Page 7

Chapter Six

Koda

That stupid slut. She pushes and pushes until you crack, and she does it in such a way that you can’t help it when you do. That’s what makes me fucking hate her. When she said I was just like my father, I didn’t see the man who adopted me. I saw the biological one.

She managed to turn that anger into sex. I don’t know her, but she’s a fucking vixen pressing buttons until she has you so fucked up and confused that you’re doing things you typically wouldn’t. But if I said that wasn’t the best fuck of my life I’d be lying. She smashed her little fists on the control board until I lost it, and I gave in. Something about it was familiar.

The second she got what she wanted she took off, leaving me feeling used. It’s driving me crazy. I’m understanding Alexi’s unwillingness to accept rejection. It’s not like I wanted to talk to her, but I wanted to be the one to walk away first.

I still don’t know what was going on with her when she was shoving her way through the party. When she grabbed my drink and chugged it I was fucking stunned. She’s like a tornado tearing through everything in sight. I haven’t seen her since, and I don’t want to. I don’t usually fuck girls, just have them suck my dick. Safer that way. Coming inside of her was the most dumbass thing I’ve ever done. That was when I remembered her.

I’m very aware that she fucks everything in sight, and I have half a mind to get tested. To be fair, I’ve had plenty of mouths on my dick, and I know they’ve been a lot of places. Lately when I’ve finished, it was more of a means to an end than actual relief. Ashland sucked out my soul and ate it as dessert. I want her off of my mind, but I find myself thinking about her more than I should. I get hard every single time.

I pass Sig Ep on my morning runs sort of hoping I’ll see her stumble out. Then I’ll just feel fucking gross and be able to let it go. She never does. Alexi hasn’t mentioned her much since the party. I guess someone told her he was getting his dick sucked by Stacy, and he’s had to settle for being friends with Ashland. I didn’t mean to cock block him, but he honestly deserved it. I also don’t think Ashland really had any intention of sleeping with him anyways. It was just a convenient excuse. She’s good at manipulating men. That’s for fucking sure.

When Alexi asked if I’d meet him after his ancient culture class, I couldn’t refuse. Part of me wanted to use it as an excuse to glare at Ashland and throw her off. I doubt she thought I’d see her again, but I want to make her remember what we did that way I’m not the only one thinking about it all of the damn time. Of course, the day he has me show up she isn't there. It’s like the damn Universe wants to make me look like an idiot.

I stand there waiting with my arms crossed like a smug asshole just for Alexi to emerge alone.

“Awe, look at you. Waiting for me,” Alexi teases me.

“You fucking asked me to come here,” I growl. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s got some big test in another class. It’s not like she needs to be here. She knows everything anyways.”

My mood immediately plummets. “Why am I here instead of at the gym?”

“I figured we could get some coffee and study. Ya know, fresh autumn air?”

I roll my eyes. He’s so happy-go-lucky that it makes me want to hit him sometimes. I readjust the strap of my backpack. “Fine.”

We start across the quad and Alexi chatters away about shit that I don’t care about. He loves gossip and telling him not to talk about it makes him talk about it more. It shouldn’t have taken me so long to learn that, considering he’s my own brother. Alexi’s specialty is stirring the pot.

Once we reach The Roost I’m in my own head, trying to figure out how many more yards I need to throw to beat my last record.

“Ashland Bradshaw.” Alexi is standing over my pink haired mortal enemy with that goofy ass grin on his face. “Fancy finding you here.”

“Not really,” she huffs, not looking up from her sketchpad.

I wanted to fuck with her for a few moments, not this.

“Penny.” Alexi slides in next to her. “The girl I was forced to buy a mimosa for.”

“Forced?” she giggles.

“It took literally no coercion,” Ashland mutters.

Penny rolls her eyes at Ashland. “It was Alexi, right?”

She seems sweet. Way nicer than Ashland. She has shining copper hair that’s in two french braids and a heart shaped face. There’s a gold cross necklace resting on her chest. Penny is beautiful in the same unique way that Ashland is. Hazel eyes flick to me, warm and welcoming. There are several pencils organized across the table and she has once in her hand, drawing something in a large sketchpad.

“The very same.” He takes her outstretched hand and kisses her knuckles. I can't help but to roll my eyes.

“Ya know, people who don’t want to talk typically pretend not to see each other in public.” Ashland slams her own sketchpad shut and glares at him.

“Would it kill you to be nice?” Penny asks. Wow, she must know Ashland well because her head is still on her body.

“It might,” Ashland growls.

“Don’t worry about it. I think I’m growing on her.” Alexi winks at her, and she gives him the middle finger. Her signature.

“Now that you have invaded yet another portion of my life, can you leave?” she asks.

“You should stay. Study with us,” Penny offers. “Unless you have class.”

He sits back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Nowhere to be. This is my brother, Koda. He’s gonna join us. You probably don’t remember him, Ashy, but you’ve briefly met before.”

Ashland’s bright teal gaze slides to me in slow motion. I expect her to look surprised or perturbed, but she’s neither. This bitch acts like we’ve never met before.

“Chance, was it?” she asks sweetly. I immediately want to slap her all over again. She knows my fucking name is Koda. Alexi just said it. I made her moan it, and I’m not going to back down that easily.

“Is this seat taken?” I shove her bag out of it without waiting for permission and sit directly next to her. Still no fucking reaction. I can’t help it. I stare at her. I see my hand around her neck in my mind’s eye, and I’m in a fight for my life against my dick.

“So what are you drawing?” Alexi asks Penny. “Unless that’s a weird question. Ashy always gets mad.”

Ashland glares. “I told you. Don’t call me that.”

“This?” Penny ignores her. “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m in a sculpting class this semester so I’m planning my final,” she frets.

“Are you an art major?” I ask.

“I am,” Penny sighs, scrunching her eyebrows together and making another note. “Do you think this is too classical?” She turns the giant sketch around.

“Kind of reminds me of those Greek statues,” Alexi offers.

“Fuck,” she groans, slamming it onto the table.

Ashland takes a look at it. “If you make the dick bigger you’ll give it a modern twist.”

Penny rolls her eyes. “I fucking cannot with you.”

“Fine. If you don’t want my expert opinion then I won’t give it.” She grabs her sketchbook and turns to shield it from my prying eyes. Penny is conversing with Alexi, but she keeps looking at Ashland with obvious worry.

“What are you drawing?” I ask.

She doesn’t bother looking up. “Dicks.”

“So you really are a slut then?”

Her hand hovers over the page. “Not more of a slut than you.”

“Touché,” I answer, keeping my expression neutral. She's such a fucking brat. The need to fuck her again is overwhelming. I want her under my thumb, doing what I say and repeating what I tell her to.

Penny and Alexi are deep in some sort of conversation about Greek art compared to Roman art, and she’s explaining the difference to him in depth. Oddly enough, he doesn’t look bored.

“…And then an internship opportunity came up. I’m thinking about taking it. My, um, friend, Vale, applied,” she finishes.

“What?” Ashland sits up quickly, knocking her charcoal to the ground. She seems angry. The real kind.

Penny blushes. “Um, yeah. It just came up like an hour ago.”

“I just remembered I have something else to do. Later, cunts.” Ashland shoves headphones onto her head and grabs her bag, breezing past us. I notice Cole is inside behind the counter. So he works here. It makes sense considering he was bringing her food and coffee, and they were hanging out here.

They exchange words, and he offers her a smile. She bristles while he makes her a drink. When he holds it out to her, she grabs it and takes her board from the door, taking off. I see that she left her sketchpad on the table, and the charcoal is still on the ground. I don’t know what possesses me to grab it, but I put the charcoal in my pocket and the sketchpad in my bag with the thought that I’ll return it.

“Is she alright?” Alexi asks, seeming a little confused.

Penny sighs. “She’s just…stressed.”

I watch her head across the quad. She stops in the middle and changes directions, almost running someone over until she’s out of sight.

“Damn. I was hoping that I could have her help with our ancient culture homework. She wasn’t in class today,” Alexi explains. “Figured I’d find her here since lover boy is always fetching her coffee.”

“I do feel bad for Cole.” Penny glances in his direction. “He’s hopeless.”

“That’s putting it nicely,” I mumble under my breath. They don’t hear me. They’ve already moved on.

“So, Alexi, how’s the football season going?”

He laughs. “Pretty good. Undefeated this season.”

“Well, that’s awesome. Very cool. Do you like playing football?”

I’m not sure we’ve been asked that question before. I guess because we’ve always played people automatically assume we love it. The question gives Alexi pause. I know he’s had his moments. We all have. When we were getting scouted for college I wasn’t sure he was going to follow through. After he did, I figured he had gotten over his hump, but now it looks like he’s having to think about his answer. He's never really said much when we talk about going pro, now that I've come to think about it.

“I enjoy it,” he says carefully.

“Have you always played?”

“Since middle school." He nods toward me. "Koda got me into it actually.”

“Oh?” Penny raises her brows. “You play, too?”

“Yeah.” I lean back in my seat.

“He’s already getting offers to go pro,” Alexi divulges. There goes the gossip.

Penny seems impressed. “I’m going to be honest. I don’t know shit about football, but that’s a big deal, right?”

“Right,” Alexi chuckles.

“Well, congratulations. I wish art was like that. Instead, you have to shove your art into people’s faces and try to make them notice. I’m not very good at that part.”

“No? Not good at shoving it in someone’s face?”

Penny snickers. “No, I’m not. Ashland does it for me.”

Of course she does.

“So you and Ashland are close?” The question just comes out. I meant to observe the conversation, not be a part of it.

Penny smiles, and it’s quite possibly the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen. “Yeah, she’s my best friend. There’s no one like her.”

“Has she always been so abrasive?”

She immediately turns defensive. “That’s not the word I’d use. She’s honest, and I think people don’t appreciate that.”

I want to argue, but now that I think about it she might be right. Ashland speaks her mind and doesn’t seem to regret it. The words come out just as she thinks them.

“It’s a rare quality,” Alexi agrees. “She’s funny, too.”

Penny gives him a side glance. “You have no idea."

While she seems like a sweetheart, there’s fire in her. I can see why they’re friends.

Alexi stares at his textbook. “She really seems to know this ancient shit. I’m fucking struggling.”

“It’s one of her majors. She likes dead people, and I like their art."

He lights up. “Do you think you could talk her into being my study partner?”

She nods. “I’ll see what I can do, but I make no promises. It took Cole an entire semester of free coffee and begging to get into her good graces. Although, she’s gotten a lot better with people since then.”

“Hm,” Alexi contemplates. “I’m great at begging. What does she like more than coffee?”

“Anarchy.”

“I don’t think I can overthrow a government that quickly,” Alexi muses. “Although, my father is a senator.”

“In that case, you’re fucked.”

“Figures,” Alexi sighs. “She’s not easily impressed.”

“I can try to help you in the meantime,” she offers. “I do art, but it goes hand in hand with culture. Why don’t you come study with us one day? If she actively hears how stupid you are then she’ll help you just because it annoys her.”

They exchange numbers and start to make plans, but all I can do is dissect everything she just said. Ashland sounds a little bit like a control freak, and we have that in common. The two of them start to talk non-stop, like they’ve been friends for a long time. Penny is outgoing and likable. She asks questions and listens intently. Maybe she can be Alexi’s fucking friend, and he’ll let me have some peace.

I think about Ashland’s book in my bag and the charcoal I gathered. I’m antsy. I missed my alarm this morning and didn’t get to run before practice. She headed the direction of the locker rooms, so maybe if I just go ahead and head there I might run into her and can unload this shit. It would be too weird to hand it over to Penny right now. Worst case I give it to Alexi.

I stand abruptly. “I’ve got shit to do."

“Oh, yeah. Well, nice to meet you, Koda.” Penny gives me that sweet smile again. It almost makes me feel bad. Almost.

I walk slowly in the direction Ashland disappeared to. The art school is this way. I take a few unnecessary turns and then I see her, digging through her bag frantically probably looking for the sketchbook I’ve got in my possession. I almost back away, but my shadow is cast across her face, grabbing her attention.

Her teal eyes zero in on me. “What the fuck do you want, Chance?”

“Why do you keep calling me Chance?”

It seems to catch her off guard. “What?”

“Chance. You’ve called me Chance multiple times now. Do you really not remember people’s names, or do you think it’s cute?”

She shrugs. “A mixture of both.”

“I forget. You’re fucking everyone you meet. You probably don’t have space in your brain to remember them all.”

She crosses her eyes and huffs. “What is it that you need from me? Oh, Koda, your dick was so big, and you’re so charismatic. Please, please , give it to me again.”

I try to will my dick to get soft.

“So you do remember my name?” I snort.

“Fucking impossible,” she mutters to herself. “Listen, I'm going through something right now, if that isn’t clear. You’re welcome for rocking your world.”

I stare down at her, watching her run her goddamn filthy mouth, and all I can think about is how fucking sexy she would look with my hand wrapped around her throat right now. About how beautiful it would be if her face was red and there were tears streaming down her cheeks. She’s wearing a tank top and the bite mark I left is gone, but I want to mark her again. I want to see bruises on her flesh and my handprint on her fucking face. I want those teal eyes looking directly into mine with hatred and shame and bliss.

“…At least Alexi is funny,” she continues. “You just stand there looking fucking angry and staring at me like a serial killer. I don’t know if you've noticed, but I tried to avoid your boyfriend. He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. I get that you regret fucking me because it fucks with whatever Golden Boy reputation you’ve got but live with the regret, Chance. Life is full of it.”

Golden Boy. So it is her.

“I don’t regret it.”

She glances up, rolling her eyes. “I have got to start fucking guys off campus. Okay, well, I don’t need to be apart of your sadistic awakening or whatever this is. I’m sure Stacy will be glad to do whatever weird shit you’re into. Did you see my…There was…Nevermind.”

She zips her bag up and gets to her feet, snatching her board. I crowd her against the tree she’s standing next to. “You liked it, too. Admit it.”

Her eyes glance around, but we’re alone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she growls.

I reach my hand up, lightly squeezing her neck. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She swallows. I can feel it under my palm as her heart races under my fingertips. There’s fire in her eyes; she's trying not to submit. This is all so impulsive, unlike me, but I’m possessed by need.

I bring my mouth to her ear that’s littered with jewelry. “I’d be willing to bet that you’re wet right now just thinking about it. You were such a good girl for me, Ashland. You begged me to make you come.” I reach down and squeeze her ass before sliding her phone out of her back pocket. “When I text you, you answer. We’ll do it again, and again, and again, and we won’t stop until I say we do.” I take my palm and tap her face twice for emphasis before texting myself from her phone.

I toss it onto the ground and back away. “Oh, by the way, you left your charcoal.” I dig it out of my pocket and toss the pieces next to her phone. By the look in her eyes she’s fucking pissed, but she doesn’t tell me no. I leave without another word, saving her number.

After the interaction with Ashland I end up working out, trying to release some pent up aggression. It doesn’t work. I already want her again, but if I try to get to her too quickly she’ll figure out she has the upper hand. When I get home Alexi is on the couch, invading my space, per usual. He’s furiously texting on his phone, laughing every few seconds.

“Jesus, can you take your slumber party somewhere else.” I pull some juice from the fridge, pouring it into a glass.

“I’m just texting Penny. She’s cool as fuck.”

“Yeah? Ashland out, Penny in?”

His answer better fucking be yes.

“I actually think it’s neither. They’re really cool. Not self-absorbed jackasses like everyone else we know.”

“So you got friend zoned?”

“I’m capable of having friends who are girls." He yawns. “And they aren’t into football.” I raise my eyebrow at him. “I just mean that I know they’re not trying to be friends with me because I’m Alexi Daemon or because you’re my brother. In fact, Ashland might hate you more than she hates me.”

“Yeah, well, she’s a slut. I think her capacity for friendship is pretty limited.”

“Whatever. You’re just mad I’ll have friends that aren’t you.”

“Hardly,” I snort, grabbing my bag and heading for my room. It feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.

I want Alexi to leave so I can look at Ashland’s sketches. I mean she was so engrossed in them that one day on the quad that she fell off of her board. I find it odd that she hides them. The right thing to have done would've been to give it to Penny immediately. The next thing to do would be to give it to Alexi. I could have handed it over when she asked about it, too, but I didn’t. Now, I’m just being a weirdo holding onto it like a stalker. Still, I can’t help myself.

“So who have you started dating?” he asks, not looking up from his phone.

I pause in my doorway. “What are you talking about?” It's too defensive.

“Dude, I’m not stupid. You haven’t had any of the groupies over, and you’ve been brooding more than you usually do.”

“I’m not dating anyone. I’m just focused on this season.”

“I forgot you only date football,” he sighs.

“Whatever,” I roll my eyes. “I’m going to bed. If you ever leave, lock the door.”

I sit on the edge of my bed, pulling the sketchbook out of my bag. With a deep breath I flip to the first page. It’s sketched in pencil, but I’ve always seen her with charcoal. I can immediately tell it’s Penny sitting on a couch with a pizza. It’s strikingly accurate. This is wrong. This is so wrong. I slam it shut, but instead of putting it back in my bag I put it in the side table drawer next to my bed. I take a shower and throw on some sweats before climbing into bed and staring at the ceiling.

I can’t stop thinking about Ashland. She smelled like blackberries and honey. That was the sweet scent that I caught that day she ran out of Sig Ep. My mouth waters. When I kissed her at the party she tasted like red wine and nectar. Like sin. That’s exactly what she embodies to me. I always knew there was a reason so many songs talk about women making you sin. I just had never experienced it. But goddamn did it feel good.