Crimson Academy

SEVEN

As I walked toward her room, I had run through my situation beginning to end and thought up exactly what I would say. Finally reaching her door, I knocked. My heart was pounding, and I felt anxiety tangle with my guts.

This was a mistake. This was a mistake. This was a mistake.

Then the door opened.

The first thing I saw was a single gorgeous brown eye peeking at me through the crack, and then it widened, revealing Victoria in a sweatshirt, and a pair of black yoga pants, with fuzzy socks on her tiny feet.

"A-Ron, you look like a drowned kitten."

My chin shook as I managed, "Thanks."

She took one of my hands. Her warm skin sent needles into it chilled flesh. 

"Poor baby...," I heard her mutter, "Come on, Aaron."

She pulled me into the warmth of her dorm and for the first time that day, I felt ok.

She closed her door and came back to me. This was when she began tugging my jacket off and then pulled my shirt over my head and off, letting them fall to the floor with a wet plop. She undid the button and zipper to my jeans and started pulling them down, but I stopped her.

"Whoa. That's not what I came to you for."

She jabbed me in the stomach.

"Thanks, ass-hat. I know that. Do you wanna get pneumonia, die, and burn in hell? Didn't think so, so get naked." She said irked.

I felt like a whipped puppy. She walked toward her couch and grabbed a thick towel out of a basket as I finished undressing.

Holding a hand over her eyes she returned and handed me a towel. I wrapped it around my waist.

"I'm decent now."

She moved her hand and smiled at me.

What a mood shift.

"The bathroom is in the same place as yours is."

I wanted to lighten the mood, and redeem myself a little so I joked with her. I knew that every dorm was identical, but I wanted to take the opportunity.

"Oh really. You been stalking me?" I asked.

"Duh. You're cute, and not a total jackass." She played along with a sly smile on her face.

"Why am I even part jackass? I haven't even talked to you since the day we met." I said, trying not to look liked I'd just been called cute by the hottest girl in the world.

She cupped my cheeks. "That's exactly why you are kind of a jackass."

She stared into my soul for a moment before she pointed toward the direction of the bathroom. I started in that direction and Vic patted my ass on the way by. I was startled, but admittedly, I liked it.

I looked over my shoulder at her, and she just winked and went into the kitchen. I turned back, smiling and shaking my head as I went to the bathroom. I closed and locked it behind me before I dropped my towel and made the water as hot as it would go before getting into the shower.

I washed my hair with a small amount of her shampoo, which I discovered was the warm, luscious smell I'd smelled upon us meeting that day. After this I washed up with some of her liquid Irish Spring. It was weird because it was the same stuff I used, and I was questioning if she actually had stalked me.

I shut the water off, and threw the curtain open. The whole bathroom was steamy and damp. On the counter, my towel was folded up, and there was a hoodie and a pair of sweats for me, as well as a pair of royal blue fuzzy socks.

I thought I'd locked the door. How'd she get in here?

I shrugged and dried off, before slipping into the warm clothes.

She must have put them in the dryer.

The hoodie was black and said FSHS Band on it, with a red tiger paw. I wondered what school it was and thought maybe I'd ask Vic. It fit me well, but I imagined it was awfully baggy on her. Not that I'm fat, just longer and broader than her.

I slipped the fuzzy socks on which felt amazing on my feet, because they were so soft and warm. After this, I put on the baggy gray sweats she'd given me, which hung off of my skinny ass, and were slightly high-watered on me.

I ran my fingers through my hair and made it look presentable before leaving and shutting the lights off, towel in hand.

I made my way into the kitchen and moved where I knew the washer and dryer set up would be. I put my towel into a dirty hamper, and then went back out into the kitchen.

Victoria was no where to be found. I stood alone for a few minutes before she entered the room.

She smiled upon seeing me. "There you are." She moved past me and put the basket she had in her hands away before coming back to me, standing very close. "Are you ok?"

I nodded.

She stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me. I appreciated the affection, so I wrapped my arms around her. Her soft chest flattened against my body when I did so. It wasn't her fault it happened, it was more just something that she couldn't help. That didn't matter however, I was just enjoying the attention.

She pulled away quicker than I would have liked. Her embrace was homey and comfortable. I longed to hug her again, but knew it would be weird and awkward if I did.

"Are you hungry? I've got dinner on the stove."

Guilt hit me in the chest. I had ignored this beautiful, sweet girl all week, and even while I'd been a jerk to her, she couldn't even be one to me.
I mean, she'd allowed me in, let me have a warm shower, put dry clothes on my back, and now she wanted to feed me?

Jesus Christ, I'm a douche bag!

"Vic, I'm sorry," I said.

She frowned and cocked her head to the side.

"For what?"

Guilt started eating at me more.

"For not talking to you, and not sitting with you in class. I've been such a dick. I don't know why you don't throw me back out into the rain."

She shook her head. "Sometimes I like to think I hold grudges, but between you and I, I don't. Why waste the beautiful life you've been given dwelling on negative things instead of doing what makes you happy?"

I stared at her.

"You didn't really upset me... well, my heart was kind of broken, and I was pissed at myself because I thought I'd scared you away, or that you didn't like me, and I love to be liked by people, especially boys, but it's ok. Water under the bridge A-Ron."

I shook my head. "Not that easy Vic. I've got to make it up to you, because I don't deserve your kindness."

She stared at me, her breathing slow and deep, kind of how you might breathe when you are asleep. Maybe that's why she was so calm all of the time.

"How about you eat like you are on death row with me, and we watch Grapes of Wrath together, and try not to be such a stranger anymore."

She put her hand out for me to shake it.

I grabbed it and shook.

"Deal."