“You can call me Julez, and he’s,” he gestures to the one on the couch behind him. “Titus, not Theodore.” He gives me a smile I’m sure usually has girls tripping over themselves, and I try to ignore the way it makes my stomach feel lighter.
I don’t have time for boys or anything that isn’t school; I’m already behind.
“Deal?” I ask when nobody responds, instead looking at me as if I just suggested the world is flat.
“Sounds like we don’t really have a choice. Welcome to the dorm.” Julian holds his arms out in a grand gesture of the room.
“Don’t welcome her. She’s not staying!” Gavin hisses, shoving Julian’s arm out of his face with a scowl.
I roll my eyes and move to sit on the couch that will now be my bed, for who knows how long.
“For once, I hope you're right,” I tell him, and I’ll be damned if I don’t mean it.
I’ve never been more thankful for my internal clock than I am now as I wake at the asscrack of dawn while the rest of the dorm is still quiet.
It really is beautiful now that I can look around without my eyes landing on a ridiculous hot guy at every turn.
Hot and annoying.
I stretch and yawn as I mentally prepare myself to get up. For a couch, it’s not too bad. I’ve slept on worse, and the pillow and blanket that someone left out for me smell great, like the woods after rain: fresh and freeing.
I pull a pair of fresh pants, underwear, and a shirt from my bag before I move as quietly as I can to the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind me.
I’m sure there's a second bathroom upstairs, considering that’s where the other rooms are, but if not, they can wait.
The co-ed dorms weren’t as common because of issues like this and, of course, the problem with students fucking. At least I don’t have to worry about that, not when they all hate me.
Not that I would want to fuck any of them anyway; I mean, they're good-looking, sure, but that only gets you so far.
I strip down and let out a sigh of relief as the hot water hits my back. I said I didn’t mind sleeping on the couch, and I don’t, but years of stress and worrying always melt away under the hot spray of a shower.
I’m lost in the feeling of the hot water hitting my back in what just might be the most perfect shower ever when I hear it and freeze.
Humming.
The shower stall is glass, and while it isn’t frosted, it is steamed up. I wipe a hand across it and hastily peer out to find Julian standing with his ass resting on the counter, a toothbrush in his mouth, and a shit-eating grin on his face as my eyes meet his.
What the fuck…
I’m certain I locked that door, though I can’t see for sure from here.
It’s Sunday, which means no classes, so I’d assumed they would all sleep in; lesson learned.
“Don’t use all the hot water, or next time I’ll have to pop in with you.” He winks at me before he turns to spit and rinse his toothbrush.
Next time.
There won’t be a next time; who the hell does this guy think he—
I’m pulled from my mental tangent when he turns back around and stalks toward the shower instead of leaving the way I’d thought he would.
I’d been so caught up in the fact that he was in here that I hadn’t realized he’s also shirtless.
Holy hell, it’s hot in here, and it has nothing to do with the water.
Julez isn’t ripped, but he’s toned and covered in tattoos from his neck all the way down to the edge of his boxers, where some of his ink disappears, no doubt dipping lower. His basketball shorts sit low on his hips, and I’m beyond underqualified for the thoughts that are going on in my mind, but here we are.
As if he wasn’t already tempting enough with his blue hair and piercings.
