11 Chapter 11

At about 9 p.m. my phone started ringing. I had stopped crying and all that, but I still didn't feel like talking to anyone. Especially if people were just going to think I was weird or annoying. Justin's rant had left me feeling sort of numb, and I couldn't get his words out of my head.

The phone stopped ringing, and then not even a second later it started ringing again. I sighed and rolled halfway off the bed so I could pick up the phone that had somehow ended up on the floor. I figured if the person was calling a second time, it was probably important.

I brightened just a little when I saw that it was Vic. I grabbed the phone and pressed it to my ear, toppling to the ground in the process. It was uncomfortable, but I accepted the fate. I just sighed and pulled the rest of my blankets down with me to the floor.

"Hi boyfriend," I said, quietly. At least Vic wasn't annoyed by me. I hoped he wasn't, anyway.

"Hey, can I come over?" He asked, his voice breathy and quick.

"Yeah, I mean, of course. Everything okay?" I asked, hoping nothing was wrong on his end of things. "I guess. Mike and is friends are being assholes," he muttered. "The frat guys are here again."

"Oh . . .is Justin there?" I wanted to know. I guess it didn't really matter, I shouldn't have even bothered with Justin anyway, after the way he treated me. But I still wanted to believe that he was just having a bad night and I ended up caught in the crossfire.

"I think so," he sighed. "Anyway, thanks, I'll be over soon."

"Alright, be careful, it's dark out," I said, before literally slapping myself in the face. God, I really was stupid.

"Yep, it always is," he laughed. "Alright, well, bye."

After hanging up the phone I crawled back into bed, waiting for Vic to show up. At least if I was feeling down I could have him to cheer me up. He was so great. Holding him close was

He knocked on the door exactly when I expected him to, and I practically jumped out of bed to let him in. It was the most effort I'd put into anything since Justin left earlier.

"Come in," I insisted. He smiled and stepped inside before I shut the door.

"You know, I'm really starting to hate Alpha Sigma Sigma," Vic said, immediately, before he even greeted me. I wondered if Mike was starting to act like a dick like Justin was. I hoped he wouldn't yell at Vic like that.

"Yeah, they suck," I agreed. "They didn't do anything to you did they?"

"What? No, they're just rude. Like they're throwing this party and they're already fucking loud. And then Mike tried to say it wasn't fair because I'd be able to hear them even if they were quiet," he explained. I watched as he felt for my bed before sitting down. "Which is true, but they don't have to be so goddamn obnoxious about it, you know? And I wouldn't be complaining if they were keeping the noise at a reasonable level."

"That's so mean," I said, empathetically, even though it was hard to imagine him arguing with Mike.

"What sucks is that I get it, though. Mike just wants friends. I didn't argue with him about it. . . Besides, I'd rather hang out with you anyway," he said, smiling. I sighed and sat down next to him for a moment before just lying down.

"Do you think I'm childish?" I asked, sounding super pathetic. "No? Why would I think that- wait, where did you go?"

"I'm lying down. . . Behind you," I explained. I lay there for a moment while Vic kicked his shoes off then turned to lie down next to me. It felt good to have him there with me, and I was so thankful that he called.

"Anyway. . .why would you ask that?" He asked, softly. I felt tears prickling at my eyes again. I didn't want to cry again, but I just couldn't help it.

"Justin thinks I'm childish. . . He says I need to grow up, and that I embarrass him," I explained, feeling even more pathetic now that tears were flowing freely. "He was yelling at me earlier, and I don't even know what caused it."

"Well Justin doesn't know what he's talking about," he assured me. "I think you're amazing."

"I mean . . . I'm not. But thanks," I mumbled. Vic sighed and moved closer to me, reaching his arm out. I accepted his invitation and snuggled closer so he could hold me there. I leaned in and had my head against his chest. I closed my eyes and inhaled his warm scent. Being in his arms felt so perfect, exactly the type of reassurance I needed. It was a safe space.

"Now, what did I say about being negative about yourself?" He whispered, placing a light kiss against my forehead. "You're awesome, okay? I have never met another person like you, Kellin Quinn."

"Why are you so nice to me?" I asked, quietly.

"Because I like you," he insisted, moving his hands up to lightly run his fingers through my hair. "Your hair is so soft."

"No it's not, it's so greasy because I forgot to take a shower today," I whined, bursting into tears all over again. The self-hate and negativity was a harder hole to pull myself out of than I realized. "If I was mature I'd remember stupid things like that."

"Kellin, no," he said, wrapping his arms around me tighter. "Baby, why are you getting so down on yourself? You are absolutely perfect."

"Aww," I whined, nuzzling closer to him. I would never get used to how great he was, or how perfect he was. " You're perfect Vic. I bet you've got everything in your life figured out."

"That's funny," he chuckled. "You want to know something?"

"What?" I asked.

"I don't even know if I'll finish college, let alone get a decent job after," he sighed.

"Why? You're so smart though," I told him, loosening my grip a bit and kissing his jaw. He had a very nice jawline.

"Thanks. . . I literally had to fight with my parents to let me go to college. They think it's going to be to hard, and I'm too stubborn to listen to them," he explained. "Which, I'll admit, I'm at a severe disadvantage but I'm getting through it."

"Oh," I said, not sure what to say. Honestly I wouldn't even be able to do what he was doing. It was part of the reason why I admired him so much.

"And I even compromised and waited a year so that I could live with Mike-He's a year younger than me. . . Which sucks because I hate that they want him to look after me and I know he hates it even more," he explained.

"You don't need anyone to look after you, you're so. . . You're so perfect," I sighed, lightly running my hand across his cheek. I had said that about a million times already, but it didn't make it any less true.

"I'm not though, like, Kellin, I don't think I will ever live by myself," he said, sounding slightly choked up. I bit my bottom lip, desperately wishing I had the power to make all of his struggles disappear.

"Why not?" I asked.

"My parents don't trust me," he sighed. "Which I mean, they're my parents, of course they'd be over protective. I mean I don't have the best track record, either."

"And what does that mean?" I asked.

"It doesn't mean anything, really. I probably mess up the same amount as any seeing person would . . . But they just flip out and use accidents as reason to keep me in a bubble. Like, okay, in high school I got hit by a car-"

"What!" I shrieked, mostly shocked by how casual he was about it. Getting hit by a car definitely sounded like a big deal.

"Yeah, it wasn't a big deal, I just was crossing the street and I heard the walk signal so I started walking and this asshole was trying to turn on a stop light and yeah. The car literally just tapped me and I fell, but holy shit everyone freaked out," he explained, shaking his head in disbelief. "You'd think I was dying or something. But really, all that happened was I scraped my elbow and that was it."

"That's crazy," I breathed, before we fell into a moment of silence. I thought about everything he said and realized that maybe he wasn't perfect, but that was okay. He was still perfect to me, and I loved him even with his so-called flaws.

"I just want them to trust me," he said, quietly. I let out a long sigh and shifted a little so I could press my lips against his. I would never tired of that feeling I got when our lips touched.

He sighed and wrapped his arms around me again. I moved my lips against his, my chest fluttering like crazy as he held me closer. His lips tasted so nice, and they felt so warm. They definitely moved with fervor but there was nothing rough about it. It was sweet and slow and I really liked kissing him.

No, wait. I l oved kissing him. He was just so warm and beautiful and perfect and I just. . . I loved him. I really did.

The realization hit me hard and my chest bubbled with excitement. I broke from the kiss momentarily because I wanted to tell him- I wanted to shout it from the rooftops- but then he spoke first.

"I love you," he breathed, effortlessly. Automatically, my lips curled into a grin so big that physically could not go any further.

"I was gonna say that!" I exclaimed, laughing. Vic laughed, too, pausing momentarily so he could kiss me again. I pressed my lips against his firmly before he pulled away.

"Well then, say it!" He insisted, still grinning like crazy. "I love you, too, Vic."