The Degenerates - Under Edit

f o u r

Trey drummed his fingers along the wooden surface of the desk. They were slender but damaged, and his tattoos on his arms climbed up most of his fingers. There were more scarred knuckles than not, and were vascular and strong, but they were careful, and his movements were calculated, like a pianist.

Neijla found herself concentrating on the delicate ink on his fingers as he went back to twirling the pen between his knuckles.

The first Psych-2 lecture of the semester finished, her notebook filled with two pages work, whereas Trey had yet to produce any form of equipment, let alone take notes. She wondered if he were the type who just skimmed through classes, not doing much throughout the year. She wondered if he only showed up every few days rather than being the diligent student.

Trey waited for her to stand from her seat after everyone else had piled out.

Once outside, and he patted down his pocket, reached in, and pulled out his phone. It was sleek and black, and looked unscathed. His eyes skimmed over the screen, and he forced it back into his pocket without actioning what was on the screen.

Neijla rolled her shoulders, "I've got another class, so..."

Trey gestured toward the other door opposite the one they just exited, "Me too."

Neijla forced a laugh, "Really?"

Trey asked, "What are you studying?"

"Cog Sci,"

"Social science," he answered simply, and Neijla was floored. Like Trey and 'social' were supposed to go simultaneously.

Neijla entered the building again, this time they were headed toward a first-floor classroom, when the door swung open loudly behind them.

Neijla slinked back a few steps, recognising the tall blonde from this morning. Trey stiffened and the blonde looked between them.

"Hello, lovely." He offered, before drawing his eyes toward Trey, "A moment of your time?"

"Not now,"

"Oh?" Theo said and stepped around Trey and into Neijla's view. His strangely green eyes travelled down to where her hand gripped her bag strap. He eyes flickered to hers, like a small candle flame, and a tiny smirk lifted at the corner of his mouth. "Care to share?"

"Fuck off, Theo." Trey said quietly.

Neijla bit her lip, drawing blood immediately from her scarred tissue. She needed a drink, or two, and then she wouldn't feel so cowardly.

"I need to talk to you," he eyed Trey with malice, "alone."

This conversation worried Neijla, and a tiny sliver of anxiety shot through the pit of her stomach. She was beginning to feel as if hanging around Trey wasn't a good idea. She watched their interaction, wondering who Theo was, and where he came from.

Trey stayed silent for a moment and then turned toward her. This time, Trey's eyes bored into hers. A warning, she could see it written across his face.

"Come on," Theo groaned impatiently from behind.

"Walk with me," Trey said and Neijla immediately obeyed.

"Wait there," Trey spat in Theo's direction, to no effect, because he just laughed it off.

He spoke directly to her as they rounded a corner, "If wherever you are, you ever see him, walk the other way."

"Wait," Neijla asked him as he pushed open a fire exit door and held it for her. "Who is he?"

"Dangerous,"