Chapter 30: Chapter 30

“I might need to get a restraining order on you.” I turned down the lights and locked the door. “Can’t say I am surprised. You have a thing for stalking and that’s not cool.” I pulled off my sneakers. “What now?”

He said nothing, just sat there on my couch with his legs crossed. I ignored him and went to my fridge to get a bottle of water when I came back his eyes were closed and his right arm was flung over his eyes as if to shield them from the light.

“Okay, don’t say anything when you are ready you sneak back out the way you came in.”

“Leaving your balcony door open is dumb.”

“I didn’t have to worry about that on my first night here until you moved in so what’s your point?” he didn’t reply me but he didn’t look out from beneath his hand. “Does Siobhan know you’re here?”

“No. I needed to get away.”

I stopped in my tracks on the way to my room. “From what?”

“None of your business, Davis.”

I scoffed. “Hello! Are you forgetting whose apartment this is? You snuck in like a snake over my balcony, got on my couch, waited for me for God knows how long and it’s not my business?”

“You left your balcony door open, that was an invitation, wasn’t it?”

Laughter bubbled out of me. “You flatter yourself, Rios. But enough of these games. I don’t care why you’re here, you need to leave.”

He didn’t make any attempt to get up. I stood there at the threshold of my room watching his tensed muscles heave as he took in deep breaths.

“We are playing a dangerous game, Bianca, been playing one since Mainland.”

“What are you talking about? You’re the one playing a game here! I didn’t beg to be kissed yesterday and I am not the one slinking like a snake through people’s rooms. You know what? You’re lucky I haven’t reported you the matron yet, I bet they won’t find it funny to know that you have been stalking me.”

He laughed and took his hand off his face to look at me. “Did you tell Siobhan about the kiss?”

I looked away feeling guilty. What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to have gone up to my friend and said, ‘Oh hey, by the way, I kissed your boyfriend – or rather he threw me against the door and kissed me.’ “Well, did you tell her?” I shot back.

“I am not the best friend here, you claim she’s a sister to you and you don’t keep things from each other.”

Sick up to my neck with his bullshit I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. “Are you trying to come between us, Andre? Is that your plan?”

He gave me a side glance and smirked. “Now why would I do that?”

“I don’t know! Maybe so that you can play us both when we become enemies. Let me warn you now that’s not going to happen!”

He regarded me for a moment then went back to close his eyes.

At loss for words and ideas, I put my hands on my waist and leaned to one side with a sigh. “Why are you here? If you’re not going to tell me then I suggest you leave.”

“I told you I came here to get away. I need to think.”

“Obviously because you can’t turn on your brain’s wavelength you need to use mine.”

He chuckled. “You are the most acidic person ever.”

“And you are the most annoying. Don’t get too comfortable on my couch I won’t be staying here tonight. And I’ll be closing my doors – every single one of them, by the way, so as soon as I am done inside I want you gone.”

Without waiting for a response from him I left the living and went to my bathroom where I brushed my teeth, swished a bit of mouthwash around, and washed my face. I contemplated changing into my night shirt now instead of giving Aaron’s striptease. I felt naughty and happy thinking about it. It will be another big step into this thing between us.

Am I ready to take that leap? Or should I just put my nightshirt on now?

Eventually, I settled for putting it on now, that way when he opens his door and he will get a huge surprise seeing me scantily clad. Smiling secretively to myself I changed my underwear glad my period was over. I am one of the lucky ones who only get three days periods. When I came out of my room armed with my pillow and my water bottle Andre was still there on my couch in the same position I left him.

“You can’t sleep here, Rios.”

“Why not?”

“For starters, it’s my apartment and I don’t want you here. Secondly, if you are afraid of the dark you should go to Siobhan’s room. I don’t trust you well enough to leave you alone here.”

He peeked from beneath his hand again. Suddenly he dropped his arm to really look at me, his eyes drifting from my legs to my face. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, feeling naked and exposed under his piercing stare, especially with that look in his eyes and that faint smile on his face.

“You’re not bad,” he said, his voice low and husky.

My thoughts were like scrambled eggs in my head. “Andre please stop. You can’t keep doing this?”

He sat up and with teasing eyes leaned his back against the backrest. He looked too relaxed there and somewhere in my head, I realized that he looked like he belonged there on my couch.

“Doing what?” he taunted. “Exposing your true feelings for me?”

“Stop it…”

“What?” he lifted himself off the couch and in short strides crossed the room. He towered over me, his hands a light touch on my waist. “Stop what, Bianca?”

I tried to move back and came up against the wall. “Andre please…” I begged and swallowed. The first mistake was not kicking him out of my apartment the moment I came in and saw him there. “Stop doing this, you tease me and touch me and…you’ve been this way since Mainland now you’re here…why are you here anyway?!”

“Does it matter?” His eyes were shielded by the locks of hair that fell over his forehead. His lips were parted and moist. I looked away and pushed him off.

“Get out.”

He wouldn’t budge.

“It's like... you’re playing with me, playing with Siobhan…what do you want? To toy with me? You’ve been doing that since you we first met in Mainland,  was fun at first but now you really need to get a grip and stop this foolishness! I only accommodate you for Siobhan’s sake once she’s done with you I will drop all civilities.”

“Why? What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything I’m just not dying to keep up this game with you. Is this what you do with Eva? Rebecca? Shewa? All the girls in our class?” I stopped for a breath. “Stop it, I am not those girls, get that into your head and leave me alone.”

“You want me to stay away? Are you sure you want that?” he bent to muzzle my cheek.

“Positive.”

“Look at me, Bianca.” When I didn’t look he lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. My feelings were a mixed turmoil inside me. He pulled me in magnetically with his stupid games and my head was aching heavily trying to understand his endgame. “You want me to stop?”

“Yes,” I said through my teeth.

“Fine. I thought you enjoyed it but I’ll back off.” He pushed his hands into his pocket. "For the record,  really wasn't trying to start anything tonight, I just needed to think certain things through." He stopped for a second and turned around with an unreadable look. "You know where to find me when you're done playing with your feelings, Bianca."

Good. That’s fine. Awesome. I watched his back as he pulled the door shut behind him, it was only then I released the deep sigh I had been holding.