(Sushi Date)
•••••
Melanie pov
While I'm sitting at the sushi bar, lick my lips. My eyes follow the sushi plates lining up and moving in front of me.
They all look so tempting. In a heartbeat, I grab one plate that has salmon sashimi.
I'm pouring the soy sauce over it when I feel Vaughn's gaze on me. I turn my head towards him and find him staring at me in amusement.
"What?" I ask him nonchalantly and waste no time to put the food into my mouth with the chopsticks.
"Nothing." He smiles, still gazing at me.
I would be shaking if I allowed myself to be completely affected by Vaughn's Effect, but fortunately, my favourite food is such a good distraction. Tasting the sweet favour of the salmon, I close my eyes, enjoying every bit of it. It tastes like heaven.
Even Jake once told me that I ate it like I was in a TV commercial.
"You know," Vaughn begins. "This is quite a sight."
I raise my brows.
"Usually, girls tend to eat more carefully in front of me," Vaughn says. "They tried to maintain their image, even some of them chose the dish that would not ruin it." He chuckles. "But you, Mel, practically devour all the things catching your eyes right now."
I almost choke. I don't know whether it should be classified as an insult or a compliment.
"Don't worry," he adds. "I'm enjoying it." His tone is still rich with amusement.
I glance at his plate, which is still empty, while I just finished my second one. "I thought you said that you're hungry."
"I'm already full just by watching how you eat," he jokes, and I roll my eyes.
It's not my fault. He's the one who suggested what to eat. And that happens to be one of my favourite foods.
A while later, he joins me, and we eat in silence before I start talking again.
"When will the internship start?" I ask, somehow feeling a bit excited about what the company can offer Vaughn.
"I'll be working in their office three months from now," he says. "For now, I'll just carry on with my project and give them updates ahead of time before we can adapt it in the real environment."
I nod, listening intently. I'm happy for him.
"How did you do it?" I shake my head, laughing.
He raises his brows.
"I mean, you excel in everything," I say.
"Academics. Sports. Career prospects."
He stares at me again, and I can see that his eyes are glinting with something I can't describe. But it's something good, I guess.A smirk touches his lips.
"What can I say? When it's your passion, it just happens," he says. "I'm not saying that it was always easy for me. No, it wasn't like that.
I had ups and downs, Mel. I fell too. I fvcking , did. But that didn't stop me."
I stare at him in awe. He's the kind of person who also thinks that nothing worth having comes easy. We apparently are similar. And that gives me warmth.
"I chose my major because I had a vision about it," he adds. "I love working with companies and strike a mutually beneficial business deal. And I fvcking love football."
I feel those butterflies again in my stomach. Right now, he looks so sèxy.
And he still has this bad boy aura that I always wonder how. But it's not like some destructive, wrecked bad boys many girls sometimes fantasize to sweep off their feet. Those who are insecure and have tattoos plus guns and whom their parents definitely won't approve. This bad boy is different. It's the kind of those bad boys who are driven, intellectual and have mastered self-control to really kick a$s in the real dog-eat-dog world.
For me, the latter is the real bad boy. The winners.
My kind of bad boy.
My face is flushed from my own thought. Oh Gosh, Melanie. What the hell are you thinking about?
"But you do too, Melanie," Vaughn's voice echoes back, snapping me out from my daze. "You excel. Your academics are something you should be proud of."
I sigh, smiling softly. "I just want to make my parents happy."
Speaking of them, I wonder about Vaughn's parents. They must be proud of him. I haven't heard about them, but I've heard that Vaughn is the only child.
"What about you, Vaughn?" I can't help but ask. "Your parents must be proud of you." Unlike me and Jake, Vaughn has never been accommodated in terms of money and material by his family. He has no such privilege, struggling from ground zero before finally getting the scholarship.
He scoffs. "They are the hardest to please."
Wow. That surprises me. I look away, unsure of how to respond.
"But at least, they don't complain," he adds. "Fvcking great that they let me play football."
I laugh at the tone of his voice, which sounds like he's somehow annoyed but that it's actually not a big deal for him. It must be tough for him, but he survives.
"Speaking of it, you should come to the game," he says, making me look at him.
"When?" I remember Jake telling me that they would have a championship soon. Sadly, Jake won't be able to join it because things are getting pretty hectic now in his internship place.
"This Friday," Vaughn says. "It's the least you can do for our beloved captain." He smirks.
I roll my eyes. "Of course I'd love to come."
"Jake won't be around, so I have to take charge on his behalf, for temporary," he says, and I totally understand. It's nothing new. Vaughn is the one Jake trusts the most among his team to lead while he's absent.
"Should I be worried?" I tease. Vaughn smirks. "Not a chance." I laugh, shaking my head.
I can't help but think about how his parents are hard to please when he is such an adorable young man. With Vaughn, there's definitely so much more than meets the eye. And I'm curious to find what is more behind those exteriors.
Like he has this mystery that I can't put any word to it. And I want to know about it.
I want to know more about you, Vaughn.
That voice inside me makes me startled. What am I saying? I'm acting like I want to be the girl whom he would pour out all of his buried secrets to. Even if it's dark.
Now that thought is... creepy.
And embarrassing.
So much for Vaughn's Effect.
At this moment, I realize that many pairs of eyes are on me. It even almost feels like piercing me. I glance at the corner of the room where a group of girls at a table are watching the two of us.
I'm supposed to get used to this kind of thing. Jake is very popular, and I'm used to catching girls attention when I'm with him.
But ever since I moved to Boston, I've been experiencing something different, especially when I'm with Vaughn. These stares are not the usual stares I got.
Before, it was just girls admiring, swooning over my brother. But now, these stares almost feel like painful. I can feel those hates. Judging. Disgust.
Hurt. I can even see it on those faces. Seriously, what's going on in here, exactly?
"Who are they?" I whisper, cocking my head towards the girls.
Vaughn glances at them before looking at me again. His jaw is clenched, and irritation is evident in his expression.
"Just some girls from the dance club," he says.
*****
I take off my lab coat as my first chemistry lab ends. It's been a long session and quite tiring. Tucking the files back into my bag, I wonder how I'll get home later. I guess that I would take the bus, since my car is broken I just found out this morning when I couldn't start the engine.
"Have you asked someone to fix your car?" Stacey asks beside me, slinging her backpack over her shoulders. Since we're taking the same major, we have many classes together, and I find it pleasing. She's my first friend here.
"Nope." I sigh.
"Why don't you try to ask Vaughn?" she asks as we exit the lab. She winks, teasing me, and I roll my eyes.
So, this girl here has asked me about how I managed to hand my jaw-dropping assignment to Professor Adams so quickly, and I've told her about Vaughn.
But no, I can't trouble Vaughn again. I'm well aware that Vaughn is busy preparing for the football game tomorrow, and I don't want to disturb him.
Why do I have to be so clueless about cars?
I'm going to call a mechanic first thing tomorrow in the morning.
Speaking of the game, I ask Stacey as we walk along the corridor, "Hey, are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
"I guess so," she says. "My favourite schedule is Friday. I only have one class in the morning."
"Do you want to watch the football game?"
Her eyes widen. "Oh, is it tomorrow?" she exclaims. "I totally forgot about that. I've been dying to watch them play." Her voice is full of excitement, and I laugh. That's good to hear.
"Yes, it is," I say. "Vaughn asked me to come. It's the least I can do to support the team, even though Jake isn't around..." I trail off, suddenly missing my brother again. "So, it's a yes?" I wink at Stacey.
She smirks. "Absolutely. I would love to."
"Great." I grin as we keep walking along the corridor. It's already dark, thanks to the long hours of our lab session.
"Do you want me to drop you off?" Stacey asks.
"Nah, it's okay," I say, knowing that she lives here at the dorm. She doesn't have to send me all the way to my house. Really, I'm 18 years old, not an eight years old kid.
"Okay, just let me know if you need anything," she kindly offers, waving her hand as we part ways. "Bye."
"Bye. I'll see you tomorrow." I smile, watching her walk to her dorm.
"Just ask the guy!" she shouts, making me laugh as I continue my steps.
The image of Vaughn fixing my car pops up in my mind, and I can't help but imagine how sexy he would look. Under the hood of my car, sweat on his body, his wet undershirt clinging perfectly on his well-toned abs, his strong big hands dirtied with oils. And then I would ask him to take a rest for a while, touching his arm
I shake my head wildly. Damn. What a stupid imagination. What is wrong with my brain?
While I'm walking further, I pass the football field. I halt as I spot a few team members still around, talking to the coach. They look like they just finished the practice. But Vaughn is nowhere to be found.
No, I've decided not to trouble him again, haven't I? He has to focus on tomorrow's game, Melanie.
I shake my head, walking away from that place.
A smile touches my lips as I walk along the pavement, my eyes travelling around the buildings occupying the scenery of Boston at night time. The cool air blows against my skin, and I breathe in contentment, enjoying it. It has been a long time since the last time I took a walk by myself around a city.
In New York, my parents always had a driver in a luxurious car picking me up and dropping me off wherever I went. It was no wonder that some of the jealous bîtches in my high school labelled me as a spoiled Rich Brat.
I scoff, knowing that the opinion was partially true, and I hate myself for it. Yes, we're rich, but I'm not a brat. I wish I could have said that.
The bus stop comes into view, and I smile.
Just when I'm about to speed up my pace, I feel someone's hand gripping my arm so tight, yanking me toward an alley.
I'm about to scream, but the person covers my mouth in his hand, making me struggle even wilder.
No, this is not happening. No way.
Adrenaline rushes through me as the person drags me further inside the alley, muffling my screams in his hand. He is definitely a guy, so strong that I can't break away even though I keep punching and kicking in every direction.
He halts after dragging me further enough inside the alley —not that it makes any difference. The alley is already deserted in the first place, and it's dark enough because the night has fallen. He corners me, pushing me against the brick wall that my back smacks it.
And when I can finally take a good look at him, my heart stops.
The guy's entire face is covered with a three-hole balaclava mask, under the hoodie that he's also wearing.
I expected that it would be a random drunk person or a perverted old man. But how wrong I was.
"Melanie..." he rasps, his voice low.
My heart thumps hard against my ribs. He knows my name. Tears begin to blur my vision as he cups my mouth with his hand.
"I've been watching you for a long time," he hisses, and I choke in tears.
Who is this psychopath? I don't recognize his voice at all, and the fact that he whispers so low doesn't help.
My mind can't think anymore. Someone has actually been stalking me, and right now, here, he wants to take me. This is not a random attempt. This is planned.
"You're mine now," he growls through gritted teeth before lowering his head to kiss my neck. His ragged breath against my skin sends shivers down my spine.
"No-" I shout, but it's no use. He bites the skin below my ear, and I whimper with pain.
While one of his hands locks my wrist against the wall, the other one travels down my thigh, pushing up my skirt. I gasp in shock.
Of all the days I wear a skirt to college, it has to be today.
His fingers trail my inner thigh. "Fvck. You're so soft," he pants, his voice filled with lust.
His other hand takes off my cardigan, exposing me in only my tank top. He pulls one of the straps down and smells my shoulder like he's savouring every moment. My entire body is shaking. I can't even find my voice now, my lips trembling.
His hand now glides up under my tank top, and he cups my brèast, squeezing it.
"No, stop it!" I scream, tears now rolling dow my face.
But that apparently isn't a good move. He curses and abruptly flips my body around that my forehead hits the brick wall. I am now facing the wall, with him behind me, trapping me.
My eyes widen in horror when I hear him unzip his pants. This reality came crashing down on me so suddenly that I feel like my world is crumbling.
All this time, I've been a good girl, and no one has ever touched me. But here I am now, about to be ràped by a stranger who will take my virginity soon in this dark alley.
I can't be more disgusted when he moàns, jerking behind me as something hard and unfamiliar strokes my inner thigh.
My sobs get louder as he keeps stroking the area between my thigh. He grips my pànties so harshly that it hurts, and I'm thinking that , he might just rip it apart.
"Leave her!" a voice so loud suddenly booms, switching our attention toward the entrance of the alley. "You fvcking bastard," the newcomer bites out, his voice shaking with rage. And my heart beats twice as I know whom the voice belongs to.
There stands in the same alley is Vaughn, looking like he can kîll someone.