Why does everything have to be such a mess, I complained in my head, and I was surprised I was able to think such normal thoughts despite Locke's recent actions.
"I'm here. Let's get you back to your room." Poe muttered, giving me one last comforting glance into my eyes before beginning to walk off the patio, one arm tightly wound around my shoulders.
_____
"Please don't say I told you so." I sighed as Poe walked with me down the hallways back to my dorm.
Poe quietly laughed. "I wasn't going to, Akai. But honestly, now I will."
I rolled my eyes.
"You do need to focus on your school work. I was right back when we last talked. You have so much potential, and you shouldn't be putting it to waste on losers like him!" Poe pleaded.
"I am focusing on my school work. I understand everything so far and have done all of my assignments." I argued. We were close to my dorm.
Poe laughed harshly. "Then what were you doing out after curfew?"
Well, he's got me there, I though grimly, gritting my teeth.
"Okay, fine. Maybe I'm not as focused as a Jedi. But that doesn't mean I can't have friends!" I shot back simply for the sake of arguing. At that moment I was so heated and betrayed by Locke that I didn't think before words flew out of my mouth.
"I'm sorry, is what you call back there a friend?" Poe sarcastically ridiculed. His dark eyes blazed into mine, challenging me. I kept a firm glare.
Silence ensued because I had no clue what to say. Finally I calmed down and sighed.
"Well, how do I stay more focused in school? Is there anything I can do more?" I prayed hopefully. Now I felt remorseful and stupid.
How could I have believed a person as arrogant as Locke could ever amount to anything romantic? And what was I expecting to get out of that breaking-curfew arrangement, anyways? I should've known better than to take that big of a risk.
As we walked, I cringed at the idea of still having to see Locke during my class and at meals. I would avoid him as best as I could, I decided, but the thought of still having to see him anyways made my stomach perform flips. I was now scared of him.
And I didn't want to even begin to think about the blinding white flash that had sent Locke careening across the room, either. I already had enough going on that I couldn't focus on something as supernatural as that.
"There are things you can do to go beyond the academy's limit," Poe answered thoughtfully after a few minutes. He stopped walked and I slowed to a halt as well.
"What are they?" I asked timidly. I was ashamed that I had argued after Poe had helped me out of that situation.
Thinking back on it, I had no clue what I'd done to initially throw Locke off of me. I didn't want to even begin to think about the blinding white flash that had sent Locke careening across the room, either. Just one second he was there and the next he was flying over a metal table across the room. I already had enough going on that I couldn't focus on something as supernatural as that.
Whatever had happened hadn't stopped Locke from charging towards me a second time. Poe and the threat of a blaster had stopped Locke's assault then.
"You can always get extra help. I could help you after dinner sometime if you want to come in and do some extra work." Poe suggested, looking down at me with his coffee-colored eyes.
I pondered on it. I don't have to worry about liking Locke anymore so now the only sexual tension in my life is one-way, and towards Poe. I guess it wouldn't hurt to do extra work, and maybe focusing on my school work more will distract me from my crush on him.
"Okay." I agreed before adding, "When can we meet, then?"
Poe's lips showed hints of a confident, pleased smile that rested under his emotionless countenance. "We can have our first session tomorrow. Sound good?"
The lights were dim in the hallway and the sand-colored walls seemed to surround us, but all I could see was Poe's stone-cut, intense features that put my mind into a blank state and myself at a loss for words.
"Yeah." I weakly replied, giving him a half-hearted smile. We resumed walking in silence -- I felt slightly awkward because I thought my savior was sexy but I'm sure Poe felt as if nothing was wrong besides Locke -- until we reached my dorm.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow." I said, putting my hand on the door knob. I looked into Poe's eyes. He was smiling now, not concealing his emotions at all.
"See you. Goodnight, Akai." Poe quietly spoke in his partially gruff voice as he turned to walk away. I watched him for a few steps before thinking, Don't get caught staring again.
I opened my door as quietly as I could and edged into my dorm, not wanting to wake my roommates.
"How was it?" Opi asked urgently as soon as the door was quietly closed behind me. I jumped and my heart rate spiked upwards in fright.
"You scared me!" I exhaled. Opi laughed.
"My question still stands!" She claimed as I walked towards my bed and sat down.
Opi was sitting upright, grinning widely at me; Rizee was reclined back in her bed, propped up by her elbows with a slight smile etched onto her face; ShanHa was deep asleep.
I finally reached my bed and could feel my mouth drag downwards in a frown of unhappiness. I sat heavily down onto my bed and sighed.
What do I even tell them? They will be expecting something amazing to have happened to me and in reality I'm more embarrassed than ever before. How am I supposed to break this humiliating incident to girls that I'm not even that close with? Sure, I think we will all get close as a trio, but right now I'm almost uncomfortable with the idea of revealing something so embarrassing, repulsive, and shaming to them.
I sighed once more and looked up at them. When they viewed my melancholic expression, Opi's smile faltered and Rizee's disappeared completely.
I reluctantly told them what happened, from the moment I met up with Locke until the moment my hand touched the door knob, excluding the parts about how captivated I was by Poe Dameron.
Opi's mouth fell open and Rizee sat straight up when I reached the part about Locke overpowering me. Rizee's fists clenched and she jumped out of her bed.
"Where is that little son of a bltch! I'll kill him!" She walked towards me with a real threat in her eyes. "I swear, Akai, if you want me to inflict very real pain on that man I will do so without hesitating."
I flinched slightly. "No, no, Rizee, it's okay . . ."
And I finished my story.
Rizee had retreated back to her bed and continued to tightly hold her fists. I could see how white her strained knuckles were from here.
Is Rizee -- shaking? With anger right now? I'm pretty sure --
"Akai, I'm so sorry. That shouldn't happen to anyone, ever. He is cruel and something is clearly psychologically wrong with him." Opi consoled me with sad eyes.
I shrugged. "At least I don't have to wonder what would've happened, now. At least I can know that I don't like him anymore, and I'm not attached at all."
Rizee looked towards the ceiling with utmost contempt. "I knew from the first word that left his vile mouth that that little f(_)cker would be more rotten than a --" Rizee cut herself off and looked at me with a much less irate face. She then proceeded to saying very matter-of-a-factly, "You know, Akai, I'm sorry if you don't want him to get hurt but I don't know if I'll be able to restrain myself."
I internally cringed. "You really don't have to do that."
Rizee raised an eyebrow. "At this point I wouldn't be doing it for you. Do you not see how actually pissed I am? Yes, I would be damaging him for you, but I truly loathe men of his kind."
Opi turned to the outraged blonde, speaking confidently, "You won't have to do that, Rizee. He's going to get in trouble, and if we're lucky, get expelled. He'll get what he has coming."
"I don't think I can sleep tonight knowing that sorry son of a bltch is less than a mile away from me." Rizee said, shaking her head, disgust clear in her tone.
"He'll get what he deserves, which " Opi repeated with a grim expression, the most negative countenance I'd seen on her so far. She shook her head. "I can't believe anyone could be as sick as that. You should be the bigger person, Akai. Show him how worthless he is tomorrow. Keep your head up and pay no attention to him."
"Thanks guys. Goodnight." I said finally, flicking off the lights. They replied and I was left with my thoughts, regretfully thinking about how I'd trusted Locke and wondering about what my private session with Poe would hold.
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Author's Note
Don't forget to VOTE please :)
Hey guys! I've had the busiest week and weekend ever but I'm glad I'm like a chapter or two ahead!
So if you were one of her roommates how would you have reacted?
Do you think you're more like Opi or Rizee?
Anyways, this week was finals week and I hung out with my friends Friday, then had a school winter carnival dance on Saturday, then hung out with my friends again after that!
Okay see ya :)