It made so much sense now. Dani being so reserved. Dustin protecting his sister. Dustin hating me. I had no idea how to prove to them that I wasn't another Alicia. I picked up my cup and hurried to my next class.
Art Concepts 350 was also in Thompson Hall. My conversation with Shawn had almost made me late for class. The teacher was just arriving when I slipped into my seat, breathing a short sigh of relief. I had no idea how I was going to focus on class with thoughts of Dani's kidnapping running through my head. Right before the teacher began talking, the door opened, and Dustin strode in.
"Mr. LeFores, so nice of you to join us." The teacher looked mildly irritated. "Please find a seat so we can begin."
Unfortunately, the only open seat was right next to me. Dustin sighed before heading my way. Even though I knew the reason behind his reluctance, it still hurt to know that he thought I might be someone awful like Alicia.
Dustin settled into his seat and the teacher launched into the lecture. I tried to pay attention, but my mind was so far away. I was finally in college, studying my passion and all I could think about was the angry young man next to me.
"Now I want you to break into groups of two and discuss the difference between pre-and post- modernist art." The teacher began counting off by twos, and surprise, surprise guess who my partner was?
Dustin turned to me, his irritation obvious. "Do you want to write, or do you want me to?"
"Whatever you want." At that point, I didn't care about the assignment. I knew I was in for a healthy dose of "I hate you", courtesy of the pissy twin.
"Your handwriting is probably better than mine..." he chewed on the cap of his pen.
"Fine," I pulled out paper and a pencil. "What's the first discussion question?" I looked up to find Dustin staring at me. His eyes were breathtaking. They were the deepest shade of emerald and they complimented his ruggedly handsome face perfectly.
No! I pulled my eyes away and tried to focus on the assignment. I wasn't going to let my attraction to Dustin over ride my hatred for him, even though he was drop dead gorgeous, and smelled like a sexy combination of cologne and fabric softener.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, barely above a whisper. His eyes still probed mine intently.
"That if you weren't such a jerk, you would be quite handsome." It spilled out before I could stop myself. I was instantly mortified. Speak before you think Katie, strikes again.
He sat back and smirked. "Good to know."
"No, wait," I began. "I only meant-," I knew my cheeks were flaming red with embarrassment.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we will pick up here tomorrow. Class dismissed." I jumped at the sound of the teacher's voice.
I grabbed my book bag and stuffed my papers inside. "Bye." I hurried out of the class as fast as my legs would carry me.
But I wasn't fast enough. Dustin caught up with me and fell in step beside me. "So, you think I'm handsome?" I caught a hint of teasing in his voice.
"No." I corrected him. "If you weren't an ass, you would be handsome. But you are an ass, so it doesn't matter what you look like. I have a class to get to." I hurried away before he had the chance to say something rude.
In fact, I had two hours before my next class, but I wasn't going to spend another minute with Dustin. He ran so hot and cold, he made me dizzy.
I hurried away and headed towards the library.
The rest of the day was just as stressful as the first part. I had four classes, and Dustin was in three of them. Each time I entered a room and saw him, I got angrier. My only relief was my freshman English class, where I got a break from the brooding eyes of the moodiest guy I had ever met.
I spent the next few weeks trying to avoid Dustin. Thankfully, Dani usually had something planned for us to do. Parties, study sessions, trips to Willow. Most of the time Shawn would accompany us, and I began to understand that she felt safer when he was around. After what she had been through, I completely understood.
We went everywhere together, and everyone seemed to be accepting me as the new addition to their group. Although, when I was forced to be around Dustin, he always treated me like a fungus. On the rare occasion that it seemed like he was going to be nice to me, he ruined it with an angry look or a back handed comment. It became clear that no matter what I did, he was determined to hate me.
I didn't want to admit it, but the more he shunned me, the more desperate I became to prove him wrong. His standoffish aloofness was an odd turn on, and I began to think there was something very wrong with me.
I woke up early one Saturday and was surprised to find Dani's bed empty. I gathered my bathroom stuff and headed to the communal showers. It was usually quiet in the bathrooms this time of the morning on the weekends, but today I could hear voices before I stepped through the door.
"You know it's true Dani."
"Anya, I don't have anything to say to you," Dani's voice wavered a bit.
I came around the corner to see three girls standing close to Dani, hands on their hips. "You've already been warned." A tall blond girl pushed closer to her.
"What's going on here?" I dropped my bag and rushed to Dani's side.
"Get lost, little girl." Anya didn't turn from Dani.
"I think you're the one who needs to get lost." I stood in front of Dani, forcing Anya to take a step back.
"You have no idea who you're messing with." Anya fixed her angry dark grey eyes on me.
"I don't care who you are." My anger started to bubble over. "If you mess with her, you mess with me."
"Katie," Dani began. "It's okay."
"Yah, Katie. Listen to your friend." Anya and the other two girls started to close in on us.
She raised her hand towards Dani, intending to hit her.
I pushed Anya hard in the chest, sending her sprawling back into her friends. "If you want to go, we can go."
Anya came at me with surprising speed, but I was ready for her. I pulled my arm back and landed a perfect right hook on her angry face. She stared at me, stunned. She pushed back towards me, and I hit her again.
"What's going on in here?" We heard the Resident Advisor come into the bathroom.
"Nothing Mrs. Whipple." Anya rubbed her chin, which was already starting to bruise. "This isn't over. I'll see you soon," she whispered at me, before turning to leave.
"Looking forward to it," I spat after her.
I spun around to check on Dani. "Who is that?"
"Oh Katie," she sighed. "You shouldn't have done that."
"So, I was supposed to let her hit you?" I asked.
"Anya's a bully. We've always had a volatile relationship, but she has a lot of friends and now they will be after you too."
"Well, let them come." I picked up my bathroom bag. "I've never backed down from a fight and I'm not about to start now. Geez, what a bitch!"
Dani threw her arms around me. "I'm so lucky to have you. I had no idea you were such a bad ass."
I laughed and hugged her back. "My dad insisted we learn how to fight from an early age, to protect ourselves. I've been sparring with my brothers since I was ten. You never know when you'll be in a situation like that."
She looked thoughtful. "Makes sense. Hurry up and get showered. We have a lot to do today."
I looked at her with curiousity. "What do you have planned?" I hoped she wasn't going to make me get another mani/pedi.
"I was going to suggest shopping, but after what I just saw, we're going to the gym and you're going to teach me how to punch like that!"
I thought she was joking, but after I was showered and dressed, she dragged me to the gym.
"Dani, are you sure you want to do this? Fighting should always be a last resort." I sounded like a goody goody, using a line my father always repeated.
"Katie, after what happened this morning, we're both going to need to be prepared. Anya's going to come after us, and I'd rather be safe than sorry."
I shrugged. "Alright." I wasn't too worried about this Anya chick. Compared to my brothers, taking her out would be a piece of cake.
We spent the next few hours going over technique and practicing various scenarios. By the time dinner rolled around, Dani and I, freshly showered, headed to Shawn's room for pizza.
"You should have seen it!" Dani was recounting the mornings events. "Katie nailed her not once, but twice! Anya was so pissed."
"She was going to hit Dani," I replied. "I couldn't just stand there and let it happen. What is that girl's problem, anyway?"
Shawn looked worried. "Anya and her friends are kind of hard core. She's definitely going to want revenge."
"And that's why Katie and I are going to be in the gym every day, practicing." Dani smiled at me. "I've put up with Anya's crap for long enough and it's time I finally stood up to her."
Shawn pulled her to him. "I haven't seen you this fired up in a long time!"
She looked deep into his eyes and smiled. "Maybe things are changing."
The door to Shawn's room opened and Dustin breezed in. "What's new?" He sat down on his bed and popped open a soda, looking uninterested.
"Just listening to Dani tell us about Katie kicking Anya's ass." George grabbed another slice of pizza from the box. "Looks like Katie's turning Dani into the next Rocky."
Dustin looked up sharply. "What?"
"Anya was harassing me, and Katie punched her. Twice! Katie and I are going to practice fighting, so I can stand up to Anya once and for all. I'm so going to kick her ass!" Dani high fived me.
Dustin stopped, mid drink, and looked at her, surprised. "When did this happen?"
"This morning!"
"Are you serious?" Dustin turned to me. "You hit her?"
"I was protecting Dani."
"And who's gonna protect you when Anya comes for her revenge?"
"I can protect myself!" I yelled at him. "God, I'm so tired of your crap. You don't know me! I'm over your big brother protective vibe and your cheap shots about my character. I'm sorry Dani, I love you, but I'm done with him!"
I turned around and stalked out of the room, heading back to my dorm as fast as my angry legs would carry me. I hadn't even been this mad when I punched Anya. Dustin brought out the raging bitch in me. I cared about Dani, but I wasn't somebody to be pushed around. Dustin was on my last nerve. I slammed the door behind me and flung myself on my bed, face down.
A moment later, there was a knock on my door. "What?!" I shouted, irritated.
The door swung open and Dustin walked in.
"Seriously?" I sat up and glared at him. "Was I not clear? I don't want to see you."
He shut the door behind him and went to perch on the side of Dani's bed. "I came to thank you for sticking up for Dani," he began. "Anya's been messing with her for a while."
I sat up and looked at him. I didn't know what to say. The earth must be imploding on itself, because I never thought I would hear Douchey Dustin say thank you.
"I know I've been mean to you," he continued. "But there's a reason. Dani was hurt by the last stranger she let get close to her. We almost lost her."
I held my breath as I waited for him to continue.
"She hasn't been the same since. She used to be strong, a force to be reckoned with, but after the incident, she stopped feeling like she could defend herself. Until today, that is. I saw a glimmer of the old Dani in her eyes. And that's because of you. She wants to defend herself and she wants to be strong again. Hell, she wants to go to the gym!" He smiled to himself. "I had given up ever seeing that light in her eyes again." He looked over at me with those incredible green eyes, so like Dani's, swimming with unshed tears.
Well, hell. I felt my own eyes well up. I couldn't stand to see people cry, even if it was someone who hated me. I slid off my bed and walked towards him. When I reached Dani's bed I stopped in front of him. He looked deep into my eyes before placing his hands on my waist and leaning his head against my stomach. I felt his restraint melt away as silent tears dripped off his nose and onto my shirt.
My tears spilled over and little bits of wetness fell on Dustin's beautiful dark waves. I had a rule that no one cried alone in my presence.
I sank to my knees in front of him and pressed my forehead to his. Being so close to him, being so vulnerable with him, made my heart pound. He held my face in his hands and brought his lips to mine. I felt like I was falling, deep into a warm pool of our combined tears. His kiss became more intense, almost like he was struggling for breath and I was his air.
It seemed like forever before he pulled away. We stared into each other's eyes, both breathless. I reached up and wiped away the last tear falling down his cheek. He took my hand and brought it to his lips. "Thank you." He stood up. "I'm sorry."
Before I could answer, he disappeared out the door.
Author's Note:Â Woa! Didn't see that one coming! Where do they go from here? Let me know what you think in the comments. Don't forget to vote for your favorite chapter! Luvs as always!! AMð