"How was your little date with theatre boy?" Jordan asks me as we walk up the stairs to our floors.

"It wasn't a date. You're starting to sound like Bryce," I huff, and Jordan shoves me in the arm. I don't hesitate to shove him back.

When we reach my floor, Jordan follows me down the hallway to where my room is at the end of the hall.

Still a little peeved at Jasmine, I knock very hard on the door. I don't get a response right away, and so I knock again, even more aggressively.

"You're kidding," I groan, realizing that I'm now locked out of my room at night time.

I pull out my phone, typing a quick text message to send to her.

I tuck my phone back into my pocket with a sign, turning around to find Jordan shaking his head at me in amusement.

"Come up to my room for now," he offers, and I nod, walking after him as we walk back down the hallway, continuing up the stairs another floor.

Jordan and Bryce's room is a few doors down to the left, and it's right as Jordan is pushing the door open that I realize that Bryce is probably not going to be thrilled to see me show up. He's probably already about to lose it having to stay with Jordan alone.

Instead, I find the room empty. The left side of the room is a total disaster, clothes and paper already strewn across the bed and small desk, but the right side of the room is impeccably tidy.

"You guys managed to trash the room already? Impressive," I comment as sarcastically as possible, walking over to take a seat on the clean bed.

Jordan glares at me, tossing a sweatshirt aside before taking a seat on top of the covers. He kicks his feet up, letting out a sigh as he lets his head fall back into the pillow.

"Actually, I made all of the mess. Bryce is really organized and got mad at me. Who would've known?" Jordan chuckles, and I blink a few times as I comprehend what he just said.

"Huh. He gives me so much crap for being a 'neat freak' but he's the same way. Hypocrite," I mutter, receiving a laugh from Jordan.

He turns over on to his side, leaning up on his elbow to look at me. He nods at me and I roll my eyes, crossing my legs as I turn to my side to look down at his bag open on the ground.

All of the clothes inside are folded perfectly, coordinated by article of clothing. His pair of white Converse are lined up straight at the foot of his bed, and his jacket is hanging off the bedpost. His computer is set down on top of the desk, alongside a glasses case and what I can only assume is a case for his contacts as well.

"But that doesn't make sense. Why would he mock me if he's the exact same way?" I ask.

Jordan raises one of his eyebrows at me as if to say that he thinks I'm stupid or something.

I told my arms across my chest and he sits up in his bed, asking, "You really haven't noticed how much he loves to piss you off? He just teases to get a rise out of you."

I tilt my head to the side in question. "But that's just silly. Wait, where is he anyway?" I ask.

As if on cue, the dorm room door comes flying open.

Bryce steps in to the room, shirtless, ruffling his dark hair with a small towel as he heads straight for the desk. He drops his clothing and bag of what appears to be toiletries down onto the surface before he folds the clothing, placing them down on the floor beside his bag.

"Is everything all right, Blossom? Why are you in here?" he asks me, but I find myself gaping at his appearance right now, deeming me incapable of answering.

The dark waves of his hair are messy and still wet as he continues to run the towel through it, making the muscles of his arms flex. His tattoos look extra dark and they look so good on him that it almost has my eyes popping out of my skull. The waistband of his sweatpants is loose, leaving the pants to hang low on his hips, and even though I know I'm being a total creep by staring, I just can't look away.

"Earth to Lexi," Jordan sings from beside me, breaking me from my trance.

I snap my head away from Bryce and towards Jordan, finding that he has a mocking grin on his face as he glanced between Bryce and I.

Embarrassment is all I can feel right now, especially as Bryce tosses the towel to the side, taking a seat down on the bed next to me.

I notice his phone sitting face up on the bed between us, and he's careful not to sit on it as he takes my hands in his, linking our fingers.

"Are you okay?" he asks again, and I gulp, shaking my head to clear all of my thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Jazzy just isn't in our room and she has my key. Not to mention that she won't pick up the phone or text me back," I explain, and Bryce nods, giving me an understanding smile.

"You guys are gross," Jordan blurts out, and when I turn to him he's pressing his lips together in a way that shows his distaste.

Bryce gives him the middle finger, making Jordan grin like mad as he crawls under the covers of his bed, burying his face right into the pillow.

"I really hope he suffocates," Bryce mumbles into my ear, and I can't resist a smile when I meet his eyes.

He looks so youthful and playful in the moment, and I've officially decided that this is my favourite version of Bryce.

Jordan groans. "I heard that," he informs, raising his face only long enough to get the words across.

Bryce doesn't seem to care because he scoots back in the bed so that his back is resting against the wall. I suddenly feel his large hands around my waist, and I squeal when he picks me up just enough to lift me into his lap.

I can't stop myself from giggling as Bryce presses his lips to my cheek. I lean against his chest and he wraps his arms around me, holding me close.

My mind drifts to my conversation with Malcolm earlier, and I wonder if perhaps he was right.

Maybe it's best if I just live a little for once.

"You guys need to stop or else I'm going to run out of here screaming," Jordan hisses, shooting up in bed.

I feel Bryce tense. "If I hear one more remark from you, Thompson, I guarantee that you will be murdered in your sleep tonight. I mean, who the fuck goes to sleep before nine a clock anyway? A toddler? Lame ass," Bryce huffs, and I turn around a little bit to rest my cheek against his chest.

Our eyes meet and I secretly pass on the message that he needs to calm down, and he seems to receive it as he nods his head, giving me an apologetic look.

"We're not all undiagnosed insomniacs, Bradshaw. Some of us need our damn sleep," Jordan scowls, and Bryce rests his chin on the top of my head.

They call each other by their last names. At least I now know that they don't genuinely hate each other; I think that it's safe to

assume that they're becoming good friends.

To my surprise, Bryce sticks out his tongue at Jordan. This causes Jordan to burst out laughing, and Bryce grins.

When I look up to him I give him a grateful smile, and he brushes my hair behind my ears, biting his lower lip.

"I never took you for the cuddling type, Bradshaw. But here you are," Jordan says, and Bryce looks away from me and back to him.

"Then you would be correct; I'm not the cuddling type," Bryce answers vaguely, but he wraps his arms around my waist again whether he meant to or not.

"You really are different around her, huh? Is it really true that you used to have sex with tons of girls and party all the time? And that you used to play football? Are cheerleaders your type?" Jordan asks, firing one question after another.

Bryce looks slightly uncomfortable, but still answers, "I guess, yes, yes, and no."

Jordan cocks his head to the side. "Huh. Interesting. That's all hard to believe seeing as you're so soft and sweet when it comes to Lexi. Even if you're an asshole to me, it's hard to picture you doing any of that shit," he comments, and it seems to strike a nerve because Bryce clears his throat, loudly.

"Let's change the topic, shall we?" Bryce suggests, and Jordan's eyes widen with realization.

He nods to Bryce, quietly saying the words, "Yeah, of course. Sorry, dude."

Bryce shakes his head, trailing his fingertips down the lengths of my arms. His hands fall to my thighs, settling there, and I almost gasp out loud.

I'm glad we're on good terms right now. I always miss moments like these whenever we're fighting.

Fighting with someone sucks enough, but it's even worse when it's between Bryce and I. I always crave his embrace and his words of praise whenever I lose them, almost as if I'm addicted to him, just like a drug.

"So you were just walking around the hallways without a shirt on? You do know that the male teachers are staying on this floor too, right?" Jordan questions, and Bryce shrugs.

"I don't understand how you look like that either. Have you ever gone to a McDonald's before? Or eaten a slice of pizza? Because I really can't comprehend how in-shape you are," Jordan continues to prod, sounding a little jealous.

Bryce seems flattered but he doesn't actually say anything back.

"Silent treatment. Nice," Jordan eventually says, pulling his backpack up off the floor and into his lap. He rummages around inside until he pulls out a large tablet with earbuds plugged into the headphone jack, sticking the earbuds into his ears.

I watch him open up the YouTube app before I turn to Bryce, who's apparently been watching me this whole time.

He continues to stare even when I stare back, and I grow confused.

"Is there something on my face?" I ask him, and he shakes his head at me.

"No. I'm just thinking about how beautiful you are," he tells me, and I blink a few times.

"Bryce . . ." I trail off, suddenly aware of how close together our faces are.

"Yeah?" he breathes, before shutting his eyes.

I'm now also aware that Jordan is only a few feet away from us, meaning that nothing can happen between us. Not right here and now, at least.

He lets his head fall back so that he's staring up at the ceiling, and I see the way that his jaw clenches. He looks as though he struggling with himself, and I don't know how to help him at all.

"I'm worried about Jasmine. She won't get back to me," I say, hoping to break the awkwardness.

"She was heading into your brother's room when I was on my way to the showers. Her, Charlie, and Daniel are almost certainly having a threesome right now," Bryce answers with a straight face, and I feel my eyes widen significantly.

I crinkle my nose and Bryce taps it, chuckling as he does so.

"Kidding, sweetheart. I'm sure she's just in there to chat with your dear brother," he says, and I'm extremely relieved that I can rid that vulgar image from my mind.

"You don't mind me being in here, do you?" I ask, and Bryce shakes his head, dropping his head to rest on my shoulder.

"No, not at all. That jackass seems to hate me so I'm kind of glad that you're here. If you knocked on Charlie's door I'm sure you could get your room key from Jazz, but I'm not sure that you want to walk in on whatever they may be doing in there," he answers, and I let out a sigh.

"I'd really prefer if we didn't speak about that. It's my brother we're talking about, after all," I say quietly, and Bryce nods, shutting his eyes.

He lifts a hand to brush his fingers through my hair and the small action sends a shiver down my spine.

"Sure, Blossom," he says, just as his phone screen lights up from beside us.

I try to take a peak at what the notification is about, and though I do my best to be subtle about it, Bryce notices my lingering eyes.

He's quick to pick up the device, holding it at an angle that just prevents me from reading it even though I can still view the screen.

"Keeping something secret?" I ask, and Bryce chuckles a little.

"No. It's just something that's yet to be finalized and I'd rather not jinx everything by spreading the news," he tells me, and I nod, hoping that he'll talk to me about it later.

"You're wallpaper is really boring," I comment, regarding the plain grey wallpaper. Not to mention that his phone case itself is just solid black, also very boring.

"Well what do you suggest I change it to?" he asks me, before hiding his screen as he types in his password.

I frown a little, asking, "Why are you so protective of it? It's not like I'm going to try and hack your phone."

Bryce thinks for a moment, before nodding in agreement. "True. Especially since I know your password," he says, and my jaw drops open.

You've got to be kidding me.

He must be joking. There's absolutely no way that he could know.

"What . . . Wait, how?" I stutter, and Bryce grins at me in almost a teasing way.

"I needed to get onto your phone to text your brother that night you were drunk. You told me to guess your password and so I did. I was flattered, really. When I suggested that you change it to something other than your birthday, I didn't necessarily mean my birthday, but it's cute," he says, grinning like a lunatic.

I groan. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't think of anything else," I apologize, and Bryce shakes his head, handing me his still-locked phone.

"Guess," he instructs me, and I blink at him.

"Is this a trick?" I question, and he shakes his head, gesturing towards the device now resting in my hands.

Based on the direction that this conversation was just going in, I'm compelled to try the digits of my birthday.

To my surprise, the phone unlocks, and Bryce takes it back from me.

"See? Fair game. Actually, that's been my password since I was eleven. If either of us is a creepy stalker, it would be me, Blossom," he tells me, and I stare blankly at him.

Does he care enough about me to do something small and mindless like that? I guess it's the same thing that I did, but I'm starting to believe more and more that I must feel something for this boy.

"I'm going to do some work but you can go to sleep if you want. I don't mind. I know Jazzy hasn't texted you back and you really do love your sleep," Bryce says, and it makes me quickly check my phone.

My screen is empty of notifications, confirming that I'm probably locked out of my room all night long.

Sighing, I nod to Bryce. "Thank you," I say quietly, before climbing out of his lap.

He stands up from the bed to go sit down at the desk, opening up his laptop before beginning to type away.

I pull back the covers on the bed, curling up underneath them before letting my head hit the pillow.

"Are you cold? Would you like to borrow a sweater?" Bryce asks me from where he's sitting, and it makes me notice that yes, I am cold.

I nod my head at Bryce, and he reaches into his bag, pulling out a white sweatshirt. He gets up to walk across the room and hand it to me, and I sit up in bed.

Tugging the sweater over my head, I then have to pull my hair out from where it got stuck in the process before laying back down.

"Goodnight," Bryce whispers, before he kisses me on the forehead.

He then shuts off the overhead light, instead switching on the lamp perched on top of his desk before taking a seat again.

I'm just about to shut my eyes when I hear Jordan huff from his bed.

"What? So she's allowed to go to bed now but I'm not? Rude," he pouts, and Bryce spins around to glare at him.

"I actually like her, while I quite dislike you. Are you not capable of keeping your damn mouth shut for five fucking minutes?" Bryce retorts, and Jordan grumbled something that I can't decipher.

I fall asleep as soon as I shut my eyes. I guess I'm just thoroughly enjoying the comfort from wearing an article of Bryce's clothing, and I'd be lying to say that I didn't consider stealing it from him.

It's far too big on me, which makes sense seeing as he's nearly a foot taller, but that just makes it extra cozy.

I'm praying to God that I don't have a nightmare that ends up waking me up or causing me to scream out in my sleep.

I would really rather not have to explain that all to Jordan, because even though he knows the gist of what happened all those years ago, I've never discussed the details with anyone other than Bryce; it seems that I trust him the most.

🌸🌸🌸

I'm woken up by a loud crash that shakes the whole room.

I had forgotten how terrified I am of thunder and lightning. Now I'm going to look like a complete idiot in front of Bryce and Jordan. Perfect.

Bryce is standing up, staring out the window and watching the storm closely.

The whole room momentarily lights up as a bolt of lightning strikes somewhere outside, and I shoot up in bed as another crash of thunder sounds out.

I shiver, pulling the covers up to my chin for comfort.

"Jesus Christ. Why is it so damn loud? There wasn't even a storm in the forecast. It was so nice out earlier," Jordan groans, rolling over in bed.

I'm surprised that it woke him up too, but then I reconsider the fact that I'm an extremely heavy sleeper, so if I woke up, he must have too.

"Not sure. It's 2:35, and I'm sure other people were woken up to. Everyone is probably going to be super pissy in the morning," Bryce says, before drawing the curtains shut across the window.

He turns around to look at us, crossing his arms, and I take note of how he's finally put a shirt on.

I notice how I'm literally shaking, and despite my best efforts, I can't make it stop. It's just that the idea of lightning catching something on fire terrifies me, and the thunder just adds to the effect for the worse.

"Blossom, are you okay? Are you scared?" he asks me, and I nod my head at him, having to look away out of sheer embarrassment.

Bryce sighs lightly. "You're safe. I promise. It'll be over soon," he tells me softly, and I look up to him.

"Can you come lay down?" I ask him shyly, and his eyes widen for a moment before he shuts his laptop closed, nodding to me.

I scoot as far over in the bed as I can to try and make room for Bryce as he approaches, but it's a tiny bed so there's no use.

As soon as he lays down beside me he pulls me onto his chest, and I let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

He presses his face against the top of my head, rubbing soft, small circles against my back. I basically melt into his embrace, wrapping my arms around him.

"Hey Bryce, can I be your best man at your guys' wedding?" Jordan asks jokingly, and Bryce doesn't say anything back to him.

"Thanks," I whisper, then looking up to see Bryce deep in thought.

Another boom occurs, caused by the thunder, and it breaks Bryce's trance. It causes me to shudder too, which makes Bryce hug me tighter.

"Yeah. It's all good," Bryce says to me, but he looks as if he's in pain as he seems to be thinking some things through.