some guys just need to be put in their place

****

I FELT SOMETHING rubbing up against me and instantly opened my eyes. I was in a trance because of the beauty next to me; her black hair framing her face perfectly and her mouth had some drool hanging from the side, but that still made me want to kiss the life out of her.

I heard her groan and move her arm so it was resting on my stomach. Just then she snapped her eyes open and sat up.

"Holy shit!" Mila ran her hands through her hair. I was still staring at her when she realized someone was in bed with her. She slowly turned her head around to face me.

"Renzo? What are you doing here? Oh my god, did we have sex?" She looked distressed, looking underneath the covers.

I finally decided to talk, "No we didn't. You asked me to stay here with you because you're afraid of thunderstorms."

Mila had an adorable blush as I said that, but she didn't look me straight in the eye. Instead, she was staring at my shirtless chest. "Oh."

"I should probably get going." I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

I put on my jeans and wife beater and was just about to leave when I heard her sleep-induced voice, "Hercules, stay for breakfast and we can leave for class together."

I turned around and saw Mila bunching up the sheets in her hand and staring down at the bed. I felt giddy when she called me that, indicating that she remembered what she said last night.

"Sure," I replied smiling. "You get ready and we can pick up some food on the way. Also, take the pills I set on your table to get rid of the hangover."

"Yeah okay, that sounds great." She said.

When she came into the kitchen where I was drinking water.

"Renzo, do you mind if I want to keep the painting?" She asked, running her hand up the canvas.

"Sure, I'm fine with that." I smiled yet again. "Oh, and Mila, if you call me Hercules then I think it's only fair I pick out a nickname for you too."

She looked deep in thought, but nodded her head and grinned. I've never seen her smile this much since we started talking. "Only from time to time, you can use it."

We were on our way out of the loft and I saw my bike resting against Mila's car.

"So Principessa, do you want to drive or we can ride my bike?" I looked back at her. Mila's face wasn't the usual expression I see when I tell girls I ride a motorcycle. Instead, it had a look of awe and curiosity.

"Let's go on your bike." her excitement causing me to grin.

"Okay, swing your leg up and hold on tight," I told her.

She wrapped her arms around me. I watched in caution as she got on very sloppily, almost slipping.

"Principessa, wrap your arms tighter unless you want to fall off. Just know that if you do, you're responsible." I place her hand near my midriff. "I don't want to get sued."

Mila's laughter filled my ears. It was a wonderful sound, she wrapped her arms tighter as she chuckled. Soon we were on our way to the coffee shop.

As I was steering the bike, it felt like we were on the path to a neutral territory; where we can actually become friends.

----

When we reached the campus, Mila and I were grinning from ear to ear.

"This was fun," she smiled, swinging off the bike, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.

"It was," I agreed, parking the bike in my spot.

"Well," Mila paused. "I guess I'll see you around?"

"Of course," I felt my heart deflate. Maybe it was for the best.

"Okay," she started to walk to her class. "See you, Renzo."

Hercules.

I sighed and went the other way to the art rooms. I noticed the guys were standing outside the entrance of the building.

"Hey," I approached them. 'What's up?"

"That bet," Seth, who leaning against the wall, pushed himself off of it. "Is it still on?"

"No," I shook my head. "It just seems wrong to bet on someone's feelings like that."

"I thought our plan worked!" Fletcher cursed. "Fucking hell, Enzo. Do you know how hard it was to not get hit by her baseball bat?"

"She had a baseball bat?" My eyes widen.

"Yeah," Mike said. "Your girl obviously has some tricks up her sleeve."

"She's not my girl."

"You're just saying that now, Zozo." Seth put his arm around my shoulder. "If I was a girl, I would totally bang you."

"I wouldn't fuck you over my dead body." I shuddered, playfully pushing him off me.

"You seriously wound me." Seth put his hand on his heart, pouting in an exaggerated way. "Necrophilia it is then, Zozo."

"Enzo," Fletcher flicked Seth's forehead and then turned to me. "There's plenty more fish in the sea. If Mila can't see how great you are, then it's her loss of losing a guy like you."

"Fletch," Mike bunched his eyebrows. "Do you know how lame you just sounded?"

"What's wrong with that?" Fletcher accusingly stated, crossing his arms. "Is there wrong with sounding like that when one of my best friends is down?"

"That's not what I meant," Mike raised his hands in surrender, trying to mask his laughter with a cough.

"Well, I'm just saying. If Mila can't see it, another girl will. Simple."

"Exactly," Seth clapped his hand on Fletcher's back. "Not like our lives end here. We have plenty of opportunities."

Fletcher smiled, which was then wiped off quickly. "Enzo! Why does it look like Mila is coming here with a group of girls?"

I was confused until I noticed it for myself.

Mila, who looked like a raging bull, came walking towards our group like she was on a mission.

Once she saw me look at her, she scoffed. I didn't know how to react, so I'm pretty sure my face gave away my lack of understanding.

Coming up to me, she smacked her hand across my face. A loud thwack resonated from her hand connecting to my cheek. I felt my head whiplash as the burning sensation crept into my skin.

"This is for fucking with my friend, you sick son of a bitch." She growled.

"What?" I placed my hand on my stinging cheek. "What the hell are you talking about Mila?"

"You fucked my friend and threw her to the side! How dare you do such a thing?"

"I'm not sure who you're talking about," I said. The guys chuckled at the scene playing out. I glared at them for their lack of coming to my defense.

"Emily!" Mila pushed me back. That was when she started going on a rampage. "Seriously, do you have attachment issues? Were you never validated as a child? Did your mother or father never love you? Did your fucking siblings lock you in a closet? Huh? Tell me. Was it because of such fucking problems that you're such a fucking dick? You fucking knocked a girl up and threw her to the side! Does that make you feel better about yourself?"

"Mila," one of her friends, who just so happened to be Emily, came to her side. "It's alright. Let's just go." The other girls stared in shock and were already beginning to gossip.

Mila tried to calm down and glared at me. "I can't believe that I thought you were a good guy."

"I—" I spoke before I was cut off.

"Save it." She snapped at me. "Never come near me again. I can't believe I almost fell for that 'Principessa' bullshit you were spouting."

With that, she left with her friends and I let out the air I was holding in.

"Well," Fletcher said. "There goes your chance."

"No," feeling an idea drift into my mind. "It's not getting away that easily."