Cp.9

Friday, 17:25 p.m...

"I bet you thought I'd let you win, huh?"

"Like I would lose to you."

"Are you sure about that?"

Dishing out my final card in a dramatic blow, Reed's eyes widened in horror.

"Bam what!" I exclaimed, jumping off the couch to do my victory dance.

He chucked. "You got lucky this time."

Smirking, I took my seat, enjoying my tub of chocolate chip ice cream. "I didn't take you as a sore lose, West."

"I'm so not," He pouted, adding on. "Best two out of three?"

"Lemme think about it..." I sighed, laying back on his comfy light brown sofa. "Nah."

Stealing my current meal, Reed dubbed the melting treat as his own, leaving me utterly shocked and ice cream less.

"So how was your week?" He asked, offering me back the container.

"Normal, I guess. Except the part where I hung out with my friends after having a study group." I smiled to myself, remembering what had happened.

"Yours?"

Stretching his arms, Reed yawned. "I consider mine to have been exhausting. I was doing practicals and had written a test on Wednesday. Our engineering professor partnered me and Owen for a project."

Just the thought of Owen Cooper made me cringe in dislike. Obviously Reed noticed. "You good?" He frowned, worry written all over his face.

"Yeah," I lied. "Just had a brain freeze."

Removing the ice cream tub from my clutches, Reed walked over to the kitchen and stored it in the freezer. Now situated on the sofa, he kissed my temple.

"Take it easy, the ice cream is not going anywhere."

I couldn't help but tease him. "Am I sensing an over caring father figure?"

"It depends," He chuckled. "How child like are you willing to act?"

"Touché." I nodded in approval.

Gawking at his kitchen, I felt the need to make something for him in return for his hospitality. "I hope you're hungry." I stood up.

"Why?"

Following me into his kitchen, I began thinking of the quickest but most delicious meal I could make. "I'm going to cook." Simply stating it the best way I could, I took out ingredients to begin.

"You don't have to, I'll just order something."

Moving him to sit on one of the kitchen chairs, I assured him that I wanted to pamper him like he has with me.

The door bell had suddenly rung, both of us naturally adverting our eyes at the door. "Are you expecting someone?"

"Yeah. Owen and I were planning on starting our project today. I hope you don't mind the entra company."

I guess it's true what they say. Good things do come to an end. "Of course not!" I gave him a lazy grin. "The more the merrier."

"Okay then," He smiled. "Let me go open the door."

Praising my quick witted self, I was glad that I brought my books with me in order to study for my upcoming test on Economics on Monday.

Getting the right temperature to place the tray into the oven, I soon heard bickering voices.

"What took you so long?"

"My bad, got wrapped up in something."

"Is there something more important than having to leave me standing in the lobby like a dumb idiot?"

"More or less."

"Who did you set your eyes on now, West?"

I swear I could imagine that a smirk was plastered onto Owen's annoying, but still overly handsome face. Getting rid of the scroll on my face, I tidied up the space I had been occupying.

Light footsteps led their way to the kitchen where I had been practising fake smiles and cooling down my temper.

Seeing me in Reed's kitchen made him stop in his tracks. "Oh." He scanned my attire of pink sweatpants and crop top hoodie with black vans. Resting his eyes on my no make-up face and hair styled into two loose fish plates, his lips twitched in a displeased way.

"You're here."

Staring at him, I took in all of his nonsense behaviour, white ankle All Star coverse shoes, faded black denim jeans, white T-shirt and grey unbuttoned shirt underneath his denim blue jean jacket. Over all, he looked casually decent.

"Nice to see you too." I smiled.

Settling in Reed's dining room table, they opened their laptops and began working on their project. I, on the other hand, grabbed my Economics book and silently studied in the kitchen.

After mixing the salad bowl, I gave my special made lasagna a few tweaks of drizzling sliced cheese before considering it ready.

The time read 19:05 when Reed started to set up the table, motioning Owen to help transport the lasagna to the dining room table. As I grabbed the salad bowl, Owen scoffed in my direction while carrying the lasagna.

"So," He began. "She cooks."

"Surprised much?"

"No. More like intrigued. Is there anything the oh-so great and mighty Lynn can't do?" Sarcasm was clearly filled in his tone.

"I can't seem to teach a certain dog how to play Frisbee when it's so easy. The master says catch bitch and the dog listens."

"Whoff whoff."

An unexpected snicker escaped from my lips, causing Owen to chuckle as well.

Placing the dishes onto the table, each of us had cut a portion of what we would eat. Owen had the smallest slice, stopping Reed from eating his own lasagna.

"Wait," He said, holding Reed's forearm, "I just want to make sure that it's not poisoned."

Reed immediately reacted by swatting Owen's hand away, before eagerly digging into his plate. The look on his face was definitely priceless.

"I've never tasted any lasagna like this before. What did you put in it?" He moaned, shoving another lasagna into his mouth.

I winked at him. "It's a family secret."

"I bet it is." Owen muttered, chewing the lasagna. "It's good."

"Thanks guys."

Taking the last sip from my tea, I sunk in my seat for a while, ready to call it a night after having called an uber. I washed the cup I had been using then packed my books into my bag.

Returning to the dining room area, I announced my leave. "It's time for me to head back, Reed. I'll call you when I arrive at my dorm room."

"Wait." Grabbing my hand, I was led to the passage. "I thought you were going to spend the night here?" He frowned while whispering.

"I have a couple of things that I need to do in the morning." I whispered back.

Cupping my face with his hands, he begged. "Are you sure that I can't persuade you?"

I grinned. "No can do."

"Well then," Smirking, he added on. "How about a good night kiss instead?"

Closing the distance between us, Reed's lips found my own, intertwining them with a slow, but passionate kiss. I eagerly responded, mouth agape when his slick tongue searched for mine, deepening the kiss.

Yearning for more skin contact, his hands went under my hoodie and gripped my waist while I had my fingers in his hair.

"West, I'm not getting any younger here!"

Both of us froze due to Owen's yelling from the dining room. "Jesus, Owen, give me a minute!" He yelled back before releasing me with one more kiss.

I opened the door and went out. "Good night."

"Call me when you get back." Briefly pecked me on the lips. "Good night."

Disappearing around the corner, Reed finally closed his apartment door. I walked out of the building and into the awaiting uber car with one conclusion on my mind.

Owen Copper was a living proof of being a cockblocker whose new mission was to bother me.

~°•°~

Reed West

I wasn't one to come into terms with theory's I had recently speculated. And being so well known, at the age of eight, I had already realised that people would talk about me. Whether it was positive or negative, the public always had something to say.

Keeping my business to myself, I went solo for a while, ignoring the unwanted attention I received from my father's business. Choosing to study afar from my parents, I was lucky enough to befriend Greg, who by the way when first meeting me at a faculty house party on a rooftop persisted on us hanging out since I had apparently sat on his get away spot.

Later introducing me to Owen, we met at the underground mall, a project that allowed unemployed people to own food chains and become mangers of stores.

For once in my life, I could define the two males in my life as friends. Meeting Lynn was an unexpected surprise which I had planned on further nourishing. It felt good to let my guard down once in a while. Leading to conclude that I wasn't going to come into terms with theory's I had recently speculated. For both Owen and I's sake.

"Is there something that I'm missing, because it seems like you're lowkey beefing with Lynn."

"C'mon Reed. Why would I do that? I get that I've disturbed whatever you guys where up to, and I may seem aloof sometimes, but that's just who I am."

"Okay."

"Are we going to continue talking about your fling or actually get some work done?"

"What do exactly mean by fling?"

"Well isn't she just a temporary fuckbuddy?"

"No."

"Then what is she then? You guys aren't just friends."

"If everything goes well, I might ask her to be my girlfriend by the end of the semester."

"Might? So you're having doubts."

"I don't know, but I like having her around me."

"Does she feel the same, or is she just using you?"

"She's not like that Owen, and I'm sure she feels the same way I do. Time will have to tell, I guess, but I do want her in my life."

"Cool, I'm happy for you."

~°•°~

Owen Copper

Without any hesitation, I called our family's Private Investigator. All of this cheesy romantic bullshit was not keeping Reed's eyes on the prize, and I've tolerated it for as long as I could've probably imagined.

You simply can't trust women.

Classic rule of men. University was a place where most study to become better people. Some enrol to have a good time, losing their dignities in the process, and others fall in love way too quickly, getting married quickly and divorce just as quickly.

I didn't want Reed to be one of those guys who'd one day sit in a Bar, wondering why he had gotten involved with Lynn in the first place. I know that somewhere along their journey, one would poke the other's heart unintentionally, testing how patient and resistant the other one is from all the lies, mysteries, and scandals.

Knowing absolutely everything about that Lynn chick would help prevent any future bad luck in stored. All of her profound qualities and 'charming' personality didn't quite sit right with me. I needed to unmask whatever facade was being presented to the other eye.

For both Reed and I's sake.

~°•°~

Kaitlyn

After texting Reed that I had arrived at my dorm, we later shared a phone call with him still bothered by the fact that I couldn't sleep over.

Assuring him that next time would be different, I said my goodbyes and had let sleep consume my entire body into a deep slumber.

Monday...

Stepping out of the classroom in an anxious but exited state, I knew that I would pass my Economics test. Putting on my black rimmed glasses, I happily skipped towards the Starbucks coffee café.

Accidentally bumping into an older women who had immediately stepped out of the café door, the sudden impact made me stumble backwards, tripping on one of the pavement bricks into somebody's arms.

Eyes tightly shut, my hands desperately clung onto the supposed to be male's biceps which were wrapped around me.

"It's okay now," He whispered in a soothing manner, causing my eyes to slowly flutter open. "I've got you."

Situations like these made me agitated. I didn't want to let go. Shaking my head in disbelief, I was helped to once again stand on my two feet.

Fixing my attire, I cleared my throat before looking up at my savior. It had to be none other than Owen Cooper. I began to think that life was playing a cruel joke on me, that the heavens were laughing at my face.

All I could possibly do at that moment was to murmur a thank you. After all, my parents did teach me to have good manners. He nodded in return, obviously bothered by the fact that I looked like a certain obstacle he wanted to get rid of.

Entering the café, I sat near one of the windows while silently choosing to order something. A male figure approached my table, knocking on the solid object in order to get my attention.

"Don't tell me that you work here?" I teased, trying to act unfamiliar with him.

"No, but I am a regular. I'm Owen Cooper." Extends his right hand, which I surprisingly shake hands with. "Dawn Wright."

"Dawn." My second name naturally rolled off his usually crude tongue, though this time it sounded quite sinful.

"I know," Sighs. "Not many people have that particular name."

Sending me asking signals, I motioned for him to sit down across me. "The name actually suits you. I hope you don't mind me asking, but why haven't I seen you around? Do you school here?"

Wrinkling my nose due to the glasses, my hands went up to redo my messy bun. "A friend introduced me to this place, and yes, I happen to be enrolled here. Being a freshmen around so many other students makes it harder for me to be noticed, not that I mind, don't get me wrong because I don't like receiving unwanted attention."

"Well, I'm sorry to trouble you with uneasy stares, it's just that you remind me of someone."

"I seem to be getting that a lot lately." I muttered. "She must be an interesting one to be able to receive such buzz."

Owen rolled his eyes. "Interesting my ass."

Crossing my arms in annoyance, I spoke up. "Since when did gentlemen start acting so ill mannered?"

Not surpressing in his laughter, an unexpected roar came from the pit of his stomach. Many people turned around to stare at us for a while then soon carried on with their lives.

"Me, a gentleman?!" Owen pointed at himself, chuckling. "You remind me of my mother."

"Why?" I had to ask.

Dramatically wiping off a tear, he was back to being as normal as I considered him to be, scanning through the menu, but already certain of what he would be ordering.

"Only she would utter such nonsense, in the name of TLC, of course."

Tender, love, and care. "She must be an incredible woman."

"Yeah, she is," He smiled, adding on. "She sure is tough too for putting up with me in all these years."

I was no longer listening. My brain was still on the part where Owen Cooper actually had teeth to do such an outrageous thing like smiling.

He frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" I gave him a lazy grin.

"Like you're deliberately pissing on me without having the courtesy to call it rain."

"It's official," I clasped my hands. "If I don't get away from you real soon, I might as well die of terminal disappointment."

"Oh come on, freshman, learn to take a joke. Don't leave me alone when I'm starting to warm up to you."

"Oh really?"

"I said 'starting', don't get your hopes up."

"Geesh, fine Mr. Bipolar. Cool your tits."

Leaning back against my seat, I watched Owen call over a waiter.

"Hey Alice. A apple and custard muffin for me with a cappuccino."

Glancing at me, I ordered as well. "I'll take a chocolate and strawberry cupcake with a cup of minty green tea."

Taking in our requests, we waited for at least five minutes before getting our orders. Offering to make a toast, Owen brought up his cup to my mug.

Clearing his throat, he stated. "To being a so called gentleman."

I smirked. "To having to put up with you."

"To having to teach a certain newbie some proper manners."

"To respecting my elders." I mocked.

"To getting to know Dawn Wright."

"To never allowing Owen Cooper to make any future toasts."

"To us."

"To us."

Cup to mug clinking, I knew that this was my chance to finally understand and unmask Owen Cooper's true nature.