The morning after...

I might as well live under a rock or die. Those were currently my only options and at this point, dying seemed like the better route.

The level of humiliation had officially risen to a height I had never experienced in my life. I couldn't look at Clark let alone speak to him without my cheeks growing unbearably hot. It was no way to live. I refused to live like this.

"I don't need you to walk me to the store," I grumbled under my breath."I'm fully capable of finding my way there myself."

Even though my mood was total shit the sunshine of the mid-morning made me appreciate the excuse to venture out into it. However, instead of walking like a normal person, I stomped ahead of Clark on the abandoned sidewalk as we made our way to the nearest convenience store to pick up my very own personal can of pepper spray.

This was why my mood soured overnight. He insisted I needed something to protect myself when I, in fact, did not. I could take care of myself. I know how to break a nose for crying out loud! One year of karate when I was seven was more than enough to take out a lanky stalker in the dead of night.

Except I didn't take tall, dark and lanky down and now tall, blonde, and godlike was worried.

"I don't understand why you won't listen to me. I. Can. Protect. Myself."

I stopped in my tracks to turn around but instead of cool air greeting me a wall of warm human flesh crushed my face and caused me to teeter on my feet.

"After last night I find that hard to believe," Clark deadpanned. His large hands now resting on my biceps as he stabilized me.

A strange mixture of emotions rushed over me as his hands gently held me where I stood. This was the first time our skin had come in contact since we met and it felt like warm, mellow, static. Sure I appreciated not tumbling to my ass but at the expense of my insides turning to instant jello? Hell no.

With a jerk, I slapped his hands away and took a step away from him.

Holy crap, about time!

I had grown tired of his unnatural ability to make me feel as if I stood in quicksand. This single act could be the start of sovereignty. The dawn of not being preoccupied with his allure. Of finally saying what my mouth hadn't been able to speak the last few days. Today was definitely the day.

"Last night was a fluke, it won't happen again."

Strong, factual words. The perfect phrase to begin anew and grow a fresh backbone. The fact that he vaporized my original still had my blood pressure screwed up.

"Nick," Clark said, his eyes a reflection of both concern and sincerity. I knew I didn't want to hear whatever was about to be said. "You flew into our room with a horrified expression on your face last night mumbling about campus lunatics."

I glared up into his brown eyes, determined to stand my ground. The heat in my stomach burned faintly at his use of, our room, but it didn't hit me as I anticipated. The small amount of warm fuzzies stood no chance against the inferno that now blazed from his divulgence. He had finally revealed his true intent.

He's trying to watch over me!

My finger was pressed against his chest in a matter of seconds. I had no qualm with the anger I now felt. Unfortunately angry had become a default feeling of mine which meant I could wield the emotion well. It was the subtle sex appeal I had problems with.

"Listen here, I don't care how much you think I need your help. I don't. And so help me God if I find out my mother put you up to this, there will be hell to pay."

The last thing I expected was for Clark not to react to my sudden burst of violence. No recoil, no flinch, and zero ounces of remorse flickered across his flawless face. Clark stood there, my finger pressed to his chest, and just gazed at me, our eyes in a silent battle of wills. Who would cave first? Would I somehow agree to his ridiculous whim or would he give up and leave me alone.

May the odds be ever in your favor, Clark.

"Is that what you tell everyone?"

"No," I scoffed a little too quickly for my own liking and definitely too fast to fool someone like the guy who stood in front of me.

It was too late though, Clark knew I lied. I could tell by the way his eyes shifted ever so slightly in color. They always seemed to turn darker for some reason. Almost like realization caused them to change.

Why was it that out of all the men on this planet, this guy - the one my mother wanted me to be with so desperately - could read me like his favorite novel?

As if. With a torso like his, I bet he can't even read.

That one tiny, insignificant thought made me snort. Out loud. In front of the one person I couldn't afford to lose my composure in front of. And that microscopic infraction came with an unfortunate fallout.

Clark tried to contain his laughter but only half succeeded. Instead of letting out a full-blown laugh, he settled for a faint lopsided smirk that made his eyes gleam with mischief.

"Just yourself then?" He inquired with a cocked brow.

Okay, be honest, how many of you are now shipping these two??

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