Xavier's POV
The sound of her door slamming in my face doesn't shake me from my thoughts.
It was midnight, her scream had woken me up. I was confused at first, until I heard it again through the wall.
The blonde girl that followed me home last night whose name I still don't know was deep in sleep at the time, her hair sprawled over my pillow.
I had gently removed her hand on my chest and placed it on the bed before carefully stepping out of my room.
Standing in front of her door, the only thing stopping me from entering and pulling her into a hug is the annoying rule she made that I so much didn't want to abide by.
More than questioning myself on why her discomfort bothers me so much, I kept going through several options on how to make her feel better. The moment I heard her sobbing, something in me breaks. I don't know why. I can't explain, but it takes every strength in me to not barge in and hold her against my chest.
I made sure to stand there until I am convinced she is asleep, and when I return to my room, I still can't fall asleep.
Does she always have nightmares? Is it rooted in something deeper? Does it have any connections with her painting? Even a dumb person can tell how dark her paintings are. How do I take away her pain?
Why do I want to?
Fuck.
My phone rings and the name that flashes on it makes me grimace. What does my father want to say to me again?
I almost don't take the call, but I did at the last ring.
"Where did you keep your phone?" His voice blasts over the line.
"Been busy"
I'm so not ready to talk to my family or Chloe's. I'm so fucking tired of this.
"Busy? With what?" His tone doesn't get any softer, instead, he seems more aggravated.
"Practice. School. Life. What is it? I need to go practice. We have a game tomorrow"
"Mr Hawkins mentioned that you haven't been taking his calls" I almost roll my eyes at his words.
"Oh."
"What the fuck is oh?" He shoots.
Here we go again.
"Do you realize he is your sponsor and without him, you'd be nowhere. I don't know what's up with you, but you better not sabotage this for us. Your mom and I have given you our all, and we can never fully repay his kindness. All we ask is for you to fucking treat his daughter well. You love her don't you?"
I pinch the skin between my eyes, caught between being honest knowing the full consequences or continuing living this way.
"It's between Chloe and me. I understand that you both are business partners and whatnot. I appreciate his support, yours too, but I'm not dating any of you. It's our business"
"Oh no…it's not your business alone. You know what this relationship is about. The alliance. Did she tell you about the engagement plan?"
I stifle my groan, clenching the phone in my hand until my knuckles are white while trying to talk myself out of breaking this phone. Not like it would make me feel any better.
"Are you here?"
"Gotta go." I hang up immediately, shoving my phone into my bag.
What the actual fuck is this? If not for the fact that we have a game tomorrow, I'd be drowning myself in as much alcohol as I can get.
Just how long do I remain in this loop?
The agreement was to fucking get married after I'm done with school, not like I even consented to that, so why soon?
Next month?
I don't know. I know how much there is to lose, not just for me but for my family, and I don't want to be selfish, but It's killing me.
I run my hand through my hair for the hundredth time today.
I didn't even know when the blonde left the apartment this morning, I was about to have my beauty sleep before Jasmine happened.
Jasmine.
I instantly want to smile at the sound of her name. Does she know how fun it is to provoke her? Her reactions don't ever get old. I saw how much she wanted to punch me, can she even throw a punch?
She's the only person who doesn't worship me.
Like she doesn't give a fuck. She makes me feel human. I had several thoughts before putting up that room for rent. What if it's another crazy fan? But I don't regret it or it hasn't gotten to when I'll regret it?
Someone knocks on my door again and I smile knowing who it is. What does she want now?
On opening the door, my smile freezes.
Not only is Chloe in front of me but she is with the blonde from earlier, and her face is battered.