Hey everyone!! Thought Positions by Ariana Grande was a catchy song for this chapter (:
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Both Josephine and I stood in place at the shocking revelation. So it turned out Kylie had been stalking him. He hadn't been with her stalking us at all. I almost felt bad for him and apologized until the drama ensued between him and Kylie. It was ridiculous. 

"Well, I'm so sorry for caring!" Kylie screamed, sounding like a lunatic. "You up and left me hanging for that... that bitch!" She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me. 

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Hero shouted back. "You're crazy! You're always making shit up in your mind!"

"Well, can you blame me!" Kylie retorted. "You're always hooking up with all these women!"

"Fuck off!" Hero exclaimed turning around and flinging open the door of his Ford Capri. "I'm not dealing with this today! You can find another guy to mess around with tonight!"

As he sped off, leaving us all in a thick dust cloud, I took the chance to grab onto Josephine and hurry back to her car before Kylie or her friends had time to jump us. We didn't say much of anything as we made our way back to the dorms. 

I was upset the following day when I realized I had left Little Women on the table I had sat at. I'd been so excited to delve into something different, but Kylie's entrance had taken our minds off of anything else. As the days passed, I did my best to avoid the library unless I needed to check out a book for my classes. I remained in our dorm room unless I had classes to attend. I didn't want to accidentally run into Kylie or Hero again. Josephine, however, left periodically to go fetch us food and such. 

When my English test had come around, I was relieved to see that I had aced. It wasn't tough, by any means. As with any college, I had to start from the lowest class, and evidently, learning vocabulary words was important. Josephine had aced as well and I saw this as an opportunity to celebrate. She, unfortunately, had to decline.  

"My parents want me to visit this coming weekend," She frowned, "My older brother is coming. I'd like for you to meet them sometime."

"I'd like to meet them too," I grinned, idly wondering if Hero would be there. 

Josephine had packed and left Friday night. I sat on my dorm bed, studying up on stock increments for an hour, until boredom had finally hit me.

Things were so different in college. It was more of a full-time job rather than dedicating a mere three hours a day. I needed a break. 

I decided to set an alarm for the morning and shut my eyes as I felt darkness consume me. 

When I awoke, the sun was just rising, creating a faint orange glow over the mountains. I smiled, ready to start my day. I called my parents letting them know what my day consisted of and quickly headed to the bathrooms before anyone else invaded them. After getting dressed in a white jumpsuit that my mother had gotten me Junior year, I headed over to the bus station to head into town. 

Deciding that I was hungry enough, I stopped by an Olive Garden for lunch after I took a leisurely walk around the town. I was relieved to see that it wasn't packed at all. The young waiter immediately found me a booth. I decided on a simple shrimp fettuccine and observed the restaurant while I waited. It really had been a long time since I'd been in an atmosphere like this. It was always home-cooked meals. 

"Kristina?" A sudden voice broke me out of my thoughts. "At least, I think that's your name?"

When I looked up to see who it was, I nearly beat myself up for not recognizing it immediately. Of course. It was Hero, of all people. I took a look around the restaurant to see if I could find Kylie, but I couldn't. It was only him. 

How did he know my name? I hadn't given it to him, had I?

I didn't hold back in giving him the nastiest glare I could muster. 

"I don't know why it matters to you." 

Hero didn't wait to ask my permission to sit. He laughed while doing so.
 
"Fiesty," He replied, "I like girls with a little fight in them."

"What do you want Hero?" I huffed in annoyance. 

Hero merely shrugged. "I came to apologize."

I stared back at him in disbelief, both of my eyebrows raised. "You were coming here to apologize?"

He snorted. "Again, is it that hard to believe?"

I paused for a moment, contemplating this. Yes, it was pretty hard to believe. I knew guys like him. They were rude, scandalous, and raunchy. There had to be a catch to this. There was no other explanation. 

"Apologize for what?" I asked.

Hero shut his eyes tightly, as if it pained him to be nice, every once in a while.

"For... putting my hands on you without your permission and for being a dick to you since you got here."

My eyes widened at this. He actually had a reason for which he was apologizing for. Who was this guy? He's definitely different than the Hero I've come to know. 

"I agree," I began, "You have been a jerk. But you didn't actually know it was me you were touching, did you?"

I had been turning this fact over in my head for a while. It took a moment or two before he responded. 

"No," He finally replied, "I thought it was Kylie. I really am sorry."

I sighed, wondering if for once, someone who looked like some tattooed delinquent could be a decent human being.

I really can't thank you all for all the reads and votes!!

Went from 45 to 65 votes... like seriously... how??

I love you all!
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