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"I’lares at Nate, who’s set punched in the nose

But that’s neither here nor there I s about violence clear when I puked in West’s toilet I don’t like it I don’t want it I didn’t ask for it

"Get off me," West says "This is between me and him"

"No, it’s not"

"He called the cops on er war, and the war is aboutI hate it It doesn’t fix anything It just gives you an excuse to let off steaot steaet to punch people" I look up at West, aret that you’re frustrated, okay? I get it You’re mad You want to fix this for me But you can’t fix this for me All you can do is make it worse"

I can see theso much as the fact that I’s He’s not going to acco this way

Nate sees it, too He walks in to Student Affairs without another glance

The breath explodes out of West in a loud, frustrated sigh

After a few seconds, when I’ve started to feel silly--I mean, how is it, exactly, that I ended up wrapped around the legs of a shirtless ives rip strong When I’m on my feet, he frames my face between his hands "You’re mine He hurt you I want to hurt hi I can do for you"

"It’s not, though It’s not what I need froht"

"Feels like ht, too"

I turn my face into his palm Kiss him there, where I can feel his pulse in his hand "That’s because we’re a teaainst his skin "But I’m the leader"

He snorts "You’re not the leader"

"I a I kicked ass"

"I bet you did"

"West?" I look up at him There’s more ease in his expression now, softness in his eyes that I put there "I need you to believe in me Even if there are times nobody else does, I need you to be the one person in my life who trusts that I can kick all the ass that needs to be kicked"

"Of course you can But it’s not--"

"And then," I interrupt, because this is ih I know it’s harder and it’s not what you want, I need you to let azes past me at the doorhere Nate isn’t any to be some other chance like this Soet a shot at Nate I’ to take it"

"Caro"

"Please" I touch his cheekbone Pet his neck He feels so dangerous, right on the edge, and I need to pull hiht now--is one of those pivot points A make-or-break ht ainst the bend between neck and shoulder

I love his eyes I love the way he looks at ether

"I hate not being able to do anything for you," he says

"You’re doing everything foryou" I kiss hih and a capitulation "I proain He’s so warue parts ets serious, fast My back buo ho lot before he’s pushing h at the back ofhands I’m as already wet in the hall, wetter still as I pushed through the door and he gave it a shove froroped my ass with his free hand in the deepest, dirtiest way

"Hoasp

"Yeah"

"You drive"

"Keys"

I fish theh I’m not sure how West is no help His hands are all over et his attention

Back at the aparto?"

"Did you nail his ass?"

West doesn’t even let me talk He pushes me in front of him, says, "Give us a minute," and slams the door to his bedroom in their surprised faces

"That was rude"