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Aside from the same cupid’s bow above a thin upper lip with a fuller lower lip, Seth didn’t look anything like Kai. He stood shorter than his older brother, standing around six feet with a medium build, but he looked stronger than Kai.

His brown hair was cut similarly to Aiden’s and styled as if he didn’t care, but the cut was tighter on the sides and back and longer on top than Aiden’s hair. The most notable feature about him was his piercing smoky-colored eyes set beneath a heavy brow, making him look as if he were capable of staring into someone’s soul.

“You’re way too comfortable here,” Kai said as he stepped around everyone and moved to sit down on the spare bed, Mera following him.

Seth huffed. “Whatever.” He carried the stack of movies and put them on top of the desk next to a laptop.

“It’s true. He practically lives here. He should just petition to get transferred into this room,” Riley said to Blaire as she took a seat on the floor in front of Aiden’s bed and Seth rolled his eyes. “He spends most of his free time here since Aiden doesn’t have a pair and lives on his own for now.”

“Actually, I planned to do that next term, so shut it,” Seth said.

As Blaire sat down next to a laughing Riley, leaning back against the bed, Aiden watched her with a peculiar look on his face before spearing his fingers through his hair, messing it up. He gave her looks like that often lately, and he seemed to be growing tense around her, which disappointed her because she liked being around him. She didn’t have the opportunity to give it too much thought before a knock at the door drew everyone’s attention.

“That’s probably Lukas,” Mera said, getting off the bed and moving to the door. “He said he’d be late.”

Riley nudged Blaire. “Don’t worry. If he’s an ass, I’ll throw him out.”

Aiden climbed behind Blaire and sat against the wall, hanging his leg off the edge of the bed next to her shoulder.

Blaire laughed and shook her head. “It’s fine. He’s not really an ass. I mean, not all the time… and besides, he’s been keeping his distance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind though, honestly. It’s given me the chance to settle in and get to know you guys without dealing with attitude.” Blaire offered a smile, causing Riley to laugh as Lukas walked into the room. But she did mind. At least a little. Beneath Lukas’s prickly surface, she’d glimpsed something more, and she wanted to break through and discover what that something more was.

Lukas’s long hair hung slightly damp over his shoulders as if he had just taken a shower. He wore his usual black jeans with a chain on his hip attached to a corded leather belt. It seemed to be his staple wardrobe, along with black t-shirts, and sometimes a leather jacket when not in his uniform. Rarely did she see him in anything but black, but it looked good on him. He looked like a classic bad boy.

His eyes found Blaire and he stared at her. She cleared her throat and he looked away. That same unfamiliar tingle ran through her. She felt exposed under his gaze.

Lukas sighed and crossed to the only remaining spot available beside Aiden on the bed behind Riley.

“How are you holding up?” Aiden asked him, leaning over to talk quietly.

Lukas grunted in response and stared at the back of Blaire’s head.

“That well, huh?” Aiden chuckled.

Blaire turned to look back at Lukas and noticed him staring again. “What?” she snapped at him, growing tired of how he stared and brooded all the time lately.

Lukas glared and turned his gaze away from her, watching Seth put the movie in. He looked uncomfortable and like he wanted to say something but didn’t, so Blaire turned away. She lifted her hair, twisted it, and dropped it back onto the bed behind her in front of Aiden.

If he wanted to snub her, she could play the same game.

She didn’t relish in the idea of playing stupid games with people, but something about the way he pulled away from her the past couple of weeks before she even had the chance to know him rubbed her the wrong way. Ever since the near kiss, things had become strained. Part of her deeply regretted stopping him. Her mind replayed that moment many times as she lay in bed at night. She didn’t know how to fix things.

Mera climbed onto the bed with Kai, sitting between his legs as he leaned against the wall.

Riley got to her feet. “I’m going to go grab snacks. Don’t wait for me. I’ve already seen this movie, so it’s alright if I miss some.”

“Wasn’t gonna.”

Riley flipped Seth her middle finger and stalked to the door in frustration, turning the lights off as she left.

It was extremely dark in the room; even the moon wasn’t shining through the window, the room only lit by the TV on the other side of the room.

Leaning against the bed, Blaire felt something tugging on her hair. She glanced over her shoulder and found Aiden running his fingers through the long strands, untangling the twist she made. When he realized she noticed him, he stopped and let the strands fall through his grasp as he stared at her with the same hard expression he’d given for the past couple of days.

The air had grown suffocating. Blaire never experienced someone act like this around her before without ill intentions behind it, and it confused her; it caused a knot in her stomach.