Chapter 5

EVERETT

Juju.Vasquez

Hi E

Everett.Sawyer

Wassup my lil Spanish mami

Juju.Vasquez

Nothing much. Heard you guys have a female staying with you.

Everett.Sawyer

Jealous??

Juju.Vasquez

Of course not. Should I have something to worry about?

Everett.Sawyer

……

Juju.Vasquez

One Image Sent

Everett.Sawyer

Such a tease. Are you at your dorm?

Juju.Vasquez

Maybe ;)

Everett.Sawyer

On my way.

Juju.Vasquez

Bring the cuffs.

Everett.Sawyer

Fuck yeah! See you in less than ten minutes.

Juju.Vasquez

Ok.

CHARLOTTE

Five hours later, and I am done with all classes for the next four days. I’ll drive back home for the weekend, and I couldn’t be happier. Time away from Croakington House will do me some good.

I take my time heading back to the house, taking the long route—walking around the library and the Edinburgh Building, making my normal ten- to fifteen-minute walk into a thirty-minute one.

“Hello?” I walked into the house and was welcomed by silence.

“Hello, guys? Is anyone home?” No answer. I take that as my cue to quickly pack and leave before anyone makes a special appearance. I guess the guys need their space and having me here is making them slightly uncomfortable.

Making my way to my room, I stop on the second floor to see if Vincent is home.

~Crap.~

I don’t know which room is his. Nothing is outside their doors to tell them apart. I play eenie, meenie, miney, mo. I pick the second door to my right. I knock twice, before entering. The room is empty, I try another one.

Knocking twice, I open one door and then another. Two more rooms on this floor, and I don’t think to knock on the next one, no one is home, and now I am just curious to see what the other rooms look like.

Each is the same layout but different in decorations. I open the next door, and what I see cannot be unseen.

Darren is lying on his bed, masturbating. Oh, this can’t be happening. This is happening. I tear my eyes from his private part to his face.

He looks just as embarrassed as me. He slowly reaches for one of his pillows covering himself.

My hand tightens on the doorknob. This is what I get for not knocking and assuming everyone is gone. I see his mouth moving, but can’t hear a word he is saying. My heart is pounding loudly in my ears.

Quickly, I walk backward, closing the door. I just stand in front of his door shocked. I don’t know what the hell to do.

Mere seconds later, he opens his room door and looks shocked to see me still standing there. Hell, I would, too. He clears his throat.

“I am so sorry. I shouldn’t hav—”

“Walked in without knocking?” He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Right. I should have knocked. I didn’t think anyone was home.”

“So, you just go around walking in other people’s rooms without their consent? Are you some kind of thief, Charles?” He is teasing me.

“I’m not—I don’t, but…” I have nothing. I got caught doing something I wasn’t supposed to.

“Charlotte Withers, how may I help you?”

I am so happy he changes the topic. I would keep digging myself into a bigger hole if the conversation kept going. I don’t want him to go back and tell the guys I am some sort of peeping Tammy or something along those lines.

Chase would have a field day with that one. “Charles?”

“Oh, right. I was actually looking for Vincent’s room.” I look up and down the hall.

“I am not sure which one he is staying in. You guys don’t have anything to tell your rooms apart, and the insides of them are different, but none of you have photographs inside of them.”

“You say it like we are in a hotel.” He laughs. “Also, did you go snooping inside the rooms?” He reaches out and cups my face.

I tense up. “Oh, my fairy godmother, let go of my face.” I want to cry.

He smirks at me, and his hands fall back to his sides. I push him with all my might.

“Darren, that is so disgusting of you. You were just in there, choking your chicken, and then you put your hands on my face!”

I screw up my face and make a run for it, upstairs to my bathroom. I hear Darren laughing, saying something like “that will teach me not to go into people’s rooms.”

I think if I scrub my face any more, I will peel my skin right off. This can’t be happening. What the hell have I done to deserve such punishment?

I bend over to wash the face cleanser off and hear footsteps coming into the bathroom.

“You are going to be extremely red if you don’t stop.”

He chuckles, and it drives me crazier than I already am. “Can you please stop, Charles?” He walks into the bathroom, taking a hold of my wrist. I yank it back, glaring at him.

“Get out,” I say through gritted teeth. “Have you ever heard of knocking?”

“If it isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.” He retorts walking out of the bathroom. I hear my bed squeak. Placing the washcloth on the counter, I head into my room.

“Off the bed, Darren.” I slap his feet off the bed. He sits up and stares at me, a slow smile making its way to his face.

“Why? Do you want to return the favor and masturbate for me? I am all for it. Shall I walk out of the room, so you can get comfortable?”

“Ha. Very funny. Now get out.”

“Not a chance. I’m actually glad you walked in on me. I need to talk to you about something.”

I take a seat next to him. “If you want me to jerk you off or whatever, I am going to slap you.” He chuckles, shaking his head no.

“I actually need to help you with something, and I don’t want the guys and especially Chase to know about it.” He sits straight up on the bed. “This is serious, Charles.”

The smile wipes off my face. It’s my turn to sit straight up; I look at him with a confused facial expression. I wait for him to speak. I don’t want him to feel rushed or anything.

I watch as he looks around the room before clearing his throat. The anticipation is killing me. I want to know what it is now. I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.

“Promise not to tell the guys.” He pauses, staring at me intensively. “Seriously, not a peep.”

“I promise. What is it?”

“You can’t rush these things, Charles.” He is making for a dramatic entrance, for sure.

“But what I can rush is you out of my room. So, start speaking or get out.”

He raises his hands in the air. “Fine. Fine. Fine. So, about our project. I want you to help us. Chase already told the guys not to ask you because you already made it clear you don’t want to assist us on this project.

“I, on the other hand, don’t want his choice of girl to help us out. Because when she comes around the whole crew of hers is going to be over here.” He sighs heavily.

“Who is the girl? And I know the project is about food, so I’m 50 percent interested. I don’t know why you guys won’t tell me. Is this how you guys are with your female friends? If so, I am surprised you guys have girlfriends.”

A smile lights Darren’s face. “I thought you didn’t know us?”

“Just that you—I don’t know much,” I confess, sort of.

“You know enough, if you know we have had multiple girlfriends. Look, just say you will help us, and I will tell you all about it,” he shrugs.

“I don’t know. What will Chase think?”

“What will I think about what?” Chase’s huge frame takes over my doorway. He is looking between Darren and me.

I don’t know what he is feeling because Chase wears no other facial expression besides his signature nonchalant one.

Back in middle school, he was the boy who could light up a room with his smile. Now, looking at him, I don’t see that anymore. I haven’t seen that side of him since tenth grade. He grew into a smooth, Casanova asshole.

Darren clears his throat, sending me a tight smile. I was never good at coming up with a lie on the spot. I’m not a good liar anyway. My parents were always happy about that.

“I was just telling Darren that I would love to assist you guys on your school project. I’ve always wondered what business major people had to do for their finals.”

Chase raises one of his thick eyebrows at me. “Really?” He looks over at Darren.

“Yeah, man. I think we should let her. This morning was a bit intense and everyone was all over the place. I know the guys will be thrilled to know she is on board. We will pass with flying colors, for sure.”

Darren answers and then I get slightly worried. What if I can’t help them pass?

“Okay, fine.”

“Really?” It is my turn to look at Chase with raised eyebrows. He didn’t put up a fight like I thought. I search his face for something, I don’t know what, but nothing is there, just a blank expression.

“Of course,” is all he says, and walks to his room, closing the door. He will not make working with him easy.

“That went well. Better than I thought.” Darren laughs it off heading out of my room. “I’ll let you relax before we dive into the project tonight.” He taps the door frame.

“Tonight? I can’t.” I look over at my suitcase.

“Are you flaking again?”

“Of course not,” I huff. “It was—I was going to visit my parents for the weekend. I have a four-day weekend. Can we postpone it until next week?”

“Uhm,” he scratches the back of his head. “We can’t postpone it. You can go to your parents. Natalia decided to help us out on the project temporarily, so I guess you are free to go.”

“Natalia?”

“Chase's ex situation.” I remember exactly who she is. Last night one guy mentioned she used to cook for them when she stayed over with Chase on and off for the last two years.

“Oh, okay.” I try not to sound jealous, but with the look Darren gives me, I know I failed miserably.

“Have fun with your parentals. Catch ya later, Charles.” He smiles, walking away.

Just great. It’s just the beginning of the semester and I feel like I’ve been here forever.

“Sweet nibblets!” I whisper to myself.