After

Chapter Four

"Umm...where is Kenzie?" My voice comes out as more of a squeak than I intended. My hands are clenched around the soft fabric of my towel, my eyes keep farting down to make sure the towel is securely covering my naked body.

He looks at me, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly but doesn't say a word.

"Did you hear me? I asked you where Kenzie is," I repeat, trying to be slightly more polite than the last.

The assumed expression on his face magnifies and he finally mumbles, "I don't know", and turns on the small flat screen on Kenzie's dresser. What is he even doing in here if he doesn't know where she is? Doesn't he have his own room? I bite my tongue, trying to keep my rude comments to myself.

"Okay? Well could you like...leave or something so I can get dressed?" I realize he hasn't even noticed I am in a towel, well maybe he has but it doesn't phase him.

"Don't flatter yourself, it's not like I'm going to look at you," he scoffs and rolls over, his hands covering his face. Unsure how I should respond to his rude remark, I huff and walk to my dresser. Maybe he isn't straight, that's what he meant by "it's not like I am going to look", either that or he thinks I'm ugly. I hastily put on a bra and underwear, followed by a plain white shirt and khaki shorts.

"Are you done yet?" He asks, snapping the last bit of patience I held.

"Could you be any more disrespectful? I mean honestly, your in my room while I change and you have the nerve to be rude to me? I did nothing to you, what is you problem?" I shout, my voice at a much higher volume than I had wanted but by the surprised look on his face, my words had the intended effect on the tattooed boy.

He silently stares at me and while I am waiting for his apology, he bursts into laughter. He looks at me and just laughs. His laugh is a deep and almost lovely sound. It would be much more enjoyable if he wasn't so adamant on being a jerk. Dimples indent in his cheeks as he continues to laugh and I feel like a complete idiot, unsure what to do or say. I don't usually like conflict and this boy seems like the last person I should start a fight with. The door opens and Kenzie Bursts in.

"Sorry, I'm late. I have a hell of a hangover," she dramatically says and her eyes dart back and forth between him and I.

"Sorry Tess, I forgot to tell you Alessio would be coming by," she shrugs apologetically, taking in the scene in front of her.

I would like to think me and Kenzie could make our living arrangements work, maybe even build some sort of a friendship, but with her choice of friends, I'm not so sure anymore.

"You're boyfriend is rude," the words tumble out before I can stop them.

They both hurt into laughter. What is it with people laughing at me? It's getting really annoying.

"Alessio is not my boyfriend!" She laughs, emphasizing the not.

"What did you say to her?" Kenzie turns and scowls at him. "Alessio has a...a unique way of conversing" she explains, looking back at me. Lovely, so basically what she is saying is that Alessio is, simply a rude person. Alessio shrugs and changes the channel with the remote in his hand.

"There is a party tonight, you should come with us, Tessa," she offers it's my turn to laugh at her.

"Parties aren't really my thing. Plus I have to go to get some things for my side of the room," I looks at Alessio who, of course is acting as if neither of us are in the room with him.

"C'mon...it's just one party! You're in college now, just one party won't hurt," she begs. "How are you getting to the store, I though you didn't have a car?" She asks. I can't go to a party.

"I don't even know anyone, besides I was going to FaceTime Noah," I tell her and Alessio laughs again, acknowledging that he is paying attention after all, "and I was going to take the bus to the store."

"You don't want to take the bus on a Saturday! They're way too packed, Alessio can drop you off on the way to his place...right Alessio? And you'll know me at the party. Just come...please?" She presses her hands together in a dramatic plea.

I've only known her for a day, should I trust her? I know that despite how tough she looks, she is quite sweet. But a party?

"I don't know...and no I don't want Alessio to drive me to the store," I say. Alessio rolls over across Kenzie's bed with an amused expression.

"Oh no! I was really looking forward to hanging out with you," He dryly remarks, his voice so full of sarcasm that I want to throw a book at his cocky head.

"Come on Kenzie, you know this girl isn't going to come to the party," He laughs. The mocking grin on his smug face pushes me to prove him wrong.

"Actually, I'll come," I say his as sweet of a smile as I can muster. Alessio laughs again and Kenzie squeals before wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.

"Yay! We'll have so much fun!!" She shrieks.

I sure hope she's right.