It’s been a week since I moved into this absolute Hellhole. Leo has a hockey game soon, the one damn thing this school actually has going for it. Like, how is there gonna be a whole-ass toilet missing in the 2nd-floor bathroom, but there’s a full-on hockey rink in the basement? …Priorities in this place, I swear.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the wave of tiredness to hit. Leo and I have gotten really close over this week. He turns out to be really sweet under that tough exterior. That really… muscly and tough exterior. His arms, his smirk, his stupid flirty comments—ugh. I shake my head, trying to shove those thoughts away before I start daydreaming.

I also figured out something important: if anything covers Leo's ears at the same time, I can't hear his thoughts. Honestly? A blessing. Because the other night, he had his headphones on, and while I was trying to fall asleep, I caught a glimpse of… unholy noises. I still don’t know if I’ll ever mentally recover.

I sigh, rolling onto Leo’s bed—our unofficial hangout spot. His pillow smells faintly of his cologne and laundry detergent. Comforting. Dangerous.

“Hey, Princess,” Leo’s familiar voice comes from the doorway. That cocky lilt makes my stomach flip. “Miss me?”

“Like a dessert misses the sun,” I reply with a smirk, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my cheeks warm.

He laughs, sitting down next to me and slipping his headphones around his neck. “You’re so rude, Princess.” Then, without hesitation, he slides his arm over my shoulders and pulls me close.

My heart jumps into my throat. He’s warm. Solid. His hand rests heavy on my shoulder, his body heat bleeding into mine. I pat his back, pretending to be casual, but inside I’m screaming. He’s really touchy. Way too touchy. Not that I mind. Not even a little.

We sit there in silence, and for a moment, it feels like the whole world disappears. Then—

Knock. Knock.

The sound makes me jolt.

“Who the hell could that be?” I groan, dragging myself to the door. When I open it, I find a boy standing there. About my height, white hair so stark it almost looks painted on, and soft brown eyes that don’t quite match the rest of him.

“Hello? How can I help you?” I ask, more confused than an unknowing gay guy in an all-boys locker room.

“Hi! I’m new. Are you my ro—” He has some kinda accent…Russian? He doesn’t even finish before Leo cuts in.

“No. He isn’t,” Leo says firmly, stepping up behind me, leaning against the doorframe with that cocky grin that screams mine.

The new boy stares at him. Like… really stares. Almost like he’s challenging him. And are his cheeks turning red and he’s tugging on his own sleeve? What the hell. Holy shit does Dom like Leo? My chest feels like a sumo wrestler just decided to sit down on it.

“Leave him alone, Leo. He probably got the numbers mixed,” I say quickly, trying to diffuse whatever weird vibe is happening. I glance up at Leo towering behind me. He seriously reminds me of a dog sometimes. A huge, cocky, adorable guard dog.

“Y-yeah, I did. I’m so sorry!” the boy blurts. “I’m, uhm… Dom.” He says it like he’s guessing his own name. Nervous, awkward—but his eyes flick to Leo again, and I don’t like the way he looks at him.

“My name’s Daniel, but feel free to call me ‘Da—”

“He goes by Dani, but I call him Princess~” Leo cuts me off, puffing his chest like he owns the world. “My name’s Leo! Awesome, right?~”

I step on his foot. Hard.

“OW!” He yelps, then immediately wraps his arms around me, fake crying into my shoulder.

I force a smile at Dom. “Don’t mind him, he’s stupid as hell. Dumber than a koala, some people say.”

Dom chuckles awkwardly. I show him the way to his dorm on a map, and he finally leaves. Still, something about his hair and the way he looked at Leo sticks in my head.

When I flop back onto the bed, Leo immediately drops down beside me, draping an arm over me again like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey, think of a number between 1–10 and take off your headphones,” I say suddenly.

“Kay~” he hums, tilting his head. The little smile on his lips makes my heart squeeze.

I brush a strand of hair from his face as I lift his headphones. “No peeking,” I whisper. My voice is way too soft for a dumb game.

He smirks. “I’m not peeking, Princess…promise.” His cheeks are faintly pink, but his grin is pure mischief.

God, he’s perfect. I want to kiss him right now. My fingers brush his, and sparks fly up my arm.

7.

“You thought of 7,” I breathe.

His grin falters, replaced by something sharper. “Wait… you can, can’t you?” His eyes lock on mine, suspicious, daring me.

“What’re you talking about?” I ask, but my voice cracks.

“You can read my mind.” He says it plain, like a truth he’s already accepted.

Shit. Shit. Shit. My throat closes up. “I—uhm…” I close my eyes.

Kiss me.

“What!” I squeak before realizing it wasn’t spoken out loud.

He smirks, triumphant, and pulls me straight onto his lap. My breath catches. His arms are solid walls around me.

“So you can read my mind…” His voice is low, almost tender. “You know all my feelings, and you’ve kept quiet but stayed close…” He squeezes me tighter. “You feel the same, don’t you~?”

My heart pounds so hard it hurts. I know the answer. It’s yes. God, yes.

“Princess, I’ll make this easier,” he murmurs. “If you like me back, kiss my cheek. If not, get off my lap. ‘Kay?”

This… absolute bitch.

Slowly, nervously, I lean in and press my lips to his cheek.

His laugh rumbles through his chest as he crushes me in a hug, pulling me tighter until I’m straddling him. My whole body goes red.

“Leo!” I squeak, but he only chuckles, laying back and dragging me down with him.

We lock eyes. The world shrinks until it’s just the two of us, closer and closer until his breath fans over my lips. My heart slams against my ribs.

And then he kisses me.

Holy fucking shit this is happening. Oh.my.fucking.god

It’s soft at first, almost testing, but then he deepens it, and I melt. His arms tighten around my waist, my hands clutch at his chest, and the kiss grows hungry. His lips taste like mint gum, his warmth surrounds me, and the world tilts.

His hands start to wander—slowly, teasingly—down my back, until he’s squeezing my ass and I yelp into the kiss. He only laughs against my lips, kissing me harder.

Minutes blur together until we break apart, breathless. My chest heaves. I can’t look at him. “So… does this mean we’re…uhm…”

“Dating?” he finishes, grinning so wide it nearly splits his face. “Hell yes.”

I giggle, burying my face in his chest. My whole body feels like it’s buzzing.

“Big blonde oaf.”

“Damned tsundere,” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

And for the first time since moving here, I feel like maybe—just maybe—this Hellhole isn’t so bad.