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“Ah, then you’re going into politics with this.”

I shake my head. “God, no. I’m minoring in archaeology. I’m going out to explore the world, baby! If I get to curate an ancient collection of artifacts from a long-lost tribe, it’ll be the greatest thing I could possibly do with my life.”

Cameron smiles. “You’re more interested in digging up the past so that the people might look into it as a mirror of sorts.”

“Yes. Look at the Mesoamerican and South American tribes. The Aztecs, the Mayans, the Inca, and their way of life. The mass graves that keep popping up with every archaeological dig. People killing children, innocent children, to please gods that don’t exist so that they might save their empires.”

“Empires which withered and died out, anyway,” he chuckles bitterly. “Yeah, I see your point.”

“The purpose of anthropology is to shine a light on who we are as a species, of how diverse we have always been while sharing this planet, you know? It’s a study of mankind, basically, an in-depth study that shows the good, the bad, and the ugly, too.

We’re supposed to do something with that.

Maybe I shouldn’t be in charge of the messaging, but surely. ..you get my drift.”

Cameron stares at me for a while, smiling with what I can only describe as a sense of fascination.

His brown eyes narrow into slits, as if he’d like to see me better, or see beyond my face and right into my brain.

His lips stretch, two dimples forming at the corners of his mouth.

He’s not just handsome. He’s cute. What a lethal combination that can be.

Alas, its effect on me is minimal, and it irks me.

It’s the assholes we usually have a hard time getting over. Not the good guys.

“I absolutely get your drift,” Cameron finally says. “You’re kicking it old school at the dorms, huh?”

“Cheaper than renting. My dad and I saved up a lot to get me here, the least I can do is make it easier on his wallet going forward,” I reply.

“That’s odd,” a familiar voice cuts through with a chilling hardness that can only be described as raw hatred. “I thought my dad would have paid considerably large sums for services rendered.”

Rhue Echeveria stands just a few feet away, one hand casually in his pants pocket while the other holds a leather bag on his shoulder. He looks good. Deadly good. His eyes are black coals with deep blue sparks that threaten to set fire to. my world.

A muscle twitches in his square jaw, and the afternoon light accentuates the cappuccino glow of his skin. Yet for all this splendor he exudes, Rhue rages with spite and fury.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Cameron asks, slowly getting up from the bench. While I find his chivalry appealing, I know it will end poorly for him. Cameron doesn’t deserve to get caught in the animosity between me and Rhue.

“Rhue,” he replies with a dry smile. “We’re all future anthropologists here, aren’t we?”

“Oh, you’re in our class. Cameron. Sorry, I don’t remember seeing you.”

“Of course. You wouldn’t remember anything besides Madison here. That’s her defining feature,” Rhue says without looking my way. “She’s hot. So hot, in fact, that she turns your balls blue. I assume you’ve already fantasized about the many ways in which you’d pound into her with all your might.”

“Whoa, hold on,” Cameron tries to cut him off, but Rhue isn’t finished.

“No, no, it’s absolutely natural. I certainly wouldn’t blame you,” he says, talking fast and loud enough to impede any further interruptions.

“But the problem is, Cameron, that Madison isn’t into young guys like you or me.

She likes ’em older and filthy rich. If you have a father that fits that description, save yourself the emotional trauma and keep her away from him.

I’m told her pussy is addictive. Costs a pretty penny, too. Am I right, Madison?”

Cameron lunges at Rhue with impressive speed, yet still misses him; albeit, by mere inches. It makes Rhue laugh as he moves farther back and raises his hands in a defensive manner.

“You’re sick!” Cameron hisses. He’d like to go after Rhue again, but he’s hesitating. Smart move not to pursue this any longer, I reckon.

Rhue Echeveria isn’t a coward. He just prefers avoiding fights because of how easy he loses control if he does get involved. He turns into a beast. Cameron doesn’t know this, but he’s dodging a bullet.

“I’m being honest.” Rhue offers a polite bow. “Consider this a warning. I’m not looking for fights, here, Cameron. But your dad’s a senator, if I’m not mistaken. Just don’t bring Madison to any family brunches. Trust me, you’ll live to regret it.”

Cameron exhales sharply and gives me a dark but curious look.

Part of him probably wonders if what Rhue said is true.

I can see it in his soft brown eyes—the doubt.

The “what if” lurking and waiting to dig its claws into his conscience, to poison his thoughts and pull him away from even considering me a clean enough person to be around.

I should have seen this coming. Rhue will poison everyone against me, sooner or later.

“As you might have guessed, Rhue and I go back a while,” I say, my voice returning. I sound weak. Faded. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”

“No, no, hold up,” Cameron replies. “None of this is right.” He looks to Rhue. “You are the one who needs to apologize to her.”

“Dude.” Rhue laughs. It’s just one word, but it’s meant to insult me. It works.

“He needs to apologize to you,” I say, then grab my book of pirates and walk away.

I don’t even need to know what Rhue is doing here at this hour.

I’ve already checked with the student body, and he’s renting an apartment off campus.

Classes ended some time ago. He’s not supposed to be lurking around.

By all appearances, he’s just going out of his way to stalk and harass me.

I point a finger at Rhue. “Your beef is with me, not Cameron. Apologize to him. Don’t be a dick,” I tell him and walk away.

My heart is breaking all over again. Pieces are falling apart, chunks collapsing into the darkness that has been festering inside me since that day at Rhue’s house.

I should have stayed home. I should have never gone back there. I know that now – how quickly one decision can change your entire life.

Cameron calls out after me, but I choose to ignore him. If I keep my distance from now on, maybe Rhue will leave him alone. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt over this.

It’s going to be a nice evening, I notice as I look up and see the dark pink sky. Streaks of fluorescent orange and puffy white ripple across, the shades darkening as the night begins to settle over Ithaca. A nice evening, already marred by my past coming back to bite me in the ass.