Defying Dominance (MxM) (18+)

5

Chapter 5: Jace

I almost make it out of the room without anyone talking to me, but Daniel flags me down a few steps from the door.

"What class do you have next?"

"...communication at 1. Why?"

Daniel smiles. "I have that same class. I know there are pool tables in the Academy Center. Want to come play some pool with me until class?"

"I...I don't know how to play pool," I say simply, hoping he'll move on and find someone else to ask.

"There's foosball too. Everyone can play that."

I sigh. "Why do you want me to play with you?"

"Because I want to be friends."

"Why?"

"We're going to be project partners, for one. We should be friends. It would make assignments so much more fun. But I understand if you don't want to."

"...I guess a few games wouldn't hurt." Beats sitting around alone, in the library.

Daniel grins at me and turns to go towards the Academy Center without even checking that I'm following him. I am, though, struggling a bit to keep up with his long strides. He can't be that many more inches than my 5'10" but he seems to be mostly legs.

He's going so fast. I feel like I'm nearly jogging to keep up with him. He pauses outside the building, so I can catch up.

"Sorry, do you want me to slow down? I'm just excited."

I shake my head. "It's alright. I'm sure I can keep up...But not on the stairs. I'm not jogging up steps."

Daniel chuckles. It's a nice sound, deep and rumbly. "That's understandable. I'll slow down. I should enjoy the scenery anyways."

"The grass and bushes?" I question, gesturing at the plant-life on the edges of the sidewalk. "Not much scenery."

"It's still there, though. And I want to appreciate it."

I don't say anything as we climb the steps outside the building. Daniel holds open the Academy Center door for me, which causes me to fight back a blush as I mumble a thank you. I'm used to cute boys doing things for me, but something about Daniel is different. I don't think he's doing it for his own personal gain. He's just being...nice. Which is weird, but welcome.

"Red or blue?"

"Red."

Daniel smiles at me. "Good, cause I wanted blue."

I set my bag down underneath the table, by my feet. Even if Mom will replace it, my sketchbook is in it, and I don't want that stolen. Or looked at.

"So...What's it like?" Daniel asks, spinning one of his sets of people around before we start to play.

"What's what like?"

"Living in a huge ass house...having TV cameras in your face on your first day of school...you know. What's that like?"

I shrug, narrowly managing to block one of his shots. "I wouldn't call my house huge..."

"How many bedrooms is it?"

"8."

"It's huge," Daniel says firmly, smiling at me as the ball rolls into my goal.

I drop it back onto the table and continue. "If you say so. It's kinda boring, honestly. It was cool when I was like...six, and thought things were bigger than they are, and liked exploring. But there's nothing left to see. The rooms don't change."