Mated to a Rogue

Chapter 8

-Dakota POV-

Austin is huge compared to Dallas. Pheonix might be just as big as Austin but Austin is still bigger.

I am reminded of what Austin did to Melvin and now I kind of fear for my brother’s life. Before things escalate, I quickly get up.

“I am doing a class project, Dallas.” I quickly look at Austin. “This is my brother... one of two.”

Austin's body relaxes. “Oh, alright.” He says and sits back down.

I look at Dallas and he beckons me with his finger to come to him. I stomp my way over to him, feeling angry that he just embarrassed me.

“This better just be a project thing.” He whispers to me.

“Oh go away!” I say and push him to start walking.

“I’m telling dad.” He says while he starts to walk away.

“Well... you do that then!”

(He is so annoying!)

I don’t see him more than three times on campus since school started and he just has to appear at this moment?!

(Uh!)

I go back to Austin who of course watches my every move. I have no idea what is up with this guy.

Austin and I manage to get our first chapter going but soon, the library closes. We gather our things and head out.

I take a deep breath and try not to make this awkward.

“Well, I'll see you tomorrow then.” I say.

“I am walking you home.” He says.

“I... I live just a block away.” I say.

“I know.” He says. “I am walking you.”

(He... knows?)

He is obviously not asking so I nod because I don’t want to argue with this guy.

We start to walk in silence. People that walk by us can’t help look at him. His look and his presence have that kind of effect. It is like a pull.

Within a minute, we are in front of my building.

“Thanks for walking me. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I say and start walking in.

He doesn’t say anything and when I glance back, he is standing in the same spot, staring at me.

At this point, I am not surprised. Seems like that is his thing. I arrive at my room and see that Natalie is not there. I know she is probably out with Nathan. I lie on my bed and quickly fall asleep. I am not the type that thinks of stuff before sleeping. The moment I close my eyes, I am out like the dead. Also, I can wake up on my own just fine but if someone tries to wake me up, it is nearly impossible unless you know Kungfu because I am what I call a sleep ninja. I throw karate moves and you’d think Natalie would know this by now.

*Punch*

“Uh! You little bitch.” Natalie says.

I open my eyes and gasp, waking up. I look at her, shocked that she said that.

Natalie rubs her cheek. “Sorry. It’s suppressed anger.”

“Suppressed anger from who?” I ask.

“Probably from Brenda... or Nathan.” She says.

We both start laughing.

“Get up. Your bad boy is here to see you.” She says.

“My what?!”

I look behind her towards her bed where Nathan looks pissed and has his arms crossed.

“What happened to you?”

“I just... I don’t like that guy.” He says.

“What guy?”

Natalie pulls the blanket from me. “That Austin guy. He is out there waiting for you.”

“What!” I jump out of bed and look at my clock.

“Nine!”

I run out of bed and quickly take clothes from my drawers, then head to the bathroom where I make myself presentable in no time. I put on a white t-shirt with a colorful print and short jeans with my white sneakers. My hair is in a bun though it is very messy at the moment and I keep my glasses instead of putting on contacts. The reason I don’t mind glasses is because I don’t feel like I look bad in them at all.

I walk out and start fixing my bed.

“Nathan and I are going to leave you so you can do your thing with the project.” Natalie says when I walk out of the bathroom.

“Okay.” I say.

Nathan stops before opening the door and looks back at me. “Be careful with this guy, alright?”

I nod. “Yes, dad.”

He cringes. “No. Never call me that again.”

I laugh. He smiles and finally opens the door. When he and Austin look at each other, they give death glares to each other and I shiver.

(They really don’t like each other.)

Nathan and Natalie walk out and I walk to the door and give Austin a smile.

“Good morning.” He says.

“Morning.” I open the door wide and let him in.

When I close the door and look back, it feels so strange having him in my room.

Between Natalie’s stuff and mine, the room is filled with soft pastels, pinks, and purple colors. He is a huge rough contrast to the look of this room.

He turns around and suddenly, his eyes go down my body, taking every inch of me in.

I am in such a shock that instead of calmly talking to him, I scream. “SIT!” I say pointing to my bed.

He lifts an eyebrow up.

I clear my throat. “Uhm... you can sit there.” I say in a nicer way before he murders me.

He sits with his legs spread, elbows on his knees and his hands intertwined together like guys tend to do, and stares at me.

I take my stuff from my bag and sit a few feet away from him on the floor with my knees crossed, in front of him.

“So we have the social part down. Next would be their ecosystem.”

“What time are you leaving?” He asks.

“Oh, in two hours.”

“For how long?” His stare pins me in place.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. We can work on this in the afternoon.”

He doesn’t look very happy right now.

(Maybe he’ll be busy?)

“We can do another time-”

“No. It’s fine.” He quickly says.

I nod and I am starting to get used to the fact that I will always be confused with this guy.

“That guy that was just here, he is with the other girl, right?”

I am taken by surprise by that question but I nod.

“Does he stay here often?” He asks.

“Does it matter?” I ask feeling irritated that he is asking me all these questions but I quickly realize who I am talking to.

“Uhm... y... yes.” I say.

He is quiet and I don’t dare look up.

I focus on my paper. “Let’s start this.” I say and that is what we do.

He tells me what I want to know, answers all my questions and I write down everything. Half an hour in, he suddenly takes the papers from me.

I look up at him, startled. He puts the papers on the bed and gets up.

“Let's go eat.” He says.

“... Okay?”

He holds his hand out to me. Slowly, I take it and he helps me up from the floor.

“Is pizza good? Or do you want something else?” He asks as he walks out but I am very distracted by the fact that he hasn’t let my hand go. He gently pulls me to walk next to him but he doesn’t let me go.

He looks at me waiting for my response. I look straight ahead and like a robot, I nod.

“Is that... yes to the pizza?” He asks and I nod again.

It is no surprise that people are staring at us as we walk through the hall. Some people even stare at our linked hands.

(What... is happening here?)

We get to the elevator and head in. Not once does he let me go and it’s not like I am fighting him but it is because I am scared, confused, and... just completely dumbfounded.

The pizza place is right next to the café I always go to so it is not far. When we get there, he leads me to a table in the corner. He pulls the chair out for me and that is when he finally lets me go. I quickly sit and he sits in front of me.

“What do you like?” He asks.

“Just cheese...” I quickly say.

He stares at me and looks like he is going to say something else but stops when a skinny guy with a few piercings and tattoos walks up to us. He has an apron on and gives Austin a big smile.

“Austin my man. Where have you been? I went to the shop a few days ago but Mike told me you weren’t working right now.”

Austin gives him a nod. “Hey, Vinny. Aubrey is the one in the shop right now. She’ll hook you up if you need anything.”

Vinny nods. “Cool. So what can I get you?”

“Can we get one large pizza, half cheese, and the other half with all the meat you can find?”

Vinny chuckles. “As always. What about the drinks?”

Austin looks at me waiting for my answer.

“Coke.” I say.

“Same.” Austin says.

Vinny nods and walks away.

Austin now puts his elbows on the table and his hands intertwined into a fist under his chin. I look away as he stares at me like he always does.

“You are scared of me.” He says.

It is not even a question. He knows.

My eyes dart towards him. I swallow hard and take a deep breath.

“Can you blame me?” I softly ask.

He smiles. “No. But you don’t have to be scared of me. I would never hurt you.”

Something in me flutters when he says that.

“And... what makes me so special?” I ask.

(Wait... that came out very flirtatious. Not how I had intended it to.)

I want to kick myself.

He looks at me with an intense gaze and he kills me with what he says next.

“Be my girlfriend.”

…

….

End of my life... I am dead.