to be to do this?"
He smiled wider at this. "Well, I know the guy that does it. He's my friend's older brother and I talked to him about it yesterday after school. He knows I have parental permission so it's all gravy."
"You've got your connections already." I mumbled.
We made it to Adrenaline and walked inside. We walked in and immediately, the guy at the desk smiled up at Aaron and came over to do that man handshake thing where they slap backs and... Stuff.
The guy looked at me with a smile and offered me his hand. "You're his sister."
"Fact or guess?" I asked as I shook his hand.
"Fact. You have similar features. Eyes, hair, dimples." He winked.
He did absolutely nothing for me. Sure the guy was muscled, had a nice tattoo on his shoulder, great face, dark hair but he was nothing compared to Michael. For me anyway. Maybe in another life.
"Are you hitting on me or my brother because his dimple is almost identical to one of mine?"
The guy laughed but obviously felt embarrassed. He turned back to my brother and collected the money and necessary information. I offered to go in with him but he'd refused saying he didn't need me to hold his hand. Aaron seems to be growing up. He's getting out of his bratty faze slowly. Soon he'll be a respectable man.
Except any girl he dates will have to go through me of course. If they play him, I'll slap them. He might not know this just yet but he'll find out. The girls he'd dated in the past weren't worth it. Aaron was an attractive young man and everyone knew it. Mom practically had a seizure every time he came home one minute past his curfew.
Surprisingly a half hour later, I stood up from the seating area and watched him stroll out of the back room. He pointed to his top lip that now had a silver ball on it and smiled. "See? Don't you think it looks great?"
I smiled at him and sighed. "Yes, Aaron it looks great."
Aaron shook hands with the dark haired guy before we left. Aaron was literally about to walk into Hot Topic when I grabbed his arm. "Oh, no sweetie. You owe me remember?"
He narrowed his eyes. "And?"
"We're going to shop now."
He groaned as I pulled him toward American Apparel. "What? Come on anything but lugging me around while you shop."
"Oh don't worry. I'm shopping for you too. New clothes for us both! I think we both deserve it. I won't tell mom about you skipping school, if you don't tell mom we're going on a splurge!"
He sighed in defeat. "Deal."
*
"See, that was not so bad."
During the first two hours of shopping, Aaron had the face of a slapped ass. Now, another two and a half hours later, he seemed pleased with his new clothes. "Fine, that wasn't bad."
I had about three bags while Aaron had two both filled with clothes. I had to help him pick out a few things but otherwise he did well.
As we strolled through the getting empty mall, he slung his arm over my shoulders and said, "Thank you, Evie. Really, I didn't expect you to be so cool about it."
I wrapped my arm around his waist and squeezed. "You're welcome. And shut up, sometimes I can actually be cool."
He chuckled. "Yeah right."
I smiled. "Don't make me hit you."
I turned my gaze forward and my smile immediately wiped off my face. Oh, for the love of...
"What?" Aaron asked because we'd stopped.
The man in question glanced at Aaron with a smile and came forward. Is it purely by coincidence or does the world honestly want to punish me? Because I sure as hell didn't say anything about coming here. Get it together, he could be here doing something for himself. It isn't all about you.
"So," He said as he stopped in front of us. "Is this the person that pulled you out of my class for an 'emergency'?"
Aaron's arm fell away from my shoulders. "Oh, shit."
I scowled at him and turned back to Reeves. "This is my younger brother, Aaron."
"I see." Was all he said as he offered his hand to him. Aaron took it hesitantly.
"Aaron this is my history lecturer, Michael Reeves." I raised my eyebrows. "And 'you see'?"
His eyes darted between us. "Obvious resemblance."
I could see Aaron looking at us with a raised brow at the corner of my eye. "Right. So, Eve, I'm going to Hot Topic seeming that we didn't get to go at all." He nudged me with his arm and I shot him a glare. "See you in a bit." He then decided to mess up my hair so I pushed him. He laughed as he walked away.
Michael was still looking between us as Aaron left but finally he turned his emerald gaze onto me.
"You didn't say you had a brother."
"I haven't said a lot of things."
"I suppose that is true." He glanced around. "Walk with me?"
"Do I have a choice?" I asked.
He shook his head with a dazzling smile and moved to stand next to me. We started walking through the mall side by side. His arm brushed mine and I smiled despite my best efforts.
"What brings you to the mall?" I asked.
"A car dealership down the road. I got a new car finally."
"Type?"
He smiled down at me. "Mercedes Coupe in a deep blue."
"That's a nice car." I mumbled. "Still doesn't explain why you're in the mall."
"I should be asking you the same question, Miss O'Shea. I needed to get a few things. You, however, missed the last hour and a half of my lecture." We stopped by a Starbucks and I walked straight in. I didn't answer him but I could feel his presence behind me.
"Well?" He prompted.
I smiled at the woman behind the counter. "Can I have a grande iced caramel frappuccino please."
"Cream on top?" She asked.
"Sure."
"Evie."
I turned to Michael with an innocent smile. "Did you want something?"
He rolled his eyes. "No, thanks. Answer my question please."
I handed the woman five dollars and received my change. "My brother told me he wanted his lip pierced so I went with him to get it done. Problem?" I asked when I saw a flash of annoyance.
"You missed really important information."
I shrugged. "I'll get it off one of the girls or Damien." I thanked the woman as she handed me my cold drink. "Listen, Michael it was only half a lecture. The world won't explode because I missed it. When the secretary said a young man was demanding to see me, I could clearly see the jealousy in your--"
"I'll stop you right there." He interrupted as he leant against one of the tables.
The woman behind the counter smiled at us and I winked discreetly back. I put the bags on the floor in between my legs and held the cup with both hands.
"Jealous?" He asked outraged.
"You were all happy at the start." I smirked. I took a long pull of the sweet, creamy drink and took a little look around. "You were obviously jealous because as soon as you saw Aaron earlier, you clearly saw the resemblance between us both and ruled out any relationship."
He crossed his arms over his broad chest and squared his shoulders. Here comes a sneer...
"I doubted there was a relationship considering the fact that we'd been involved on Sunday. Want me to define involved for you? You remember when you pushed me on my back and sat on--"
I slapped his arm childishly to shut him up. The woman coughed to cover her laughter and I only glared at her. I picked up my bags, grabbed his arm and started pulling him out of the shop with a red face. The nerve of him. How embarrassing. "Ass." I mumbled under my breath.
"Careful what you mumble, honey." He replied.
I stared at him in a world fury and opened my mouth ready to scream at him when I heard someone say, "Evie?"
I let go of Michael's arm and turned toward whoever said my name. "O-oh! Hi, Jade."
As she bounded forward, I glanced to my side only to see that he was gone... Where? I wasn't even sure. The place was emptying where could he have rushed off so fast?
Jade was in my Greek Civ class and knew of Reeves so if she saw him with me that would only cause a number of rumors or questions. We talked for a bit before she said her goodbyes and walked off. I finished the drink quickly - ow, brain freeze - and dropped the cup in a trash can close by.
Immediately after she turned her back on me, a pair of large hands landed on my waist and pulled me backwards until I hit a rock solid chest. "Close call."
I slapped his hands off but he wrapped his arms all the way around my waist and rested his head beside mine. I couldn't deny that the feeling of warmth he was radiating with wasn't comforting and I loved the feeling of his body close to mine especially in this way. I don't think he's ever... Hugged me before. Only once but I practically threw myself at him when I broke down.
"I'm sorry for what I said that in the coffee shop."
I blinked. "You're actually apologizing?"
He nodded his head beside mine. "It was wrong for me to air that out in public."
"Yes, it was. And although I am enjoying this, it's risky for you to be doing it." I glanced around but found myself snuggling into his chest.
Before he let go, he landed a soft kiss to the exposed skin on my neck. I felt cold without his warmth but luckily the kiss had me scorching for a bit.
My phone vibrating in my pocket made me jump. I whipped it out of my pocket and slid my finger across the screen. "What's up, where are you?"
"By the car. Be here quick, it's cold."
I hung up and turned my gaze back to him. He smiled sweetly. "I'll see you in class tomorrow then. Hopefully this time, you won't be pulled out by any other young men."
I laughed and was left smiling at him. His gaze made me feel like we were the only two people in the mall. He stepped forward and tilted my head up by my chin. "I have a question?"
"I'll try to answer it."
He stroked the side of my jaw with his thumb. "Simple yes or no question. Purely for your benefit." I waited for him to ask it. "Will you kiss me?"
I smiled. "What do I benefit from that exactly?"
"The satisfaction that you're in control." He said with a smirk referring back to what I said on Sunday.
I snorted. "Right."
"Well?" He prompted. "Before Jade comes back and interrupts the moment."
I looked down at my feet debating whether to or not. My mind was on a full work out. I took a deep breath and decided to blank any thoughts in my mind and let a different side of me decide what to do...
That growing soft spot I had for him in my heart.
I shuffled forward, lifted my face and lightly, gently pressed my lips to his soft ones. I didn't deepen the kiss and neither did he. The sparks I felt in this simple peck were unbelievably alarming. It was such a simple thing that it had my knees quivering and my hands aching to run through his hair. I wouldn't let myself do it though. When I pulled away a little so our lips were hovering, I opened my eyes to find his staring at me. I smiled against his mouth. "That okay?"
When he went to lick his lips, his tongue scraped outside my bottom lip. Tease. "Perfect." His voice was so deep, so vibrating that it felt like it travelled through my skin and decided to sit on my nerve endings.
"Great." I cursed myself when my voice shook a little. I took a step back also walking back into reality. "Good to see you, Michael." I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling anymore than I already was. I spun on my heels and rushed toward the elevator. Yes, it was very, very risky to do that so near to Uni. What we're doing isn't illegal, but maybe frowned upon.
Wait a minute, what are we doing?
I stepped into the elevator and got to the fifth level of the multi storey parking lot in seconds. My car was on the other side so I started walking down the path. The lot was large and almost empty now because it was almost time for the shops to close.
As I went into my pocket to get my keys out, I dropped my bags onto the floor. I let out a long sigh as I bent over to pick them up.
What could I class Reeves' and me? Barely friends with benefits? Almost scratching an itch? It's hard to define our... Should I call it a relationship?
I straightened out and looked ahead only to pause when a gust of wind whipped past my ear. I waved my hand on the side of my neck and continued down the walkway. I saw a figure standing at the very end of the walkway but ignored it. As I got closer, the figure hadn't moved at all... Like it was watching me or something.
I slowed down a little to see if the person would move but nothing. I had to go up there and turn the corner to get to my car... And Aaron was up there.
As I got a little closer I could just make out the blonde hair of a male.
And then he started forward. Determined steps echoed around me.
I stopped and watched a moment. Was he coming at me? No... Maybe I'm overreacting.
I started taking small steps back panicking slightly. Then his pace quickened. And that's when I started to have a heart attack. I took a lunge back and bumped into a hard body.
Hands curled around my arms and I shut my eyes ready for whatever was to come. But then I heard a familiar voice.
"Evie?"
I looked up to Michael's strained expression and then back forward.
The man had gone. I glanced around frantically but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?"
I turned to face him only to notice that his body was tense and his pupils were slightly dilated. It must be anger. Because he sure as hell didn't look turned on like the times before. Maybe he does have some sort of eye problem. But whose pupil's honestly dilate every time their feelings changed? I don't think mine did and I haven't seen people like that before.
I held a hand to my pounding heart and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I saw someone but... I was just..." I laughed nervously and ran my shaky hand through my hair. "What are you doing?"
He squeezed my upper arms. "I was going to my car." He looked beyond me and I followed his gaze to the blue Mercedes parked not far from here. "You're shaking."
"I'm fine. I'm great. I just need to get to my brother." I looked past him not able to look him in the eye. "I'm okay."
He didn't let go. "If something happens..."
"What?" I pressed. I was still frightened and a little jumpy. My nerves were still rattling and I was afraid if I stayed with him any longer I'd break.
He sighed and let go of me. When I went to turn he took my face in both of his hands and made me look at him. His eyes had calmed now but his face held pure worry. "If something happens to you, anything," His eyes were screaming at me like he was telling me to read between his words. "I don't care if you only have a paper cut, just don't be afraid to call me."
Before I could say no, he took my phone out of my pocket and started putting his number in. He slid it back into my jacket pocket carefully. "And before you say anything I do care if something happened to you. You gave me a heart attack when you turned up at my door with blood running down your face,"
I laughed despite myself.
He surprised me by pressing his lips to my forehead. "Remember that I will be there to help you. No matter the situation."
I turned out of his hands and started speed walking to the corner without looking directly at the spot where the man had been standing. I stole a glance back to Michael. The last thing I saw before I rounded the corner was him watching me in the same spot I left him in.
I inhaled and exhaled deeply and shook my hands out.
"Man, do you take your time!"
I sighed with relief when I saw that Aaron was okay.
I pressed my trembling thumb to the unlock button on my key. Aaron jumped into the passenger seat and I quickly joined him after throwing my bags in the backseat. I let out another deep breath and gripped my hands onto the steering wheel.
"You okay?"
Aaron looked slightly worried so I smiled to reassure him. "I'm okay. You ready to go home?"
He smiled and nodded. I switched the car on and rushed out of the spot anxious to get away from here. I found myself glancing in the empty spot where Michael's car was parked. He cared. Bloody hell.
It felt like a British swear word moment. But he actually cared about me. Or cared whether or not something happens to me. Either way it seems the same.
So the physical attraction had grown into more for him...
And I can't deny what I was feeling for him anymore. He was growing on me. And even though his incessant arguing and the 'I have to be right' attitude made me want to slap him sometimes I guess that's part of the reason I was attracted to him. Not the whole reason of course. There was a part of him that was soft... a part he rarely let me see but when he showed it, it was worth the wait.
Aaron banging his head to a song cheered me up a bit because he looked like a complete idiot. I drove out of my parking lot and off into the right lane to get home.
"Here comes the good bit... STAAAY WITH- What the hell?"
A voice interrupted his song so I turned it down a bit. "This is the 6 o'clock news. No more than an hour ago, a young woman had been attacked outside a local grocery store on Beresford Street..."
"Shit, Evie that's a few blocks from here." Aaron mumbled.
The news report carried on. "...The woman was found with bite marks, one to the neck another to her wrist - marks that resembled other attacks around this area. Whatever has been attacking these people is moving from the forests into town. Rangers have upped their search on the animal attacking but have found no clues as to what it could be."
"Whatever has been attacking these people is really sinking their teeth into them. Blood thirsty creature mom and dad are saying." Aaron said. "One of my friends' sisters is a ranger..." He paused a moment. "She was attacked."
I didn't say a word as we made it home in forty-five minutes instead of the usual hour and a bit. As I parked I turned the engine off and turned to him. "How is she?"
Aaron's eyes had turned sad. "Nobody will let us see her. My friend, Vick, hasn't come to school in weeks because she's been looking after her. All I know is that her bites resemble the ones like the lady on the radio."
I looked at the illuminated house for a moment in thought. The attacks were beginning to make me curious. I wanted to know more about it and the fact that it'd happened to Laura just miffed me even more. She couldn't remember a thing, even sketchier. So it made me wonder, could anyone else remember?
"How would your friend feel if I went for a visit?"
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