Chapter 8

♛ Chapter 8- Xander's POV ♛

"Hey, babe," the red-haired girl shamelessly flirted as I cringed at her desperateness.

Laughter and chatter echoed off the walls of the crowded hallway, all students eager to get to their lunch tables and friends for a break from the rigorous schoolwork. I was trying to do the same, but currently, that task was proving to be difficult.

"Lily," I started, not remembering her name while I walked through the crowd, the talkative groups of students already moving aside for me.

"It's Holly," she tried to whisper seductively as she clung herself tighter to my arm.

"Holly," I said while I continued walking and yanked my arm out of her clutch gently. I didn't want to accidentally push her. It could be said that I was a "douche," but I wasn't that much of a douchebag that I would hurt girls, even if they were annoying.

"Yes?" she looked up at me while fluttering her spider-eyelashes.

"Go away," I muttered, gently pushing her and speed-walking away. I heard her cries for me to come back, but I ignored her as I kept my fastened pace until I finally arrived at the lunchroom. I slammed the door open expecting to see my friends sitting at that same cheap, metallic table in the middle of the busy room, but was met with the unusual sight of Tommy at our table. Michael, Sabrina, Cooper, and Olivia were sitting at the table, immersed in their own conversations while Tommy was leaning on the table, obviously flirting with Aurora as she nodded at his words.

I strode over to the metallic table in my usual-confident facade, trying to act natural. It wasn't wrong to admit that my gem was undeniably beautiful. She wasn't hot. She was beautiful. But it was wrong to admit that I wanted her to myself. I couldn't commit, nor did I want to. Simple as that.

"Hey, Xandy." Her warm smile filled her face as I sat down on her right which was on Michael's left.

"Why hello, gem," I forced a smirk on my face.

"Tutoring after practice today, right?"

"Of course," I nodded, taking a bite out of the brownie on her plate which earned me a glare from her.

"He's tutoring you?" Tommy's voice came. "I can just tutor you, you know."

"It's fine, Tom-Tom." She bared his nickname she made up for him, making me cringe internally. "Xander's already in most of my classes, and you're in none of them."

"You sure?" he asked. Aurora nodded and smiled up at him as he stood up. "Well, I gotta get back to my friends now." He directed his thumb behind his back, pointing to his group of friends I assumed.

"See you at practice," Aurora waved at him before turning to Olivia and Cooper across from her.

"So," I heard Michael's voice on my right. I could practically hear the smirk in his words. "Is 'Xandy' jealous?"

"Nope," I leaned back in my chair, propping my right leg up on my left knee. "I do not get jealous."

Sabrina, who was sitting across from Michael, scoffed. "Seriously?" She raised her eyebrows and widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Yeah, Xander Kings does not ever get jealous, obviously," Michael said, sarcasm dripping from his every word. I swear, this couple's favorite pastime was to make fun of me.

"I don't need the commitment," I shrugged. "Nor do I want it. I'm just not good at relationships, and she shouldn't have to deal with my mess."

"Who shouldn't?" Aurora's thoughtfully voiced before I turned to face her.

"Probably that red-headed whore," Olivia laughed before getting a nudge from Cooper and laughs from around the table.

"Says you!" Cooper exclaimed, laughter erupting among our table as Aurora scolded Olivia.

"Nah," I responded among the dying laughter. "Her name is Lily, or something. And she's the one that likes me, not the other way around."

"Yeah, she practically grasps onto you like her life depended on it!" Sabrina exclaimed, amusement dancing on her features.

"Yeah, man," Cooper said sarcastically as he leaned over the table to smack my back. "You got some real problems. You can't seem to stop those fine women from wanting you. Must be difficult!"

"Well, what am I supposed to do? Fricken shove her off me?" I flailed my arms slightly.

"Duh," Aurora scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Just tell her you aren't interested. Simple."

"Well, why don't you just tell 'Tom-Tom' you're not interested?'" I mocked her nickname for him, finding it amusing that she's completely oblivious to his obvious feelings for her.

"He doesn't like me. It's a completely different circumstance."

I scoffed. "He doesn't like you? Yeah, and the sky isn't blue." I leaned forwards and took another bite of the brownie on her plate.

"Xander!" She slapped my shoulder and stared at her plate, empty of a brownie.

I laughed at her annoyance for me, not realizing that the entire table was silently watching Aurora and I's exchange.

"It's not fricken funny! Oh my god," she said as she shook her head. "Get me a new brownie."

"Fine, fine," I raised my hands in mock surrender as I got up to replace the brownie I stole from her.

♛♛♛

This was freaking torture.

Aurora wasn't "stupid," but she didn't make much of an effort to understand the lesson, which made this ten times more difficult.

"Love," I whispered as I ran a hand through my dirty-blond hair, Aurora's eyes following it. "Group 13 gains 3 electrons and Group 14 loses 3. This is simple."

"Ugh," she pushed the textbook and notes away from her and buried her head in her hands on the grey circle table. "I'm tired and my brain hurts. Can we just continue this tomorrow?" Truth was, it was getting pretty late for a Tuesday night for her, and we still had homework to finish.

"Sure," I nodded, getting up from the cheap blue chairs. I checked my phone, the brightness mixed with the fluorescent lights straining my already tired eyes. The time showed it was almost 9 pm. It wasn't late, but since we had almost spent 3 hours studying, I was bound to get tired sooner than usual.

The librarian went around the small study rooms, telling the lingering students to start packing up since the library was closing.

"Thanks for helping me, Xander," Aurora smiled up at me as she slowly, but surely, stood up, her eyes already showing tiredness and threatening to shut. I packed away her books since she obviously was too tired to do so herself.

"Need help there?" I semi-teased her, observing her lagging form. She shook her head before leaning her head against my chest, a warm feeling sprouting in the area her head was resting. I chuckled before slinging her backpack over my backpack and carrying her bridal style.

The brisk night air wrapping its way around me immediately as I stepped out the doors of the library. I headed towards our dorm hall, still gently carrying the girl who was now asleep in my arms.

I looked down at her and noticed the pink that tinted her nose and her cheeks due to the cool night breeze and her plump lips that were turned downward, as if she were dreaming about something unpleasant. It was the second time I had seen her so calm and peaceful. The first was on the ferris wheel when she forgot about the height and became entranced in the sun setting. She was so vulnerable. All her sarcastic remarks and sassy comebacks aside, and I was left staring at her.

Soon enough, I arrived at her dorm and knocked three times to be met with silence. I knew Olivia was her roommate, but she wasn't opening the door. Coming to the conclusion that Olivia wasn't here, I trudged down the hallway until I came face to face with my front door. I had no other choice than to have Aurora crash at my dorm for tonight. Although it was against the rules to spend the night in someone else's dorm, the dorm monitors never checked.

I unlocked the door and shoved it open with my foot, dropping her backpack once I stepped inside. I didn't have a roommate. I used to, but he requested to switch dorms, or more like I forced him to switch.

Aurora mumbled in her sleep slightly stirring from the noise of the shutting of the door behind us. I gently placed her on my messily-made bed and tugged off her converse, draping the blanket over her. I would take the floor tonight since I knew she would be uncomfortable if she shared the twin bed with me.

"Night, gem," I whispered after setting up a blanket and a pillow on the floor beside my bed. A yawn escaped my mouth as I turned off the light but left the dim lamp on. She will definitely be confused when she wakes up tomorrow morning.

♛♛♛

And that's chapter 8! I hope you guys liked it!! If you did, don't forget to vote or comment! I would really appreciate it :) Also, this book got 232 reads!! I'm so thankful, and although it may not seem like a lot, it means the world to me. Thank you, I love you a ton.

So how was it like being in Xander's POV? Did it live up to your expectations lol?

I'm sorry if this chapter seemed a bit short. It was about 400 words shorter than usual oops. With the holidays coming up, I've been scrambling to get gifts for my family and friends lol! So, I'll try making the next chapter a bit longer to make up for this!

And just a quick reminder: I still love you. You deserve the world and so much more. If nobody else will say it for you, I'm here to say it.

-sophia ♡