the fall | abel tesfaye

chapter thirteen - betrayals

We arrive back on campus just as the sky begins to darken. Abel hasn't said much on the way back, and I'm beginning to worry his bad temper will return at any moment.

"Are you hungry?" He asks as he switches off the ignition. "I can order some food to my room."

I look over at him and shrug. I've lost my appetite from the past hour and don't feel like eating anything just yet.

"I'm good," I reply. 

"You need to eat."

"Abel, I'm good," I press, rolling my eyes and stepping out of the car. "I just want to get back to my dorm."

He is instantly at my side once I reach the front of the car, reaching out to grab my wrist.

"Hey, I'm sorry," He coos, pulling me to his chest. "I'm just a little worked up."

I sigh, wrapping my arms around his torso in defeat.

"Let's just come back to my room and watch a movie or something, okay?" He asks. I look up at his deep brown eyes and my heart instantly melts. 

"Okay."

He takes my hand and leads me in the direction of the dorms. The campus is dimly lit as the lamp posts become the only source of light at this time of day.

We enter the corridor just as Monique steps out of our dorm room in tall, black stilettos and a bright orange mini dress.

"Arabella!" She yells, shuffling over to me. "Where have you been? I thought you went to get lunch?"

"I did, I mean, I was going to- "

"Save it!" She yells, throwing her hands in the air. "What is with you and disappearing on me ever since we got here?"

"Is everything okay babe- "

Just then, Hayden steps out of the doorway and I freeze.

She's still going to go out with this guy, even after everything that happened last night?!

"What the fuck," I spit, taking a step forward. Abel's hand instantly wraps around my waist to pull me back before I get any closer. "What is he doing in my dorm room?"

Monique folds her arms and narrows her eyes at me. "Hayden told me everything, how you practically threw yourself at him last night knowing he was with me!"

My mouth drops open and Abel growls beside me. "How fucking dare you, you absolute piece of shit."

Hayden smirks from beside Monique and snakes his arm around hers. "What? Can't handle the truth that your girl wanted a piece of me?"

I lunge forward but Abel's strong hands hold me in place. I want to kill Hayden. 

"Monique, I can't believe you" I hiss. "Why are you letting him manipulate you? I'm your best friend!"

She rolls her eyes at me, clearly brainwashed by this blonde asshole. "Whatever. You're just jealous that it's me he wants. Let's go babe."

She snatches his hand and knocks her shoulder into me as she passes us. I stand there, unable to move while Abel snarls and drags me into his dorm. 

"What the fuck was that," he says through gritted teeth. "That's some kind of friend you have there."

I sigh and take a seat at the edge of his double bed. What has gotten into Monique? How can she just take the side of complete stranger over something so serious? Something is definitely wrong.

Abel locks the door and closes the blinds, then searches for the TV remote.

"Is your roommate coming back?" I ask as he takes a seat next to me and drags the small blanket over both of us.

"Nah, he told me he's gonna be staying with his girlfriend most of the time. Works for me." He grins and nudges me on the shoulder. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face at his playful remark.

"So you plan on having more nights like this then?" I dare to question as he presses his lips against my forehead.

"Nah, you kind of suck," he replies, winking down at me. I reach over to slap his chest in reply, but he grabs both of my wrists and pins me down underneath him on the bed.

"Better watch yourself baby," he breathes, and I swear my thoughts instantly become cloudy Before I can protest, he dips his head down to my neck and he kisses it once softly.

"Abel," I breathe.

"Mm?"

"You're.. So.. Confusing."

He removes his lips from my skin and brings his gaze back to meet mine. "How so?"

I sigh without removing my eyes from his. "One second you're all playful and good to me, and I love that," I begin. "But the next, you're moody and cruel and I can't get through to you. I just don't understand."

He sighs and frees my wrists as he sits back up on the bed, pressing his back to the wall.

"I'm sorry," he says, clasping his hands together. "It's just different with you. I haven't felt like I could be myself for a long time. I don't know how to not be angry all the time."

I bite my bottom lip as I wait for him to meet my gaze. He doesn't. He definitely doesn't like to open up.

"Will you sing something for me?"

His eyes shoot over to me instantly, and I can't help but smile at his shocked reaction.

"No, no no. Absolutely not," he replies, shuffling around to straighten up.

I giggle and move to straddle his lap. "Please," I pout. "Just once, anything you like. I would really love to hear it."

He huffs and shakes his head. "Not happening. I don't sing for anyone."

I groan and bury my head into his neck. "You're annoying," I whisper. His chest vibrates as he chuckles and wraps his arms around my back.

We sit like this for a while, just holding each other. His scent is enough to make my head spin and I pull myself closer to him, enjoying the intoxicating feeling.

Just then, there is a loud thumping at the door.

"Who's that?" I ask.

"Abel!" A voice shouts from the other side of the door. "Abel, open up!"

Abel freezes underneath me and motions for me to be quiet with his index finger.

"Open the fucking door!"

He slides me off him silently and scrambles for the closet, shuffling clothes around it to make a small space. For me.

"Get in," he hisses.

What the fuck is going on now. 

"Why?" I mouth back, and his lips harden into a thin line at my disobedience. He comes back to pick me up swiftly in one motion, shoving me as gently as possible into the small closet.

"What is going on?" I hiss, but he simply presses his finger to my lips.

"Don't make a sound. I'm fucking serious." 

He shuts the door on my startled face and everything goes black.