AllFreeNovel
Share Us
By staying close to him, I’m sure I’ll get something out of it down the line. Hopefully the ticket to a happier life.
Tapping his back, I clear my throat. “You’re hurting me...”
“Sorry, babe.” He rolls off me and pulls me into his arms. “Was it good for you?”
I give him the sheepish grin I’ve perfected over the years and murmur, “Yes.” What I really want to say is that I’ve only had good sex a few times, and none of those times were with him.
“Your eyes are so damn pretty, Em,” he whispers, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Don’t call me that. It’s Emerald.”
“Sorry. I keep forgetting you’re sensitive about that.” He traces my lips with his fingers. “How’s it feel to be halfway done with your freshman year?”
“It’ll feel better when I’m a senior. I hate college.”
He laughs. “Trust me, when you’re a senior it gets even worse.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“Don’t you have all A’s so far? You’ve never mentioned getting anything less. You must like something about college.”
I shake my head. “It’s not challenging enough. I wrote my paper for Seminar in Comp two hours before it was due. A plus.” I want to add that I also wrote my most recent literature analysis on a classic book my teacher hadn’t even read, but Parker’s taste in literature is terrible so he wouldn’t understand.
“Would you like to write my final thesis next semester?”
“I’ll pass.” I shift from underneath his hold and climb out of bed.
“You sure you don’t have some other boyfriend waiting for you back at home? Some other guy on campus you’re dating behind my back?”
I narrow my eyes at him as I squeeze into my jeans. “What? What are you trying to say?”
He stands up and pulls me into his arms—kissing me softly, and I try not to flinch.
I’m not supposed to kiss my sponsors for more than five seconds. Any longer than that and they’ll start to think that this has the potential to be something more than what it is. The rules I’ve memorized have always been simple: Fuck him. Get whatever I need. Leave him.
I step away from him and force a smile. “Seriously, Parker. What are you trying to say?”
“I just need to know that you’re completely mine.”
I look at him in utter confusion.
“It’s nothing, Emerald...You’re just really beautiful, and you don’t seem like the type that would be content with one guy’s attention.”
“You’re two for two. Is that a compliment?”
He smiles and kisses my lips again. “It is.”
“Okay...” I force myself to return the kiss. “I’m all yours. I’ll call you later.”
I sprint across campus and head to the observatory where the other students of my Art Design class are already grabbing their brushes and canvasses.
I grab mine and follow them up to the roof, where for the next hour and a half, the professor lets us paint our pieces in silence.
This is the only thing that makes college somewhat bearable—the ability to create something beautiful in my mess of a life.
––––––––
Later, I hand the professor my work and head back to my dorm, hoping to sleep the rest of the day away. That’s how I deal with life when it bothers me—no crying, no whining, just sleep.
“Hey.” I drop my bag at the door and nod at my roommate, Amy. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. Are you still coming with me to the party tonight? You promised!”
I sigh. I haven’t gone to one party since I’ve started college. They’re not the same without Leah dolling me up and making me look like the woman on my fake ID.
“Come on, Emerald! You owe me this!” She gives me her best sympathy look. “I’m your friend!”
Amy Houston is not my friend. She is my roommate and a potential sponsor. Her parents are chief advisors to the state governor and they give her anything she wants—including the brand new bedding set that’s currently draped across my bed. She had it designed just for me since she wanted our shared room to look “cohesive.”
I honestly don’t trust this girl—I don’t trust anyone, but she’s the closest person I have.
She tells me about her life, laughs at my jokes, and always encourages me to go out and meet more students. There was even this one time that she held my hand after I found something in my suitcase that reminded me of Leah. She didn’t ask me what was wrong and she didn’t try to pry. She just consoled me until I calmed down.
