So, the doors were locked when I get there. I missed the class. I ran all the way and looked like a crazy woman for nothing. Darn it!

I trudge my way back across the field, kicking loose pebbles along the way. Darn Joshua King. I blame it all on him.

The thought of him is enough to set my pulse racing and my body buzzing with some kind of rush. My lower lip still tingles from his touch. The feelings cause me to scowl deeper. Why do I have to be attracted to a guy like him? I've never been this attracted to anyone before. Not even close. That man is trouble with a capital T and no good for me but the thought of seeing him again later this evening awakens a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

I take a deep breath as I try to push the thought of him away and take in my surrounding. The sun is high in the sky, it's lunchtime. The building in front of me is mostly covered with ivy. Fallen leaves are floating in the water fountain that I haven't seen spouting water for a while. The campus ground is beautiful but busy at this time of the day.

I have Allie's birthday gift in my pocket. Last night, it was in a small box, wrapped in an ivory-colored wrapper with pretty gold ribbons and a bow. There was a card too. They're all gone now but I'm still glad I have the gift for her. I finger the delicate bracelet as I slowly wander off toward the campus's food court. I'm pretty sure Allie is there having lunch with her usual crowd.

I need to talk to her. Allie is upset with me, so I need to explain. I'll apologize if I have to, even though I don't think that I'm at fault. Allie will believe me and accept my apology and it'll be good between us again. It has to be. We've been friends for so long. You don't just give up on six years of friendship so easily, right?

My eyes go straight to the most boisterous crowd in the middle of the food court. Allie is there with her sorority sisters, surrounded by several guys from the football team. It's normal to see them here and I know some of the guys too. But I stop dead in my tracks when I see a couple of other people that I didn't expect to see at their table- Joy and Aaron.

Did I mention that my taste in men is crap? Well, actually it's worse than crap. Aaron MacAllister is a wide receiver for our football team and he's my boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend now. We were together for over eight months before I found out that he's been cheating on me with Joy Jenkins. Joy knew that we were together and I always thought that she was nice.

Somebody showed me a video of them making out in the background at one of the gatherings at his frat house that I wasn't invited to. And later on, disappearing into his bedroom upstairs together.

Of course, the lying cheating prick denied everything when I confronted him. He claimed that it was fake and demanded I name the person who showed me the video. Do I look stupid? Do I look like the kind of person who would shoot the messenger to him? As if I would rat on the guy who did me a favor.

There were a lot of tears and yelling and screaming. I might have thrown a shoe or two at his head...not my finest moment. I told him that he was dead to me and to lose my number.

That was three weeks ago.

Joy is now hanging onto his muscular arm, looking pleased with herself and happy as a rotten stinky clam.

Does Joy know that he's still calling me and leaving me messages? The last time he texted me was at 1 am two days ago, begging me for a second chance.

I blink a few times but they are still there. Allie is still talking and laughing with them as if everything is peachy. Isn't there a rule that says you're not supposed to be all chummy with your BFF's ex-boyfriend and the girl he cheated on her with?

This is not the first time that I wonder if Allie knew about Aaron and Joy long before I found out. No, she wouldn't do that to me, right?

Looking back, I remember some of Allie's sorority sisters' sly snarky remarks, the sneering looks, and even some pitying glances aimed at me whenever I showed up with Aaron.

If they knew, then there's no way that Allie was oblivious to it like I was...right?

Watching Allie with them, I feel as though she doesn't care about my feelings at all.

I feel the divide between us widening over the last few months until it becomes a chasm...maybe it's too wide to cross now?

The feeling of betrayal cuts deep. My nose tingle and my eyes prickle. I walk backward several steps, whirl around, and exit the building the way I came in.

*****

I lie down and cover myself in my blanket like a cocoon when I get back into my bedroom.

I don't really care about Aaron and Joy anymore. Allie's actions hurt me more.

My vision is about to be blurred by tears when my nose catches a whiff of Joshua King's scent on my pillow and blanket. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Damn, the man is hot, he even smells sexy! I wish I could bottle up the scent and sell it. I imagine what it feels like to have his strong arms around me and his lips on mine. I wonder what he tastes like... I blink and spring out of the bed like it was on fire. Nope! Not going there.

I let out a yelp as I tumble into an undignified heap next to the bed. My feet got tangled in the sheet.

I stay lying on the floor for a minute or two, cursing Joshua King to the pits of hell. Darn him! My hip, my rib, and my elbow hurt...and I'm kinda horny. I blame it all on him. I can't even feel sorry for myself and cry in peace! My plan to spend my afternoon feeling sorry for myself is shot to hell. He is so on my shit list.

I try to work on my assignment but my mind keeps straying toward Allie...but most often than not, toward Joshua King.

I'll never admit it to anyone but I'm actually looking forward to spending more time with that crazy, annoying, cocky man. Does that make me a crazy woman?

Since I can't focus enough to work on a single assignment or do any reading, I get up and clean my room. I put away all my laundry, arrange my shoes, and put papers and books in some kind of order. I even dust and sweep the floor. By the time I'm done, my room has never looked so organized and clean.

By six-thirty, my room looks like it's been hit by a tornado again. Pants, skirts, tops, dresses, and shoes are strewn everywhere because I don't have anything to wear.

The nicest dress that I have is the one from last night and I don't want to wear it again tonight since I slept in it...and also, Joshua King might have seen me in it. Another one is a sweet peach-colored boat neck dress that ends just below my knees. It's very sweet and innocent. It's so sweet, in fact, it gives me toothache and makes me look like I was sixteen.

Then I remember that my roommate, Amber invited me to help myself to anything in her closet because we're about the same size.

Amber has a closet full of beautiful expensive designer dresses and I don't think she ever wears the same dress twice. It's not the first time that I wonder what she does for a living to be able to afford all those amazing clothes and fabulous shoes.

I bet I'll look good in one of her dresses.

I groan as I think of how pathetic it is trying to look good for a man. A crazy, annoyingly cocky but impossibly beautiful and sexy at that... Oh Lord, I am pathetic!

I set aside the sweet peach dress and head to the bathroom to take a shower.

By seven fifty-five, I'm almost ready. I've straightened my hair and put it up in a sleek ponytail. I didn't put too much makeup on but my lips are fire engine red.

The knock on the door comes when I'm slipping a pair of high heels on my feet.

Wow, this is the first time that I'm ready on time for something. I take some time to give myself a pat on the back.

The knocking becomes louder when I stop to check my appearance in the mirror.

"Coming!" I yell, grabbing a clutch and a black wool jacket from the kitchen counter.

Impatient Jerk! I haven't set my eyes on him yet, he's already managed to irritate me.

When I open the door, my breath caught in my throat and my stomach does a crazy somersault. All thoughts fly out of my head. Any hint of intelligence, gone.

Tall and imposing-looking, Joshua King is standing in the hallway with his thumb hooked in the front pockets of his dark jeans. He's wearing a dark grey sweater under a black leather jacket with a pair of black biker boots. His dark hair is shiny and slicked back, making his high cheekbones and the sharp jawline more pronounced.

How is it that he manages to look better and more dangerous than I remember him a few hours ago?

His pale eyes are hooded as they travel slowly over me- from my sleek shiny hair to my black high heels and back up again. His lips slowly curl up into that sexy crooked smile as he casually leans against the door frame. "Hello, dollface."

************************************************

Hello, everyone!

I hope you like the story of the son of Leviathan so far. If you want to read a few more chapters ahead, go to Inkitt:

https://inkitt.app.link/RA_NicoleRidd3y

Have a great summer and stay safe!

Much love, 

Nicole♥