A TASTE OF BAD( MXM)

1. Confession

CHAPTER ONE

BECK’S POV

“So, your anniversary is coming up,” Niran began as he set down the weights, moving closer to where I sat, feeling completely drained yet re-energized at the same time. Niran and I had a gym routine, always working out together on Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends from four to six p.m. If I was not cooped up in our house watching Netflix, playing video games or reading some fantasy novel then I’d probably be sleeping. I did not exactly lead on an interesting life but once or twice I let him drag me off to some campus party and indulge in random hot make-out sessions with strangers.

“Yeah,” I shrugged.

“Yeah?” he c****d an eyebrow, picking up the weights again, facing me as he worked out. I was done with my routine already, my body just begging to stand under the cold shower of the gym. My twentieth birthday was in three weeks while Niran had six months already on his twenty years. We were both sophomores in Castleview college located in the center of River-Ridge County. It had not been my first choice but Niran for some reason had been obsessed with wanting to be here. It was not exactly the fanciest college and it didn’t help that it was built right in the middle of Castleview town which actually contradicted its name. It was nothing like a f*****g castle but well, it was okay. A stretch of greener covered almost half of the town and there pretty interesting tales of vampires and mythical creatures surrounding the forest located outside the campus.

“Uh, yeah,” I said, stretching my limbs in an attempt to relieve them of the tiredness.

“Its your three-month anniversary. This is the longest you’ve ever been with someone after such a long time,”

“Exactly,” I sighed,” After Kennedy in high school, I’ve always been avoiding getting serious with someone. I’ve dated so many guys and it’s all been about the fun and then Anton just comes into my life and everything just spirals into seriousness so fast. Like it was supposed to be one night of fun and now tomorrow is our three-month anniversary,”

I had no idea how I was supposed to feel about all this because it all felt too familiar and I didn’t think I could let myself go through that f*****g pain again yet Anton made me feel my heart racing in an inexplicable manner. Ken had left me scarred, afraid of getting attached to anyone. It had been the worst part of my life and I’d hated myself for falling too fast for him without the certainty that he felt the same for me too.

“Ken was a complete douchebag. Anton on the other hand actually gives a s**t about you,” he spoke.

“Its scary. I’m falling for him, Niran and its happening so fast. What do I do?” I questioned.

“Um…tell him how you really feel,” he put down the weights, this time both of us heading to the gym’s bathrooms for a quick shower,” Look, I know you are scared that the same thing is going to happen and that Anton would hurt you like Ken did but I’ve seen how that boy looks at you. It’s not the same way Ken did,”

“That makes me feel better,” I smiled, feeling my heart thumping.

“So come on, let your guard down just this once,” he smiled encouragingly.

While under the shower, I let my thought hover Anton, the boy I was falling fast. We were both in the Medical Laboratory class. The way his eyes would glitter every time he smiled or how he’d stress over his little cute freckles, tagged at my heartstrings. Niran was right, I should tell him how I feel. One burn was not going to stop me from experiencing love again and if Anton was the one for me, then I was all for it. As we drove back to our mansion which we shared with three other girls; Tiara, the tomboy, Angelica and Rania, I couldn’t help the giddy excitement in my heart. I sent him a quick text, asking him to meet me at the football field at seven, the place we’d shared our first kiss.

“Guess who is finally going to confess his love to Anton?” Niran was quick to announce when we got back in the mansion. The three girls were in the kitchen, Tiara reading a novel while Rania and Angelica were making some very poor attempts in whatever the hell they were trying to cook.

“Pay up,” Tiara smirked, gesturing at everyone else. They reached into the pockets with grim expressions and amidst groans, they each retrieved a hundred dollar note before handing it over to Tiara.

“Three hundred dollars rich,” she smirked.

“You guys betted on me? That’s so f*****g unbelievable,” I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Don’t get up all in your feelings, Beck. At least you falling in love with Anton has me drinking tonight and not actually on my bill,” she waved the notes on my face.

“You never drink on your bill,” I pointed out before gesturing at the two girls covered in what I presumed to be cookie dough,” And what are you guys trying to do? It’s not even Halloween yet,”

“Ha, very funny,” Angelica muttered, her eyes glued on the piece if paper that I assumed was a recipe.

“You know what? You two could work as clowns for Beck’s birthday,” Niran teased, taking a seat by the kitchen table, next to Tiara.

“f**k both of you,” Rania cussed.

“You wish,” Niran laughed.

For a few minutes, we were lost in chatter, making fun of their poor attempts at making cookies until an impatient ringing of the doorbell followed by hitting of the door disrupted us. We all shared a look, each one of us confused.

“Let me go check,” I volunteered, already turning to walk towards it when Niran grabbed my hand, his jaw tense and eyes filled with fear.

“I’ll do it,”

“Okay,” I shrugged.

He walked towards it, pulling the door wide open only for Angelica to let out a loud scream when we saw who it was at the door. Anton, covered in blood, shirt ripped across his chest with something akin to the shape of claw marks running on his chest, stumbled inside the house.

“They found you,” he coughed up, falling down on the door rug.