Roommate Badboy - Wicked Academy

11

Author's Note:
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Jason was the first to wake. His head throbbed, the pain unbearable, heavy, suffocating. A groan nearly escaped his lips, but as he shifted slightly, he became aware of the weight on his chest–the warmth of a body nestled against him.

Slowly, his vision adjusted. She was still there, still in his arms, her breath soft against his skin. His grip on her had loosened sometime during the night, but she hadn't moved away. He tried to remain still, not wanting to wake her just yet, but the headache was relentless, pounding with an intensity that made even lying down unbearable.

Jason clenched his jaw. He needed something–anything–to dull the pain. He exhaled shakily, then, despite himself, reached out. His fingers brushed against Stella's cheek, tracing lightly before he murmured her name, his voice rough, barely above a whisper.

"Stella..."

She stirred at the sound, shifting slightly. He ran his thumb over her jaw, his touch a little firmer this time, coaxing her awake. "Wake up..."

Her lashes fluttered, her face scrunching slightly before her eyes slowly opened. She blinked, taking a moment to register where she was, and then lifted her gaze to him. He looked awful–his expression was tight with pain, his dark hazelnut eyes dull with exhaustion.

Stella sighed, disappointed but unsurprised. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she sat up, slipping from his embrace. She knew what he needed, what he was asking for. With a quiet, restrained sigh, she moved to their cupboard in the corner, pulling out the familiar box of pills and a bottle of water. The same routine. Again.

As she walked back to him, she met his gaze, her expression unreadable but unmistakably disapproving. She handed him the water and the pill, watching as he took it without hesitation.

The same scene for the fourth time now.

She didn't like it.

Jason could feel it, the weight of her unspoken disappointment. He swallowed the pill quickly, chasing it down with a long sip of water before exhaling, his head falling back against the pillow.

He didn't say anything. Neither did she.

But the silence between them felt heavier than the headache itself.

Jason swallowed the pills dry, his jaw tightening as he leaned back against the pillow. His dark hazelnut eyes flickered toward her, watching the way she stood there–arms crossed, her expression unreadable, but he could feel it.

Disappointment.

She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. The way she avoided his gaze, the way her fingers twitched as if holding back words, spoke louder than anything she could have said.

Jason exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're upset," he murmured, his voice hoarse.

Stella didn't answer immediately. She let the silence stretch a little longer, as if debating whether to even respond. Then, finally, she spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

"This is the fourth time, Jason."

He shut his eyes for a moment, knowing exactly what she meant.

She wasn't angry–no, anger would have been easier to deal with. It was the quiet disappointment that dug into his chest, settling there like a weight he couldn't shake off.