Taken aback, I didn’t fully register what she had said until she handed me her phone with the contacts already queued up. I diligently typed in my information as she looked at my fingers. Funnily enough, my nails were painted almost the exact same shade of red as hers, however where hers looked pristine and feminine, mine looked like chipped pomegranate seeds.
“There you go, Kitten. I’ll see you around.” It was her turn to be taken aback as I smirked and entered the library. The heat of her blush permeated the air and warmed the back of my neck as I took in the earthy smell of moldy books and petrichor. I at once felt calmer. Not that I wasn’t calm before, but if her boyfriend has seen us walking together I surely would have gotten an earful. Which was another hasty judgment? Mentally berating myself has become my new hobby.
Lucio was in the corner that we normally occupied with two empty coffee cups for company. The contents of his bookbag graced the table with an assortment of charts, spreadsheets, and candy wrappers. I kissed his forehead in greeting and he half-hugged me before continuing to peck away at his computer.
“Apple juice, babe?” I smirked but took another sip from my bottle. His appearance was just as startling as mine, if not more so. He often sported fishnet stockings and platform boots and his hair, where mine was a natural auburn, was candy apple red. Where I looked like a demonic priest (I appreciate the irony), he looked like a visual kei j-rock star; makeup and everything. His perfectly manicured eyebrow arched up as he gave me a small lopsided smile.
“You need to stop drinking that garbage. It’ll ruin you.” It had become regular for me to smuggle energy drinks to class. His own mug was no doubt filled with something that it shouldn’t be filled with. I could smell it from where I was sitting. How he hasn’t gotten kicked out yet, both library and school, I have no idea.
“Apple juice is better? And what are these?” I wadded up the wrappers to throw away, earning me a few looks of distaste at the noise I created. Bringing up his own choice of beverage would be unwise.
“Less sugar. I think. And they help me. Need I remind you that you were the one who led me to this?” He picked up another candy bar from his bag and brought it to his lips. “I feel like I’m losing respect around here. And I’m gaining weight.”
I chuckled dryly. “Taking drugs is the easy way out. You’re better than that,” I said with a pat on his back. He rolled his eyes and chewed. Lucio was working to become a neurosurgeon. He was diligent in his studying, and would often leave bed in the early hours of the morning to read another chapter or write another paragraph. I wish I could take his stress away. Sometimes it feels like he’s crumbling away in my hands.
He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. “I worry that you’re not getting enough sleep. I also thought that if I just replaced that crap with water you might beat me up.”
I hummed. “Me? Beat you up?” I gaped sarcastically. He lightly punched my shoulder. “Thank you for the thought anyway, my Lucio. I’ll try to worry you less.”
He huffed out an exasperated laugh. “Then get to work,” he demanded as he pointed at my bag. “I thought you had a presentation due soon.”
“I’ll get to that in a bit. First, I have something of interest to tell you.” I picked a speck of dust off his shoulder as he turned in his chair to give me his full attention. The manic smile on his face was an indication that I was right all along; if I could be summed up with the word ‘fuck,’ his word would be ‘confusing.’ It was one of the reasons I kept him along for the ride. That, and he’s pretty to look at. Warming my bed is another side benefit.
“Do tell. I’m tired of this,” he gestured to his work station, “cazzate.” His eyes lit up as I regaled him with my story of Rebecca Albright.
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