Why did I care?

“This week’s test is covering signal jamming as well as information from the two previous tests. This one will be much more in depth, so you’ll want to make sure that you study everything you have received thus far. Work in groups if you have to. A seventy-two depends on it.”

Jensen’s voice came blaring into my ears like a megaphone. And as I sat focusing on him, I noticed that he, too, had a shiner on his face. I was beginning to put two and two together. This was not Castillo’s doing. Jensen had found out about us, and it appeared to have not gone over too well. Their house was divided. Riley on Alex’s side, Jensen against.

My stomach knotted. The guys all seemed so close. And for me to come in and destroy that dynamic, made me feel like the Yoko Ono to their brotherhood. I had no desire to rip friendships apart. But for some reason, the idea that Alex had gone to bat for me was exciting. My mind was grappling with his stupidity at that bat and his defense of me. I wanted to let go of my hurt, but then I didn’t.

“See you all in the morning. Class dismissed.”

I stood, my eyes lingering on Alex just a tad bit too long. Newsome walked over and caught me staring, his eyebrows scrunching as he followed my line of sight. I quickly gathered my things and walked out of the room, still feeling the heat of Alex’s eyes boring into me.

“So how did you do?” Dalton asked just as I stepped out of the building. He caught me off guard, making me jump and hold my hand to my chest.

“Give me a little space next time, will ya?”

“I’m sorry. Just anxious to see how you did.” He smiled that charismatic smile, a sparkle going off in his eyes.

“Ninety-seven percent. I guess my break from Alex really did the trick.”

We both laughed, but I felt the truth in those words. Since I had turned my focus away from him, I was doing better, yet I found myself slowly being lured back in. The magnetism he possessed washed away the hurt, even if it was being done with slow, deliberate measure.

“So hey, I have to run something by you because I need your advice.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Not here. It’s Alex related,” I whispered, not wanting to bring any undue attention to us.

The doors shot open and out walked the three instructors, looking like a well put together and very cohesive unit. If there was friction between the crew, no traces of it could be found by the naked eye.

Alex shifted his eyes to me as they walked by and lowered them while slightly sucking on his bottom lip. A slight throb could be felt between my legs. The looks he gave me only made me want him even more. My immunity to him was being weakened, and he knew it.

“Let’s find somewhere to talk because if you two continue to eye fuck one another, I’m going to need to get off.”

My eyes swerved to Dalton who had lust written all over his face. I laughed at him as I hit his shoulder. We walked through the students and made our way to the path that led back to our barracks rooms. We chatted and made small talk until we reached the barracks building.

“Want to come to my room? Angelica might be in yours, and she’s an angry one right now.”

I laughed. “Yeah, that works. What about Pete?”

“He’s at the gym. He says he needs some muscle.”

We both erupted with laughter. Pete was small and nerdy looking. Poor guy.

“I’ll see you in a few.”

I jogged up the stairs and quickly made my way to my room, unlocking the door and falling down on my bed. As I sat up and unlaced my boots, my phone buzzed. I looked down to find a message from Alex.

Alex: 97%. Not bad. I think this weekend should be your reward for performing so well. And you always PERFORM well.

He was back to his old tricks. Using innuendo to get me to pay attention to him. It wasn’t fair. I was so powerless to it, and he knew it.

Me: Thank you! *rolls eyes*

I had to try and remain composed. He didn’t need to know that his charm, his sex appeal, and his words has such salacious effects on me and my body. As far as he knew, I was still pissed and wanted to avoid him. That was half true, but he didn’t need to know it.

Angelica walked through the door, threw her things down on her bed and briskly walked past me to the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror, her face mired with emptiness, and undid her bun, brushing away at her ultra-long locks. I walked over to the area and stood in the frame, looking at her and wondering what to say.

“What the fuck do you want, Cassie?”

Her aggressiveness put me on defense.

“I’m just coming to see what’s got you so down. Don’t jump down my fucking throat.”

She turned and glared at me. Her mouth shrinking with the tight scowl she rigidly held.

“I wouldn’t go anywhere near your Cruz-cum filled throat,” she hissed.

I was taken aback. I knew she could get down and dirty, but this was shocking, even for her.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“Really? You want to know what my problem is? My problem is you… and your fucking NCO of the Quarter boyfriend. Because he can’t keep his dick out of you, my life is being turned upside down.”

“First of all, you don’t know shit—“

She cut me off.

“Oh cut that bullshit. He pulled me in this morning and all but admitted to you two having something, so the charade is over.”

She sat her brush back down on the counter and turned around to face me, her arms folded over her chest and a sinister grin spreading across her lips. If her words hadn’t already backed me into a corner, it would have put me on high alert.

“You two are so dumb. You’re fucking… for what? These few weeks. Then what? You get orders somewhere, and he finds the next student to prey on? Damn, Cassie, wake up. You’re falling for his game, and yes, he is a fucking player.”

“You don’t know half of what you think you know, so I suggest you do what you were told and shut your fucking trap before I let him know that you’ve had more to say. Somehow, I think your career is important to you.”

“Whatever. The sooner I’m away from you the better. I thought for sure after you found out who he was, you’d use some common sense and stay away from him. But I see common sense isn’t so common, and desperate bitches will do whatever they can to get ahead.”

“Fuck you!” I growled, my heart thumping like it was about to break free from my chest. She had struck a chord, and there was no way I was about to let her get away with it.

“No, fuck you, Cassie. Now get the hell out of my way.”

She pushed me as she walked by, and on instinct I lunged for her, grabbed her hair in my hand and yanked her back to me. She turned around and punched me in the chin, a swift upper cut that knocked my teeth together. I let loose, my hands balled up into tightly wad fists, and started punching her anywhere I could. She countered, punching me until we both fell to the floor, rolling over one another while screaming obscenities.

My rage escalated, not only because she had said some awful things to me but because she had been nothing but bitchy to me since our very first night out and everything that had built up was now ready to explode. In my wild arm swings, while she sat on top of me, I swiped at her face, connecting and leaving three long lines on the side of her cheek. She stopped and held her face, her eyes bulging as she took heavy, anger filled breaths. The pause was just enough for me to buck her off of me, knocking her to the floor and going after her again.

“You’re a fucking bitch!” I yelled, my fists landing on her breasts… her arms… her face.

She held her arms up, trying desperately to shield herself from my blows. She brought her knee up, sending her bone into my ass and knocking me over.