Mallory
Autumn was upon us, in all its auburn glory. On our first day of university, Reid and I met with an unexpected surprise in our dorm room. After unpacking, I heard my boyfriend shout from down the hall.
I burst into Reid's room, looking wildly around the empty space. "What on earth happened?"
Reid pointed at his bed dramatically, where a strangely familiar boy was lying down. He looked exactly like Reid, just a little older with a lighter hair colour.
My boyfriend sat down on his bed, looking at me with a trace of embarrassment. "Mallory, this is my cousin Tony."
My jaw dropped onto the floor. Tony glanced up at me with a grin, brushing his shoulder off. "Don't worry, I'm used to making girls speechless."
Reid hit his cousin over the head, glaring at him. "That's my girlfriend, dumbass."
Tony's eyebrows shot up. "You have a girlfriend? I'm shocked. This is shocking news."
Reid threw a pillow at Tony's head, which made his cousin groan on impact. "You need help." Reid told him sternly. In conclusion, our surprise was namely Reid's cousin, Tony.
My boyfriend and his cousin were polar opposites. Reid was sweet but confident, and Tony was just plain confident. Sometimes, his behavior bordered on arrogance, because Tony knew he was good looking and he flaunted it.
One time, Reid discovered a package of condoms delivered to his room. Just a mysterious damn box of condoms; no name, no evidence of who it belonged to. But Reid and I knew exactly who ordered it.
A week after the delivery, Tony peeked his head into Reid's room. He smiled once he saw me lying on Reid's bed. Reid was on the other side of the room, fixing a picture to his wall. "Hey, guys. I was wondering if you saw a cardboard box lying somewhere? I promise it doesn't have condoms in it." Tony reassured us.
"Yeah, I saw a box like that. It was up your ass." Reid deadpanned. He abandoned his painting to the floor, opting to roll into his bed with me. Tony scrunched his nose at his cousin, then proceeded to hunt around the room, in search of his box.
Reid and I watched Tony's antics from the comfort of Reid's bed. Reid ran his thumb over my exposed shoulder, burying his face into my skin. I wrapped my arms loosely around him. Eventually, Tony smiled in satisfaction and picked up the box of condoms.
"Who's it intended for?" I asked Tony curiously. Reid yawned, looking sleepy in my arms. I looked fondly at him.
Tony blushed. "No one special." With that, he left the room.  let Reid go to sleep, then I quietly moved his head off my body. I got up from Reid's bed in pursuit of my room, where I was going to call my high school friend Kennedy.
"How is university life treating you?" Kennedy teased me over the phone, when she picked up. We were facetiming for the first time since university started.
I smiled at her. "I'm happy to see you, Kenny. University's been great, so far. Cleo's bored of third-wheeling Reid and I. But we've met some nice people. There's this girl Nina in my Econ lectures. Cleo and Reid made friends with this guy called Nick, but I don't know much about him. And guess who's come to Collard?"
"Who?" Kennedy asked, looking intrigued.
"Reid's cousin, Tony. He's a year older; he's so funny. And a total cockblock." I wrinkled my nose, thinking about the number of times that Tony interrupted Reid and I.
Kennedy made a disgusted face. "I don't need to know about how you and Reid get it on, thank you very much. How is he, anyway?"
I smiled. "Reid's great. I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record, but we're doing good, I think. You know how extroverted he is. He had zero problems coming in here."
Kennedy's smile was knowing. "And you?"
I sighed, keeping my smile fixed to my face. "I'm taking a little longer. University's so different from high school."
"But change can be good too, Mallory." Kennedy reminded me quietly.
"I know, Kenny." My eyes drifted to the time on my computer, and I gasped. "I have a lecture in fifteen minutes. Miss you, love you. I'll send some cake by post if you want it."
"Love you too, Mallory. I'll call you soon." Kennedy said, waving. I ended the call and got my things together, rushing to the door. Before I could turn the handle, my front door opened to reveal Reid standing behind it. A massive smile grew on my face, and I launched myself at my boyfriend in a hug.
Reid stepped back from the force of me jumping on him, but quickly wrapped his arms around me, laughing. "I'm happy to see you, too. But don't you have a lecture to go to?"
"I do, you're right." I agreed sadly. "I'll talk to you after, okay?"
"How about milkshakes? We're shopping for Halloween costumes after lectures are over, don't forget." Reid suggested, thinking light on his feet. I grinned and gave him a little thumbs up. I rushed out of the door after kissing him goodbye.
When I settled into our lecture room for Economics, Nina poked me from her seat next to me. Her hair was in box braids today, and her full makeup was on point as per usual. "You're lucky that Professor Stevens is always late." she commented lightly, toying with her nose ring.
I smirked. "I know, trust me. Are you going to Anita's Halloween party? Everyone else is." I asked, watching her nose crinkle slightly as she thought about my invite.
Nina's eyes lit up. "I'm free today. How about your other friends? Cleo, Nick and Tony, right? Are they going?"
I frowned. "Yeah, they are. Is it okay if Reid comes?"
Nina shrugged. "If you want him to, sure." she replied casually.
In the past few weeks of our brief friendship, Nina dropped several hints that she didn't like my boyfriend. I was trying my best to ignore them. "Thanks." I replied, turning my attention to the lecture. I'd find a way to get Nina to like Reid, because they were both important to me. Was it so bad to want my loved ones to get along?
After school, I went shopping with Reid for our party costumes. We were pretty late, all things considered, because the party was tonight. We walked hand in hand into the store, and Reid got a fair few compliments because he was so good-looking. I felt like a potato next to him, with my makeup-less face. I made a mental reminder to myself that I'd do my makeup properly today for the party.
"I want to see you." Reid complained teasingly to me. He was waiting outside my changing room, while I tried on a potential costume. There was a complimentary costume for Reid, too, because I wanted us to match for our first Halloween together.
"What do you think?" I asked as I drew the curtain open. My boyfriend's eyes nearly fell out of his head. The short angel costume I had on, complete with wings, heels and a fluffy halo, definitely spoke to his temptation.
He walked over to me, sighing as he put his hands on my hips, looking into my eyes. "You're torturing me here. How am I supposed to wait until the party?"
"You don't have to wait." I said suggestively. I smirked up at him, brushing my lips against the corner of his mouth.
Reid chuckled, reaching out to fix my slightly crooked halo. "So is this the one?"
"After your reaction, it is." I confirmed. "Should I get you the matching costume? We can be angels together."
He grinned. "Or should I be a devil instead? Opposites attract, right?"
I smiled at him. "I like that idea."
He got changed at my request. When Reid walked out in the devil costume, I fixed the horns on top of his hair and smirked. "You look so sexy." I complimented.
"I'm sexy all the time." he replied, pouting, which got a laugh out of me. Reid smiled, shaking his head to mess his hair up. "So is this a yes?"
"I'd like you in anything." I replied, running my hands over his shoulders. "But I like you better without anything."
"Slow your roll." Reid joked, running his hands over my wings. "You'll get your wish tonight, I promise."
"You're my very own genie." I said with a smile, pinching his cheek. Reid kissed me on the cheek in response.
That night, I got ready with Nina and Cleo in Reid and I's apartment. Reid was in a separate room with Nick and Tony. There were two variations of my angel costume; white and cerulean. I held them up to Cleo and Nina. "Which one do you think I should go with?"
"The white one." Nina confirmed, just as Cleo said, "Blue."
Cleo turned to give Nina a visceral glare, then looked at me. "Blue suits you way better."
"Is that supposed to mean something?" Nina asked, narrowing her eyes at Cleo.
"I'll wear the white one, Cleo." I intervened, hoping she wouldn't take it seriously. Cleo scoffed and turned away, rolling her eyes.
I changed and waited quietly until Cleo and Nina left my room, before I turned to my jewellery box. Jewellery held importance in my appearance. My late mother loved her necklaces; I inherited them at her funeral. Those necklaces were a special piece of my family. I held up two necklaces to my skin, staring at the pieces critically in my vanity mirror.
Reid walked into the room, closing the door. I turned from my choices to smile at him. "Hey, are you already done?"
"I'm fast, don't worry." Reid affirmed, strolling over to hug me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. I turned to smile at him and he kissed me quickly. Then he glanced at my reflection in the mirror, looking at the necklaces. "I like those."
I sighed, frustrated. "It's so hard to choose, Reid. How do I know which one's better?"
He leaned closer to the mirror, scrutinising them. "They both look gorgeous. Choose whichever, because regardless, I won't be able to take my eyes off you."
I smiled. "You're sweet."
He smiled. "I'll wait outside with everyone." Reid told me. He kissed me on the cheek and walked out, leaving me to my silence.
I added the last touches to my makeup and followed Reid's advice, going with the gold necklace. When I walked outside, everyone's reactions were worth it. Tony whistled slowly. He was dressed as a werewolf. "Wow, Mallory. This is a number."
"Isn't it?" Cleo said with a proud grin, linking arms with Nick. She was dressed as a black cat, complete with whiskers and makeup. "I helped her choose."
"She looks unbelievable." Nick said to Cleo, but he was looking at me. He was dressed as a vampire, with pale face-makeup and fake blood lining his mouth.
I blushed, unable to take all the compliments. "Stop it, guys."
Reid moved to take my hand in his, intertwining our fingers. His devil costume was beyond attractive. "And she's my girlfriend." I could hear the tangible pride in his voice.
"Heaven knows why Mallory chose you to be her boyfriend." Tony said, rolling his eyes. Reid punched his cousin lightly, and they tussled until Reid resurfaced, brushing his hair away from his eyes as he sent me a playful grin, fixing his devil horns. Butterflies erupted in my stomach.
"Are we going?" Nina demanded, walking quickly over to the car in her heels. Her tiny dress was a dark, deep red like Cleo suggested, with a slit at the thigh, but I couldn't tell what she dressed as. "I can't wait to get drunk and dance a bit."
"A bit or a lot?" Tony teased Nina, walking quicker to keep up with her. I didn't hear what else they were talking about, but they wore matching smiles as they teased each other.
Once we got to Anita's house, the rooms were already packed with people. Everyone split up; Nina, Cleo, Tony and Nick went over to the kegs.
Reid went to get us drinks, then we sat on a couch together. My boyfriend turned to me, smirking as he passed me a cup. "So what's your opinion so far? This is one of our first university parties."
I considered his question, tilting my head as I said, "Honestly, there's not much of a difference from high school parties."
"You would know." Reid teased me.
I frowned at him over my cup, as I took a sip. "Shut up."
"Make me." Reid smirked. Clearly he thought I was going to bow out, but I never backed down.
I leaned in, smirking right back at him. "With pleasure." I dipped my mouth to brush against his tantalisingly. When he reached up to bury his hands in my hair, I steadied my palms on his shoulders. Even now, half a year into dating, we were still the same.
But a flicker of doubt still lingered in my mind. A flash of insecurity. I tore myself away from him, looking into Reid's eyes. "We're never going to change, right?"
He put his hands in his pockets, staring at me curiously. "People change all the time, Mallory."
I huffed out a sigh. "Yes, I know that. But our relationship won't change, right? People break up all the time. But I don't want to one day wake up and find a reason to do it."
Reid didn't laugh at my thoughts, thankfully. He leaned against the couch, watching me as he toyed with his rings. "Firstly, that's overthinking to the max. Second, people don't just inevitably break up. And I will always prioritise you."
I raised my eyebrows, impressed against my own will. "That's a really mature answer."
He grinned, his eyes becoming lighter. "I'm so mature now, you wouldn't even believe it. I've started taking my coffee black, too."
"Okay, now you're pushing it." I told Reid, rolling my eyes. I took his hand, pulling him with me as I looked for a bathroom.
"Hey, Mallory." Anita said as we passed her in the kitchen. She sipped from a solo cup as she watched my hand, which was still intertwined in my boyfriend's.
I waved, stopping to talk with our host. "Hey, Anita. Great party." I complimented, giving her a smile.
Anita smiled. "Thanks. I wasn't expecting this big of a turnout." Her eyes moved to Reid and I's physical closeness, and she sighed. "Just get a room, guys. I'll literally volunteer my guest bedroom if it means you guys aren't so PDA out here."
"There's five people kissing each other in the corner." Reid pointed out to Anita. I glanced over to confirm it was true. "So why are we the problem?"
Anita hiccuped. "Sorry, I'm a bit drunk. And a bit sad." she confessed.
"What's wrong?" I asked her, concerned. Reid closed his eyes, leaning against the counter as he kept his hand in mine. But I could tell he was still listening.
Anita leaned her head against the wall beside us, closing her eyes. "Is it so wrong to want a healthy relationship sometimes? Like you guys. You fit so perfectly together. Are you guys in love?" she asked. Reid's hand stiffened in mine.
I smiled awkwardly, wondering how I could steer our conversation away from love. "Yeah, we are."
Anita chuckled. "Right. Sorry about grilling you like this." She looked over at Reid, who was still silent. "I'm going to go get something to eat, before the migraine sets in." She wandered off, leaving Reid and I to our own devices.
Reid glanced at me. "What was that about?"
I turned on my side to look him in the eyes properly, smiling lightly. "Anita was feeling down, I guess." I looked up at the ceiling, taking in the lack of colour. It was calming. "For all my stupid concerns, Reid, I never once doubted you. I believe in what we have."
I exhaled, staring at the wall. When I turned my head to look at my boyfriend, Reid was already studying me with curiosity in his eyes. He reached out to touch my cheek, watching me with something akin to awe. "I really don't deserve you, you know?" he told me quietly.
"What do you mean?" I asked softly. Dating Reid felt like an intricate dance sometimes, like we were stepping on ice that would give way if we weren't careful. Right now, we were standing face to face, on the same thin sheet of air, hoping that we wouldn't fall.
He leaned away, breaking the moment as he gave me a tiny smirk. "Just that you're a pretty nice girlfriend."
I wrinkled my nose. "You never say that to me."
"Maybe I should do it more regularly." Reid teased. I pushed him away, laughing. As I looked away from Reid, brushing my hair over my shoulders, I noticed Nina walking over to us. Reid followed my eyes. I thought I saw his shoulders tense.
Nina smiled, her eyes full of life as she glanced between us. "Isn't this party great?"
I smiled back. "It's fun, yeah. Where's everyone else?"
Nina lifted her shoulder in a shrug, brushing her long red nails against her outfit. "Split up everywhere. I think I saw Cleo go upstairs with a girl. How's your night going, Reid?" she directed to my boyfriend.
Reid looked away, feigning interest in the keg stand. His dark eyes were focused on someone behind the stand. I looked over to see Tony talking to a girl. "It's good." Reid answered, his expression giving nothing away.
I frowned. When Reid didn't want to talk to someone, his body language communicated everything. Nina made him completely shut down, even around me.
Nina nodded understandingly. "Is it okay if we talk?" she asked Reid.
Reid shrugged. "You can talk here, if you want to." He looked stressed for some reason, which was unlike my boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" I asked him, but I saw it when he closed up to me.
Reid smiled, straightening his devil horns. "Nothing's wrong, Mallory. I'll go see how Tony's doing." He walked away, brushing past Nina. I stared after my boyfriend, confused by his indifference.
Nina smiled awkwardly at me, sitting down on the couch. She brushed her coiled hair away from her face, sighing as she told me, "Sorry for ruining that."
"You don't have to apologise." I replied, feeling numb. As I watched Reid mingle in the crowd, talking to Tony and laughing, I realised that our problems ran deeper than I thought.
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