Episode 8

"This is our Chemistry class. We have it every morning at 8:30, and I'm not a morning person so you'll have to wake me up," Eric announced as we continued are march around the University campus. It was empty, but no surprise since school had not yet commenced. I followed in his steps, and he continued to point towards classrooms. I listened, attempting to focus on him rather than the couple giggling behind us, as if they were back to being teenagers. Mike and Alyssa had joined us on this University tour, and it could not have gone worse. They were both giggling and flirting with one another every second that even Eric was growing annoyed, sending them narrowed eyes as he continued his walk around.

Finally, we reached the end. "That's basically it," he sighed, turning back to face me, "Ready to go or is there something you wanna look at even more?"

I shook my head, "I'm good."

"I want to look at the gymnasium!" Alyssa exclaimed, raising her hand.

Eric raised an eyebrow, "Mike?"

Mike shrugged, "No idea what she's talking about."

"Come on, it'll be fun. Only you and I in an echoing gymnasium," she bit her bottom lip flirtatiously, pulling him closer to her by his collar, "It'll be so loud...you following—"

"Yes, I'm following you," he moaned, leaning closer towards her. They were about to settle for a kiss when Eric raised his tone.

"Mike, we're leaving. You guys can stay if you want, I have stuff to do."

"I'll get someone to do it for you, come on—"

"No!" he screamed, and both their faces fell. "You both are so annoying. I'm leaving, so you two do whatever the fuck you want!"

"Okay, okay," Mike breathed, running in front of Eric with his hands raised. Eric was huffing in anger, and narrowed his eyes at his brother who placed his palm on his shoulders. "Calm down, I'm sorry okay? She just got back, she's just trying to have fun."

"Have fun on your own time, you two were not even supposed to come with us," he spat.

"Stop being so angry."

Eric scoffed, shaking his head, "Whatever, I'm leaving so do what you want." He began walking towards the car, and I followed him. Mike and Alyssa ended up coming back to the car with us, and I groaned under my breath when they entered the car. Eric had heard it, and nodded his head in agreement.

***

"August, we're leaving."

"Where are we going?" I asked, coming down the stairs.

"Friend's house for some drinks," Eric replied.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I'll be down in a minute." I quickly changed my sweats and baggy t-shirt to a presentable outfit, and descended. In front of the door was Mike with Alyssa in his arms, and they both stared at me when I came down. I placed my shoes on, hearing them continuously giggle and when I raised my head, they both looked away still laughing.

I raised an eyebrow, "What's so funny?"

Alyssa snorted, "You're going with that outfit?"

I looked down at my clothes; I was wearing ripped jeans with a tank top, covered with a cardigan that fell past my butt. Confused, I frowned and crossed my arms, "Yea. What's wrong with this outfit?"

Mike laughed, and Alyssa turned to me with a knowing smile. I was beginning to grow frustrated by the second. My voice became much more stern, "What's wrong with this outfit?" I asked again.

"Oh, nothing," Alyssa murmured, and began giggling again, linking with the sound of Mike's chuckling.

I turned to Eric who rolled his eyes, "We have to go."

However, I did not follow them. Instead, I waved a hand, "You guys go on without me."

"Now you're going to go cry?" Alyssa pushed out her bottom lip, faking a sad face.

She was pissing me off, and Mike nor Eric did anything about it. "No, I just don't feel like going. Have fun."

"Come on August, don't be such a kid," Mike said, finally meeting my gaze. I bit my tongue back, not wanting to get into a heated argument at the moment, and not wanting to ruin the rest of their day.

Therefore, I shrugged my shoulders and looked away towards Eric, "Thanks for the invite."

"I'll bring some tissues from the house—"

"Alyssa, stop it," Mike hissed, suddenly pushing her from his arms. Alyssa frowned towards him, but did not respond. He then turned towards me. "Why the fuck aren't you coming, because she made fun of your outfit and I called you a kid?" he roared.

He leaned towards me menacingly, and I took a step backwards. His entire behaviour had completely switched around, and his eyes had darkened. They were narrowed, with all his sharp features pointing towards me. My breathing became heavier, but I decided to appear calm. I shrugged my shoulders, "No, I just don't feel like going, that's all."

"There's nothing I hate more than liars," he hissed, another step towards me.

"It's not a fucking lie, Mike." I snarled back with emphasis on every syllable, glaring back at him.

He was so close to me that his breath was against my forehead, and I stared back at him, observing him lower his eyes to my lips. Then his eyes returned to my eyes, and it appeared as if he grew angrier, his teeth gritting.

I turned to Eric, "Have a pleasant time." Then, I rushed towards the stairs, aiming for my room. I heard Mike growl, "Grow the fuck up August," before hearing the front door slam.

I rushed to my room and slammed the door behind me, cursing at the wall all the insults I wished I had said to Alyssa. Cursing at the wall the words I wish I had screamed at Mike, and telling him how having sex with me made me attached to him, as it would make any girl new to an environment. I wish I could tell him how upsetting it was to find out he had a girlfriend all along. I shook my head, flopping onto my bed. I was not certain how long I remained laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling, but I knew it was for a while, since I fell asleep.

I was woken up by knocks on my door. "Come in," I yawned, sitting up. When I met their gaze, I was surprised, but his presence was not unwanted. I stood from my bed. He carried a box of chocolate and had a movie in his palm.

"Any chance we could watch this movie while eating some chocolate?"

I smiled weakly, "Cole, what are you doing here?"

"I was surprised you didn't come with Eric and the rest, but he told me you were upset. Just thought I could cheer you up." His worried gaze examined me, "You okay?"

I paused for a moment, and slowly nodded my head. "It's just the new setting."

"I get you," he sighed, "And I know Eric and Mike aren't the nicest. Neither is Alyssa, she's a bitch."

I rapidly nodded my head, "She's been insulting my name the whole time I'm with her. And Mike just laughs."

"Yea, she used to go to University here and left when she graduated. I'm surprised they're still dating, but she's always been stuck up. One time, she made fun of my mother because my mother had dyed her hair burgundy. She said the colour was disgusting, and made her think of period blood."

My mouth widened in shock, "You're joking."

"Nope," he said, "Completely serious. She's just an entitled stuck-up, no point on fighting with her."

"I agree with you."

Cole raised his palms with the movie and the chocolates, "You down to eat and watch a movie?"

"Yea, but I don't want to stay in this house."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Then come with me, I know a place."

I did not hesitate to go with him. He brought the chocolates, and in his car, we began eating them and sang to throwback songs that were in his playlist. He spoke about random facts about himself; having three siblings and all being girls. Having graduated from University as a business major and owning his own landscaping company. His father being a CEO of a industrial company, which he did not want to follow. He also spoke about the Hawk family, their flaws and their goods. He did mention Mr. Hawk being very nice, and felt awful about what occurred in his last marriage. That was what made me remember Eric and Mike's conversation the first day I arrived; they had mentioned Nina, their mother, being awful.

I cleared my throat, "What happened in their last marriage, with Nina?"

Cole's muscles stiffened, and he chuckled nervously, shuffling in his seat. He glanced in my direction a few times, and every time he observed my confused face, his frown deepened, "You don't know?"

"Should I know?"

He tilted his head, "I thought they would have told you."

"Can you tell me?" I urged on.

He seemed very uneasy, a stressful face tightening his lips into a thin line. It was obvious he was debating whether to tell me or not, and after a few minutes he shook his head, "It should not be coming from my mouth."

"I understand."

"We're here," he announced. I glanced towards the view, and awed in admiration. It was a beautiful place to choose, since the sun was coming down. He brought me to the beach. I exited the car with twinkling eyes, staring at the waves as the sun raged against it. Cole climbed out of the car as well, and I was startled when he interlaced his fingers with mine.

"Come on," he pulled me forward, "And take off your shoes before we get into the sand."

That was our night. We sat within the sand, talking about nothing and anything, eating away at the chocolates he had bought. He made me laugh, listened to me rant about how I missed my home and my friends, and placed his arms around my shoulders as I shivered slightly. At the end of the night, when the sun descended and all got dark, we raced back to the car and drifted from the beach.

He drove me home, and before I could exit the car, he pulled me back and placed his lips on mine. At first I was startled, but I placed my palm on his jaw and deepened the kiss. He was first to pull apart, and he grinned, patting my thigh.

"Have a nice night."

I made my way inside the gated home, and continued my path. As I approached the porch, I paused for a moment when I saw someone sitting down on the steps. After squinting my eyes, I scoffed when Mike stood from the porch, taking a hit from his cigarette. I did not think they would be home, but it was past two o'clock in the morning; I had stayed with Cole for a long time. I marched to the front door, and he observed me. When I finally approached him in speaking distance, he stopped me.

"Where were you?"

I stopped in my steps and met his gaze, frowning. When I realized he was serious, with raised eyebrows and waiting for a reply, I shook my head and continued my way to the door. Before I could open the door, he slammed it shut and held it closed. I turned to him, who tilted his head. He took a hit from the cigarette, "I said where were you?"

"Open the door."

"Why won't you tell me?" his voice became stern.

"Open the fucking door, Mike." I was growing angry as well, and wanted to slap him as hard as I could for laughing with Alyssa. However, I controlled my temper and crossed my arms, looking away.

"I helped you out, and you can't even tell me who the fuck you went out with?"

"I don't want to, respect that," I shouted back.

His fingers forcefully gripped my jaw, and he made me look at him. We were standing very close to one another, that I could finally smell the cigarette mixed with booze and hard liquor from his breath. I wrinkled my nose, "You're drunk."

"You're trash," he spat, "You didn't come with us because you wanted to go hang out with someone, that you didn't want us to know about. You lied to me, I always knew you were just a whore."

I was growing angrier by his every syllable, and flames were burning within my chest. My muscles stiffened, and my teeth were already gritted within my mouth. However, he no longer held the door, and I swiftly pushed it open, and escaped into the home.

"August," he called, attempting to make me turn around but I ignored him. He followed me up the stairs, crying my name, followed with curses and insults that I decided to brush past. However, as I opened the door to my room and tried to close it behind me, he pushed his arm in the doorway and pushed the door open. He closed the door behind him and turned around, and I realized the mistake I had done. I should have gone to my brother's room, or my mother's room.

"You're selfish, disgusting and a manipulator. A slut that opens her legs whenever someone asks for them to be opened."

"Mike, get out."

"I hate you," he cried. It took me a moment to digest those words, but part of my sensitive side became upset, and I looked away from his gaze in order for him to not see the struggle it was to hold back some tears.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Please, leave my room."

He stepped closer, stumbling in my direction, placing his palms on my shoulders. He stank all the mixture of alcohol and cigarette and weed that I wrinkled my nose. "You're not good enough, for anybody."

"Is that what you think?" I replied.

He scoffed, "That's what I know." However, I observed his eyes scroll away from mine and stare at my lips, and he bit his own. My body was raging for pieces of his body, and although the smart mind of mine yelled for me to say no, my desires were shivering.

After a moment of silence, in which we both breathed heavily, he then whispered, "Did you lie to me?"

"No Mike," I sighed, "I didn't."

He paused, taking another breather before whispering, "Okay."

Then, my desires took over my body, and before I knew it, my entire face pushed forward and my lips met with his hungry ones. However, we never ended up having sex, neither did he reach for my private parts nor my breasts. Instead, he held my face and kissed me deeply, but gently and with less aggression. Then, he fell against my bed, and groaned, "I'm so drunk."

"Here, let me clean you up. You smell bad."

He agreed, and I helped him stand. I unclothed him, and he sat within the bath as I scrubbed his back, his chest, his legs. His mouth still smelt like vodka, and I forced him to brush his teeth after the bath. However, every time my face was near his, he gripped my jaw and turned my lips towards him, and kissed me. He did this multiple times, and I always pushed him further from me and threw water in his eyes. However, there was once that I continued the kiss, and almost fell into the bath with him. He reminded me so much of a child; he sang childish songs and splashed the water, giggling in a higher pitch. He even laughed sometimes, telling me things that happened during the night.

"Alyssa got covered in alcohol," he said hysterically laughing while brushing his teeth. I began laughing too, watching him from the mirror. "She started screaming that we were leaving, but I didn't want to leave, so the others kicked her out. I have to go apologize tomorrow."

I nodded my head, but there were questions I needed to ask. The confusion he placed me in was unfair to me, and to himself. He continued brushing his teeth, humming to himself and I finally asked, "Do you love her?"

He met my gaze, stopped brushing his teeth for a moment, then continued. After a while, he shrugged and spat out the toothpaste from his mouth, "Yes and no."

"What do you m—"

"Time for bed," he smirked, leaving the bathroom and making his way to my room. After shutting the lights and entering the bed, he cuddled beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist and his head clenching against my stomach. "Goodnight," he said, squeezing me one last time before beginning to snore.

But although most things he said did not hurt me earlier, there was one I needed to clarify. "Mike?" I said.

"Mhm," he responded half-asleep.

"Do you hate me?"

He paused for a moment. Until he finally answered, "No."

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