My Bullies, My Lovers

4: Tori

Pound. Pound.

The knock on my door sounds like a jackhammer against concrete, drilling holes in my head as it wakes me. My hands instantly travel to my noggin, holding it tight as my eyes blink a million times to adjust my vision.

You have to stay in my head, brain.

With a loud groan, and a s**t ton of mumbled swears, I open the door to find Alicia at my door with a stained blue neck and forehead. Her nostrils are flared, her eyes on fire, and her finger pointed at her hair as if her body language is enough to tell me what her mouth isn't.

I stare at her with one brow arched in question, and a smirk I'm trying hard not to let show. “I got s**t-faced drunk last night, so unless you're dying, I need to sleep this off while I can.”

After my interaction with Ryder I spiraled and spiraled, unable to shake the terrible memories. More like that one good memory. Instead, I tried to drown my thoughts and feelings with a crap ton of booze I bought at the store and drank in my room alone while Alicia got plowed next door. The walls are paper thin here. At least one of us is enjoying themselves. Bow chicka wow wow.

“This is your fault,” she blatantly states, waving her hand over her face and hair to show all the blue. And there's my brain cueing the song “I'm Blue” with the parody of I'm in need of a guy. I think it's my theme song.

“Uh. How so?” I'm rubbing at my temples as I try to keep up, too hungover for the dramatics.

“You were supposed to help me dye my hair today before work. You wouldn't wake up, so I had to do it myself.” She lifts a lock of her hair that's stuck together to show another huge patch of blue that's stained her neck. I suck in a breath through my teeth as if looking at it somehow hurts, which internally it does. “Help me!” She's upset, but I recognize this for what it is…a plea.

Considering Alicia helped me when no one else would, how could I turn her down for anything? Not exactly sure how much I'll be able to help, since the damage is already done, though. Tinkerbell, I need some magic fairy dust.

“Give me a minute. I need three ibuprofen and water before I can deal with this. Wait for me in the bathroom.” I shut my door once more, plopping back on my bed face first for just a moment. I let out a heavy sigh into my mattress before lifting myself back up and taking some pain killers. I chug a cup of water and regret it momentarily, as nausea washes over me for a brief second.

I grab what I can out of my closet from when I was studying cosmetology and head to our crammed, single bathroom in the hall. She's sitting on the toilet, twitching her leg so fast I think she'll take off like a rocket. I place my hand over her knee, stilling her movements in hopes her nerves will ease.

“I don't know how much I'll be able to help at this point. You know, you could have waited until tomorrow.” I pick up a strand of her hair, inspecting it closely as I rub it between my fingers. I regret the action when even my skin stains with the dye that shouldn't still be bleeding. “Good, God, woman. What did you do?”

“Shut up.” She's embarrassed, but mostly anxious about the state of her hair, so I don't poke further, getting right to work. She's quiet at first, but after about three minutes, she can't take it anymore. “Why did you get drunk?”

“Why do you have to know everything?” I roll my eyes as I wash her hair off.

“Because, as your roommate, I'd rather not have to find you dead from alcohol poisoning or some s**t. I wouldn't know how to handle that.” I push her head under the water further, catching her off guard and making her yelp as the water drips down her face. “Rude.”

“I'm the one hungover and still helping. So, no. Not rude.” I contemplate telling her about the party, about my run in with the Iron Triad, but she'll only lecture me. She was in high school with me, my only friend, tormented by them herself. Not nearly to the extent I was, but enough to leave its own scars. There's no way she'll forgive me for going to a party in which I knew one of them would be. Even if it was Thorne.

“Whatever it is, you know you can talk to me.” She blindly grabs my hand in a show of sympathy, pausing my washing for a moment.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Okay, good. Now hurry, cause Bren will be here soon and I can't be looking like this.” I laugh, until I realize I have no idea who the f**k Bren is.

“Who?”

“Bren. You'll love him!” She gets excited, her voice raising an octave as it does when she's emotional. “I met him in one of my spring classes and thought he'd be perfect for you.”

“For me?” I pull at her hair in surprise. “What do you mean for me?”

“You heard me. I'm setting you up.”

“I hate you.” I tug at her hair once more in annoyance, but I don't mean the words. I never mean those words when it comes to her.

***

Ding. Dong.

“That must be him!” Alicia is too excited as she practically sprints to the door, jumping with every step.

She toys with me, building suspense as she opens the door ever so slowly. I curse myself for not taking her advice and dressing nicer when the door opens fully to reveal a face so handsome my body is instantly overcome with lust.

Forest green eyes, sparkling the same way a blade of grass does in the morning dew, stare straight at me in my t-shirt black dress with my totoro purse dangling at my side. His smile is dazzling, beaming shiny white teeth that speak to his perfect hygiene, encased in beautiful, thick pink lips that call me forward.

Alicia greets him kindly, but I can hardly pay attention to her words as I take this delicious man in, wondering how in the world he attends the same class as Alicia—the computer major. With a body so fit, I have a hard time imagining him sitting in front of a computer for hours on end. (Not that all computer majors do.)

But it's not exactly easy work, and sometimes it takes Alicia twelve straight hours to finish some of her assignments. Other times it takes her a week or more, working on it bit by bit to get it done on time. I lose her to her black hole of a room at times during the school year. That's when I mainly venture out into the world and find a man to try and please me.

I'm a bit selfish in bed, I guess.

Two pairs of eyes are on me as they both stare my way, having missed my obvious cue. I awkwardly smile, taking a long step forward and extending my hand for a shake. Why I think a handshake is the right greeting is beyond even my own comprehension.

Thankfully, Bren is kind, taking my hand in less than a second, as if it was the right move for me to make. His hands are soft, smooth like a baby's ass, and warm. I love the warmth. My frozen appendages wrap around his palm and shake, enjoying the heat they're getting from him.

“Nice to finally meet the famous Victoria,” he says, stretching his lips out in a smile that has my stomach somersaulting and my heart thumping. God dumped the whole damn pot of good looking when he made you, didn't he?

“Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you, too.” I nod, shooting a glare at Alicia over his shoulder. He's heard about me, yet I've heard nothing about him until today. Granted, I would have hidden away if she had told me about him sooner.

There's one singular second of awkward silence before Bren easily guides the conversation along, making sure to include Alicia and me equally. It's obvious he's a very charismatic man, exuding an aura so rich anyone would flock his way. The atmosphere is easy, relaxed, and oddly comfortable despite this being our first encounter.

“Okay, I'm stealing her now. I want to make sure to get her favorites at concessions before the movie starts. Don't worry, she'll be back by midnight.” He places his arm around my lower back in a way that is possessive yet gentle, guiding us to the door. “Bye, Alicia.”

He's quick, knowing full well Alicia could talk for hours if left to do so. He closes the door behind us, taking a breath in the hall before gazing at me and then my purse. I internally cringe, worried my inner geek has ruined my chances. But if you don't love Studio Ghibli I don't want you anyway…no matter how hot you are.