What if it made me love him even more? What if it made this goodbye impossible? Would it be worth it?
One passion-filled, filthy, amazing, incredible night. Would it be worth a hundred years of heartache?
Yes. One thousand percent, yes.
Chapter Eleven
Colin
Declan and I decide to pick up dinner on our second to last night on campus. We go to a pizza place we both love that’s within walking distance of the university.
On the way back, we are caught up in reminiscing about our favorite memories from the last four years. And there are so many.
It’s hard to believe I am the same person who showed up here four years ago. The old me was so naive and yet so ambitious. Since then, I’ve gotten drunk—a lot—discovered my sexuality, and, maybe most importantly, made a best friend. It’s sad to think I never truly had a best friend before Declan. It’s hard to remember my life before Declan was in it.
And he’s right, we do go together so well. We just fit. With Declan, I understand myself better. With him, I don’t feel so misshapen and different. With him, I’m not alone.
“Remember that girl I slept with a few times back in my second year?” he asks.
“The one who stole your socks?” I ask, making Declan laugh.
“She was such a wild bitch. I liked her.”
“Yeah, I know you did. You slept with her three times,” Isay. I’m not entirely fond of the memory of him sleeping with anybody, but I do like to see him laugh.
“Oh yeah, I wonder what happened to her,” he says.
“And your socks.”
We both break out in laughter as we approach our building. From afar, I can already see Malcolm standing out front with a group of his friends, and judging by the sound of their voices and the way they’re talking, I can already tell that they are piss drunk. The hairs on my neck raise in suspense.
Maybe if Declan and I just keep our heads down, and talk to each other and not to them, they’ll ignore us or won’t notice us.
Of course, that’s not what happens. As soon as we approach with no other way to enter the building but passing by them, Malcolm shouts at me from the side of his huddle of friends.
“Oh, it’s the two lovebirds!” he calls. “Aren’t you two so fucking cute together? What are you going to do without each other after this school year, eh? You two gonna live together?”
“Ignore him,” I mutter under my breath. Naturally, Declan doesn’t listen to me.
“You’re just jealous, Malcolm! That you can’t have a piece of this,” Declan taunts, gesturing to his body.
I roll my eyes as I tug him toward the door. “I said ignore him.”
“Oh fuck him, why do I have to ignore him? He’s the ignorant bastard.” He says it a little too loudly, and we’re so close to the door when Malcolm shouts at my friend.
“What the fuck did you call me?” Malcolm bellows as he barrels toward us. He gives Declan a quick shove and something inside of me burns like I’ve never felt it burn before.
“He said you’re an ignorant bastard,” I bark back at him.
Malcolm stares down at me angrily. “You better watch it, you little bitch,” he snarls. “I’ll knock you out right here.”
The only thing I have going for me right now is that he’s drunk and I’m sober. I’m not taller than him, stronger than him, or tougher than him. I’ve never thrown a punch in my entirelife, and I’m fairly certain it would only take one from him to completely knock me out forever.
But I’m fueled by hatred. Ihatethat he calls me names. Ihatethat he put his hands on Declan. Ihatethat he thinks he can do whatever he wants, and I’ll just do what he says.
“Shelby, let’s go,” Declan mutters lowly from my side. Suddenly, it’s him pulling me toward the door instead of the other way around.
“No. Fuck this guy,” I say, staring up at Malcolm. “He’s pushed us around long enough, Declan.”
