Elena lets out a moan and digs her fingertips into my biceps. My release follows hers while I still feel her heat.

Except I don't really feel. Sex is nothing but practiced, mindless motions melded together into an act that's supposed to be intimate. It's not. Not even close.

I lift myself off her and pull out. My gaze is glued to the gray rug covering my bedroom floor as I pad to the bathroom. Once I close the door behind me, I toss the used condom in the trash and open the faucet.

My pale face and red-rimmed eyes greet me from the mirror above the sink, which isn't surprising considering what I did all night. What I'd been doing every night for the last week.

I splash cold water on my face and wash my hands, hoping Elena would be dressed and ready to leave by the time I reenter the room.

I find her scrolling through her phone instead. She's in the same position, lying on her back, but a sheet covers her chest.

"Do you already know your schedule?" she asks.

I grab a pair of boxers from my dresser drawer and pull them up my legs. "No."

"My course load is insane, and I think we'll have a couple of classes together. I hope we're partners this year."

Being busy is nothing new for a premed student. We both are, so it's not like I need reminders. What I need is a hot shower and a cup of coffee. And I want Elena to leave.

"Brian will be here soon," I say. My roommate had somewhere to be, but we're going out to celebrate the beginning of the school year. Plus, I want to talk to him. He returned from his hometown and got back with his girlfriend. I'd rather listen to the recap of his summer than be in the same room as the girl I fucked.

Elena wraps the sheet around her tighter. "So what? It's your apartment too."

She's oblivious, and the way she makes herself more comfortable instead of gathering her stuff and leaving jars on my nerves.

"I have shit to do before going to The Nerd," I say. "So, I'll see you there."

Elena smirks. "Your mysterious job?"

I don't reply and stroll to my closet to sift through the pile of clothes in search of something not too wrinkled to wear tonight.

The over-the-top huffing and rustling of fabric tell me Elena finally got a clue.

"See you later," she says over her shoulder by the time I've found a more or less decent tee.

My bedroom door slams shut, and I exhale, heading to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, I'm leaning against the kitchen counter with a mug full of steaming coffee in my hands. The front door opens, and Brian strolls in.

"Hey," he says. "Damn, you're already dressed. I gotta shower real quick."

"Want some coffee?" I ask. "And no worries. We've got time."

Brian glances at the watch on his wrist. "True. No coffee, thanks. Everyone's gonna be at the Nerd, right?"

I take a sip. "If by everyone you mean Drew and Elena, yeah."

Brian's eyes roam the room, almost as if he expects Elena to leave her hiding place.

"Elena's not here," I say. "We'll meet there."

Brian shrugs. "It's your apartment, too. I wouldn't mind."

But I would, although I don't tell him that.

"Speaking of, would it be okay if Leah spent the night?"

I gulp down the rest of the coffee and cock my head to the side, looking at my roommate. "Why are you even asking?"

"Should I remind you of the two questions you wanted me to answer back when we met?"

I chuckle. "I asked if you fucked a lot, but that was before we became friends. Plus, she's your girlfriend. It's not like you bring random chicks here every night."

"We could stay at her place, but Leah has a roommate too. You'll meet her tonight."

Curiosity gnaws at me, but Brian goes to get ready in his bedroom, and I take out my phone and go through messages from my clients. They're quite a few, meaning it's going to be another sleepless night.

***

The sidewalk outside The Nerd is booming with students, and the bar is packed. You don't have to be a genius to understand its appeal - the music's great, and so are the drinks. You won't pay for some watered-down shit or wake up with a killer headache because of drinking low-quality liquor. The owner is our college alumnus, which would explain why he turns a blind eye and doesn't make a fuss about the fake IDs we use to order booze.

As Brian and I shoulder our way through the throngs of people dancing to a rock song, my eyes skim the room and land on Drew.

Elena is over there, too. Alone. Judging by how her gaze darts around, she's looking for me.

I'd wonder why she's not talking to Drew, but I already know he can't stand her. If I'm honest, I don't know a single person who can. She's not exactly friendly, and most of her interactions with others involve criticizing them. Not a good combo to make friends in college or anywhere.

Elena adjusts her glasses when we approach her and smiles. I give her a curt nod and go to the bar. As I flag the bartender, I look at Brian over my shoulder. He's chatting with Drew, stealing glances at his watch. His girl must be late.

"Thanks," I say when the guy slides a whiskey on the rocks across the wooden bartop. He winks, and I go back to our spot in the back.

I've barely taken a few sips of my drink when the crowd parts, and two girls walk up to us. Leah is leading the way, beaming when she spots her boyfriend, and behind her...

Oh, for fuck's sake.

I blink and take a drink from my tumbler. I order my eyes not to look, but they do.

Her blonde hair looks shiny under the dim lights of The Nerd, and that goddamn dress has to be declared illegal. It's white and thin. So thin, I don't have to imagine what's underneath because I see the contours of her body.

I hate her. And loathe myself for not being able to look away. Lucky for me, I snap out of it when Brian hugs his girl.

Barbie crosses her arms and quirks an eyebrow.

I narrow my eyes, smirking. "Isn't that Barbie?"

A fake smile stretches her lips. "Isn't that the Nerd?"

Brian laughs, wrapping his arms around his girl from behind. "Well, we saved time on introductions, but just to be polite, Sebastian, she's Tara."

So, Barbie's Leah's roommate. My fucking existence has just gotten more complicated. Thanks for nothing.

I roll my eyes. "I know. Unfortunately. How's life in the palace, Barbie? Did you fire lots of maids this summer?"

Barbie holds up her finger as she takes a swig from the bottle. I didn't peg her for someone who'd drink water at a bar. Or be at The Nerd since it's cheap and not at all glamorous. "Only one," she says. "What about you? Did you bore holes in lots of textbooks?"

I don't study more than anyone else in my degree, but she seems to think otherwise.

I rest my glass on a table and stretch, folding my arms behind my head.

"Why, Barbie? Would you like me to be your tutor and teach you how to read?" I ask. "It won't be cheap, but that's not an issue, right?"

Barbie says nothing, but her eyes get darker, and the skin on her cheeks flushes.

I pissed her off, but I sure as fuck didn't expect the cold water from her bottle to end up all over me. She purses her lips and tips her chin up, challenging me to say something even nastier.

"You're insane," I say through gritted teeth, running a palm down my wet face.

Barbie spins on her heel and sweeps past Elena.

"Dumbass," Drew mutters, looking vexed as he goes after her. Barbie doesn't push him away. They disappear in the crowd, and something tugs at my insides. I study the water-soaked front of my shirt to stop myself from trying to see where she's gone.

"You deserved it, man," Brian says.

He's right. But I don't like that he is. And I sure as fuck don't want to hear what he says.

Elena snorts. "He didn't. She's crazy, and everyone knows it."

"She's not," Leah speaks for the first time.

"And you are...?" Elena asks in her default tone - half bitchy, half condescending.

"My girlfriend Leah," Brian replies instead. He doesn't look me in the eye and puts his hand on Leah's waist. "Come on, baby, let's get some drinks."

"You didn't have to butt in," I tell Elena when they're out of earshot. "Not your business, and I didn't need you to defend me."

"Really?" She nods toward the bar where Barbie and Drew are. His arm is around her shoulders, and my jaw clenches almost as if their closeness bothered me. It's illogical. I knew they were friends, and I've seen them together at the gym countless times. What the hell am I even doing, staring at them?

"Those two look cozy." Elena goes on. "I shouldn't be surprised. Men are basic. They always go after the dumb, pretty ones."

Barbie laughs at something Drew says in her ear.

"I'm going home."

Elena gasps, but I ignore her and stride to the exit of the bar. A weird mix of anger and disappointment thrums through my bloodstream. Must be the exhaustion. Maybe if I slept through the night... Perhaps if I could sleep, insignificant shit wouldn't rankle me.

"Bast."

Drew's voice booms, attracting the attention of students congregating by the entrance of The Nerd.

I inhale, summoning up patience. "What?"

"Are you leaving?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Drew shoves his large hands in the pockets of his jeans. He says nothing at first, just observes me.

I kick a small stone. "Listen, Evans-"

"You listen, Hutches. She's not dumb, okay? I would lose my scholarship if Tara didn't help me with my assignments. She's smart and way kinder than the snake you've been screwing. Both of you are my friends. Please, don't make me pick sides."

The reply dies on my tongue because Barbie exits the bar. Our eyes meet, and neither of us looks away.

I'm the first to leave cause I can't stand it. Her. Myself.

***

I sleep on and off and feel like crap the following morning. Brian and his girl are in his room, and I don't want company, so I get dressed and leave before they see me.

When I park on campus, a few students are milling around. A gust of wind blows, and I shiver, grip on my backpack tightening as I rush to the Humanities Building.

As soon as I locate the lecture hall, I walk inside and freeze. Un-fucking-believable.

Only one person is there. Her hair is up in a ponytail, and she's sipping coffee, staring at a closed pink notebook.

Should I apologize?

If I do, she'll think I give a damn, which I don't. Besides, what the hell is she doing in Ethics? It was supposed to be one year. I didn't want to have her in my class. Sighing, I drop into a random seat and press my palms to my face.

The urge to doze off is strong. I almost do, but students fill the hall, and Dr. Garcia begins the lecture.

"I'm happy to see so many familiar faces," he says, grabbing a handful of printouts. "And before we begin, I'd like to announce this class will be project-based. We'll analyze situations and seek solutions, and the best thing of all is that you'll get to do it with the same partner all academic year. So, let's begin."

The professor picks up a list and clears his throat. "Elena Atkins and Connor Gray."

Elena crosses her arms, eyes blazing. The guy she's supposed to partner with drums his fingers on his knee, half-asleep.

I yawn into my fist and relax. Dr. Garcia continues reading the names of students. Some are obviously pleased with his choice. Some are indifferent.

"Tara Van Doren," he says, and I sit straighter.

Blood whooshes in my ears, and my heart drums a frenzied rhythm. Who else is left? Someone else doesn't have a partner, right?

Both Barbie and I lean forward in our seats, eyes trained on the lectern.

The professor pauses and folds the list. "And Sebastian Hutches."

Gasp! Dr. Garcia, how could you?

Thoughts?

Vote, comment, share and forgive if there are typos or errors. The headache is no joke, but I was excited to show you the tension between Tara and Basti.