Page 20 of Redeeming the Villain

Tapping the screen on my phone, I see just how right he is. Shit, we should have left, like, five minutes ago.

Rushing across the room, I grab one of my Legends hoodies and black joggers, quickly slipping on boxers and socks before putting on the rest.

After stepping into a pair of sneakers, I brush my teeth and run my fingers through my black hair. When I glance in the mirror for a brief second, my breath catches in my throat, slicing my heart with shards of glass.

The light-purple gaze glaring back at me has become one I don’t often look at.

They say having purple eyes is a rarity, something saved for less than one percent. Yet, somehow, my brother and I have the same eyes. And every time I look in the mirror, all I see is him. A memory, a ghost of what he looked like. I can’t see myself without seeing him, and I can’t bear to look upon his image without feeling like the world around me is going to crash and burn.

Tearing my attention away from my reflection, I stride across my room, grabbing my backpack and tossing a black T-shirt inside for after weight lifting.

Heading out of the room, I throw my door open.

“I’m coming!” I shout loudly, hoping it manages to travel through this stupidly large house to him.

Traveling down the long, winding hallway of the lower level of the east wing, I climb the few steps that lead me into the grand foyer, finding Blair and Griffin waiting for me near the front door.

“About fucking time. Sleep through your alarms?” Griffin asks, spinning his keys in his hand.

Lifting my hands up as I approach the front door where they’re standing, I plead my case. “Yes. But to be fair, if your house wasn’t gigantic and it didn’t take me ten minutes to get from my room to the front door, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

He opens the door, and we step out into the sunny day, the warmth happily welcomed. “So, you’re blaming your irresponsibility on the fact that my house—which you’re staying in for free—istoo big?”

Clicking my tongue, I wink at him. “Yeah. Of course. It could never bemyfault.”

He laughs. “It never is, is it?”

“Now you’re catching on.” I chuckle, sliding into the back seat of his pickup.

Blair hops in the front, and Griffin gets in the driver’s seat.

I don’t typically ride to campus with them, but since there’s a party tonight, I didn’t want to have to worry about my car and getting it home.

“Ready for our first day in World History?” Blair asks the both of us.

“Nope. But it’s a good thing I have a really smart and hot girlfriend to be excited for me.” Griffin lifts their intertwined hands and kisses her fingers.

“You know what? I’ll just walk.” I groan.

Griffin turns his head and blinks rapidly with a straight face, calling my bluff.

“Shut up and drive.” I flip him off, and he turns back around chuckling.

This is really the first time that I’ve seen Blair since my Alora run-in, and I think of the words that Alora muttered to Asher.

“Hey, Blair. Question for you.” I sit up further, positioning myself between the two front seats as Griffin starts driving out of his private driveway.

“Oh God,” she murmurs, and Griffin laughs. “What’s up?”

“First off, rude. Secondly, do you know a girl named Alora?” My palms begin to sweat, and my body feels oddly uncomfortable when I say her name aloud.

Like talking about her with my closest friends is causing my body to have some kind of allergic reaction.

Blair turns her head, squinting and studying me for a moment, clearly deciding how she wants to answer my question. “Y-yes. I have a class with her. Why?”

“Don’t look so nervous. I was just curious.” With my hands planted on both of their seats, I push myself back until I hit the backrest.

She spins fully around in her seat, her eyebrows pinched tightly together. “Nothing with you is ever so simple. Why are you curious?” She sighs. “Malik, she seems so sweet, and I don’t want you to toy with her.”

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