Jasmine's POV
"You've been in your head these days, Jas" Bella points out the moment we settle into our seats for the next class.
"You don't look like you slept a wink last night" She adds, closely examining my face again.
'Last night'
I don't want to think of it. Especially how it ended.
God…. I just wish the ground could open and swallow me.
"Been studying" I lie.
"Studying? Oh yeah, I saw you come out of the library this morning"
I almost reply that I went to get my keys but I stop myself before the words can leave my mouth.
"I returned some books."
"You are studying a lot without me. We promised to help each other out and do things together so we can both graduate with flying colors." She whines, poking me with a finger.
"I'll carry you along."
I'm not in the mood for any conversation.
"Yeah you should. Invite me over to have a study session with you"
"We can go to the library today" I reply absentmindedly.
"No dummy" She laughs, "At your apartment."
My body freezes.
But why am I hiding that I'm living with Xavier? I know it's not easy to digest, not just for her but for anyone that hears it. I should still have told her, she already knows so much about me, so much that even my therapist doesn't.
"Not today. I have to be somewhere" I see my self making an excuse. I don't think she'll ever know.
Speaking of Xavier, does she know that he's engaged or about to be? I don't think anyone knows.
I'm still confused about him. He sounded like a real genuine guy last night. After the heated argument, his soft apologies and the door opening to reveal some of his teammates. I could see the shock in their faces.
Fuck. I hide my face in my palms remembering that I was in nothing but his shirt. What impression did I give them?
And the moment before the text…. How warm his skin was, and although I hate to admit it, I enjoyed every bit of it. For once, I felt protected in his strong arms…
What am I thinking of? I shake my head immediately like it'd shake off the thoughts.
Bella is looking at a spot, her body rigid. I follow her eyes to meet the grey ones of Chloe.
Chloe! What is she doing here?
She walks towards us, stopping merely a feet from our seat.
"Follow me" She instructs, turning around and walking out of the hall. Undeniably, it was directed at me.
Bella's face scrunches in confusion. I can't start explaining everything to her right now, can I?
"It's me" I say shortly, leaving the wall. I can hear her footsteps behind me but I don't stop her.
Scanning the open parking lot in front of the hall, my gaze stops at the tall figure standing in front of a black BMW.
"She's rich" Bella whispers to me, but I just shrug.
Chloe's fake smile only deepens the moment she sees us walking towards her. The only reason I am honoring this invitation is because I want to avoid drama and make things clear between us now that I understand how deep her relationship with Xavier is.
It's not easy to know that your supposed fiancé is living with another girl.
"Jasmine, right?" She starts, her perfectly manicured nail twirling a golden strand of her hair.
I don't bother to ask her how she knows my name. Must have been from my painting or Xavier told her.
"Oh I forgot. You count your words." She muses, a sharp gleam lights up her eyes.
Can we get this over with?
Come to think of it, I barely talk a lot to anyone, but I can swear I have spoken more to Xavier than I have to anyone. Why am I even thinking of him right now?
"How do I put this nicely?" She starts, darting her gaze between Bella and me, "I can get you another apartment. You have to promise me that you'll leave tonight"
"No" I bite out without thinking. Her brows furrow into a frown for a splint second before she straightens it and smiles.
Isn't a new apartment what I need right now? Somewhere away from him. Where I can live peacefully. What am I doing?
"You are a stubborn one."
I don't need to look at Bella to know she's puzzled. Who wouldn't be?
"Anyways, I was just being generous. And I can only be generous with material things, not with him"
She glares at my feet that is tapping on the floor, I didn't know I was doing that.
"I don't like sharing, Jas."
Why does everyone want to call me Jas?
"It's fine if you don't want to leave. I understand that it's just temporary. Let's pray your dorm plumbing issue gets fixed quickly. Well, it was nice having this wonderful conversation with you, and I must say, I really need to learn how good you are with words. You must read a lot" She remarks drily.
How does she even know of my reason for moving out?
"Okay"
I finally say, about to leave.
"One more thing" her eyes glints with excitement like she's about to drop the happiest news, "You'll ruin Xavier's chances in life. I know he is hot, who wouldn't want him? And it must feel like a dream come true living with him. Who knows, you might be fucking him in a bid to get closer to him" Both of her hands clenches tightly, the smile on her face gone like it was never there.
"But all I can tell you now is, just like every other girl, you can only offer him your body. He should be tired of you by now. Xav doesn't fuck the same girl twice, no matter how pretty you are"
I can see the undeniable look of jealousy she shoots me, her eyes on my frame like it disgusts her.
Surprisingly, her words have no effect on me. If it were anyone I was accused of sleeping with, I'd have gotten all defensive but I'm astonished I don't care.
The fact that she isn't getting a reaction out of me seems to frustrate her, but the next thing she says shocks me to my core.
"You don't know who you are messing with. Everything Xavier family has belongs to my family!"