I push our chests together as he closes his eyes and drags a hand down his flushed face in an internal battle.

Once again, he tries to pull me away, "You are in no position to do anything like that right now. I shouldn't have even kissed you so soon after what happened."

My lips still tingle as my face floods with colour. The sensation of his tongue running across my lip engraves itself in my mind. Who knew he could kiss like that? I want more.

"I can't get him out of my head. If I get you into it, then he won't be anymore," I reason, leaning forward to press our lips together again.

He lets it happen, lips moulding against mine and returning my vigour, but pulls back suddenly with an ambivalent breath. His conscience is becoming a real problem, I think to myself, frustrated.

"No, Quorra," he repeats, shaking his head and combing a hand through his tousled hair, "That's final. We've already taken a huge step, and the last thing you need is to do anything you'll regret later on."

I give up, sensing his unplayful attitude. With a sigh to mirror his, I lean away from him and cross my arms, feeling the rejection course through my veins mockingly.

"It's not that I don't want to, Quorra, but anything of that nature would be considered taking advantage of you. Despite what you may claim, you are in a fragile state of mind right now and-"

I gape at him, emotional wreckage forgotten.

"Did you just... did you j-just admit you want to have sex with me? Oh my god. Oh my GOD. Someone call my parents - they thought I'd never be successful," I ramble to myself, completely taken aback, and the heat of his refusal replaced by the realisation that he feels the same way as me, "Is this how it feels to not be a failure? Oh my GOD."

"Quorra, I didn't-"

"Can I just-?"

Our gazes lock.

He gives me a curt nod.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

"Is it... plosive?"

Slater nods at my answer, "Correct," he confirms, walking back towards the board at the front of the room to write something down, "it's nice to know that you're learning from your mistakes."

I sigh and slouch in my seat, pleased at my improvement but feeling utterly drained of energy. It's been a good week since it happened, yet I'm still mentally and physically depleted of energy. I just need a day off and some good food.

Talking about food, I've managed to get most of my appetite back despite all the drama, and Slater is pleased to say the least. I'm terrified to step on a scale in case I get absorbed in the numbers but at least I'm eating two meals minimum a day now.

The lecture drags on uneventfully. My eyes flit to the back of the room now and then, to confirm that he's gone, and although every time I'm reassured that he is, I still can't help but check again a minute later. He haunts me like a parasite. I've been infected with his poison and until it's out of my system, I'm stuck with brutal images and memories I wish I could leave behind me.

Even the mention of his name is enough to awaken the beast clawing at its cage inside my chest. I repress it but there's only so many chains you can add until they're so heavy that you drag yourself down with them.

"Quorra?"

I look up at my name, wondering why Slater would use my first name in a lecture. As soon as I do, I realise that most of the students have filed out and a low murmur has begun - the end of the session.

I quickly pack my things, disregarding Hannah's amused laugh beside me, and pull my bag over my shoulder, stepping out of my seat to tuck it under the desk. Before I can leave, Slater catches my eye and gestures for me to come over.

With a sigh, I physically slump and trudge towards him.

The door shuts, the bustle outside instantly drowned out by the thin slab of wood as Slater leans forward on his elbows and watches me pointedly. I quirk an eyebrow at the action, coming to a stop at his desk and fingering the strap on my shoulder absentmindedly.

"Lucas' girlfriend broke up with him a few days ago so he's feeling a little down," he begins, and my questioning expression soon falls into a deep frown.

Slater nods in agreement at my reaction, sighing and slotting a few scattered pens into the pot in the corner of his oakwood desk, "Precisely my response. He's really out of it so I invited him over to our dorm for tonight. Is that alright?"

Though still bothered by Lucas' emotional turmoil, I manage a half-hearted laugh, "I'm not going to turn a friend away, Slater. Of course he can stay. When does he arrive?"

Excitement floods my veins at seeing the curly-haired goofball again, even if it is under such dire circumstances. The last time I saw him was when Slater took me out to dinner with him, and he definitely seems to be a loyal friend. I need more of those.

I did promise to castrate him the next time I saw him after he told Slater about our phone call, but I don't think that'd be the most comforting thing to do after he's just been dumped. I'll save that for some other time.

"Actually," Slater checks the leather-belted watch strapped to his wrist, "Any minute now. The lecture ran over a little so we're running a bit late. We need to head to the entrance and let him in."

Five minutes later, I find myself nearing suffocation.

"Lucas," I wheeze breathlessly, "I can't breathe."

The darkness soon peels away, as does the vice-like grip, and instead reveals a mop of black, curly hair sitting atop a mischievous grin.

"Sorry, Q," Lucas dismisses my oxygen debt and greets Slater as well with a manly pat on the back.

"Have you been working out or something? I think you cracked my spine," I wince as leave the lobby of Harrow University, catching a glimpse of my paled face in the mirrored back wally of the elevator.

Lucas laughs at that, pulling me into his side in a dramatic yank, "Always, honey," he quips, even going as far as to press an affectionate kiss to the side of my head.

I roll my eyes at his wink and push him away, unable to help the smile threatening my lips. Despite us only having met once before, he already feels like a childhood friend of decades. I wouldn't be able to tell that he'd been broken up with if Slater didn't tell me as Lucas has made sure to equip a persistently perky personality.

As we arrive at our door and an oddly-quiet Slater steps in front to scan us in, Lucas leans over to whisper something in my ear.

"I haven't forgotten about our phone call, we need to talk about you and Slater," he mutters, and immediately I scowl, walking into the dorm before him so I can thrust an elbow out behind me.

It hits him square in the chest, delivering satisfaction to me and a world of bony pain to him, "And I haven't forgot about my plans to castrate you," I harshly whisper back, alhough I'm almost fully sure that Slater's inhuman hearing is picking up on our conversation.

Lucas simply laughs at that, though I can detect some nervousness in his tone.

I heave a sigh as we enter the familiarity of our dorm, immediately collapsing onto my bed and sinking into the airy duvet. A sense of relief floods me as I smile to no-one in particular.

"Sorry for crashing your place so late," Lucas apologises sincerely, picking up my legs, sitting down on my bed, and placing them in his lap.

I feel the frown creep back onto my face, "Luke, it's fine. Friends are always welcome, and it's not even that late."

I half expect Slater to comment something too, but when I glance over at the Abercrombie and Fitch model, he's simply staring at us cryptically with an unhappy look plastered across his tanned skin.

Upon seeing his face, Lucas holds his hands up in surrender and grins ear to ear, "Sorry. I forgot you have a thing for her."

That has me simultaneously laughing in an attempt to break the awkwardness, and blooming all kinds of colour on my cheeks. What makes it even more awkward is that I can't exactly deny his claims now.

Luckily, I don't have to stress over a reply because footsteps draw our attention towards the entrance we just came through. I hear a muffled voice outside the door before it creaks open.

"Hey Quorra- oh, you left the door open," says a familiar gentle voice before the door sweeps aside to reveal a ginger-haired beauty in her usual business-casual attire.

I'm about to greet Hannah but when her observant gaze shoots straight to Lucas, I decide against it. First, it's questioning, and then... shy? Instantly, I take note of her pleasantly-surprised expression and pink-tinted cheeks - an undeniable symptom of I've just fallen in love syndrome.

I smirk.

"Lucas, this is Hannah, and Hannah, this is Lucas... recently broken up with, FYI," I decide to add, disguising it terribly behind a cough as her face darkens even more and she knots her fingers together in front of her.

"Quorra!" Slater scolds, but I ignore it.

I don't think I've ever seen such a flustered version of Hannah.

Turning my gaze to Lucas, I hold back a snigger at the realisation that he's just as awestruck, eyes roaming his newly acquainted friend appreciatively. It starts to get overwhelming after a few more seconds of silence, so I break it by slapping my hand down on Lucas' shoulder, dragging him out of his daze abruptly.

"As much as I enjoy witnessing the the kindling of newborn love," that earns me the attention of everyone in the room, "I think words are supposed to happen now. Hannah, come sit over here."

I plaster an innocent smile on my face, getting up and reseating myself next to Slater on his bed to make room on mine for Hannah to sit next to her beau.

She glares at me knowingly but I shrug it off and assume that she'll thank me later.

I'll admit, Lucas isn't exactly harsh on the eyes, so I can see where Hannah's fascination is coming from. And it looks like, despite his recent breakup, Lucas has no doubts about moving on.

A warm murmur at my ear brings me back down to earth, "What do you think you're doing, Quorra?" Slater mutters.

I dismiss his interruption.

"So, yeah, Lucas just came over because his girlfriend dumped his fine ass," I fill in, earning a discreet jab in the back from Slater.

Hannah nods as if she's listening, but it's manifestly shown through their staring contest that they're entranced by each other's presence. I half want to throw up and half want to celebrate at the relationship that will soon form, the glee in my chest dizzying me with delirium.

"They're adorable already," I turn my head to whisper to Slater without taking my eyes off them, finding myself startlingly close to him.

His eyes flicker down to my lips before they meet my gaze again wordlessly. I would feel embarrassed at our proximity, but given the activities that we have already partaken in, and the excitement of seeing two of my best friends fall in (probable) love has me distracted.

Hannah and Lucas break their heated stares to properly introduce themselves.

"H-hey, I'm Hannah. You can call me Han. Or Nah... I mean, I usually like plain ol' Hannah but hey," she laughs nervously, "you can call me whatever. Ha. Haha."

I cringe both inwardly and outwardly.

Lucas laughs throatily, "Cute. I'm Lucas, nice to meet you, beautiful."

The glint of anticipation in his eyes and the blush littered across Hannah's cheeks are enough to confirm my suspicions.

But yet, as I watch the scene unfold before me and the pair fall deeply and helplessly for each other, I can't ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.

Why couldn't it have been like that for me?