Back in Aros' room, Nate sat on his bed as he watched Aros arrange the kit back carefully, exactly where it had been before.
"You have your next lecture coming up now Nate, move you…" Aros' statement was cut short, as he turned to face the open door post where someone had just knocked.
"Someone snitched about the brawl, Morgana wants you in her office" a tanned guy spoke, as his honey colored eyes, swirled with mirth. His gaze holding Aros'.
"Fuck" Aros muttered, then his unusually pale slender fingers, stretched to grab his phone from the bedside table.
He nodded at Nate, then left, but Nate's green gaze followed his retrieving back.
Aros moved with dangerous precision, too calculated for someone his age.
Tucking his hands into his back pocket, Nate pulled out a cigarette and a lighter.
"You skipping lectures?" the tanned skinned guy moved towards the other empty bed in the room, as he questioned Nate.
Puffing that alluring smoke through his thin red lips, Nate scoffed "that should be the least of your worries Drayce, you called Ms. Morgan Morgana,"
"Lucky she isn't here to stuff you in a box" Nate finished, his eyes dropped downwards, an emotion he tried to conceal, surfaced a bit.
Worry, he was worried about Aros.
"Funny," Drayce mused, while he laid on the bed, his gaze glued to the ceiling above.
Taking another drag from his cigar, Nate blew the smoke out it circles as his fingers moved to ruffle his black hair.
He was done pretending the situation didn't bother him. Aros was becoming more distant with each passing day.
Muttering a frustrated "fuck" Nate left the room in search of Aros, leaving Drayce behind.
.
On his way to HC Morgan's office located on the fourth floor, someone bumped into Aros.
Her black eyes looked scared and Aros could see the girl sweating buckets.
He raised his hands hesitantly to her shoulders, steadying her stance.
Nelly tilted her head upwards, to lock gazes with those unique blue eyes, even the ugly bruise by the side, couldn't hide the silver swirling mysteriously, just at the center.
"Sorry about that, thanks by the way" she spoke and hurried away, all at once.
"You're welcome," Aros replied when her movements morphed with the other people, going in and out. He doubted she heard him, so he just turned to leave.
Nelly had covered a considerable amount of distance, when she stopped to catch her breath.
One minute she had seen that thing on the sixth floor and the next, she woke up knocked out cold in the elevator taking her towards the fourth floor.
She was sure that thing had caught up to her, but she had no memories of what happened after then.
Nelly's right hand went to clasp her shoulder, the same place where those pale fingers had rested to steady her.
His touch still felt warm.
*
Aros opened the door to the head of college office, after he heard her low "come in."
"Have a seat" Ms. Morgan gestured towards the long chair just opposite her own desk, while her gaze watched Aros.
Aros looked beside him, to catch sight of Bingham seething furiously at the side.
He moved gingerly and sat next to Bingham.
"Do you mind briefing me on what happened between Mr. Bingham and yourself Linton, to result in such visible injuries?" Ms. Morgan's stern gaze inquired.
"I believe Grey holds a grudge against me, Ms. Morgan, he seems to always need a physical confrontation…" Grey heard Aros speak, as his voice continued to trail.
He hadn't noticed it earlier, but the punch he had flung at Aros' eyes left a much angrier bruise than the one the latter had bestowed his jaw.
Grey felt mocked, he knew the strength Aros possessed and yet the blue eyed guy had restrained himself not wanting to hit too hard.
Grey clenched jaws in anger, someone so strong yet so gentle at the same time, that was who Aros was.
He didn't like people like that, a first year freshman, holding back from fighting him.
"I believe Bingham's on steroids ma'am," Grey's angry reverie was broken after he heard Aros' last statement.
"Steroids?" Ms. Morgan questioned, her focus turning to Grey.
"Not true ma'am, Aros broke the tatt.." Grey left his sentence hanging, finally realizing the trap Aros had carefully woven.
The first year student wanted him speaking of the tattoo lasers which wasn't allowed in their college system, and the blockhead Bingham, would have fallen into the hole.
"He broke the tattie mum sent as souvenirs for me, on her last visit to City B" Grey concluded.
"A plastic potato? Well that doesn't rule out the fact you both fought, a week's suspension, to settle out your differences, you leave tomorrow." HC Morgan finished.
"Yes ma'am" both guys chorused.
"You are dismissed" going to take her pen from the desk, Ms. Morgan concluded the talk.
Aros and Bingham exited the office.
Even though Bingham would have loved a rematch, he wasn't dumb to not know where that'll end up, so he just took a different turn on the hallway.
As soon as Aros closed the door behind him, he sighted Layla and Susan, two of his friends, sitting outside.
"We heard what happened, what'd Morgana conclude?" Susan the red haired who had followed Layla, asked.
"A week's suspension" Aros briefed, his hands going to scratch behind his neck.
"That's unfair! fuck Bingham." Susan exclaimed.
"Language Sue," Layla chastised, her blue eyes looking scolding.
"Whatever mum," sneering in a sarcastic tone, Susan rolled her eyes.
"We'll miss you, have you gotten that treated?" tucking her blonde locks behind her ear, Layla's worried face took in Aros' bruised eye.
"There's no need to worry girls, I'll be back soon," as those delicate palms rested on both girls heads, Aros' fingers slightly ruffled their hair.
He stared down at them as they were about two feet shorter than him.
As they listened to him, Aros spotted Nate coming from behind.
Feeling a presence behind her, Layla turned to see Nate.
"Alright, we're leaving for the canteen," Layla hurriedly spoke, her hands going to clutch Susan's in a fidgety grip.
"We'll see you off before you leave" Susan calmly spoke.
As they walked away, Layla turned to stare at Nate, and he didn't back down, he let her know he was watching.
The intensity with which Nate gazed at Layla, was always overwhelming for her.
He'd never spoken with her, unless on rare occasions where it was necessary.
Layla thought he didn't like her much.
Nate stood beside Aros, as he let his eyes rake Layla's form.
Clenching his jaw, he looked away, probably wanting to hide something.
Something that looked like deep longing but dangerously close to an emotion he wouldn't name.
"A week's suspension huh?" He turned to face Aros.
"Yeah" Aros replied in a matter of fact tone, his low breezy voice, softening the situation like it meant nothing.
"Guess we leave tomorrow then," turning his head to where the light caught the small silver piercing on the upper part of his right ear, Nate spoke.
"We? Pretty sure Morgana didn't call your name in the office," Aros looked sideways.
"I'm still coming with you, bored as hell here already," Nate defended stubbornly.
Aros glanced at Nate's sideways profile, he was already 19, yet Nate still treated him like he was 13 again.
"Whatever" Aros agreed, like he wasn't glad about it, at least the past wouldn't drown him once more.
*
A deep cloudy night settled over Da Vere as the chilly breeze blew into the open windows of empty corridors, where learning had taken place just earlier that day.
Many had retired to their hostels for the night, as Susan listened to Layla and another of her room mate, gossip about some second year students.
She was thirsty and drinking from the taps in their room was something she avoided.
Deciding to drink from the dispenser just outside the room, Susan picked her water can, then left.
Her slipper made contact with the cold tiles, the little lights placed inside the ceiling, illuminated the dark hallway.
Though, not all had been turned on.
Susan's padding feet came to a halt when she sighted one of their lecturers, Mr. Shane drinking from a bottle just beside the dispenser.
Her eyes followed the continuous movement of the way his Adam's apple bopped, each time he swallowed.
Finally noticing Susan standing there, Mr. Shane took one more gulp before saying,
"Sue," in a whispered endearment.
That low volume sent a jolt through her body and Susan felt the wet pool forming just between her legs.