You didn’t know better.

That’s what Carmen had to tell himself, for weeks on end. That classmate was clever, he had to give them that. Kept their flirts vague, played ‘friendly’ in front of him, acted oh so “kind” and “sweet” on the surface. But he knew better.

Oh, did he know better. He knew their game, he knew exactly what they were doing, because he was the one who did it first. Played friendly, played innocent, acted like he didn’t want you until he was sure you’d accept his love. And he won. You were his. He wasn’t about to let that person play that game with you, not while he was in the fucking picture.

But gods, they were irritating. He had confronted them once before, and they had the nerve to laugh at him! Treated him like some jealous alpha they could just dismiss as being overzealous! They weren’t going to stop their behavior, and you were buying their innocent game- That was honestly the most annoying part. Partially because he expected it from you. You bought it from him, didn’t you? Why would you miss his desire for you and not theirs? You weren’t at fault here, but he still needed to cut this bastard’s plan off at the bud before you get in too deep.

He couldn’t rush it. No, no no no- he couldn’t rush it. He had to be careful. Had to plan. Carmen has a life to live; a diploma to finish, a future with you to protect. He couldn’t go to jail over some selfish brat trying to interfere with that.

Carmen’s unusually quiet as he finishes pulling on his Halloween costume, some slasher villain you had mentioned finding hot at some point. You two were headed to a costume party set up by the frat tonight. Coincidentally, he knew that the classmate was, too. Switching the realistic plastic knife in its sheath from the costume with a real one wasn’t too hard. He just needed to be careful…

He turns to look at you in your costume, distracted for the moment as his eyes glance you up and down. Gods above, you were the best thing that ever happened to him.

“Gorgeous.”