CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 11

"What?" 

"Good. Fuck him entirely," Claire's harshness was met with light surprise, as she wasn't one to show emotion. 

"Yeah, he uh- I dunno honestly-" Max scratched his face nervously, "he was just at mine, and then I remembered the shit he did to you A, and I don't know. I was mad." Max stammered, looking into my eyes for a reaction. Guess he was worried I'd be mad. 

"Wait. Why was he at your house?" Day spoke.

Actually, yeah. Why was he there that night? And last night too? Max slid into his seat and started to rummage in his backpack. "Oh shit, yeah. He's friends with Kacey. Well, not friends, they're exes, but still friends." The group was met with confusion. Why would she date someone that terrible? 

"That's why he was at the party a few weeks ago," I whispered to myself, but Max caught it. His eyes widened slightly. 

"How'd you know?" Faces turned toward me, expectant. 

"I went downstairs to grab you a water, Max. Of course, you wouldn't remember considering you were fucked up. But yeah. We talked. Won't lie and say I didn't threaten him with lawyers, which is why he hasn't spoken a word since."

Max's lips drifted downward. 

"I'm sorry, Alexei. Had I known, you know damn well he wouldn't have been there." A second of silence before he spoke again. 

"I'm guessing that's why you-"

"Left? Yeah. Sorry again for ditching."

"Wait, so they dated? And Kacey knows he's a terrible guy?" Jesse asked. 

Max's face split into a sadistic grin. "No, actually. She didn't. Considering she bitch slapped him." 

A bubble of laughter erupted from my throat at the thought of the nicest girl I've ever met, who refused even to hurt a fly, hitting the big, bad, homophobic football player like he was some small animal. Guess in a way he was. Just with the ego of a lion. 

"Why'd she slap him?"

Max paused and seemed to think. 

"'Cause uh, I told you I confronted him obviously, and Kacey didn't take lightly to him hitting you because you're gay, Alex." I smiled hard for the first time in forever. As much as I didn't want to be the weak, sad victim, sometimes it felt good to have someone protect you. 

"Kace is a fuckin' sweetheart," Day announced, mouth still full of his pizza. Jesse was quick to smack the back of his head lightly. 

A chorus of small laughter sounded because of Day's reaction. 

"Dickhead," he whispered, but only when his mouth was empty. 

"Oh no fucking way," I looked over to Claire who had shut her laptop at this point, where she was pointing across the lunchroom.

Her finger pointed in the direction of Tycho, who just walked in with a group of other football players. All were sporting letterman's jackets with their last names and jersey numbers printed on the back. 

Everyone except for Tycho. 

"He looks worse for wear," Hailey said. And she was right. 

His entire right cheek was painted with a light bruise, while darker marks littered his jawline and left eye. 

"Shit, what happened to him?" I silently had the same question. Max had said Kacey had slapped him, not jumped him. 

"Well, whatever happened, he definitely deserved it. Look at his knuckles." Claire was right. I spotted a few scabs and scratches along his swollen knuckles while he was setting his bag down at his table. 

"I'd hate to see the other guy. Hopefully he's better off." The joke was laughed about and after a while, we all forgot about Tycho. We just enjoyed our lunch and talked, without a moment of silence. I couldn't help but let my eyes wander as we were packing up though. 

Tycho's sharp, expressionless eyes cut into mine like glass, shocking me from my deep thoughts. He didn't seem to care that I was looking back at him, so I did the first thing I thought of. I did my best to channel all of my anger into my expression until his gaze faltered and he looked away. 

Just a small animal with an ego too big to fit his fur. 

I smirked at the thought. 

He was just another challenge to get through, and God knew my life was full of challenging things. 

...

I knocked quietly on the door to announce my arrival to my two (probably) sleeping boyfriends. The door creaked open, letting a sliver of light illuminate the dark room.

Black-out curtains were a blessing for sleeping in. 

I pushed the door open further and peered inside. Just like I imagined, Xavier and Riley were passed out on the bed, legs entangled, with sheets covering the fact they were naked. 

"So  beautiful." I hadn't meant to say it out loud, but luckily neither of them woke up. 

Just as the chilly air hit my skin, a wave of exhaustion plowed its way through my body, starting with my mind. The stress of recent events had done a number on me. But I resisted the urge to lay down. 

I made my way to the bed.

They really were beautiful. I don't know how I was so lucky. 

Even sleeping, Xavier's muscles looked stiff to the touch. His body was etched with discipline, making me all the more impressed with how he looked. His skin was smooth, almost untouched as I allowed my eyes to trace their way down his body, to his slender, long legs. I didn't even know how something like legs could look good to me. Until I loved. 

His face was relaxed, eyebrows loose. He looked good so at ease. Too bad he was so damn stressed all the time. I traced the bridge of his slightly upturned nose, wondering where he got the feature from. I had sadly never met his parents. I cupped his face and kissed his cheek. 

As much as I wanted to stay, it'd have to wait. 

I slowly picked up the arm that draped over Riley's torso and set it across his own. He stirred a bit but was fine. 

I made my way to the other side of the bed to meet Riley's face. His long, dark hair framed his head in a flat halo. I giggled to myself because of his bedhead. He'd have a stroke if he saw the hair that he cared so much about in this state. 

I kissed his cheek too. I knew I wouldn't be here for the rest of the night, so I liked saying goodbye. 

My phone buzzed, letting me know that Max had texted. 

What if we could get back at Tycho?

I absolutely hate this chapter. Oh well lol