VI. JEALOUSY, JEALOUSY.

2006.

Connected to the speaker was a deep indigo-colored iPod, from that device it played 'Happy' by Ashanti. Inside the barely spacious dorm room were two bodies that found the floor to be more comfortable than the bed, a variety of textbooks and notes scattered around them.

Dressed in a lime green Juicy Couture tracksuit, one of Carmen's hands was busy playing with a curly strand that made its way out of the bun she attempted to keep it in. Frowning in frustration, she looked up only to see Art's eyes on her, and for a second she'd forgotten that she was in his dorm.

With a smile on her face, she raises a brow at the idea of doing homework long forgotten. Even if she were to turn it in late it wouldn't cause her grades to slip into the abyss. She was on the road to becoming an honor student. Besides how could you focus when a guy is looking right at you like you're the most treasured thing on the planet?

Her right-hand interlocks with his left one, her short manicured nails leaving a tickling sensation as she trailed along. Noticing the scars, she touches it gently, "Scars. You get in your head during competitions and wind up smacking your racket on the ground in frustration."

Art could only hum, his eyes mentally tracing over the small tattoo of a heart that resided behind her left ear, "We all get angry. It's simply the topic of sports."

"Scars show hard work I guess." Carmen returned her attention to Art's hand and around the watch that he'd always wear. "But I don't like seeing you hurt." Silence soon engulfs them all, which ultimately feels comforting.

Art watched Carmen and you could almost see the stars in his eyes. The duality she displayed was so potent that often at times he couldn't believe it. How could someone who's usually so intense, so — passionate on the court be so calm, assuring yet blunt, vulnerable off the court? Maybe that's what caught his attention in the beginning. (It did). And noticing how people practically kissed the ground she walked on made him wanting to know her an even bigger challenge.

"You're staring." She looks up at him, a smile ghosting her lips but instead gets caught between the bottom flesh of her lip. "Again."

Art could only nod, a light hum in agreement escaping humming in agreement as she looked at him. "I know."

Carmen notices how distant Art appears in the face. Something was bothering him. "What's bothering you? Say it now or forever hold your peace."

Art's jaw only clenches slightly, his gaze leaving Carmen's face and into the wall behind her. She looks at him with a worried expression but that all dies down with what he has to say next, "Patrick and Tashi are supposedly a thing now. Shocking I know."

Carmen looks almost taken aback by it her brows furrowing deeply into a crease. Her hands altogether drop to her sides and she's no longer sitting across from him. Standing up she walks over to her iPod — the item long forgotten before pressing pause to whatever song was playing.

"Deadass?" It was honestly surprising since Tashi and Patrick didn't look like they'd have that much in common. Tashi is strictly career driven and Patrick...well he's Patrick. "Like boyfriend and girlfriend? Or this is just a fling type shit."

Art's gaze averts onto Carmen, "I am being as serious as politics right now." (He was that serious). "And it's boyfriend and girlfriend."

Carmen isn't sure as to how she was supposed to feel about the whole thing. She most definitely didn't care if Patrick and Tashi were 'dating' since it wasn't any of her concern. But what bothered her was Art's reaction. Why did he care so much?

Crossing her arms she looks down at him, "And that's a big deal because?... Don't tell me that you're jealous that Tashi and Patrick are dating because you have a crush on her."

"What? No — no I'm not." Art was quick to defend himself but Carmen sensed bullshit. "And I don't have a crush on Tashi."

"Look, I get it. Tashi, she's fucking hot." Admits Carmen, and due to the quietness you could hear the deep sigh that resonated within her chest and the quick swipe of her tongue across her plump bottom lip. "And it's obvious that you have a crush on her and is bummed that Patrick got to her first. Shit, I would too. But that gives you no fucking right to lie to me. Lie straight to my face too. Whatever happened to communication? I don't know talking?"

"I don't have a 'crush' on her." He said rather slowly. And for a second there he could hear the sound of his heart beating which only lingered in the background completing the silence that ensued between the both of them. "It's more so of an admiration."

"So you're a fanboy?" Carmen calmly asked, amusement soon filling her eyes. Squatting down to his eye level, she continues, "My Art is a fanboy. Cute."

Art looks up a her, and with a hand, he pulls her closer to where she ends up right on his lap. "Your Art is a fanboy. Right."

"Listen, Stanford is in the cards. It's in our cards. That's what you need to focus on and tennis. Stressing over a relationship that's not yours isn't worth it." Caressing his cheek, Carmen grows more serious, "Besides you have me."

"You're right I do." Bringing her hand to her lips, he leaves to softest kiss which only makes her smile. "I don't deserve you."

"I know."