**Below is what I imagine their "dorm suite" layout looking like, except there is no balcony - it's actually their front door/entrance!**

**Edited**

Poppy's POV

I heard a sharp intake of breath next to me and looked over at Corbin. He was still seated next to me, but he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than here. His eyes had widened to that of saucers while his skin visibly paled within seconds. He looked like he was about to be sick while scrambling off the floor. He took as big of a step away from me as he possibly could. In his desperation to get away, he bumped into the bookcase to my right and caused a few of the ancient, dust-covered texts to clatter to the floor. The noise attracted more attention than we already had, causing me to completely clam up.

"S-sorry dude," Corbin stuttered while trying to clear his throat and pretend like he'd kept his cool - who he thought he was fooling, I wasn't sure. "I didn't know she was spoken for," his voice wavered as he finished his sentence. I scrunched my brows upwards in confusion at the way he was reacting to Knox. Sure he was a big dude, and quite scary when he was angry, but it's not like he'd ever hurt the guy...right? The whole "all talk no show" sort of deal that usually ended with a few glares and hurled insults.

Then again, Knox did have issues controlling his anger. I highly doubt that changed even a fraction.

"She is. Now leave," Knox gritted out through clenched teeth, sidestepping so that there was just enough room for Corbin's smaller frame to slide past him. Knox watched him with intense eyes as he went, only shifting his penetrating gaze to me when he was out of sight. I felt tears of anger and frustration well up in my eyes at how Knox was still treating me, though I would never let him have the satisfaction of seeing them fall - that I would save until I was behind closed doors.

He couldn't let me have even one friend without interfering. God, he's almost twenty-two years old now and he still can't just let whatever grudge or vendetta he has against me go. He was the sole reason for Kiara being my only friend all through elementary and middle school. Even after he left he still had some control over whom I hung out and made friends with; not that I ever understood how, I just knew he did.

"Dang it, Knox! Why can't you just let me have one friend without interfering?! You will never change, will you?" I hissed back as loudly as I could without disturbing anyone in the library. Knox stared at me for a few moments, probably taking notice of how worked up he'd made me and storing the mental image away to laugh over later. I swallowed the thick lump in my throat as he silently began backing me into the corner, his hands coming up to rest against the wall on either side of my face. The position allowed him to cage me in between his two huge arms while simultaneously tower over me.

The situation paired with the noticeable heat in his gaze scared me, but I would be a liar if I didn't say it also caused a roar of butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

"No, I probably won't; but you're a smart girl so you already knew that, didn't you? I don't give a shit who you're friends with - unless they have eyes for what's mine in a way that isn't friendly. That being said, I highly suggest you don't try acquiring male friends ever again," he spoke calm and confidently. I clenched and unclenched my fists while counting to ten to try and ease my ever growing anger.

"I'll do whatever I please, Knox," I stated as level-toned as possible, "I'm not the same pushover 11-year-old girl anymore who you can bully into doing whatever you wish!" I growled, lifting up onto my tip toes in order to look him straight in the eyes as I jabbed my finger into his chest. He smirked and broke eye contact as his eyes slid over my body in an appreciative manner.

"No you certainly aren't are you, Flower?" he asked rhetorically. I breathed in deeply, choking on my own saliva and throwing myself into a coughing fit. I covered my mouth with my hand, thankful for a distraction that allowed me to brush away what he was insinuating without acknowledging it in the slightest. When my lungs settled, I crossed my arms to cover my body from his view, trying to hide my triumphant smirk when his smile faltered in response.

"Are you aware that you're barely clothed right now?" he asked. I tried to detect any hint of judgement or condescension that might've made the intention of his question ill, but I couldn't find any. I lifted a hand to my face and tried to massage the headache that was still present away, the distraction of Corbin's appearance only partially dulling its effect.

"Yes, I am," I whispered out with a little heat. I didn't need him of all people to point out my idiotic decisions, like the one I'd made running out of Kiara and I's place before adequately dressing. He didn't say another word before pulling something out from where it was tucked in his back pocket. I felt my heart skip a beat in my chest as he held up the way oversized t-shirt in front of his body, the tag still dangling from one of the sleeves. It had the school's mascot on the front with the team name in big bold letters above it - making it abundantly clear that he'd just purchased it from the school spirit shop that was located right next door to the library.

I blinked a few times as I tried to regulate my breathing, my mind racing a mile a minute with so many different thoughts; but the main one was why did he do this for me?

"Thank you," I murmured quietly, reaching my hand out to gently take the t-shirt from him. He snatched it away from me seconds before I could grab it, making me think this was another was of his dumb pranks. I hardened my gaze before glaring at him, only to be met with another face filled with amusement.

"Put your arms up," he ordered while bunching the hem up to the collar. My brows scrunched further in confusion, but I skeptically raised my arms into the air while eyeing him suspiciously. He rolled his eyes at me before swiftly slipping the material over my head and down my body. I smoothed the wrinkled material with the palms of my hands before glancing up at him, still so incredibly taken back.

"Good girl," he murmured, praising me for listening to his instruction while pushing himself off the wall. He backed up a few steps, but I remained where I was.

"Let's go," he said just as his arm came towards me and looped around my back, pulling me away from the wall and towards his body. He began guiding us out of the library, his hand resting what felt possessively against the small of my back the entire time. Had I been paying any attention to anything other than the feeling of Knox's warmth radiating through the shirt and tank top I was wearing, I would've been mortified by all the prodding stares and hushed whispers that were thrown our way.

"And where is it that we're going?" I questioned, enamored with the determined look on his face.

"To unpack your shit and dress you in something more appropriate and comfortable," he answered absentmindedly.

**

I finally made my way back into my living room after changing my clothes. Knox and I'd been back at the suit for over an hour and a half now, but I had only just gotten around to changing. It took me almost the entire time to unpack the rest of my things that - well, those that went into closet and bathroom that is. All the other little things like decor and other various supplies were still packed away because I just couldn't be bothered. Knox had helped me by setting up a few little storage units I got during an impromptu IKEA online shopping spree. It had taken me a few minutes get my head together after he started the task without me even asking him.

Everything went smooth enough, until I was about to actually get dressed. Seeing him now, I could tell he was still in full pout mode. It's not my fault he was completely delusional and actually thought I would allow him to be in the room while I was changing - not just because of the privacy issue, but also because I knew he'd try to dictate what I wore just like he used to do to Kiara. Allowing him in a room with me while I was less than fully dressed was never going to happen. Besides, it was quite entertaining to see the childish scowl on his face when he didn't get his way.

Upon seeing me, he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the shrill ring of his cell phone.

"Hello?" he spoke, an annoyed tone to his voice. "...Yeah I am...Where at?...Okay, I'll be there," he finished before cutting the conversation short, not even sparing a goodbye to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Those shorts are a little too short, don't you think?" he chided. I felt my annoyance resurface as my amusement as his pouting took to the back burner.

"You're not my father, Knox!" I huffed.

"No, but you could call me daddy," he retorted with a cheeky and smug smirk. I felt my cheeks heat up in mortification almost instantaneously, unable to comprehend how he could say something so callous without even blinking. While everyone has always assumed I'm completely clueless and prudish due to my still intact virginity, that's completely false. Most people fail to consider who my best friend is and who I spend almost all of my time with; Kiara.

She's about as crass as it gets.

He chuckled loudly in amusement at my reaction to his perverse comment. I scowled before saying, "Stop joking around Knox! I'm being serious!" I refrained from stomping my foot like a child at the end of my sentence because I did still have a tiny sliver of common sense left in my brain. At least I hoped.

"I know, I was too," he said, his eyes portraying his seriousness while his tone remained playful and teasing. I decided to ignore what he'd said and just opt for changing the topic.

"Who was that calling you?" I asked.

"My buddy Roman," he replied curtly. I couldn't help but push the conversation.

"Well, what did he want?"

"To talk," He replied. I opened my mouth to ask him another question but he gave me a look that said stop prodding. I knew he was hiding something because not only was he doing a terrible job of acting like the phone call was run-of-the-mill, but also his words came out much too cryptic for my liking.

"Can you leave now?" I asked bluntly. Regardless of his odd behavior towards me today, he still unnerved the heck out of me - maybe even more so now with this out-of-character attitude. While it's similar to the way he was before he left, it's also so different in ways that I haven't quite pinned down yet.

I could tell my request angered him immensely, but he was trying to keep his cool. Key word here: trying. Here comes the temper I know so well.

"I actually have somewhere to be, but you are not to leave this building. I will be coming back once I'm done and I expect you to be here. If I find out you left, well..." he trailed off, leaving me to play a guessing game of what the heck comes after that well.

Who did he think he was? Coming in here and trying to boss me around and control my life as if I was some child who needed my hand held. And then he threatens to, what, punish me? No way.

I just shrugged my shoulders because even though he was really irritating me at the moment, I couldn't stand lying. I had always prided myself on being an honest person and I wasn't going to change that now of all times. What if I wanted to go out and see Tansy later or something?

"I don't want a shrug Poppy, I want words," He spoke gruffly.

Dang it, he knows me too well. I released an exasperated sigh before throwing my hands up in the air.

"I don't have anywhere to go anyway. According to the note left on the counter, Kiara is out with some guy she met while moving our stuff in and she's my only friend," thanks to you I added in my head. I noticed the hard look in his eyes soften before it disappeared after a moment. His shoulders slumped forward ever so slightly so that our height difference wasn't so great.

"Don't be ridiculous, Poppy, everybody loves you," he murmured. I didn't know whether to be irritated with his whiplash of emotions or feel warm and fuzzy from the obvious compliment he just gave me, something that has never happened before.

"Didn't you have somewhere to be? I don't want you to be late on my account," I mumbled. He sighed and muttered that he'd see me later before turning and leaving, but not before slamming the door behind him.

**

I awoke suddenly after a loud crash followed by what sounded like a slew of curse words rang throughout the suit. I checked the time on my phone that was resting on my nightstand, noting that it was 2:53 a.m. There was no way Kiara would've come back this late – she would've just spent the night at that dude's place. My heart rate skyrocketed and my body began to tremble with fear. School hasn't even started yet and our place was already getting broken into!

I quickly slipped from the bed and onto the floor, frantically searching underneath my bed for the Louisville Slugger I kept close. Once I grasped the baseball bat in my hands, I quietly crept closer to where the noise was coming from, just trying to get confirmation that I wasn't crazy so I could call campus police. I continued taking quick, shallow breaths as my adrenaline kicked my fight or flight instincts into action.

As I was inching around the doorframe, I caught sight of a massive shadow that was reflecting onto the hallway wall, only adding to my fear.

Dear God, if I die tonight I want everything I own to go to Tansy except my photo albums. Give those to Kiara so she has something to remember me by. In my haste to make sure the Big Man upstairs knew who to give my things to, I stubbed my toe - hard - causing me to suck in a large breath of air and stupidly drop the bat from my grasp.

The loud clatter noise must've caught the attention of the intruder because the lights flickered on abruptly. I screamed out, my eyes forced to shut and squeeze together from the bright assault. I could hear the intruder making their way towards me in large strides, so I blindly turned and tried to make an escape in the general direction of my bedroom. I felt two large hands on my waist and screamed bloody murder in response. Hopefully someone would hear and report my distressed calls.

"Christ, Poppy! It's just me!" Knox hissed. I felt all the adrenaline leave my body at once as I released the breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"Don't you ever do that to me again! You scared the living daylights out of me!" I squeaked out while clenching my hand over my chest where my heart was still pounding.

"I told you I'd be back later?" He stated with confusion, almost as if he was surprised by my reaction to the whole situation.

"Yes, you did, but it's basically three in the morning, Knox! Why didn't you just go home for crying out loud?" I yelled, pointing to the modern clock that hung above our TV to emphasize my point. I looked back at him, but this time I really looked at him. His face was slightly swollen with a small bruise around the outskirts of his chin, his nose and lips were caked with dried blood that had my stomach rolling just at the mere thought of how it got to be that way. His arms and what little of his stomach I could see didn't look any better.

"Knox, what in the world has happened to you?" I questioned with worry. Disregarding all logic, I reached up and lightly grasped his chin between my thumb and forefinger before moving his head to the side in order to better see the bruises forming on his face with each passing second. Knox took it upon himself to clutch my hips in his hands while I stood within close proximity. Instead of answering me - like I'd expected him to - his eyes took up an incredulous look.

"Is this my shirt?" he questioned huskily, fiddling with the worn out material in between his fingers. My brows furrowed in confusion as the off-topic question before I looked down and realized that I was, in fact, wearing the old t-shirt of his that I stole from Kiara years ago. I couldn't help myself, the thing was so dang comfy to sleep in!

"U-uh, yes. I borrowed it from Kiara a couple years back when I spent the night and forgot to give it back," I answered. The guilt slammed into me because while I had technically forgotten to give the shirt back, but when I remembered I just didn't mention it to Kiara after she'd forgotten as well. I figured there was no harm done because Kiara hadn't ever noticed it missing. "I'm sorry. If you want it back, I'll wash it and give it to you tomorrow," I whispered, regret heavy in my voice even to my own ears. Suddenly, a devilish smirk replaced the surprised look on his face.

"Even if I did want it back - which I most certainly don't - it wouldn't fit me any more, Flower. Although, I must admit you do look much better in it than I ever did," he growled out, tightening his hold on my body. I blushed bright crimson red at his comment while squirming in his grip, something that seemed to only further increase Knox's amusement.

"Knox, please let go," I whispered bashfully.

"Why?" he shot back, his body language morphing into that of when he's pissed off. His mood swings are going to give me whiplash.

"It's almost three in the morning and you're bleeding all over my floor, do you need another reason?" I asked, a hint of sarcasm in my voice. He narrowed his eyes at me, letting me know that he had no intentions of doing as I'd asked. Instead of trying to shove his hands off of me and his entire being out of my place, I instead settled for talking him into letting me clean up his battered wounds.

He didn't take his eyes off of me the entire time; it was more than a little nerve-wracking.

"It's late and you probably shouldn't be driving. You can sleep in my bed for the night, I'll take the couch," I slurred from exhaustion.

"Why the hell would you take the couch instead of your own bed?" he muttered quizzically, genuinely confused by my statement.

"You're the guest - it's the polite thing to do," I explained. His eyes darkened and his heated gaze resembled that of this morning. Completely caught off guard, I tried to figure out what the heck had I said to cause the reaction.

"Or we could share your bed, Flower," He purred, the suggestive tone of his voice forcing me to try and compose myself before becoming flustered.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll be fine on the couch," I spoke, my tone hard and leaving no room for argument. Knox grumbled under his breath.

"No. I will be taking the couch and you will be sleeping in your bed. End of discussion." He stated giving me a don't argue with me look. I sighed, much too tired to continue our conversation. After lending him one of my favorite pillows and a light blanket to sleep with, I sauntered off to bed with heavy eyes.