Dante.
"You're kidding." I chuckled lightly and turned back to what I was doing, "Nice one, Mateo."
"Dude, I'm not." He replied seriously.
I turned back to him and could instantly see from his face that he wasn't kidding.
"Would there happen to be another Asher Lowell on campus?" I asked.
Silly question. Of course, there wasn't, but a tiny part of me hoped he'd say yes, there was. And he was a nice guy who didn't punch freshmen for sport.
"Nope. Just the one you know." Mateo replied sadly.
Well shit.
"I was shocked, too. I mean, what were the odds, huh?" Mateo shrugged.
"When did you see it?" I asked, still hoping to find the 'gotcha moment' Mateo was sure to pull any moment now.
"This morning. New students are coming in today. Needed to go get their files so I can get them settled in. Happened to see your room number and the two names beside it."
"And you couldn't change it? Switch it to someone else?" I asked, aware I was sounding a little panicky.
"That's not part of my duties. I'm not allowed to. I could get suspended if I did that."
"Don't you mean if you get caught?"
Mateo groaned, "Don't even go there, dude. I wouldn't do it. It's against the rules." He said firmly.
I swallowed the urge to scoff at him. He didn't seem bothered about breaking the rules when it came to partying past curfew, but he drew the line at swapping a couple of names on the school record?
But then, it seemed to make sense. Asher had probably been the one to clean up and drag me back to the room. Maybe I hadn't even gotten the bump at the back of my head when I fell. The bump probably came from him dragging me along the floor. Wouldn't put it past him to do that.
So he'd brought me back, cleaned up, and then disappeared from the room before I woke up. Thinking of it, I hadn't seen him in the room at all the previous day either. The room looked like it wasn't lived in. He probably had some sort of cool pad off campus and only came here to pick up or drop stuff once in a while. This might work after all.
"He might not be all that bad, you know," Mateo said, echoing my thoughts. "I mean, he's huge and intimidating and everyone is scared of him and he probably eats small rodents for breakfast, but he might not be all that bad."
"Haha. Not helping here, Mat." I groaned and rolled my eyes.
"No. Never Mat. It's Mateo. That's like the one rule I have." Mateo wagged a finger.
"Why's that?"
"No reason. It just is. I'll leave you to get to class. If you need help getting there."
"Don't worry, dude, I got it." I smiled gratefully.
"Alright, man."
He turned to leave and stopped, frozen in his tracks. I froze, too. Because standing at the doorway, completely covering it from view, was Asher Lowell.
He had on a tight leather jacket, black jeans, and a black shirt. A black bag hung from his left shoulder. The only thing that wasn't black on him was his eyes. They were a piercing blue and they looked pissed.
"You were right about everything except one." His deep voice rumbled through the room as he took a step towards Mate,o who involuntarily took a step back.
"I don't eat small rodents for breakfast." He said, closing the distance between them in one stride, too quick for Mateo to react. "I prefer medium-sized cattle and fresh-faced boys who don't mind their business."
I could almost hear Mateo shudder in fear, but he regained his composure quickly.
"Come on, Bro, it was a tiny joke, alright?" He chuckled lightly. Nervously.
"Bro?" Asher's eyes darkened to a storm.
"It was a joke. He didn't mean it." I spoke up, and then pushed down the urge to toss myself out the window. I hadn't meant to say anything at first, but I didn't want Mateo to get into trouble. Very Heroic Dante.
"Who asked you, Dweeb?" Asher snarled. It was frightening and strange. I had never seen anyone snarl before, and now I wished I still hadn't. I took several steps backward.
"Uh. I just…it isn't his fault." I stammered.
"Which would mean it's yours?" Asher raised a perfect brow.
"You know what? How about I leave you two to sort this out? You know, as roomies." He slips past Asher and hightails it to the door. Not much of a feat since Asher's eyes were boring into mine like he had forgotten there was anyone else in the room.
Also, the two faced, slimy ass coward was abandoning me right now? Really?!
I glare at him as he makes his swift exit. He shrugs apologetically at me before practically running away. I could hear the quick patter of his sneakers down the hallway floors.
I turn back to see Asher still staring at me. I hold his gaze for a few seconds before turning away. I try not to squirm, but I can't help it. If intimidating were a person, it'd be the soldering slab of male essence before me.
As I thought that, I remembered something from the party last night. Moans and grunts and a watch. I glance at his wrist, but he isn't wearing any.
Odd.
I could've sworn I had seen the same watch on him earlier.
"Are you going to keep staring? Don't you have somewhere to be?" He growled at me.
I wasn't the one staring, but it didn't matter. I needed to leave anyway. I couldn't stand to be in the same space as this guy. I stuffed the clothes I brought out for class into my bag and walked past him quickly.
"That's right. You better run." He sneered as I passed him. I gritted my teeth and slammed the door in anger. I would worry about my roommate of doom later. Right now, I need to find where to take a shower.