Just One of the Guys
Twenty One

Corbin

Today has been a good day so far, all of my classes were easy, including physics-for once. Lunch with the guys was easy-going and hilarious, as usual. I got caught by Knox staring a few times but if he thought anything of it, he never made it known. He actually wasn't an asshole to me today. That alone is worth celebrating!

And now, I'm relaxing in my bed, my physics book is open in my lap and turned to the section that I need to be working on, and completely torn on what to do as I stare at the picture that Knox sent last night. I've managed to completely shred the skin on my bottom lip from nerves, worry, and an intense desire to throw it all out the window, follow my heart and see what happens.

Knox sent me random, funny, silly, and sweet texts throughout the day, and although I should be distancing myself, I'd told myself that I was going to, I still ended up sending him snarky, funny responses, or came back with **that's what she said'* anytime it applied to something that he'd said. I would say, so far, today has been near perfect.

A knock comes from the other side of the door, jolting me out of the moment and scaring the crap out of me.

"Corbin," Gentry says, speaking through the thin door. "Can I come in?"

Looking around the apartment, I take in the scattered clothes, some Averi's, some Corbin's, and then my current state of undress and groan, *do I have to?* But of course, I have to, Gentry has dropped everything for me when I've needed him or wanted to just hang out or get out of here for a bit.

I owe him.

Opening the door, I peek my head through but keep it shut from the mess inside.

"What's up?" I ask, noticing how he's dressed in clothes that he typically reserves for *going out*, which are completely different from what he usually wears when he's slumming it around here.

"Me, Colt, and Wesley are heading in for dinner and fun at the bar in town. You in?"

I probably should be but if they're going to be gone, maybe Knox won't be busy.

"Sorry, I'd really love to, but I've already got a date with my physics book." I say, pointing back to it and the open notebook that I'd abandoned on the bed to answer the door, as if the presence of it alone will prove my point, "I've bailed on him way too much recently, so I should really keep this one." Gentry huffs playfully while rolling his eyes.

"You really are a nerd, you know that?" I just shrug in response, an easy smile on my face. My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I'm itching to check it. "It's just you three going?"

"Yeah, Knox said he was going to try and see that Averi chick tonight." I have to bite my lip to contain my smile but inside I'm squealing like a girl who's just met her celebrity crush. "Alright, fine. You and that physics book better not have too much fun without me now." He says with a wide grin before heading off down the hallway.

As soon as my door is shut, I pull my cell from my pocket, a text from Knox waiting for me.

Knox: What are you doing tonight?

*Dear Lord, I'm weak.*

*I have no control, no willpower.*

Why? Shouldn't wanting him to be safe be enough for my heart to get on board with staying away from him and make it to where it's not so hard and doesn't hurt so much because it's the right thing to do? Averi: You're going to keep trying to wear me down until I give in, aren't you?

Knox: Is it working?

Knox: I just want to hang out and maybe order a pizza. Just stay in and enjoy each other's company.

With a huff and an eye roll, I write down all of the positives and negatives that I can think of, concerning continuing on with something with him. Positives:

-He makes me forget everything that I've left behind.

-He seems to actually care about me.

-He makes me happy.

-He gives me butterflies.

-When we're together I can just be me

-He sees me.

Negatives:

-He could get hurt.

-I'd be putting him at risk.

-I, no doubt, will end up getting hurt.

-I could slip up and give myself away.

-He's my weakness.

Sighing, I set my pencil and the piece of paper down. Why am I even debating this?

We won't even be leaving the dorms...so it couldn't hurt, could it? For tonight, I'm going to live in the moment, tomorrow I can try to figure this whole Averi/Knox debacle out. Averi: Okay, you win.

Knox: Yes! Thank fuck!

Knox: When can you be here? Or I can come to you if that would be easier.

Shit!

Yeah, no.

He definitely can't come to me. I glance at the clock, noting that it's already almost six.

Averi: No, I can come there.

Averi: Be there in half an hour? That work for you?

Knox: I'm not going to touch that one....

Knox: I'll have the pizza here and I'll be waiting.

Standing in front of Knox's door half an hour later, I can smell the greasy cheesy goodness on the other side of the door, causing my stomach to growl in hunger.

I knock and Knox answers the door as if he'd been standing behind it, waiting for me to get here. The pizza's already waiting on the coffee table in front of the couch, a basketball game on the TV when he opens the door, inviting me in. With the game as background noise, we eat, talking around mouthfuls of food then washing it back with cans of coke.