Chapter 37

When I finally got back to my dorm later that evening, Tyler was sitting in bed, waiting for me.

He was grinning like a moron and asked, in a sing-song voice, "Coming back so late? Were you on a sexy date?"

"Yes," I answered point blank, and changed to get to bed. I'd take a shower in the morning. Right now, I just felt exhausted, completely drained from the craziness of the day.

My knuckles hurt a bit. It would have been a good idea to ice them, but I was out of good ideas tonight.

I hoped Carson's face fucking hurt. I hoped I'd broken his nose. I hoped he'd have a permanent scar, a constant reminder that he was a fucking wimp, and if he ever hurt Esther again, I would hurt him more.

Honestly, fuck the consequences.

I was against the death penalty, but I could make an exception for Carson McHugh.

"Really?" Tyler asked, sitting up a bit more, looking all eager for some gossip.

I wasn't going to talk about my day. Because it would mean that I would have to explain Esther's situation, and I had no right to tell anyone about it.

She had enough people disrespecting her. I would never do that to her.

"Yes, I was on a date with your mom," I replied, point blank, and plugged my phone, before slipping into bed.

Sleeping would be nice. Maybe I could maim Carson even more in my dreams.

Tyler snorted, turning to look at me. "Bold of you to assume you would survive a date with my mom. She's like a praying mantis. She would have eaten your head clean off."

"Very lovely picture you're conjuring," I mumbled, turning off the light by my bed, and snuggling under my cover.

"Who was your daaaate?" Tyler whined, not letting it go.

I let out a sigh, closed my eyes and said, "I wasn't on a date, I was helping out a friend."

"Which friend?"

"You don't know that friend."

"I know all of your friends."

"You don't know all of my friends."

"I know absolutely every single one of your friends."

I sat up and glared at my supposed best friend. "Fine, I was out with Blake, but I didn't want you to be jealous."

"Funny," he snorted, "I know for a fact that Blake spent his whole evening alone at his apartment because I've been sending him thirst pics for the last four hours."

"But have you been receiving any back?" I replied a little triumphant.

Tyler flipped me off. "None of your business."

"I was hanging out with Blake," I stated again, like it was the end of the discussion, and snuggled back in my bed.

Tyler let out a sigh and turned off his light. "You were not. But that's fine. I'll let you have your dirty little secret."

I didn't say anything after that, and Tyler didn't push more.

I was grateful for it, but I also knew that it would mean I would eventually have to fess up.

My best friend might have been easily distracted, but he was also a baby Shark in training.

He was more observant that I usually gave him credit for.

And it wasn't like I wanted to hide anything from him.

I was just very protective of Esther.

If I was being completely honest with myself, it was also because I was a little worried that Tyler and my other friends would dismiss my feelings or not take them seriously, or make a joke out of it.

We teased each other all the time, but my feelings for Esther, it was different.

I didn't want my friends to make fun of me over it.

I knew they wouldn't have bad intentions behind it if they did, but I also... even if liking Esther never amounted to anything, my feelings were genuine. Serious. For the first time in my life, I actually had feelings for someone.

And I didn't want my feelings to be turned into a joke.

I didn't sleep super well that night and felt like shit went I woke up and washed up.

I wasn't that hungry either when I went to breakfast.

I felt Tyler's judgmental gaze through that whole ordeal.

The whole day, I was still kind of shaken up.

I kept replaying over and over in my head Esther's frightened face.

If I was feeling like this, I couldn't even imagine how she was feeling.

And the problem was that we didn't have any class together and I didn't have any news from her.

I called my doorman and he told me he hadn't seen Esther leave the building.

I was worried about her.

But I also didn't want to seem like some overbearing douchebag trying to control her, by going to check up on her.

She probably needed a day for herself.

It was fine.

But I couldn't help but worry.

If she had a phone, I could just send her a quick text and ease my worries.

I really needed to pitch her the idea of getting her one.

It felt like I was getting a little better at having her let me help, and buying her stuff.

Maybe I could convince her of letting buy her a phone now.

So, I was useless the whole day, worrying about Esther.

And then, during the evening, when I was back in my door with Tyler there, he gave me weird looks the whole time I worked on an essay for one of my classes.

I ignored him.

I knew I probably looked psychotic, because he had no idea I was worrying about a girl that barely knew.

This whole having feelings things was quite the challenge.

But my feelings were for Esther. So, it was worth it.