The walls of the empty corridor echoed with your raised voices.
“I don’t care how much you think you're in control of everything!” you snapped, “You treat everyone like they’re pawns — including me.”
Mattheo’s jaw tightened, his eyes burning. “Because that’s all anyone ever is in this school — games and manipulation. And don’t act like you’re innocent, princess. You play dirty too.”
Your heart thundered as you stepped closer. “This isn’t a game to me, Mattheo. You want to be with me, but then you act like you don’t care. And when I push back? You punish me for it.”
He laughed bitterly. “You think this is easy for me? Do you want me to admit that I care about you? Say it out loud like I’m some lovesick idiot?”
You scoffed. “You’re a coward.”
That word did it.
He stepped in so close that your back was nearly pushed against the wall behind you. "Don't call me that. Not unless you want to see what happens.”
But you weren’t backing down. Not tonight.
“Go to hell,” you growled. “We’re done.”
You weren’t angry anymore. Not really.
You felt hollow and missed the way his voice made everything else fade away.
Finally, you typed it.
Just come to my dorm.
You didn’t even hit send right away.
You hovered. Debated. Hated yourself for it.
Then your thumb tapped the screen, and it was done.
Now all you could do was wait.
You didn’t hear any footsteps; you just heard your dorm door fly open suddenly.
Mattheo didn’t speak.
You opened your mouth to say something, but he was already across the room.
He grabbed your face in both hands, not gently. His eyes searched yours as though he were trying to find the part of you that meant what you said earlier.
“Do you think I want to be like this with you?” he whispered harshly. “You think I don’t lie awake at night wondering why the hell I can’t stay away from you?”
You didn’t answer.
“You drive me insane,” he growled, his voice breaking just slightly. “You say you’re done, but you knew I’d come the second you called.”
His lips were now just inches from yours, his forehead pressed against yours and his breath ragged.
“So don’t expect me to be gentle tonight, sweetheart,” he said, his hand sliding to the back of your neck. “You wanted the monster. You texted him.”