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Thirty-seven

10 November 2009

With Seungcheol pacified, Hoseok could have been forgiven for thinking his troubles were mostly over. Victoria and Jimin enjoyed the relaxed air about him in the days following the encounter, though with a grim expression, she reminded him that there was still Jin to worry about. Hoseok waved her off, but his suspicions grew when some rich kids approached them saying they'd heard a lot about them.

Victoria was sitting in the library when Hoseok approached her. His hands were in his pockets, hair hanging in his face. He blew up into the strands to make them fly away as he sat down next to her, back against the bookshelf. She watched him until he was right next to her, turning away to hide how flustered she was that they were sitting so close.

She had never dated before and there was something so not platonic about the way Hoseok laid his head on her shoulder and sighed. It was obvious that he was feeling cute as opposed to hostile that day. Nonetheless, Victoria let it happen and only set her book down before clasping her hands in her lap.

"Have you heard?"

He only hummed. "Hm?"

"You know, what Jin-oppa is saying about us."

Hoseok lifted his head to look at her seriously. "Stop calling that prick 'oppa'. He doesn't deserve your respect."

"I know," she muttered with a sigh. "He's saying that Jimin and I are in a relationship and that you occasionally romp with us."

The younger laughed, his face breaking up into the wide smile that was almost as rare as a solar eclipse. "He actually used the word 'romp'?"

"According to Peestain," she said with a shrug, referring to the nerd, Dosun, who often wet himself when afraid, hence earning him the nickname.

Hoseok scoffed and turned his head to look at her. "Don't worry about Jin, alright?"

"How can you not?" she retorted, turning to face him as well.

He clenched his jaw and sat up straight as if to assert his dominance. "Because I said not to worry about it, alright? You're so hellbent on protecting Jimin!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked with indignance, beginning to get angry with his rising tone.

"Because!" he yelled, throwing his hands up. "Maybe I have someone I want to protect, too!"

Before Victoria could respond, the librarian came stomping down their aisle, stopping to place her hands on her hips when in front of them. Her glasses were sharp at the edges and her gray hair was tied into a tight bun atop her head. "This is a library! Either be quiet or get out!"

"Gladly," Victoria mumbled before standing and storming out. She could feel the burning gazes of the nerds gathered at their table as she pushed out into the crisp fall air. Winter was approaching and she knew that soon, they'd all be walking around like bundled up cotton balls. She had reached the bottom of the steps outside when a hand grabbed her arm. She turned, already knowing it was Hoseok before tearing away violently. "What's your problem?"

Hoseok narrowed his eyes at her, running a hand through his hair. "What's my problem? Wow..."

"You can't just yell at me and expect me not to get mad!" she shouted. A few students outside the building stopped to watch them.

He noticed the crowd and sighed. "You're ridiculous." He grabbed her arm and started dragging her out of the library's pavilion.

"Hey! Let go of me!"

Hoseok did no such thing as he continued to pull her with his strength. Of course, Victoria struggled the whole way and threw insults mixed with swears, but he didn't acknowledge them. He led her to the back parking lot where Seungcheol and his friends hung out near the abandoned school bus. There was also a gate there, but it was a weekday, so it was closed. For some reason, the art teacher was smoking a cigarette near Seungcheol and his friends.