The Warmest Winter

°•°Chapter 10°•°

I stepped out of the stuffy taxi onto the wet pavement. It was night, the moon sheltered by dark clouds. I looked ahead at the building in front of me. A staircase leads to black double doors and white roses in pots outside the doors. It was a relatively tall building, at least ten floors.

I pulled out my phone, snapped a photo of the building, and sent it to James.

Collie : (photo) I'm here

I looked at my phone and back at the door. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, and a picture of me was sent.

I looked closely at the photo, seeing myself looking around. I looked up at the building, seeing one window open.

The doors swung open, James standing there, one hand holding his phone, one hand in his pocket. He was dressed in the same clothes he wore earlier. His white button-up was tucked into his black pants, his tie loosened around his neck. A pair of silver rimmed glasses sat on his face.

"Well, well, Collie," James smirked. "Why don't you come inside? You're shivering to death." He held the door open for me. As I worked past him, I could faintly smell his colonge.

The two of us walked up to his apartment. His apartment was on the last floor, the large window overlooking the town. It was neatly set up, all his moving boxes stacked in a corner. Two chairs were placed next to the kitchen island, empty wine glasses, and a red wine bottle sat waited by each chair.

"Care for some wine on a Thursday night?" Jamed chuckled as I took a seat at the island.
"Sure.. why not?" I smiled, holding my glass out to him, allowing him to fill my glass with the dark liquid. The sweet wine burned my throat, making me cough slightly.

"Can't handle a sip of wine, can you?" James teased as he gulped down a sip of his wine, unfazed.
"Oh shut up, I can definitely handle wine." I shot back.
"Sure, sweetie, sure.." James smugly said.

After more than half of the bottle being drank, I felt beyond drunk. My head pounded, and every joke James made seemed like the most hysterical thing ever. I loved the way James looked at me and paid attention to me without someone interrupting us.

I set my glass down loudly, as I remembered why I came here.
"Why the fuck were you at my college today?" I interrogated.
"Now, now, Collie. That's no way to talk to your professor." James stated, looking away from me.

I choked on my wine as my eyes shot open at his statement.
"I can't have heard you right. Did you just say.. professor?" I asked, trying to sober up enough to hear him say again.
"Sure did."

I stared at him, my jaw ajar.
I never even knew he was qualified for that. He doesn't even strike me as the type to enjoy teaching. Or be able to teach for that matter.

"Oh, get over it, Collie, it's nothing deep," James rested his palm on his face, looking intently at me. "Unless you want it to be.."

My face crinkled as a wave of awkwardness washed over me. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be getting drunk with my best friend's brother, especially now that he's my new professor.

"I.. uh. I should get going," I set my glass down and stood up. "Thanks for the wine, but.. yeah, uhm.. I have to go."
I backed up towards the door, eyes locked with James's, not that my vision was working well enough to even see if he was looking back at me.

"Not yet, Collie. I'm not done talking with you." James stated sternly.
"Yeah? And what's that?" I asked him. James stood up, drifting towards me. His cold eyes fixated on me with an expressionless face.

My back pressed against the door, his body towering over mine.
"Collie, I wanna know. Why do you look at me like that?" James grumbled. His arm pressed against the door, trapping me.

"L-like what?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"Like, you're scared of me, but you like being scared of me." He answered, his eyes dilated.

My mouth opened, yet no reply came out. I was dumbfounded.
"You look at me like you can't picture finding someone better. Like the mere thought of being with me would complete you." James continued. "But watch out, Collie. I'm not the kind of guy you want. I don't live in a simulation like you."

"James.. I don't know where you're getting this from, but I don't look at you like that. I don't look at you like anything. You're being delusional." I shot back, my cheeks flushed and burning. I placed my hand on his arm trapping me against the door, trying to push him off of me.

"Oh yeah? Delusional enough to know you'll like this." James leaned in, pressing his lips firmly onto mine. The taste of wine sweetened his kiss, his lips locked softly on mine. It wasn't lustful or dominating, but tender and almost, heartfelt. His hand snaked around my neck, gripping the back of my head and pulling me closer.

James pulled away, chest heaving slightly. I pressed my fingers to my lips as I stared at James, not uttering a word. My eyes were wide as I stared into his, searching for an explanation. His were searching mine for something neither of us could explain.

"I shouldn't have done that." James looked away, shaking his head.
"I shouldn't have done that." He repeated to himself.
"I should leave." I stated, my shoulders falling down as I stepped away from the door.
"Yes, leave, please." James ordered.

I stepped out of his apartment, the icy air nipping at my exposed skin. I was in a drunk daze, the alcohol caught up with me. I stumbled down the stairs, nearly tripping on the carpet.

As I stepped out of the building, the rain began to beat down on me. I couldn't see anything in the stormy night, the street lights not illuminating this strange night. I stood on the side of the road, the cold rain soaking me through.

I couldn't see a thing but I could hear the faint sound of shoes hitting the pavement. A blistering headache panged in my head, a nauseous wave threatening to bring up my wine.

A hand creeped onto my shoulder, frightening me. I turned quickly in hopes to see someone I knew. Instead I was greeted with the face of a blurry man.

"Hello, love." The man grinned, the sound of a knife clicking set me off.

It felt like a bad dream. Except if I died in this dream, I'd never see the light of day again.