Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 46 - Khaleel

I couldn't sleep a wink last night. Sweat kept beating down my neck as I tossed and turned on the top bunk. Tomasia told me to use the other spare room but she forgot to tell me Matilda was also there, sleeping on the bottom bunk. My movements got so bad through the night, she had to scold me to stop. What the hell was she doing sleeping over at the manor? Was she scared to go home? Scared to be alone tonight? I would have walked her if she asked, but I had a feeling her pride wouldn't allow it.

I apologized for interrupting her sleep. And to make sure it didn't happen again, I pulled off my shirt, and threw it on the floor.

"You really live in your own little world, don't you?" she scoffed. I didn't know if she was talking about me stripping or Arisa's kidnapping. "None of you consider the consequences of your actions and it shows."

"What's got you triggered, Vice Prez?" I asked, kicking the blanket away. I placed my hands behind my head and stared at the dull ceiling. We did consider the consequences of our actions, that's why we rushed to rescue Arisa, why we were determined end Dobberman's twisted game. I couldn't exactly tell her that but still, I wished she would stop being so judgemental.

"You!" Matilda hissed. "You've got me triggered! You and your shady business with Loyal got Arisa kidnapped!"

"We got her back didn't we?"

"That's not the point!"

After a short pause, I decided to change the subject. "Hey, do you by any chance still like me?"

"Not at all," Matilda droned. "It's easy to get over someone you've been crushing on since middle school. I blinked and the feelings evaporated."

"Are you being sarcastic?"

"Are you an idiot?"

I sat up and decided to ask another personal question "How do you deal with it?"

"Deal with what?" she asked, annoyed.

"A crush," I said. "How do you manoeuvre around it when the person you like is already liked by someone else?"

It was Matilda's turn to toss and turn on the bunk. I didn't bother with what was going through her head because I was overwhelmed by my own thoughts. This was my first time feeling this way and I was afraid to talk to Hino and Zander about it. One, because they would tell me to shut that shit down—rightfully so—and two, because I felt guilty for spending this much energy on a girl Loyal had already put on his do-not-touch list.

Matilda got out from her bunk and stood in the middle of the room. When her hazel eyes locked onto me, my whole body stiffened. "You have a crush on someone?" she asked softly.

I couldn't help but check her out. I couldn't help but appreciate a beautiful girl when she stood in front of me. Was that wrong? Was it stupid of me to feel things for two people at the same time? Her undershirt was white and a little see through, revealing her braless chest. The shorts didn't conceal much either. It left very little to my imagination and it replayed the image of Arisa in that tattered blouse at Pinecrest Grove. Fuck! I was comparing sizes. I was going to hell.

I jumped off the bunk and joined Matilda in the middle of the room. I had to forget about that little spitfire. It was never going to happen. It wouldn't do any good to act on pure physical attraction either. I closed the gap between Matilda and I, and lifted my hand to grip the side of her face. She was quick to stop me. "Who do you have a crush on?" she asked, narrowing her gaze.

Jealousy was a powerful thing. I knew it from having witnessed a ton of Kumar's failed relationships.

"It doesn't matter," I replied, with a heavy chest. "I'll never be able to have her."

"I'm not anybody's second choice," Matilda glared. "Don't you dare use me to get over whatever feelings you're trying to avoid."

"Who said I'm using you?" I asked, bringing her close to my chest. Her smell tempted me to kiss her but I resisted. "Can't I be attracted to you and have a crush on someone else? Can't I be into two people for two very different reasons?"

Matilda's eyes widened. "You're the worst, Khaleel."

I really fucking was. "I'm well aware."

Matilda pulled away and hurried out of there. I tugged on her night shirt and stopped her from leaving. I didn't know where this sudden sense of responsibility came from but I didn't want her to be mad at me anymore. I wasn't usually a needy little bitch but she seemed to bring out that side of me. Matilda kept moving until she reached the door. I pressed both palms against the frame and kept her trapped between my arms.

"You want to know who I'm crushing on?" I asked. "Will you forgive me if I tell you her name?"

"I couldn't care less about you or your stupid crush," she scoffed, keeping her back on me. I leaned against her shoulder and pecked her soft skin. "But I'm not about to let you stir me up when I've been trying so hard to move on."

"Don't move on then," I said, sliding my lips up to caress her collarbone, neck, and ears. I whispered the next part. "We can compromise."

Matilda turned to glare at me, eyes glistening, and face flushed. Her chest was heaving—she couldn't hide that she was turned on from this angle. "I'm looking for a boyfriend, Khaleel, not a fuck buddy."

"Then let's work our way backwards," I sweetly suggested. "Let's connect our bodies first and our hearts later."