Chapter Five: CHALLENGED

[©Lynnifer Ice - November 18, 2022]

----------------------------------

I dried myself faster than I ever have before in my life. I didn't want Xinith to just POOF back in at any moment and see me nude again. I just finished drying my hair as best as possible with the towel when I heard a knock on the door. I stared at the door, feeling suspicious. When the person knocked again, I answered.

"Yes? Who is it?" I asked, wrapping the towel back around my body.

"Xinith," he mumbled, barely audible at first. "I have clothes for you and the other womanly things you had packed."

He knocked this time? Maybe he can be a gentleman, after all, sometimes...

I cracked open the door a bit and was going to look, but a swift arm going through the opening stopped me. I took my clothes and make-up bag from Xinith's hand. No sooner had I emptied his hand, he closed the door on me.

Well, that was odd.

I put my clothes on first, just a simple graphic t-shirt, dark denim jeans with white ankle socks, and noticeable undergarments.

My...undergarments...? HE SAW MY BRA AND PANTY COLLECTION I BROUGHT WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I could die from embarrassment!

I stared at myself in the mirror, having an internal mental breakdown. I did not know if I would be able to look Xinith in the eye after this. Then I remembered that he's already seen what those undergarments usually cover. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the memories, but it was no use. I pouted before sighing. I gripped the edge of the sink, staring down into it.

"You'll get wrinkles much faster if you keep frowning like that, Alex," Xinith spoke up.

My head whipped around to behind me, but he was not there. I began to wonder if I had just imagined hearing him. That was until I heard him again.

"Look in front of you, Alex."

I slowly, almost mechanically, turned back to the mirror, only to find him in the mirror. My jaw dropped. I looked behind myself again and then back to the mirror. His reflection, or what I thought was just a reflection, was staring back at me through the mirror. I felt so confused. How could he be in a mirror? That's the kind of thing to happen in stories, not real life!

"How- How the hell are you in the mirror...?!" I whisper-yelled, not wanting to be too loud.

He stared back at me with a stone-cold expression, "Do you not want me in the mirror? I only came to check on you and tell you that Blake fellow is starting to pace back and forth. He's acting like he is nervous over something. You two aren't going out on a date, are you?"

"A date? Heck no! He was just going to show me around a bit and get dinner with me at the campus café. I don't have any food here other than the two cup-of-ramen that I packed with me. Besides, why do you care who I do and don't go out with? Furthermore, no, I do not want you in that mirror," I nagged, feeling more flustered by the minute.

"Very well," he said before temporarily disappearing from the mirror and then poofing next to me, "Is that better?"

I grabbed my chest in panic, thinking I was going to have a mini heart attack. "Fucking hell, Xinith... Don't do that!" I whisper-yelled again. "I take it back; I want you in the mirror!"

"Fucking hell," he repeated painfully slow with a growing smile, "That could be arranged, you know."

"No way. Nuh-uh. Never. Not in a million years," I looked at him with a revolted expression.

"Oh?" His nose brushed against the tip of my ear, "-and why is that?"

What the hell is wrong with this guy??? Incubus perhaps?

I took a step sideways to put some space between us, hoping he would get the hint. Instead, he just leaned closer! If I did not feel aggravated before, I sure did now. I stomped on his closest foot, but he did not so much as even flinch. The fact that he had no reaction at all, intimidated me. I leaned against the small part of the wall between the sink and door. Xinith stepped closer, moving down to my eye level.

"You didn't really think that would hurt me, did you," he coldly asked me as he snatched my left wrist, causing my hand to lose grip of my hairbrush. My hairbrush dropped to the floor with a clunk. I scoffed at him, looking off to the side. He pressed my left wrist back against the wall, a little higher than my shoulder. I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction from me. When I didn't fight against or acknowledge him, Xinith hummed in amusement.

Ugh! I wish he'd just go away! Is he enjoying this or something? Well, keep on staring, asshole; I'm not going to look at you. I'm getting hungry, and I want food. So, the sooner you let go, the sooner I can leave with Blake to grab some food. Otherwise, I might just try cannibalism tonight...

"Really? Is that how you really feel, Alex?" He darkly chuckled in my face.

I could feel his breath against my skin, and for some bizarre reason, it sent shivers down my spine and not the bad kind, if you know what I mean.

Ffffffff- I forgot he could read my mind... -or would it be hear my thoughts? Agh! That's so confusing! Wait, if he can listen to what I'm thinking, then- Fuck off, Xinith!!! Go annoy someone else!

"You say that now, but your body says differently," he casually whispered as he lightly trailed the back of his free hand down the side of my neck. I stiffened, inhaling sharply. "You feel it, don't you?"

"What the hell are you talking about," I finally snapped my head toward him, almost colliding with his face.

"The connection, Alex. You don't feel little sparks like miniature static shocks that make your muscles tingle all over," he questioned me, searching my face. "You should know that I Really Don't want to let you go with Blake tonight. I would rather keep you here with me."

"Look here, jackass. I don't even know you; we just met. Besides that, you have given me nothing but creep vibes since I met you. So, I would rather leave with Blake and stay out as late as possible just to get away from you. Now, let go of my wrist and let me finish getting ready because there is nothing you can do or say to make me stay here. I'm getting hungrier by the second, and the hungrier I am, the more of a bitch I am," I snapped at him, trying hard to not headbutt him or knee him in the groin.

"My, my... Where'd all this energy and boldness come from, my little firecracker? You were so timid in front of me earlier. Now, you're trying to act tough," he threw back at me.

Then, just like the class bell, Blake knocked on the bathroom door.

"Alex? Is everything all right in there?" Blake called out.

"Yeah, everything is fine!~," I smirked at Xinith, "I'm just finishing up. I'll be out in a minute!~"

"Are you sure? I thought I heard something fall before."

"Oh, that was just my hairbrush. It just slipped from my hands. I'm totally fine!" I chirped in response.

"All right, if you're sure. I'll wait by the door for you," Blake replied before walking away from the door.

An encouraging fire now blazed in my gaze as I stared Xinith down, "Well, this FIRECRACKER now seems to have the upper hand. The ball is now in my court, Xinith. So, piss off." My courage had returned.

- End of Chapter Five -