Russell

The Ex

Samantha

"So, you?" I blush, trying to ease the tension in the air. Though I see Russell as an attractive young man, I can't help feel awkward in front of him standing in the middle of the room, rocking back and forth slowly with my hands in front of me.

He turns after placing my books on the coffee table and turns to face me. "Umm, yes! Me." He says as he pushes his glasses back on his face and rubs his hands together softly. We smile awkwardly in silence, yet we both seem to be unable to undo our stare from each other.

The room has gotten cold, making shiver as I feel the cold breeze coming from the opened window hit my body. Russell chuckles and comes close rubbing my arms with his hands. "Sorry, the heater isn't working. I gotta take a look at it. Let me close the window for you. Why don't you take a seat while I make a cup of coffee. You do like cooffee right?" He walks towards the kitchen and grips the coffee pot, pouring water inside and placing a coffee filter full of ground coffee beans inside the machine.

"I do actually. But let me help," I walk towards the fridge grabbing the creamer I had seen inside earlier. We both bump into each other as I close the refrigerator door and turn quickly. He grips my waist as I bump into him and make him stumble back. We both stare eminently at each other as his gaze penetrates me, making me blush.

"Sorry, I guess I should really look where I'm going right? I keep bumping into you." I say, chuckling lightly and can't help stare at his lips as his mouth forms into a side smirk.

"It's ok. I should of been watching my foot steps as well." He slowly brings his hands down and clears his throat, turning towards the mugs. The machine beeps alerting us that the coffee is ready and he slowly pours the coffee inside the mugs while I slowly stir in the creamer.

I hand him his mug, he sips it slowly. "Wow! This is still really hot." He smiles, making me chuckle. He's trying really hard not to laugh at the burning feel going down his throat. I chuckle, making him look my way with a smile.

"What?" He says as he licks the side of his mouth. I point at him gesturing to his coffee and creamer mustache "You have a little-"

"I, what?"

"Here, let me." I step forward, gripping a napkin and cleaning his upper lip slowly. His mouth forms into a smile over my gesture making me blush uncontrollably. "Don't do that!" I smile, and turn sitting down on a barstool.

He tilts his head to the side and chuckles. "Do what exactly?" , "That! Your killer smile. Don't smile at me like that. You make me nervous."

"What? I just. . . I smiled because I appreciated you cleaning my mouth. Thank you. It would have been embarrassing for me to leave and walk around campus with a coffee creame mustache. So. . . Thank you." He nods and closes his eyes.

I smile, rocking back and forth slightly. "Fine! Your welcome. But just so you know, I'm immune to your charm. I see right through you." I say, c*****g an eyebrow, looking away, and then smile at him.

"Oh!" He laughs and nods his head. "You see right through me, huh? What is it about me that is so transparent? Or am I so predictable to a charming girl I just met a few hours ago?" He smiles pointing towards me and places his hand on his hip.

I smile back and stand on my feet, walking about in a circle and turn to face him again. "I see the way girls look at you. This whole, nerd look you got going on? I don't buy it. Yeah....you may be smart. . . But I can tell you're a player, just like any other guy out there." I point my finger towards him moving it in a circular motion in front of him.

"I-, ok no. I'm sorry but you got me all wrong! I'm nothing like any of these losers in this school." He chuckles, bringing his hand forward around his chin. I nod, crossing my hands in front of my chest.

"Mmhm! Ok. Look, the way I see it, we're roommates for a whole year before graduation. So, let's do a pact that we'll keep things civilized and peaceful. No wild parties without the other one's permission."

"Ok. I don't throw parties, so I'm ok with that." He chuckles, nodding as he looks down at the floor.

"Really? I highly doubt that....also, no loud music at night."

"Ok?"

"We'll take fair share of the bathroom, but make sure you leave the bathroom clean when you leave." he chuckles, biting down on his bottom lip and slightly lifting his head. "Ok! That's fair." He squints his eyes and smiles nodding his head.

"No mess in the kitchen, if you use the kitchen you gotta leave it clean. No me-", "Wow! Samantha. Wait. . ." He runs his fingers through his hair and turns slowly away from me, and turns back slowly running his hands over his face.

"Look, we both gotta work together on this ok? We both work to keep the place clean, and work together to not piss off the other one. But-" he brings his finger up in front of me.

"If we feel uncomfortable with anything, we gotta talk it out. Communicate, and above all, I hope we can be friends." He brings his hand up to shake my hand. I look at his hand for a moment and sigh as I slowly bring my hand to shake his.

"Ok, friends." I smile lightly, and grip his hand and shake it.

Two knocks sound on the door, I make my way to open the door. My eyes widen in surprise and my mouth gawks open to see the person before me. A tall dirty blonde hair boy with light brown eyes and a killer smile stands in front of me. Someone...that I haven't seen in almost three darn years.

"Hey beautiful!" He smiles at me, and leans on the side of the door. Russell stands by the island and grabs both cups of coffee, taking them to the sink and washing them clean.

"Craig? What are you doing here?" I narrow my eyebrows unable to comprehend why the heck my ex-boyfriend is in front of my dorm in my new school and front of my door?

"Hey sweetheart! Hope you don't mind I'm here. If I knew you were transferring to this school too I would have gotten in contact with you since a few weeks ago!" Craig smiled as he leaned in closer and tried to wrap his arm around my waist. "Craig stop it! What are you doing here? And who told you where I was staying?" I was furious and annoyed at his sudden presence, but somehow, I knew how he ended finding out....my mother.

"Relax sweetheart! Your mom called me and told me to look after you. I told her back in May I was planning to move out here and attend school while I did my internship with my father's business."

"Ok! Well good for you. But I don't need you to look after me. I can take care of myself. Bye Craig!" I grip the door handle and moved the door to shut it, but Craig managed to push it open.

That's when Russell got a little upset, if there's one thing I learned from this....is that he hated, was to see a man act like an asshole in front of a women. He moved infront of Samantha and clenched his jaw looking straight into Craig's eyes.

"Did you not here her? She said she can take care of herself, and if she does need help, she's got friends to take care of her. Now I suggest if you don't want me to throw you out, you leave...Now!!" He came close to Craig's face and fisted his hands by his sides. His knuckles turning white.

Craig was all talk, he loved dominating women, but had never been in any physical confrontation with a guy. He smiles and steps back while nodding his head. "Very well! Your body guard here can look after you for now, Sam. But sooner or later, you're gonna look for me and beg me to take you back!"

"I don't think so, Craig. Bye now." I say, looking at him with disgust through gritted teeth as I softly hold Russell's back.

Craig chuckles and turns on his heel. "Sooner or later Sam! Sooner or later you'll want to take me back sweetheart." He yells over his shoulder as he continues to walk away. I can't help but feel frustrated, yet the way Russell stood up for me, made me feel protected.

"Thank you for standing up for me Russell. But you didn't have to." I whisper as I let go of his back and walk towards the kitchen island. He closes the door and walks towards me, sitting on the stool. "Sam, you said it yourself; we're friends, and friends look out for each other. Plus that guy got off easy, I should of punched him in the face for talking to you like he owned you." He narrowed his eyebrows and leaned his head down.

I smiled and nod my head. "Thank you, but that wasn't necessary. I think he got the point. But either way, thank you." I say chuckling as I think of how Craig always runs from a physical confrontation. We both stood there in a comfortable silence. Though deep inside, I knew things were going to be a rocky road ahead, now with Craig back in the picture, things were bound to get ugly.

I can't believe I was so in love with that douche. He wasn't just a two-timing scumbag, but a coward most of all.

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