Chapter 7: Don’t Trust Me, Darling

~“Monsters don’t prey on the innocent.”—Imagine Dragons.~

Chapter Theme Song: “Bad Liar” by Imagine Dragons.

BLAZE

“Hey, where’ve you been hiding?” James looks up from his PS4 game, the sound of the game echoing in our small dorm room.

“You’ve been gone all morning.”

Instead of answering, I pull my T-shirt over my head, ball it up, and toss it at his face.

He grunts, snatches it up, and tosses it aside without taking his eyes off his game. I shake my head, dropping my bag of snacks and keys on the table.

~Slob.~

I head to the mini kitchen, kicking my discarded shirt out of the way. I stifle a yawn, open the fridge, and grab a bottle of cold water.

“You were with that cute freshman, weren’t you?!” James calls out, and images of her flood my mind. I take a long drink from the bottle, not saying a word.

“Why are you hanging around her anyway? She doesn’t seem like your type!”

~Why can’t he just shut up? I don’t want to talk to anyone right now. I need my own damn place.~

“Trying to get into her pants, huh? But Harmony doesn’t seem to like pants. Mostly dresses and skirts...which is even better!”

“Dude...just shut up,” I mutter, just as the sound of rustling plastic catches my attention. I look over to see him rifling through my bag of snacks.

“That’s not for you, put it back.”

He freezes, a bag of Doritos in his hand, and gives me a pleading look. “But you have two of them in here, and two sodas...”

I just stare at him.

“Please? I haven’t eaten all morning, Blaze.”

“And that’s my problem how? I’m not your damn mom.” I turn away and put the water back in the fridge.

I hear the sound of a bag being ripped open and then the crunching of chips. He never listens. ~I hope he chokes.~

I head back into the room and flop down on the couch while he gets up, snack in hand. “Gonna get a glass with some ice.”

He grins as he walks by me, and I resist the urge to trip him.

“You know, Harmony seems like a nice girl,” he says from the kitchen. “I know you’ve never liked a girl in your life, so I know you’re just messing with her. I feel bad for her.

“Don’t ruin her, Blaze!”

I ignore him and pick up his controller, resetting his ~Uncharted~ game to the first level. He wants something to complain about, so I’ll give him something to complain about.

I put the controller down, trying not to laugh as I cover my mouth with my hand.

“Can I have the grape soda?” he asks, coming back from the kitchen with a glass full of ice.

I shrug, pointing to the bag. “Take whatever you want.”

“Hell, it’s my lucky day!” He rushes over to the bag, grabs the soda, and pours it into his glass.

As he comes back to the couch, I smile and scoot over, giving him plenty of room.

He slurps his drink, and I give him a look. “You know I hate eating noises. Chew with your mouth closed, James.”

“Sorry.” He grins, puts his glass on the table, and picks up his controller. He stares at the screen for a moment, and I try not to laugh.

“What the hell...,” he mutters.

I turn away, trying to hold in my laughter as my face turns red.

He goes pale as he reaches up to scratch the back of his head. “Where’s my game?”

I can’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, tears streaming down my face.

“You jerk! I was on chapter 21!! Blaze,” he whines, frantically pressing buttons on his controller. “SHIT! You damn delinquent!”

I laugh even harder as I sit up, grab the Doritos, and stuff a handful of chips into my mouth. I watch him panic in front of the screen, a smile on my face.

~This is too good.~

~James should know by now that I don’t give anything away for free. There’s always something in it for me.~

THIRD PERSON

“Hey, wait up, Harmony!”

She stops and looks around, confused, as Malcolm hurries up the hall toward her.

She smiles when she sees him. She hasn’t seen him since literature class.

Even though she only met him a few days ago, she can’t deny how comfortable she feels around him.

He’s one of only three guys she feels at ease with—her dad and Callum being the other two.

They don’t give off that intimidating vibe that Blaze and other guys do.

Malcolm stops in front of her, panting. Harmony giggles at his dramatics. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiles back.

“They’re having this—uh...” He puffs out his cheeks, and she laughs.

“Breathe and talk slowly.”

“The music club is having their first meeting today. I thought maybe we could go together.”

Harmony’s lips twist in contemplation. The offer is tempting, but the thought of performing in front of others makes her stomach churn. It’s not just her social anxiety that holds her back, but also the memories of singing with her father before he passed away. The thought of singing in front of anyone else brings a painful ache to her chest. It’s too much to bear.

Malcolm, noticing her hesitation, furrows his brow. “Or maybe that’s not such a good idea?”

She quickly shakes her head, not wanting to upset him. “No, it’s not that. I just need some time to think about it.”

He nods, his smile warm and understanding. “I get it.”

Harmony lets out a sigh of relief. She’s glad he’s not offended.

“Just let me know when you’re ready,” he says, and she nods in agreement.

“I will, Mal.”

“Alright, I’ll see you around. I’ve got a class to catch.” He gives her shoulder a friendly pat and walks away, leaving Harmony alone.

As she turns to leave, she bumps into someone. The scent of their cologne is intoxicating, and their chest is so firm she has to rub her forehead from the impact. Looking up, she finds Blaze standing there, his gaze fixed on Malcolm’s retreating figure, his jaw set in a hard line.

Just the sight of him sends a warm flush to her cheeks. She quickly looks away, gripping her bag tightly. “What are you doing here?”

When he doesn’t respond, she looks up to find him still staring after Malcolm. She tilts her head, wondering if he didn’t hear her. “Blaze.”

He finally looks at her, his expression softening as he shoves his hands into his pockets. “This is the campus hall, Harmony. My dorm is just a block away. It’s not strange to see me here.”

She blinks, realizing how silly her question was. She looks up at him, biting her lip as she sees him shaking his head in amusement.

“Well...you’re standing in front of me, so do you need something?” she asks softly.

He leans in closer, causing her to step back in surprise. His blue eyes search hers, his lips curling into a small smile.

“If you keep talking so formally, I might have to teach that polite mouth of yours a lesson.”

Her cheeks flush at his words, and she struggles to regain her composure.

“Where are you heading?” he asks casually, as if his previous comment wasn’t suggestive at all.

“To my dorm,” she mumbles, her face still hot.

He nods. “Are you still against us drawing together?”

She considers his question. “Uhm...”

“You’re hesitating, so don’t answer.” He gives her a half-smile, and she bites her lip guiltily.

“See you around then,” he says, his expression calm and relaxed. It bothers her for some reason as she nods and walks away.

As she walks, she can’t help but think about Blaze’s mother’s death. What if he’s lonely and wants someone to share his passion with? Something to distract him from the painful memories.

He didn’t seem upset that day in his car, but Harmony knows that everyone deals with grief differently. Maybe pretending not to care is his way of coping.

Blaze watches her walk away, a smirk playing on his lips. He knows she won’t be able to resist. He can see the indecision on her face, the internal struggle. It’s only a matter of time before she turns around.

No one has ever said no to him since he was diagnosed with ASPD.

He hears her footsteps slow, and his smirk widens. He waits for her to speak.

~One.~

~Two.~

~Three.~

“Uhm, Blaze?”

He closes his eyes, a victorious smile spreading across his face. He opens his eyes and turns around, his expression neutral.

“Yes?”

“Would you...would you like to draw in your room later?” Her voice is timid as she fiddles with the hem of her skirt.

He ruffles his hair, trying to hide his smile. “Yeah, why not?”

Harmony smiles, proud of herself for asking. “Okay, um, what’s your dorm number?”

“102. Ainsley Hall.”

She nods. “Okay... Is six o’clock okay?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect.” Blaze leans against the wall, watching as she shifts nervously.

“Okay...well, see you.” She gives him a small wave before turning to leave.

As soon as she’s gone, his smile fades. Most of the time, the emotions he shows aren’t real.

He learned how to mimic emotions from YouTube videos and Google articles. What makes people happy, what makes them sad.

He practices these emotions so he can use them to his advantage.

They don’t come naturally to him, and his mild bipolar disorder only complicates things further.

The things that make him genuinely happy would terrify most people. If they could see inside his mind, they would run away.

It’s unfortunate for Harmony Skye to have fallen into his trap. But even he can’t help it. She’s the one his demons want, a new recruit for the dark depths of hell.

He's set on cracking her shell, on being the first to shatter her halo of innocence.

He's hell-bent on showing her, himself, and his inner demons just how ~wild~ she can be with a little nudge from someone who doesn't care. He finds a thrill in toying with her, and he doesn't see an end to this game anytime soon.

^~”It’s been a loveless year, I’m a man of three fears: Integrity, faith and crocodile tears.”—Imagine Dragons.~^