The Black Sheep

Round Two

I walk inside with Lugano after his walk and alcohol and music hit me hard. "Aww a dog!" A group of girls crowd around him and he just sits there, not doing anything at all. He's usually charming, but I doubt he's into being stranger's petting dog

"Yeah yeah, he's cute. Back off." They back away and he gets up and I walk him upstairs.

"Zaya," I turn around to see Tyler at the bottom of the stairs, smiling at me.

"Hi," I wave a little before continuing to go upstairs as Lugano pulls me along. I see some people making out against the walls in the hallway and I roll my eyes. I get to my room and open my door. Lugano runs inside and hops onto my bed. A tap on my shoulder makes me close my door immediately and turn around. It's Tyler. And he's extremely close. I can smell his cologne strongly. I look up at him to meet his little smile.

"I guess your dog cut us off," he laughs a little.

"Yeah, it's basically his bed time. He already made himself comfortable on my bed."

"Maybe I should follow his lead," I look down at my feet. Gotta love when my awkwardness kicks in randomly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just... tired. It's been a long day ya know?"

"This early? It's only 10." I look up at him and sigh. "Sorry, uh yeah um, get some sleep." I glance to the left of us to see Zion coming up the stairs. He sees us and I immediately drift my eyes down to my feet.

"Tyler, come here real quick," Zion calls him. He walks over and Zion wraps his arm around his shoulder and walks him downstairs as they talk. "Zaya!" Someone shouts. I walk towards the stairs and see Zion motioning me to come downstairs. I go along with it and come down. "You know how much I love you right?"

"No, I don't." He walks me to the kitchen where both Bravon and Chez are holding Tyler by his arms.

"I want to hear you apologize to Zaya for making her uncomfortable," Zion says.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Zion!" I push him. "You fucking asshole. Let him go!" They let him go and he yanks his arm away from them. I grab him by his wrist and drag him upstairs, into the bathroom. "Fuck!" I rub my eyes in frustration. "Look, I didn't ask him to do that, okay? He thinks he can just randomly decide to care about me and be an asshole. You didnt make me uncomfortable. I'm just not good with people. I get awkward and shut down and that's just how I am and it's not your fault. I don't even think Zion has ever seen me talk to a guy aside from his friends. And I guess he thinks I'm gonna like randomly fuck you which is ridiculous," I sigh. "Did they hurt you?" He looks down at his arm to see a few scratches that dug deep. Blood's coming out, but not at an excessive rate.

"I guess Chez's nails dug too deep into my arm, but I'm okay." I bend down and get the emergency kit and pull out some wipes and bandaids.

"Let me help. It's the least I can do." I hover over him and open the packets. I glance at him and see him smiling up at me. I smile a little too.

"I like your awkwardness," I roll my eyes, "and your attitude."

"This might burn a little," I wipe his nail wounds down and he cringes up in pain. "Sorry, I know it hurts," I throw the wipes away and cover his 4 wounds with 2 bandaids.

"Thanks," he moves his arm a little and let's his hands fall into his lap.

"No problem." I throw the wrappers away and back away from him. He stands up and approaches me. "Does your arm hurt?"

"A little, but I've been through worse."

"Like what?"

"I've broken both my index fingers and my ankle."

"Jesus," he laughs. "Sports I assume?"

"The ankle, yeah, but I slammed my fingers too hard in the door and broke them on two separate occasions. Now those hurt like a bitch."

"Sounds like hell." I look down at my feet, not know what else to do. How do you talk to people correctly? "We should probably head back out before my brother gets suspicious."

"Good idea." We leave the bathroom and I head to my room and lock the door behind me. Socializing is hard.