1Kitty_Gray
My alarm goes off next to me pulling me out of sleep, my eyes crack open to see my roommate basking in the sun, not even fazed by the obnoxious noise coming from my phone. I’ve always envied her and her morning beauty even when she comes home from a party like last night, she’s never had drool covering her pillow or her hair sticking to her face, I doubt she even has bad breath. I rub the reaming sleep from my eyes and turn off my alarm. I quickly take a shower and wash my hair knowing that it will be back to its wild and frizzy self shortly after my class. I wipe the steam off the mirror and take a hard look at the reflection. I’ve never considered myself to be ugly but I’ve also never looked at myself more than ten seconds. I have my mother’s green eyes and tan skin littered with freckles we differ only from her straight black hair to my wavy brown mane that broke four different hair brushes this month. I purse my lips and drag my fingers down my face. Giving up, I pull my hair back and dig out my chap stick from my jean pocket, the same jeans I’ve worn for two days now.
“Hey Claire I’m going to class do you need anything before I leave or when I’m out?” I throw a pillow in the direction of sleeping beauty. She grumbles and shakes her head her eyes still sealed shut. I make a mental note to get her a coffee and ibuprofen. I sling my backpack and slide my crocs on, filling up Soup’s bowl with cat food. I lock the door behind me and make my way down the sidewalk the cool spring breeze tosses my hair around. James Whalen University is a small school but not small enough that you know everyone so I walk without conversation from others trying to get to class. Freshman year was a blur and I vowed never to speak of it again, junior year I promised myself to apply everything I had, so far I’ve been doing just that. Claire says that I’m a school-acholic and that If I could turn into anything It would be a book. She followed up the sentence by admitting that If she could turn into anything she would turn into a shot glass. I get to my class six minutes early like always, I take my seat in the back of the room and pull out my phone cringing at the fact that my only text is from my mother. I don’t remember hearing anyone come in but the feeling of fingers taping on my shoulder sends me flying from my seat onto the floor. I’m still on the floor when class begins and students start filling into the room some ignore me others glance in my direction.
“Oh my gosh I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to scare you are you ok?” A hand appears in front of my face nails painted black with cracks chipped into them. I sit up and lock eyes with the boy who almost killed me. My mind short circuits and I can only manage a scowl as I stare into big blue eyes that seem to smile at me. I jump up without help and wipe my sweating hands on my jeans cussing at myself for not picking a clean pair.
“I’m fine, its ok, don’t worry its ok, sorry I didn’t see you.” I sit in my chair and close my eyes screaming at my brain for being awkward. The professor walks in and starts the lecture, I watch as the boy sits next to me and pulls out his laptop and paper preparing to take notes. I stare a little too long and he turns to look at me eyebrows raised in question. I shoot my head down in response and rack my brain for a response to my stare. He beats me to it.
“My name is Taylor, I just transferred here from California. This is my first class and I didn’t know anyone so I wanted to introduce myself. And you are?”
I lift my head and breathe in fully before sliding my hand across the table to shake his.
“Hey uh I’m Peyton If you need anything just let me know I’m always free, because I don’t have friend’s ha.”
“Ok, yea cool thanks Peyton.” He smiles at me and turns to the front leaving me staggering for air. I’ve had crushes and boyfriends and dates before I know how to flirt and talk to guys and some might even say I’m good at it but sitting here right now looking at Taylor is like watching a dog wait for a treat he never going to get. I pull my phone out and text Claire hoping she can give me advice on how not to make a fool out of myself. I can’t concentrate on the lecture so I doodle on my paper instead. My watch hits 11 and I’ve never packed up so fast in my life, practically running out of the room I fly down the stairs. Why did I make such a fool of myself, who is he and why did he want to talk to me; plenty of people showed up early? I don’t have time to think about my footing and miss a step, my hands go out to brace for the fall…that never comes.
“You should really be more aware of your surroundings Peyton.” Taylor has caught me by the handle of my backpack keeping me from being on the floor twice today. I spin around and have to look up to see his crocked smile, his lip piercing shines in the morning light giving him a smile from a cartoon or Disney prince.
“I actually like the floor thank you. It’s comfortable and grounding.” I cross my arms and lift my head up in what I hope looks like confidence. He raises his eyebrows in amusement he runs his hands through his dark brown hair leaving it to fall onto his wide shoulders.
“noted, next time I’ll let you fall on your face.” He grins and turns to walk away. I fumble for words but find none and decide it’s better to not say anything at all. I follow behind him from a distance wishing my dorm was on the other side of campus.
“Are you following me or trying to trip me, because I said I’m sorry for making you fall” He doesn’t turn around when asking this and I can tell he knows exactly where he’s going.
“I’m not following you, my dorm room is the same direction, and if I wanted to trip you I would have done it long ago.” I catch up to him and scowl in his direction only to receive a smile in return. Before I can make another smart remark a black cat shoots across the street followed by a slim blonde in a tank top and shorts running after it. Without thinking I already know who’s running and why.
“SOUP! SOUUP COME BACK!” Claire slumps against the stop sign catching her breathe. I drop my back pack and sprint after Soup. My crocs fly off my feet and my hair slips from its ponytail the wind catching it and flailing it around like the blow up guy at a car sale. Soup finds a nice cool spot under a car looking pleased with his escape. I crawl under the car and look my cat dead in its eyes.
“Don’t even think about running, today is not the day Soup!” Soup lets out a taunting meow then bolts from under the car. My jeans are cut from the gravel under the car and my knee is bleeding but I run as hard as I can. Soup jumps into a bush of spiked plants and lays down. I almost kick the stupid plant but remembered my crocs on the pavement. If someone see’s Soup they could tell the school and both me and Claire will have to give him up and that’s not something that I’m willing to do. Claire catches up to me and puts her well-manicured hand on my shoulder. I sigh remembering the last time soup got out and the hours that led to his capture. I get down on the grass and peak under the bush watching as Soup licks himself clean.
“Are you even supposed to have any pets here?” I thought Taylor would’ve gone home but he stands to the side of me hands in his pockets peering down on my scraped body.
“If you’re going to stand here and just ask stupid questions then I suggest you leave unless you want to help, because right now I want to do more than trip you.” My face burns with embarrassment and I can’t help but to bite my lip trying not to cry. I burry my head into my hands and fold myself into a ball on the ground. I hear rustling but don’t look up until I feel soft fur against my leg, I look up and see Taylor hold Soup in one hand against my leg. Not even five minutes did It take him to get Soup out, what magical powers does this guy have? Tears threaten to spill over but I will myself to look away and pull it together. I know he wants to say something but he doesn’t, instead he sits on the ground next to me and holds Soup in his lap. Claire grins in my direction slowly making her way to Taylor and Soup, grabbing Soup and holding him close.
“Thank you so much! He just got out I don’t even know how! I’ll go get him back where he belongs, thanks again!”
Claire trots off down the street her blonde hair swaying while she walks. I sit up and wince from the pain in my knee, bruised and scraped no doubt. I stand up brushing off the grass from my jeans knowing now that I’ll finally have to part with them and wash the damn things.
“Don’t beat yourself up over this Peyton, it’s not your fault. I’m not going to tell anyone about Soup ok.”
He gets up and puts his hand on my shoulder his thumb rubbing against my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine.
“Thanks I know I just wish Soup could be in a place where we don’t have to hide him. He’s been my cat for the longest time and I wish I could give him a better home; he doesn’t deserve it.”
Tears stream down my face and I let them fall to the ground. My shoulders slump and I don’t know why but Taylor brings me into his chest my cheek pressed into him feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. His sent is sweat but calming with mint making my body relax.
“Your bleeding, come on let’s go get you cleaned up ok. My apartment is just up the road if you can walk its closer than your dorm.”
I nod my head and let him lead me down to the sidewalk his hand wrapped around my waist supporting my limping body. Not even two minutes later we arrive at his apartment door, its fancy with an electronic lock that he unlocks with a key card the door is white and clean unlike my dorm room door with its unexplained stains on the front. He leads me into his kitchen bigger than my own room altogether.
“wait here ok let me get some Band-Aids and alcohol wipes, just make yourself at home.”
He goes down a long hallway and disappears from my sight I take this time to look around my eyes landing on a picture of a girl hugging Taylor who is smiling at the camera. She looks my age with Taylors eyes and long dark hair that ends below her shoulder blades.
“ok got everything, can you sit up here so I can see your knee.”
I let him tend to my bleeding knee and watch as he carefully places the Band-Aid on the cut I would’ve ignored any other day.
“Does your sister go here? I saw a picture of her over there.”
“No. She doesn’t go here.”
His sharp answer takes me by surprise and I do a double take of the picture of them together.
“She so pretty! How old is she?”
He walks over to the mantel that holds the picture of him and his sister slamming the frame down shattering glass over the mantel.
“That’s none of your business ok she doesn’t go here.”
“oh...” I jump up at the outburst and quickly grab my bag knowing my presence isn’t wanted anymore. I thank him and without waiting for a response I walk out the door. My knee pulses with pain every step I take but I ignore it and keep walking. I don’t stop until I reach my front door jamming my key into the lock. Claire is anxious to hear out my run in with the new boy but I give her a wave of my hand and flop down onto the couch. I rack my brain for an explanation of why he was so angry and what I did wrong. My head starts to pound from the effort. The feeling of his hands around my waist battels with the feeling of hurt from his anger. I decide to let both fall to nothing because he is a stranger I just met and he means nothing to me. I nod off only to dream about his smile and his kind words that slowly turn into venom poisoning me every bite he takes, I know deep down that I’m weak and let him poison me with every word.
I wake up hours later to banging on my front door, I slide off the couch and fling the door open before I even check who it is. To my surprise it’s Taylor standing at my door hands deep into his pockets head down like a hurt puppy.
“I’m Sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t like talking about my family.”
I nod slowly and let him into the room kicking dirty clothes out of the way making room for him on the couch I just slept on. He sits and look around my small living room, our décor nothing above trinkets and unloved used things we have no need for. I pace around for a while until I hear light snoring coming from the couch. This boy just fell asleep on my couch, and I let him. I decide there’s no reason to wake him up so I make my way to the bathroom where I get a good look at myself. Crying made my face blotchy and running made me sweat. I take a quick shower and put on shorts and a t-shirt on putting my wet hair up in a bun ignoring its cries for care. For about a good seven minutes I forget about the stranger in my living room but then I hear banging noises and I almost fly out of my skin. Taylors awake now behind the kitchen counter where Claire sits on a cheap bar stool taking about her professor that she’s “100% flirting with me”. I wait a little longer before watching the two of them interact Taylors head swaying in agreement with whatever Claire says laughing at the jokes I know aren’t funny. I make my way over the counter where Taylor cuts thin pieces of bread putting them on a pan and into the already pre-heated oven. Claire explains that he’s offered to make us sandwiches and she make a note to side eye me with playful eyes that only mean trouble. His mood swings give me a headache and I sit at the counter sipping coke that’s more than a day old. I watch him trying to figure him out why doesn’t he want to talk about family and what’s with his sister? He silently hands me a sandwich and sits himself on the counter next to me. Claire eats her sandwich then asks for the rest of mine that I’ve barely touched, she takes it without my response and tells me she has to bounce for class. Waving bye to Taylor and winking at me she leaves the two of us alone again. I start to clean the plates and the dishes when a hand grabs mine stopping me from moving.
“I am really sorry Peyton. Please forgive me let’s just start over.”
I spin around arms up in the air glaring at Taylor.
“You just met me today and I thought that you were really nice and I really liked you, but you can’t scream at people for just trying to make a conversation. Like really Taylor it’s not like I asked you something really personal. You invited me to your home and helped me when you didn’t need to, so in my head that means you’re trying to get to know me. But then you yell at me, and that scared me Taylor because I didn’t know what I did wrong.”
My chest is heavy and I’m breathing hard my hands are still in the air waiting for his response, he’s confusing me more than anything and its pissing me off. He just stands there looking at me with his blue eyes.
“I know what I did was wrong ok. I get that, I do. I already said I’m sorry for snapping at you. I do want to get to know you and you didn’t do anything wrong Peyton.”
He slumps down the wall knee up to his chin resting his forehead on his knees. In my head this should be a red flag but I slide down the wall next to him instead.
“I’m not going to push you on something that you don’t want to talk about ok. I just want you to be honest with me and what you want. I don’t like playing games and that’s what this feels like.”
I get up from the floor and walk toward the couch flopping myself onto the scratch material and take a deep sigh. I've just meet this boy and he's already consuming my thoughts and making my body respond like I've known him for weeks.
“Hey Claire I’m going to class do you need anything before I leave or when I’m out?” I throw a pillow in the direction of sleeping beauty. She grumbles and shakes her head her eyes still sealed shut. I make a mental note to get her a coffee and ibuprofen. I sling my backpack and slide my crocs on, filling up Soup’s bowl with cat food. I lock the door behind me and make my way down the sidewalk the cool spring breeze tosses my hair around. James Whalen University is a small school but not small enough that you know everyone so I walk without conversation from others trying to get to class. Freshman year was a blur and I vowed never to speak of it again, junior year I promised myself to apply everything I had, so far I’ve been doing just that. Claire says that I’m a school-acholic and that If I could turn into anything It would be a book. She followed up the sentence by admitting that If she could turn into anything she would turn into a shot glass. I get to my class six minutes early like always, I take my seat in the back of the room and pull out my phone cringing at the fact that my only text is from my mother. I don’t remember hearing anyone come in but the feeling of fingers taping on my shoulder sends me flying from my seat onto the floor. I’m still on the floor when class begins and students start filling into the room some ignore me others glance in my direction.
“Oh my gosh I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to scare you are you ok?” A hand appears in front of my face nails painted black with cracks chipped into them. I sit up and lock eyes with the boy who almost killed me. My mind short circuits and I can only manage a scowl as I stare into big blue eyes that seem to smile at me. I jump up without help and wipe my sweating hands on my jeans cussing at myself for not picking a clean pair.
“I’m fine, its ok, don’t worry its ok, sorry I didn’t see you.” I sit in my chair and close my eyes screaming at my brain for being awkward. The professor walks in and starts the lecture, I watch as the boy sits next to me and pulls out his laptop and paper preparing to take notes. I stare a little too long and he turns to look at me eyebrows raised in question. I shoot my head down in response and rack my brain for a response to my stare. He beats me to it.
“My name is Taylor, I just transferred here from California. This is my first class and I didn’t know anyone so I wanted to introduce myself. And you are?”
I lift my head and breathe in fully before sliding my hand across the table to shake his.
“Hey uh I’m Peyton If you need anything just let me know I’m always free, because I don’t have friend’s ha.”
“Ok, yea cool thanks Peyton.” He smiles at me and turns to the front leaving me staggering for air. I’ve had crushes and boyfriends and dates before I know how to flirt and talk to guys and some might even say I’m good at it but sitting here right now looking at Taylor is like watching a dog wait for a treat he never going to get. I pull my phone out and text Claire hoping she can give me advice on how not to make a fool out of myself. I can’t concentrate on the lecture so I doodle on my paper instead. My watch hits 11 and I’ve never packed up so fast in my life, practically running out of the room I fly down the stairs. Why did I make such a fool of myself, who is he and why did he want to talk to me; plenty of people showed up early? I don’t have time to think about my footing and miss a step, my hands go out to brace for the fall…that never comes.
“You should really be more aware of your surroundings Peyton.” Taylor has caught me by the handle of my backpack keeping me from being on the floor twice today. I spin around and have to look up to see his crocked smile, his lip piercing shines in the morning light giving him a smile from a cartoon or Disney prince.
“I actually like the floor thank you. It’s comfortable and grounding.” I cross my arms and lift my head up in what I hope looks like confidence. He raises his eyebrows in amusement he runs his hands through his dark brown hair leaving it to fall onto his wide shoulders.
“noted, next time I’ll let you fall on your face.” He grins and turns to walk away. I fumble for words but find none and decide it’s better to not say anything at all. I follow behind him from a distance wishing my dorm was on the other side of campus.
“Are you following me or trying to trip me, because I said I’m sorry for making you fall” He doesn’t turn around when asking this and I can tell he knows exactly where he’s going.
“I’m not following you, my dorm room is the same direction, and if I wanted to trip you I would have done it long ago.” I catch up to him and scowl in his direction only to receive a smile in return. Before I can make another smart remark a black cat shoots across the street followed by a slim blonde in a tank top and shorts running after it. Without thinking I already know who’s running and why.
“SOUP! SOUUP COME BACK!” Claire slumps against the stop sign catching her breathe. I drop my back pack and sprint after Soup. My crocs fly off my feet and my hair slips from its ponytail the wind catching it and flailing it around like the blow up guy at a car sale. Soup finds a nice cool spot under a car looking pleased with his escape. I crawl under the car and look my cat dead in its eyes.
“Don’t even think about running, today is not the day Soup!” Soup lets out a taunting meow then bolts from under the car. My jeans are cut from the gravel under the car and my knee is bleeding but I run as hard as I can. Soup jumps into a bush of spiked plants and lays down. I almost kick the stupid plant but remembered my crocs on the pavement. If someone see’s Soup they could tell the school and both me and Claire will have to give him up and that’s not something that I’m willing to do. Claire catches up to me and puts her well-manicured hand on my shoulder. I sigh remembering the last time soup got out and the hours that led to his capture. I get down on the grass and peak under the bush watching as Soup licks himself clean.
“Are you even supposed to have any pets here?” I thought Taylor would’ve gone home but he stands to the side of me hands in his pockets peering down on my scraped body.
“If you’re going to stand here and just ask stupid questions then I suggest you leave unless you want to help, because right now I want to do more than trip you.” My face burns with embarrassment and I can’t help but to bite my lip trying not to cry. I burry my head into my hands and fold myself into a ball on the ground. I hear rustling but don’t look up until I feel soft fur against my leg, I look up and see Taylor hold Soup in one hand against my leg. Not even five minutes did It take him to get Soup out, what magical powers does this guy have? Tears threaten to spill over but I will myself to look away and pull it together. I know he wants to say something but he doesn’t, instead he sits on the ground next to me and holds Soup in his lap. Claire grins in my direction slowly making her way to Taylor and Soup, grabbing Soup and holding him close.
“Thank you so much! He just got out I don’t even know how! I’ll go get him back where he belongs, thanks again!”
Claire trots off down the street her blonde hair swaying while she walks. I sit up and wince from the pain in my knee, bruised and scraped no doubt. I stand up brushing off the grass from my jeans knowing now that I’ll finally have to part with them and wash the damn things.
“Don’t beat yourself up over this Peyton, it’s not your fault. I’m not going to tell anyone about Soup ok.”
He gets up and puts his hand on my shoulder his thumb rubbing against my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine.
“Thanks I know I just wish Soup could be in a place where we don’t have to hide him. He’s been my cat for the longest time and I wish I could give him a better home; he doesn’t deserve it.”
Tears stream down my face and I let them fall to the ground. My shoulders slump and I don’t know why but Taylor brings me into his chest my cheek pressed into him feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. His sent is sweat but calming with mint making my body relax.
“Your bleeding, come on let’s go get you cleaned up ok. My apartment is just up the road if you can walk its closer than your dorm.”
I nod my head and let him lead me down to the sidewalk his hand wrapped around my waist supporting my limping body. Not even two minutes later we arrive at his apartment door, its fancy with an electronic lock that he unlocks with a key card the door is white and clean unlike my dorm room door with its unexplained stains on the front. He leads me into his kitchen bigger than my own room altogether.
“wait here ok let me get some Band-Aids and alcohol wipes, just make yourself at home.”
He goes down a long hallway and disappears from my sight I take this time to look around my eyes landing on a picture of a girl hugging Taylor who is smiling at the camera. She looks my age with Taylors eyes and long dark hair that ends below her shoulder blades.
“ok got everything, can you sit up here so I can see your knee.”
I let him tend to my bleeding knee and watch as he carefully places the Band-Aid on the cut I would’ve ignored any other day.
“Does your sister go here? I saw a picture of her over there.”
“No. She doesn’t go here.”
His sharp answer takes me by surprise and I do a double take of the picture of them together.
“She so pretty! How old is she?”
He walks over to the mantel that holds the picture of him and his sister slamming the frame down shattering glass over the mantel.
“That’s none of your business ok she doesn’t go here.”
“oh...” I jump up at the outburst and quickly grab my bag knowing my presence isn’t wanted anymore. I thank him and without waiting for a response I walk out the door. My knee pulses with pain every step I take but I ignore it and keep walking. I don’t stop until I reach my front door jamming my key into the lock. Claire is anxious to hear out my run in with the new boy but I give her a wave of my hand and flop down onto the couch. I rack my brain for an explanation of why he was so angry and what I did wrong. My head starts to pound from the effort. The feeling of his hands around my waist battels with the feeling of hurt from his anger. I decide to let both fall to nothing because he is a stranger I just met and he means nothing to me. I nod off only to dream about his smile and his kind words that slowly turn into venom poisoning me every bite he takes, I know deep down that I’m weak and let him poison me with every word.
I wake up hours later to banging on my front door, I slide off the couch and fling the door open before I even check who it is. To my surprise it’s Taylor standing at my door hands deep into his pockets head down like a hurt puppy.
“I’m Sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t like talking about my family.”
I nod slowly and let him into the room kicking dirty clothes out of the way making room for him on the couch I just slept on. He sits and look around my small living room, our décor nothing above trinkets and unloved used things we have no need for. I pace around for a while until I hear light snoring coming from the couch. This boy just fell asleep on my couch, and I let him. I decide there’s no reason to wake him up so I make my way to the bathroom where I get a good look at myself. Crying made my face blotchy and running made me sweat. I take a quick shower and put on shorts and a t-shirt on putting my wet hair up in a bun ignoring its cries for care. For about a good seven minutes I forget about the stranger in my living room but then I hear banging noises and I almost fly out of my skin. Taylors awake now behind the kitchen counter where Claire sits on a cheap bar stool taking about her professor that she’s “100% flirting with me”. I wait a little longer before watching the two of them interact Taylors head swaying in agreement with whatever Claire says laughing at the jokes I know aren’t funny. I make my way over the counter where Taylor cuts thin pieces of bread putting them on a pan and into the already pre-heated oven. Claire explains that he’s offered to make us sandwiches and she make a note to side eye me with playful eyes that only mean trouble. His mood swings give me a headache and I sit at the counter sipping coke that’s more than a day old. I watch him trying to figure him out why doesn’t he want to talk about family and what’s with his sister? He silently hands me a sandwich and sits himself on the counter next to me. Claire eats her sandwich then asks for the rest of mine that I’ve barely touched, she takes it without my response and tells me she has to bounce for class. Waving bye to Taylor and winking at me she leaves the two of us alone again. I start to clean the plates and the dishes when a hand grabs mine stopping me from moving.
“I am really sorry Peyton. Please forgive me let’s just start over.”
I spin around arms up in the air glaring at Taylor.
“You just met me today and I thought that you were really nice and I really liked you, but you can’t scream at people for just trying to make a conversation. Like really Taylor it’s not like I asked you something really personal. You invited me to your home and helped me when you didn’t need to, so in my head that means you’re trying to get to know me. But then you yell at me, and that scared me Taylor because I didn’t know what I did wrong.”
My chest is heavy and I’m breathing hard my hands are still in the air waiting for his response, he’s confusing me more than anything and its pissing me off. He just stands there looking at me with his blue eyes.
“I know what I did was wrong ok. I get that, I do. I already said I’m sorry for snapping at you. I do want to get to know you and you didn’t do anything wrong Peyton.”
He slumps down the wall knee up to his chin resting his forehead on his knees. In my head this should be a red flag but I slide down the wall next to him instead.
“I’m not going to push you on something that you don’t want to talk about ok. I just want you to be honest with me and what you want. I don’t like playing games and that’s what this feels like.”
I get up from the floor and walk toward the couch flopping myself onto the scratch material and take a deep sigh. I've just meet this boy and he's already consuming my thoughts and making my body respond like I've known him for weeks.
2manhwareader
NGL I'm going to need more of this like yesterday, it's amazing, I love it. Next chapter Pls
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