The Secret (North Woods University 3)

“Explain,” Vance orders his friend, but Clark shakes his head.

“I will…later.”

Vance opens his mouth, clearly about to demand answers, but Ava tugs on his arm, attempting to distract him from what I assume would be an argument between the two guys.

“Why don’t we stay for a little while, have a drink, catch up, and you can show us your new place?” My eyes flicker between Vance and Clark, an internal tug of war taking place. While looking at them, I can’t help but notice how different they are. Both of them are extremely attractive, but there’s this darkness that lingers around Vance. It’s almost like he hates the world and he’s giving it the middle finger. Where Clark is light, flirty, and funny, Vance is the opposite and I know this without even knowing him.

So how did they become friends?

I pull my gaze from the two of them and move it to Ava whose eyes flicker with excitement as she elbows Vance in the side. Finally he turns to look down at her, the anger, and confusion in his eyes melting away almost instantly, leaving adoration and love in its place. Seconds ago I was worried that maybe she was one of Clark’s exes or maybe even someone special to him, but I can see now that the apple of her eye isn’t Clark at all.

“Alright, let’s have a drink.” Vance glowers, his gaze swinging back to Clark. Ava’s smile widens, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as the pair enter deeper into the house, the door closing us all inside.

“How long have you guys been dating?” Vance questions, and for the first time ever, his eyes are on me, piercing through me. Under his penetrating gaze, it feels like he can see me, really see me and I don’t like it. Feeling self-conscious, I drop my eyes to the floor.

“Uhhh, it’s new,” Clark interjects coming to stand beside me. “Only about a week.” His hand finds its way into mine, and he squeezes it letting me know he’s here, letting me know he’s got me.

“A week?” Vance snorts, clearly not believing Clark’s lie of us being a couple. “I’ve never seen you with a chick longer than it takes you to fuck them and toss the condom. She must be something special if she’s got you fucking her more than once.”

My breath hitches at his words, at the confession of who my knight really is. I know I said I didn’t care about his past, but I can’t help but take notice of the fact that he was clearly a manwhore not all that long ago.

“Vance…” Clark growls and releases my hand to walk toward his friend. With a murderous look in his eyes, he grabs him by the arm and pulls him toward the bedroom. I catch Vance rolling his eyes, but he follows Clark without complaint.

Once they’re out of sight, I feel like I can finally breathe again, the air lighter, less tense and frigid. Clark wasn’t lying, this guy is intense. Not just intense, but rude, crass, he makes the guys from the grocery store look like child’s play.

My pulse thuds loudly in my ears signifying my panic, but I also realize that I’m a whole lot calmer than I would normally be in this type of situation. Clark said that Vance is a good guy and I trust in that. Clark wouldn’t have invited him if he didn’t think I was safe.

“Don’t mind Vance, he’ll grow on you,” Ava says, her soft voice dragging me from my thoughts.

“It’s okay, I get it. You guys don’t know me, and Clark is your friend. This whole thing is… a little odd. Clark and I barely know each other and now we’re moving in together,” I tell her, noticing how strangely comfortable I am talking to her. Usually I’m not scared of talking to girls, but I’m nowhere near comfortable either, at least not normally. Ava, however, has this aura about her, this kindness that seems to seep out of her. It almost makes you want to befriend her.

“Yeah, I thought Clark might be lying about you guys being together, but I’ve never seen him act the way he did just a moment ago.” She gestures to my hand where I swear I can still feel the warmth of Clark’s touch. “Holding your hand like that. It’s almost like he knew you needed him or something.”

“Yeah, Clark’s a pretty good guy,” I say, not wanting to give anything away. The last thing I want to do is have to explain myself to two more people that have no idea why I am the way I am. I came to North Woods hoping to escape my past. Hoping to make friends instead of enemies. At home, the kids in school laughed at me, called me weird, and made fun of me. I wanted to get away from all of that and for the first time, I think I might be able too.