The Rainbow at the end of my storm

•4•

As soon as Bree shut the dorm door, she pestered me with questions.

"How did you already meet Mason? And why did you seem so pissed at him?" She was smirking, most likely knew why I was so annoyed at him. But just hearing his name sent electrical sparks through me, and it had to stop.

"Does it matter?" I tossed my clothes in the laundry basket and threw on a white tank and shorts.

"Yes, it does. He's hot Vic" she jumped on the end of my bed.

I rolled my eyes back at her. "Maybe so, but he was a dick"

I got out my latest book and began reading, while she continued to get more information out of me. The excitement dripped off her.

"Why? What did he do?"

"He proposed I have sex with him."

She clearly didn't understand the anger bubbling inside me as she began laughing her head off.

"What's so bad about that? All girls want to fuck him unless-" she paused, mouth in an O shape. She'd sussed it. People usually do once I become a prude about sex.

"Unless you're gay or a Virgin" she eyed me as she waited for my response. I was tempted to say the former, lie and get her off my back, but I couldn't lie about that.

"Yes I'm a- I haven't had sex before" that word made me cringe. I couldn't even say it.

"Oh my god!" She jumped up and down excited. "We have to lose your virginity to Mason!"

"Erm, we?" I raised my left eyebrow, and placed my book down. There was no way I was reading it now; I had no chance.

"You know what I mean," she waved her hand in my face. "We come up with a plan, and then you let him fuck your little virgin brains out"

I couldn't help the giggle that left me. She really was something else.

"I admire your optimism, but it's not happening. I'm sure he was just joking and I'm not interested."

"But why not?" She practically jumped in my lap, shocked.

"Because, I want it to be with someone special." I didn't want to sound lame, or pathetic, but that's how I felt. I always thought Kieran would be my first, and after what he did, I knew it needed to be with someone special. I couldn't give my heart to someone again, but I also couldn't give that particular thing to someone who wasn't irrelevant. Maybe that sounds completely messed up because without falling for someone it won't happen, but deep down I hope that one day I can feel for someone again. Right now I just don't think I'm capable. The hurt was too raw.

I sighed at how confusing my own theory sounded, and Bree caught on.

"Hey, there's no shame in that. I understand."

"Thanks" I smiled, and she reached for a hug.

"You're really kind" I said, pulling back.

"Thanks, I do try. But I'm not to everyone, you're just a really great friend to have" she jumped over to her side of the room and I lay staring out the window as I thought about Mason. I couldn't get his dark eyes out of my head, or those perfect abs. He was definitely hot like Bree said. If she thought I was sleeping with him though, she had another thing coming. There was no way he would be my first time. No. Way.

📚📚📚

The next day was the first day of classes. I was majoring in psychology and couldn't wait to start. I was a nerd when it came to school. I was always organised and attended every lesson. I didn't want to come across like that here, but I also wanted to succeed. I'd been looking forward to this for months now, and I finally had it.

I was one of the first students, alongside another girl.

"Hi, I'm Arianna" she had strawberry blonde hair and was extremely pretty. She even had the most perfect figure. I always disliked having dark hair, being a brunette wasn't my favourite; I wanted to be blonde. I was a little jealous of her.

"I'm Victoria" we continued talking as we strolled through the doors and found two seats towards the back. Usually I would sit at the front, but not now. I wanted to fit in, and I didn't want to come across as too much of a nerd. Maybe that meant hiding myself, but sometimes it felt good to not be myself.

I placed my books on the table, still talking with Arianna. She was telling me about her terrible night at a party, presumably the one me and Bree were at. I lifted my head to meet her gaze again, and was struck back when a pair of chocolate dark eyes came into view. Mason was in this class.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to pretend I was listening to Arianna. Luckily, she didn't catch on that my mind was on a completely different planet with another student. To make it worse, he'd strolled round the room searching for a seat, purposely walking past several empty ones before climbing in beside me. My whole body trembled. I refused to look at him. Only when he placed his huge hand on the arm rest beside me, I couldn't help it. He slammed it down, clearly for a reaction, gripping the edges. They were tanned, veins popping, and huge. My body itched for those hands on me and I had to shove the uncontrollable need away.

Stop it Victoria. You can't do this. He'll hurt you and you can't be fixed. You're already broken.

"So, cupcake, you never did reply to my offer the other night"

My blood began to boil. How dare he. I spun my head at top speed towards him and almost lost my breath when that sexy smirk came back. He was bad news. Completely, utterly, dangerous for me. I needed to keep away.

"Well?"

"No" I replied with gritted teeth, gripping my thighs to stop myself from hitting him. Maybe girls did want to sleep with him, but I was not opening myself to the consequences. I wasn't like that and I certainly wasn't about to lose the most precious thing to me to that boy.

He didn't reply. His eyes gazed up and down, lingering on my lips, until he began studying my face. I could feel the heat creeping up my neck from his intensity. Yet I couldn't keep my blue eyes off his brown ones. And I wasn't sure why. I was angry at him, fuming even. Yet I looked completely infatuated with him.

"You are now in my psychology class, I am Mr Bennett. Let's get started." The bald professor pulled me out of my trance. I spent the rest of the lecture stiff and nervous; I could feel his eyes burning a whole in the back of my head.