If I had ever thought that I was left alone after the cafeteria incident, I was totally wrong. Luke and Matt were screwing me over and Abby strangely found it Intriguing. My DM was flooded with names and curses. I even received pretty long letters. 

"What the hell was wrong with you?", Matt scrunched his nose. It was the first ever argument that involved Matt raising his voice against me. I started having second thoughts but remained passive about.

"Will you open your mouth?", Luke grunted. I had to tell them everything that happened with him and how he insulted at every opportunity when I did nothing.

"He came to your library?", Abby popped. I turned towards and shook my head. "He works there". Her mouth went ajar with shock. "He works there?", Luke interrupted. Again, nodded.

"Do you know what happened with Connor that Ryder is acting like that?", Matt asked. I replayed the conversations that I had with Connor. All he had was a bright personality.

"We are not close enough to know about his past or what's wrong with him?". Matt nodded in understanding. "Whatever it is, I don't think its a good idea. I won't interfere in your decisions but I want you to think before you speak. You should know what you are getting into.", Matt announced getting up from the couch. We watched him walk into his room.

"I have to go with Matt. He seems dangerous", Luke advised stirring my stomach. I knew he was dangerous. He did and spoke vile things. Any normal being would want a ten feet distance from him. But I had too much pride to accept it.

First time, I had met someone who bought that side from me. I was usually a submissive putting others feelings and concerns before. Might be why I failed in my previous relationships, yet I never bought my pride and ego into it.

Abby was quiet, her gaze not fixed on anyone lost in her own thoughts. I nudged her, turning her to face me. "What are you thinking?",  I asked her pushing her hair behind. She shook her head still unsure to tell me. I scrunched my eyebrows getting something was bothering her.

I sat on the bed and turned towards, "What's the matter Abby?". She sat up and looked down at the ground shaking her head. Something was definitely up. For anything I know Abby was very bad at concealing her worries. Her mouth's a broken tunnel, she can't keep her thoughts.

I should've noticed that she was acting weird. She was getting worried. I asked her one more time and she started to break into tears. I got nervous and hugged her tightly without a word. She was wetting my sleeves, sobbing and hiccupping. 

"I'm here for you, Ab. You can tell me anything", I patted her head pleading her talk to me. After a few more snots she lifted her head to look at me. I looked at her. "I..I..", I patted her to calm down. "I think I am falling for Dustin", she broke into tears again.

I sighed in relief knowing she didn't kill anyone. I hit her frustration, "You scared me idiot". She rubbed the place I hit her with a pout. "I am scared", the shiver in her voice. I held her hand in mine, "You remember? Once you told me that I can fall in love twice or more, that I'm allowed to love. Same goes with you too. Moreover, you were so desperate for a boyfriend and why are you scared now"

She smiled smugly hiding her face in my neck choking me with her love. "No sparing. I want all details". She gave every details from how her thoughts changed from just a date to the person in love. She couldn't even the spare her first kiss and much more intimate moments. I was happy for her that she genuinely liked and cared for him. I wished she received the same from him.

Connor called me after dinner. I pulled out of my apartment and met him in the pool area. He looked disappointed and somewhat irate. "Hey", I called out settling next to him dipping my foot inside the pool.

"Hey", he let out a disgruntled one. There was an empty minute before he let out a harsh breath and turned my side.

"Why did you do that?". I decided to play dumb to avoid the long talk. "What did I do?", my tone a little offended. He backed off shaking his head.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it. Ryder is crazy", he sounded concerned. "I know he is crazy. Who else thinks that girls always go after boy's money". He nodded in agreement. 

"Please don't challenge him. I am not putting you down or agree with Ryder but don't provoke him. Please", the desperate tone at the end had me gutted. Connor knew Ryder better and Connor's warning were not to be taken lightly

"You know what he did to me. I don't want someone one to patronize me. I am not cut out for that. I would rather punch him and go to jail". He broke into laughter.

"You should've done that and I don't think you will be going to jail for punching him", he mumbled taking the sip from his coke. "What?",  I probed. A pause. I could see gears changing in his mind. His eyes were distant as if he was thinking about something.

"You don't know Ry. He could destroy you", he explained desperately.

"What do you mean?", I asked him knitting my eyebrows together. He ran his hands through his hair, closing his eyes. Should I encourage him?. Curiosity said yes but pride said no. I sided with pride and kept my distance.

"The same thing happened before, many times", the little nick of moment rose my anxiety. All of a sudden my life decisions were playing in front of me. Did I make a mistake? 

"The girl had a crush on me or something. I liked her too. You know after a pretty bad breakup. We dated for a month or so. Everything went alright when Ryder butted in slandering her.  We went to a trip when thing were cold. Never saw her again. Didn't know what happened but it has to do with him. She left college and completely went off grid"

Okay, I admit I made a mistake. My heart was racing from fear. What the hell was I gotten into? Why in the hell did I think with my mouth?

"Did you ask him what happened?", my voice trembling. He shrugged with a smile, "All he said was, 'She is wrong'". That's it.  No reasons, no arguments and no explanations. They both left it at that. Ryder wouldn't give it. 

"Well I am not her", I stumbled with words. He laughed wryly. Boy, don't you understand I'm already scared shitless? 

"Yeah, you are not her", he said with a sigh taking another gulp emptying the contents completely. "But you have to be careful with him. "

"I didn't do anything wrong. In fact he was the one who asked for it. Not me", my petty mouth answered. Christ! Why can't I control this shit?. He looked at me like, 'Don't you get it idiot'.

Speak. Open your damn mouth. Nothing. We walked down the pool area, elevator and hallway without a word. I was curious as to what he did to make her run for hills. He stopped at my door with his hands in his pockets, looking at me. Still no words.

"Okay. I'll get going", I told snapping him out. He smiled, "Be careful. Later", he started walking to his house while I stood looking at his back.