CHAPTER TWO
Jake knocked once and the door swung open to reveal a guy standing in nothing but a towel. His eyes were red and swollen like he had spent the whole night crying. Jake stopped, confused.
“I’m not gonna ask any questions,” the guy said, stepping aside. “Just come in.”
Jake walked in silently.
“I knew I would be getting a new roommate,” the towel guy continued. “The last guy moved out last week. That’s his closet. You can use it.”
He pointed lazily.
“Oh— I’m Kelvin Hall.”
“Jake Connor.”
Kelvin’s lips curved slightly. “Cool name.”
Jake nodded, uninterested.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” he asked.
Kelvin exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to see her.”
“Who?”
“Julia Summers. We dated for a week. She dumped me yesterday.” He swallowed. “I didn’t think someone could lose interest that fast.”
Jake stared at him. Another emotional human being. Just like Mom.
“I can’t fix you,” he said bluntly. “But if you’re not enough for her, then she’s not enough for you. Go outside. Have fun. Crying under the covers won’t help.”
Kelvin blinked as if the words slapped sense into him.
“You’re right! I’m the captain of the swim team. Girls want me. I could get another girlfriend today.”
He grinned, wiping his eyes. “Thanks, Jake. I like you already.”
Jake offered a dry stare.
“What department are you in?” Kelvin asked, heading to the bathroom with his towel.
“Fine Arts.”
“Oh nice. I’m Kinesiology. Athlete,” Kelvin added proudly.
“I can see that,” Jake said.
“You could be one too. You’ve got the height.”
“Not interested.” Jake picked his bag and left the room.
“I like him already,” Kelvin whispered to himself.
⸻
Poetry class was quiet when Jake walked in. Miss Salome, tall and elegant with a slight Bollywood accent, smiled warmly at him.
“You are new. Come in.”
Jake stepped forward, hands tucked in his pockets. Julia watched him from her seat.
“What is your name?” Miss Salome asked.
“Jake Connor.”
“And will you mind telling us why you transferred?”
“Yes. I would mind.”
The class fell silent. Miss Salome blinked slowly.
“Alright. You will be partnering with Julia Summers for poem assignments.”
Jake stiffened. He had heard that name minutes ago from Kelvin’s heartbreak story.
Amanda raised a hand. “Ma’am, Julia isn’t good at poetry. I think you should consider—”
“You do not tell me how to run my class,” Miss Salome snapped. “Partner with Ray.”
She turned away.
When class ended, Amanda approached Jake with the smile of someone who always wanted to be noticed.
“I’m Amanda Beckett,” she said, extending her hand.
Jake looked at it but didn’t shake it.
“That’s fine,” she said, forcing a laugh. “But listen… Julia is manipulative. Just warning you. You’re welcome.”
Jake ignored her completely.
He dropped a slip of paper on Julia’s desk and walked away.
Julia picked it up. “What’s this?”
“We’re partners,” Jake muttered. “That’s my number.”
“What if I want you to take my number?” she teased.
“I don’t take numbers. Especially not yours. Call me or don’t.”
Julia leaned back, amused. “There are guys begging for my number.”
“Look around,” Jake said. “I’m not one of them.”
She tore a page from her book, scribbled her number, and blocked his path.
“Take it.”
He didn’t move his hand. She grabbed it and shoved the paper into his palm.
“Call me. And I’m not interested in you either.”
Jake smirked. “Take a picture while it lasts.”
Then he walked off.
Julia watched him drop her number on the floor as he left.
She gasped. Unbelievable.
⸻
When Jake returned to the hostel, Kelvin was bouncing on his bed.
“How was class? I heard you’re partnering with Julia. Be careful — she’s everywhere in this school.”
“How do you know that?” Jake asked.
“She’s popular. I was too… when we were together.” Kelvin sighed sadly. “Too bad she dumped me.”
“She pissed me off today,” Jake said. “I don’t like her.”
“You don’t like anyone,” Kelvin teased. “Hey, Rico’s throwing a party tonight. You should come.”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Pretty please?”
“No.”
“Pretty please with—”
“Fine.”
Kelvin beamed. “YES! Pool party tonight!”
⸻
Rico’s mansion was alive with music, lights, wet bodies, and noise. Students danced, swam, kissed, and screamed without shame. Kelvin became a celebrity the moment he stepped in — girls screamed his name, hugged him, touched him. He abandoned Jake instantly.
Jake wandered to the bar and took a drink.
“Julia is here!”
The shout echoed. Jake turned casually.
Julia walked in wearing a bikini that made people stop mid-breath. Heads turned. Phones rose. Voices whispered.
Jake took a slow sip.
A tall, muscular guy covered in tattoos approached him.
“Hot, right?”
Jake didn’t answer.
The guy laughed. “Julia. Don’t act blind.”
He ordered drinks. “Your usual, Master Rico,” the bartender said.
Jake looked at him. So this is Rico.
Rico nodded toward Julia. “She’s single now. I’m taking her home tonight. She’s easy. Girls like that get helpless around guys.”
Jake’s jaw tightened.
Rico walked to Julia and handed her a drink. She smiled politely.
Jake muttered under his breath, “Stupid.”
Amanda suddenly appeared beside him. “I told you she’s nothing—”
Jake ignored her.
“Dance with me,” she insisted.
“No.”
“One dance.”
He let her pull him to the dance floor, but his eyes remained locked on Julia and Rico.
Amanda cupped his face and tried to kiss him.
Jake stepped back. “I’m not the dancing type.”
He left her there, annoyed.
Back at the bar, he lifted another drink—then froze.
Rico was grabbing Julia by the jaw, forcing a kiss on her. She tried to pull away, but he held her in place.
Jake’s blood boiled.
“She’s not kissing him,” he growled. “He’s forcing her.”
He slammed the cup down.
And moved.
Fast.
He reached Rico, yanked him by the collar, and smashed the drink in his face.
Rico stumbled. “What the hell—?!”
Jake punched him cleanly across the jaw.
“Bastards like you,” Jake spat, “are why condoms were invented.”
❤️❤️
ReplyDelete