Episode 3

"You have to be kidding me."

Is the first thing I mutter as I walk through my door and into my dorm room. Kayla stands proudly in the small space, her hands on her hips, smiling at me.

It wasn't the pose that was bothering me; it was more of what she has on.

She has this sparkly half shirt that wrapped around only her boobs, to where her stomach is showing and her belly button rings art dangles at the end. She smiles at me and I shut the door as she starts to twirl, showing off the matching sparkly skirt.

"You look like a **********." I tell her honestly, throwing my bag on the bed, my body following right behind it. On the floor clothes of all sorts are spread through the small space and her twin bed looks like a war zone of fabrics. When Kayla and I decided to share a dorm room, I should have known better.

She was messy, never cleaned up anything of hers, and always came in late from doing only god knows what. She would rather stay out late and party then come home and study. It's just who she is.

She rolls her eyes and heads toward our only mirror, the time trying to pump her hair. I watch, really not caring, as she starts to put on lip gloss with her pinkie finger.

Okay, I really needed a life if I was laying here watching my sister put on make-up.

Honestly though, I have no idea where she could be going at two in the afternoon looking like that.

All the clubs didn't open till at least ten and any party around here, hosted by no other than drunken idiot college guys, didn't start till at least twelve. Most of the sororities didn't really start going all out until around November, and even if they did, it was more greek themed than anything.

For all I know, she was probably on her way to go prey on the male species. It's the kind of thing she loves to do. She smacks her lips together loudly and smiles at me through the mirror.

"**********? Really? I'm just expressing my mood." She runs her hand over her bare stomach seductively and I lift my head and raise an eyebrow at her outfit again.

"Is the mood 'I want you to take me out back and do things to me that you only see in movies.' kind of mood?" She turns her head to the side and just looks at me. She didn't understand half the time why I disapproved of what she did, but even when I tried to approach the subject, she shut me down.

"I was thinking something along the lines of 'I am an independent person and I couldn't care less about what you think about me.'"

This is how my twin sister is. She thinks women have the right to dress any way they want and act anyway they want. She believes in equal rights and things wholeheartedly that women should embrace who they are and what they are.

And I totally agree. I am all for the woman's rights and stuff, but there comes a time when you know you shouldn't act a certain way.

Women should be independent and be able to dress the way they want, but she takes things to the extreme. There are creeps out there that could take advantage of her in an instant. Creeps that don't care that no means no. Creeps that are willing to do anything as long as they are satisfied in the end.

Kayla thinks she could handle herself, I know she can, but I'm scared one day she will meet someone stronger and bigger and I might not be there to help her. If that day comes, I wouldn't even begin to know what to do. I'm supposed to protect her from the world, not let her fall prey to it.

My sister is the only good thing I have left.

I close my eyes and sigh. First Julio and now Kayla. Man, this year was just getting better and better.

I just lay there, my eyes closed, thinking of ways I could kill them both without getting caught, when I feel something tap the side of my head.

Opening my eyes, I see Kayla looking at me sweetly, her image upside down. She smiles down at me evilly and I wonder why I never took in the fact that she could actually look pretty scary when she wanted too

"Are you alive in there?" She asks loudly and even though I am already looking at her, she brings her hand to my head again.

She starts to knock on it like a door and I push her hand away, sit up, and glare at her. You know in case she had any more ideas about knocking on my head.

I see my bag chilling on the floor and I let out my breath and grab for it. Since I was the most pathetic human being ever and I had no life, I might as well get some work done. I really needed to get started in my lit. class.

Plus I didn't have to be anywhere until a few more hours anyway.

Kayla sees me grab the bag and makes a face at it, as if it is the devil himself. "Ewh. Why do you insist to do homework on the weekends?"

I don't bother answering her as I dig around for the book my professor assigned the class to do earlier on this year. Apparently hearing about dead english writers wasn't torture enough. Hejust had to add the one author I hated among dead authors.

I push a clump of calculus notes out of my way and when I see the ratty outside cover of A Midsummer Night's Dream, I grab it with distaste and throw it on the bed.

So far, all that the book was offering me were more opinions on why love sucks. I mean the whole book is basically about people falling in love with the wrong person.

Just add a little teen drama and you basically have the workings of a next Gossip Girl Novel.

"You know, some people take this thing called college seriously." I finally tell her when I can't find the motivation to open the book. It would take the rest of my willpower to actually finish the thing.

Kayla flips her hair over her shoulder and bends over, searching for something on the floor. I watch her for a few moments and then find my motivation to open the book in the pure boredom I was living in.

"I do take it seriously. It's just what is life without a little fun?"

"Uh, life?"

I finally find the little dog-eared page I made earlier in the week and I flick my eyes to her in time to see that she has found the purse she was looking for.

Which, might I add, looks ten times bigger than her damn head. Seriously though, where did she find these things?

She pulls her dorm keys chain over her neck and I try to catch her eye before she left.

"Be careful, okay?" She waves her hands in the air as if she could care less and walks out of the room. I can literally hear her high heels hitting the carpet from here.

Sighing, I look back down at my book, nerves turning my stomach. Even if I gave up trying to control Kayla a while ago, it still made me anxious seeing her walk out the door every day.

Ever since I was little she was the one who always wanted to take control. She was the ruler of our little twosome. She would always demand what we would be doing for the day and I would follow in her footsteps. Kayla was the leader and I was just her small, light haired follower.

If we got in trouble, it would always be from one of her ideas. If we got hurt, it was from elaborate plan she came up with earlier that week.

We were twins but complete opposites.

The same coin but different sides.

She was the heads of this operation and I was the tail always sticking behind her.

Until our freshman year of highschool, we were always like that. Everybody knew Kayla was the twin everyone gravitated toward. I was her unnoticable shadow. Kayla wanted to live, to be noticed. I wanted to just hang back and live under the radar.

But when I got my first boyfriend that year and she joined the volleyball team, we sort of branched out into our own person. I was no longer Kaylas weird twin. I was Kelsey Mays, the girl with that boy.

I was no longer living in my sisters image.

I flip through the pages of the book and realize that I have no idea what pages I should be reading. Since I got kicked out before I could figure it out, I'm screwed. I could just read from the spot I have marked, but if I end up reading too little, the professor would have an aneurysm.

I'm already on his bad side.

If I knew one person who could help me it was Nick. Yep you heard right, a guy. He always sat behind me and he would make it a point to say hi to me every morning. He's the kind of guy you want to talk too.

He and I have gotten in a few conversations about the lessons, but we never really hung out or talked about anything normal. Sure, he was there every time I needed a distraction from classes, but beyond that I was clueless.

If I was lucky, I might catch him before he took off though. Since it was the weekend, a lot of people liked to take off and go home or stay with their girlfriends or boyfriends in their dorms.

I push my way off the bed, leaving the book open on my bag, and head to the door.

I see my key on the dresser and pocket it before shutting the door behind me. Girls were already out in the hallway getting ready for a good time. Music thrumps from an open door and a guy in leather pants gives me the okay sign.

A group of girls pass me, a case of beer in one hand and CDs in the other. I have no idea how they got past the dorm director, but I cared more about the lack of sleep I was going to get tonight. Since the weekend allowed guys in the dorm, it meant girls were willing to bend the rules for a few hours.

I push open the double doors leading out into the chilly air and start to head to the boy's dorm. I stuff my hands in my hoodie and I stay on the pathway, avoiding people who were already making plans for the weekend ahead.

Now that classes are over, people were walking across the courtyard in groups and meeting up with each other. Most of the upperclassmen are already gone and any freshmen lucky enough to gain a parking lot were half way out themselves.

Thank god for Kayla's persuasive ways because thanks to her I scored a parking lot myself. Sadly, I wasn't one of the ones making an escape. I would much rather stay here than go home.

I see the guy's dorm coming up and I sigh, a small cloud forming in front of me. If there was one thing I knew about boys, it was that the moment they saw a girl in their dorm, they thought of only one thing: Sex.

But, really, what would you expect?

They are men after all.

I'm still walking, minding my own business, when a bright red color catches my eyes. I stop and follow the color and see a guy passing by the walkway, a bag over his shoulder and a red beanie covering his head.

He pulls the beanie further down, making his shaggy blonde hair stick out over the ends and I smile a little. Just the guy I wanted to see.

I veer off the path and catch up to him before he can leave. When I catch up, I poke him lightly in the should to get his attention. When he turns around and sees that it's me, a smile lights up his already happy face.

"Oh, hey Kels." His British accent rings out clearly and I just smile. The funny thing is that I heard of Nick before I even saw him.

All the girls would practically gush about him and his British accent every day. According to every girl who had the opportunity to heart it, it was to die for. There words, not mine.

Apparently he moved here from England when he was ten and has been the ideal man for the female species ever since.

Add on the fact that he was sweet, nice, and always seemed like he genuinely cared about what you were feeling, and you have the biggest wanted man on campus.

The light catches his baby blues that seemed to look like the ocean and I had to admit his eyes were beautiful. It wasn't like I was staring. I was just making an obvious, calculated, scientific observa-

Okay, I was staring.

"Hey Nick." I reply as my eyes go to his blonde hair that was still sticking out from the beanie. The one thing I loved about Nick, and yes my people I said love, was that he looked straight at you when you talked.

Always giving you his utmost attention.

"Did you catch what pages we should read in Lit. class? I didn't get them." Okay, maybe I don't tell him about the fact that Julio got me kicked out, but he didn't really need to know that. Not being responsible isn't something I liked to broadcast.

He laughs a little and grabs for his bag around his shoulder before bending down on one knee and shifting through it.

The wind blows and I cross my arms over my chest, trying not to show how cold I actually was. Since it was getting later, the weather was cooling down. Since Julio is the sole reason that I have to do this, I swore the next time I saw him I was going to...to...

Ah,screw it. I'll just kill him.

I'm so busy with my thoughts about killing Julio that I don't notice Nick sending me these little glances until he smiles up at me.

I look at him oddly and when he bends his head, his hair getting in his face, his smile gets bigger. I give up guessing and just ask him what's up.

"Why are you smiling?" I ask and he suddenly starts to laugh. He has the kind of boyish laugh that makes girls want to pinch his cheeks. It's seriously cute. He stops fiddling through his papers that has his writing and he squints up at me, his blue eyes turning a little brighter.

"You're cold and you are trying to hide it. Here," He stands up, leaving his binder open on the ground, and takes his red beanie off his head and puts it in my hands.

Okay... well, what the hell do I do now?

I can't just give the beanie back and say I wasn't cold, because let's be honest, I was freezing over here. plus it will just make things really, really awkward. I sigh and put the beanie on my head, tugging it down at the sides.

His smile grows bigger and I give him a look. "I look ridiculous, don't I?" Screw it, I'll just freeze out here.

He shakes his head, his laugh growing louder. He tugs on the side of the beanie and smiles at me warmly.

"No, I like it on you actually." I quickly look away and focus on a bird making it's way across the courtyard. While I loved the compliment, I couldn't show that I liked it. If I did,things could get complicated real fast.

Which I know is stupid, I mean it could be nothing more than a friendly gesture, but I didn't need him or me to look into it too much and start falling for eachother.

That's how these things start.

I watch the bird as it flap its wings and tries to reach fly, but it ends up landing on its side. If I could go over there and help it I would. But what could I do?

The branches were too tall for me to reach and I couldn't fly; so the bird and I were both at an impasse.

"So, why didn't you get the assignment."

I look back over to see Nick grab a piece of paper and bring it out for me to take. I quickly grab it while he puts his things back in his bag, wipes the dirt of his jeans, and stands back up.

"I um...wasn't paying attention." He just gives me an are you sure look and I puff out my cheeks and let out my breath.

"Okay, I got kicked out." A slow smile takes over his face and he wraps his hand around his bags leather strap.

"Kind of figured since the professor practically was screaming and having an aneurysm over you and that kid. Who is he anyways?"

"No one," I mutter under my breath as fold the paper in my pocket. I start to bring my hand to my head to give him his beanie back when he suddenly comes forward fast and stops mu hand.

He looks up at me and smiles a little. "Keep it. I like the way it looks on you." He moves his hand handle slowly away, the warmth from his gloves making mune tingle, and I just let my hand drop stupidly. He backs up a little and nods to me.

"I'll see you Monday Kels."

He turns on his heel and starts to head back the way he was going before I interrupted him. I touch the beanie while I watch him go, thoughts making my mind go a mile a minute.

You see? This is how feelings start.

All because a guy gives you his beanie.

~*~*~*~*~*

The Café is this little joint close to the college that everyone seems to hang out at.

Everyone goes there to study or meet up with friends and that was where I was heading now to meet up with Mia and Aiden. Mia absolutely loved the chic feel of the establishment so it became our meeting spot for weeks.

Kayla said she would show up when I told her about the plans earlier, but I have no idea if she actually would. If it was up to her she would much rather stay wherever she is, partying it up and getting drunk.

I wrap the black jacket that I changed into around me as the wind picks up, making the night air even colder. Around me, people mill in and out of family own buildings, coats and scarfs on almost everyone I pass.

I could have drove here, but the place was so close that it wasn't even worth the gas or effort. A piece of hair flies into my face and I take a moment to style my hair into a side braid, my mind more on the get together than on my horrible handiwork.

The lights from inside the Café illuminate the sidewalk in front of me and I pull open the door, the smell of coffee already hitting me. It was the Cafés signature mark. Crowds of people were already filling up the seats inside and the line from the counter stretched almost to the door.

Looking around, I finally catch Mia sitting at a far corner by herself, a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. I shake my head and make my way to her, pushing past all the people in my way.

I finally get past a couple making out by the bathrooms when she sees me she smiles. When I get close enough for her to see what I'm wearing she looks me up and down and then points to her heard questionably.

Okay, maybe I still had on Nick's beanie. Don't look into it too much. It was seriously cold and it was the perfect thing to keep me warm. Plus, the only other hat I had was something hideous my granna made herself.

No thank you.

I slide into the booth opposite to her and she was still staring at my head, a weird look on her face. I give her a weird look back and she smiles insteads.

"I'm not even going to ask."

"Good." I say and she wraps her hands around the scarf at her neck, tugging it lose. Her messy blond hair was in a side bun and her grey eyes kept glancing at the door then to me.

"Aiden?" I guess and she looks at me guilty. Ever since they started dating she made it a point to never make it seem like she cared for her boyfriend more than her friends.

To tell you the truth, she did a pretty good job at keeping a balance between the two, but you could tell that her thoughts always went back to Aiden.

She slumps in her seat.

"He said it he would be here when I got here, but he wasn't. He had to go help his mother with something since his brothers are out of town. Apparently they are trying to become models." She throws her hands and the air while rolling her eyes and I can't help but laugh.

I have seen the Cash brothers more than once in my life. There was no way in the pits of all fiery hell that they were going to be cast as models.

Mia grabs a cinnamon shaker and opens the lid, sticking her finger in it lightly. She brings a little dab of it to her mouth and then looks over at me.

"Where's Kayla?"

I sigh and turn to glance out the window. People cross by, some looking in and some so busy with their own life that they couldn't care less what other people were doing around them. I wish I could be them, going blissfully through life with no worries.

"Guess."

Mia reaches over and puts her hand over mine. I look at her hand for a few seconds and then meet her concerned eyes.

"Don't worry. Kayla will lighten up someday and learn to be...how do I put it? Less wild?" I smile at her word choice and wipe away all thoughts of Kayla. Mia was right. Sooner or later Kayla was going to mellow out.

I just wish it was sooner.

"Okay, subject change." I say as I bring my hands down to my low cut shirt and I lift it down a little. My white bra flashes Mia for a second before I push my shirt back up.

"Does this shirt make my boobs look small?" I grimace at the white V-neck and Mia cracks up and soon I am laughing too. It's easy falling into stupid banter whenever Mia was around. She is the best friend I've ever had.

Mia brings her hands to her own shirt, which was blue and loose, and flashes me her pink laced bra. Only, she keeps it on display longer than me. "Does my shirt make my boobs look small?" She eyes the lace and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Only she would continue to flash the Café her bra and not know it. Reaching forward, I move her hand away and shake my head. "You're boobs are perfect," I tell her the same moment a shadow lands over our booth.

Looking up, I find Aiden staring down at us, a half smile lighting up his face. "I always knew girls talked about boobs when guys weren't around."

I roll my eyes and move my hands away from Mias shirt and watch as Aiden bends over and kisses Mia on her temple before sliding in.

"Sorry I was late. My mother actually had a lot of things for me to do." He winces as if he could still feel the pain he had to endure and I try not to feel sorry for him.

"That must really suck. Don't worry though; your girlfriend wouldn't stop talking about you." I tease and Mia dips her fingers in the still open cinnamon shaker and throws some on me.

"Liar!" She states and I break out laughing and she shakes her head, slipping her hand in Aiden's. I look over at the growing line behind me and I look back to them.

"I might as well get in line and place our orders before the line gets any bigger." I stand up and when I start to walk away, I hear Aiden call out:

"Killer beenie Kelsey!"

I flick him my middle finger over my shoulder without looking and I hear Mia's laugh from my spot in the line. Obviously Mia was more than willing to supply Aiden with the juicy little details.

Turns out I end up getting stuck behind some girl whose hair was dyed so many colours that it could create a rainbow and a guy who keeps staring at me.

It was kind of freaking me out.

I stay in my place, trying to ignore the guy who was really freaking me out the longer he stares at me, when I finally get to the counter.

I see no one there anso I set my hands on the counter and lean over a little, hoping to get a better look. When I see someone leaning over and rooting under the counter, I try not to interrupt.When seconds pass and I hear the guy curse under his breath in what I think is Spanish and I decide to get his attention.

Like I said, I would have just let him take his time, but the guy behind me was really starting to creep me out to the point of no return. I mean, I don't even think he was blinking.

"Hello!" I shout down under my breath and he jerks up so quick he ends up banging his head on the counter.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned, and then that's when he stands up and I get a good look at the guy. Even though he looks a thousand times more civil in the Café uniform, it didn't mean it didn't make him look any less hot or dangerous.

He's rubbing his head when his eyes suddenly meet mine. His hand suddenly stops moving and his mouth quirks up at the side in a smile full of concealed amusement.

"If it isn't Kelsey Mays. What can I do for you ángel?" He pronounces the word 'angel' In his language, his little Spanish accent coming through the words.

When I still stand there, shocked, his smile tips higher and he leans against the counter, waiting for me to say something. To say anything.

The guy behind me is still staring, people are getting aggravated that the line is taking too long, Aiden and Mia were probably making googly eyes at each other and now I have Julio leaning against a counter, smirking at me.

Whose idea was it to come here again?

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