Chapter 7

BPOV

"Whoa, you okay?"

I gasped, glancing up at this stranger with his dark brown eyes and long dark hair.

"No, I mean yes—yes, I'm fine, I just, I need to get out of here." I was sure he knew I was lying. There was no way he couldn't see the tears streaming down my cheeks, or hear the panic in my voice.

He released me from his grasp, eying me suspiciously. "You don't seem okay. Can I at least call you a cab?"

"Careful, Seth, she's a cock tease, but it's probably a good thing. She'd break your dick if you let her get on it." James cackled as he slid past us.

I backed away as his widening eyes looked from me to James. What happened next wasn't what I was expecting. I figured he'd turn and walk away, which he did... but it was to grab James by the collar.

"The fuck did you just say, dude? Did you seriously just talk to a woman like that?"

I closed my eyes. I couldn't stand here and watch this any longer. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed and never come out again. What the hell was so wrong with me that people felt like they could constantly torment me? Why wasn't I good enough as I was?

Without looking back I ran down the stairs and out the door.

It was a few hours later that Tanya walked through the door, finding me a crumpled mess on my bed.

"Oh, my God, Bella, you're here. I was so worried when I went to leave and couldn't find you! Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Did he—"

I shook my head. "He didn't hurt me. At least not physically." I sniffled before launching into the story of everything that happened that night. How he was the first guy I'd ever kissed, how when I said to stop, he told me he was doing me a favor by being with me. I sobbed my way through the things he'd said on the stairs.

"I want to go back there and kick his ass, but there was already some guy wailing on him. But I'll go back—"

"Tanya."

She sighed, hugging me tightly. "I didn't expect to find such a good friend when I came here, and I don't like that you're hurting."

I scoffed. "I don't really think I'm that great of a friend. You're the one that's always helping me out and listening to me. Sometimes, I feel like you're my babysitter. I'm not your responsibility."

"Stop it. You need me right now, and one day I'll need you, and you'll be there for me, right?"

"Of course, but—"

"Bella, there are a lot of men and women out there that think there's only one way to be beautiful, that you have to be super thin, and look like a model just off the runway. And that's their problem, not yours. But there are plenty of men that like big boobs and butts, they like a little meat on their girls. There are a lot of assholes in the world, but not every guy is a dick. Just...please don't let this set you back? You looked beautiful tonight, and just because one guy was a prick, doesn't change that."

"Tonight really shook me up, Tanya. I can't make any promises except that I'll try."

"That's all I'm asking."

"Hey."

I was minding my business in my literature class, when someone slipped into the desk beside mine.

I glanced to the side, letting out an exasperated sigh when I noticed it was the guy from the other night, the one with the long hair.

"I thought I recognized you from the other night. Bella, right? At least that's what I think you said when we had to do our introductions in here."

When I didn't reply, instead of moving away, he kept talking. "So...I kicked that guy's ass the other night, you know, James? He was really out of line. The frat's pretty pissed, and apparently, he's been causing issues for a while. Hopefully, they'll throw him out."

My gaze flickered to him, taking in his split lip and a slight bruise on his cheek. Even with those marring his face, he was gorgeous. He had a strong, sharp jaw, and with the way his shirt hugged his biceps, it was easy to tell he was in shape.

He noticed me staring, giving me a wide smile, before wincing. "Don't worry, he looks way worse than I do. You know everything he said was complete crap, right? You're gorgeous, more than gorgeous, really."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, but not because I believed what he said was true. It was more that it embarrassed me that he'd heard and remembered the things James said to me. I averted my eyes, hoping that maybe now he'd stop talking and put me out of my misery. "Okay, well, I didn't get to tell you last time, and I don't think you're going to ask me, but my name is Seth. Or maybe you already knew, since I knew yours, or at least I think I do?"

"Oh, my god." I'd reached my breaking point, turning to him. "Do you ever stop talking?"

He snorted lightly, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. "Sorry, you make me nervous."

Finally, the professor walked into the room, calling everyone's attention to the front.

But I couldn't help glancing over in Seth's direction every so often, and each time his gaze was trained on me. The words that Tanya had said to me the other night were floating around in my head. There were a lot of guys that were assholes out there, but not every guy was one. Still, I felt uneasy.

When class ended, I packed up my things and headed for the door. I didn't have another class for a few hours, so I had planned to just head back to my dorm.

"Bella!" I heard my name being called, and I had a good idea who it was, but I just kept walking. Except, I wasn't fast enough, and he caught up with me.

"Hey, look...I'm sorry if I came on kind of strong, but I really do think you're gorgeous. I don't know much else about you, but I'd like to. Maybe I'm not your type, or something, I don't know. But…" He ran his hand through his hair, holding it there, a nervous look on his face. "If you don't have anything else going on right now, would you, I mean, I'd like to have lunch with you?"

Standing there, I chewed on my lip for a moment. There were no guarantees in life that people would be sincere. And just because I'd been burned in the worst way possible didn't mean I should stop trying, or at least that's what I thought Tanya might say. So, with butterflies in my stomach, and my brain warning me to be careful, I said yes.

It may have been one of the best decisions I'd ever made.

Not one of you in my group guessed Seth! Lol!

And lets just be clear, we are talking the current BooBoo Stewart as Seth, and not the adorable baby-faced Seth from the movies.

Let me know what you think!