"I'm a fool for you." —Ariana Grande.

••

"Maddie is back for you in full swing!" James chuckles in enjoyment as he throws himself against his bed.

This guy thinks being harassed by a psychotic girl is funny, but it is severely exhausting.

I roll my eyes, refusing to detract my focus from the Need for Speed game I am currently in the middle of. "She's crazy. I don't know why she came back here."

"Yeah, but you're the one who created her." James shrugs simply as he sits upright. "You just had to go and fuck a psycho." He snickers, and I finally take my eyes off the screen to shoot a glare in his direction.

He snaps his mouth close and pretends to pull a zipper across his lips.

"It's not my fault I'm good in bed." I gloat, blindly pushing my hand into the bag of Doritos next to me, shoving a handful of the cheesy snack into my mouth. "I have a great game when it comes to sex."

"Yeah, I am sure." Sarcasm drips from in his tone. "I mean, come on, you still haven't slept with Harmony."

"Harmony is different," I tell him, smiling softly at the thought of her. "She's not just some hookup girl or a chick you meet at the club; she's special. I can't do that with her. I have to take things one step at a time."

"You're right. I feel the same toward April, but too bad we ended up fu—" He stops short, and I look over at him, wondering why he didn't finish his sentence.

"Too bad what?"

He shakes his head. "Too bad nothing."

"Don't try to play with me, James; you were about to say something." I throw the controller down and turn to face him. "Come on, finish the sentence."

He rubs his nape, looking away guiltily.

"April told me not to say anything." He finally says, and I perch my elbow on my knees. "Tell me, James."

"No, Blaze."

My eyes squint to two thin lines, and he winces fearfully. He knows it would take nothing for me to hop over this chair and strangle him.

I twist my lips while I glare at him, studying his culpable countenance. Growing up watching human's reactions and interactions, only to imitate them when I want to acquire something, leaves me with the ability to read gestures and facial expressions. In no time, I have filled in the blanks of his incomplete sentence, and my brows furrow in realization.

"You fucked my cousin James?"

From the way his eyes have grown, I am clearly correct.

"How on earth did you even—"

"Did you?"

"Eh, it...it was just one time."

"What the fuck! You little..." I ragingly get up, and he quickly hops off the bed to race to the bathroom. I chase after him, almost knocking over the table in the room. "I am going to kill you, you horny asshole!"

"We were drunk, Blaze! We weren't thinking straight!" He sprints into the washroom and slams the door. I step back with dark eyes, and he catches his breath, his winded voice echoing through the door. "Come on! You can't blame a brother when he wasn't even sober!"

I hiss and place my hands on my waists, lowering my head. "I hope you know that I am standing out here with a long knife in my hand so the minute you step out, I am cutting you to threads, and I'll be hanging your bloody skin at the front of Homewood for everyone to see."

"It was just once, one time!"

"I am not moving from here."

"Blaze." He whines from the other end. "It's suffocating from me taking a dump in here earlier; please just let me get out; what happened to peace and love and forgiveness?"

"Shut the fuck up, you sneaky piece of scumbag."

He makes a mewling noise that sounds similar to a crying cat, and I sigh. "Alright, fine. I am proud of you; that was a good move."

He's silent for a second before his voice flows through the narrow creases. "Really? You mean that?"

"Yeah, dude. That means she's probably smitten by you now."

"Damn, you think?" He gets excited and begins to open the door. "I didn't think you would approve—"

I grab him by his collar, and he wails out as he struggles to set himself free. "Come on; I thought you waved your white flag, Blaze!"

"White flag my ass!" I hit him in the head while squeezing his neck under my arm. He attempts to hit me back, and I shift my face away with a throaty laugh. It turns into childish playing and chortling in no time, as if we are two immature five-year-old boys.

A loud knock on our dorm door interrupts the absolute madness. I release him, and he cowers away, gripping his neck in pain. "Damn, are you a sumo wrestler or something?"

"Nah, you're just a pussy, that's all." I give him one last kick to his ribs before laughing my way to the door.

"If it's Harmony, I will be telling her that you have the potential to be abusive, and she should run away now before she appears on an episode of Oprah in the future!" James chuckles, out of breath.

"Shut up, cousin-fucker." I jerk him a middle finger over my shoulders.

"Put that inside Maddie!"

"She wishes!" I grip the handle with a wide smile on my face, but it immediately erases when I see who is standing at the doorway.

Maddie.

It's like I summoned her or something.

"Damn," James mutters from behind me.

"Hey, Blaze." She smiles, swinging mischievously in her stance.

I roll my eyes and gesture to close the door when she stops it with a palm. "Wait."

I frown. "What?"

She coils her arms against her chest, the smug smirk still in its place.

"Maddie, for the eight billionth time, stop wasting your time. I don't want you, and I never will, stay away from Harmony too; it's fucking annoying."

"Blaze, this isn't about us." She scowls.

"Okay, alright, what is this then, trick or treat?"

James cracks up with laughter inside, and I resist the urge to join him, biting my lip to keep the grin away.

She seems offended, but she doesn't leave regardless. "I have something to tell you."

"Oh yeah? What would that be? You're going back to the asylum?"

James cackles yet again, shaking his head in amusement. "You're an asshole, Blaze."

I send a wide grin his way. I know I am, she knows that too, but she still won't give up.

"No." She shakes her head, and I can tell our consistent laughing is somewhat bruising her feelings. I had no idea she had any. "It's not about me. It's just a message Kite wanted me to deliver to you."

My smile is now non-existent, and I cross my arms over my chest, leaning against the sill. "So, Mr. Kite is scared to come to me so he sends his secretary?"

"No. He did say he wishes he could come himself, just so he could see the heartbroken look on your face when he tells you what he needs to."

"Yeah, whatever, tell him to stick his little message where the sun doesn't shine." I try to close the door again, but she places her foot in the way. I clench my jaw. I am losing my patience.

"Blaze, you will want to see and hear this. It is very important."

I narrow my eyes, glaring at her silently. She raises her brow, and I hiss. "This better not waste my time."

She smiles. "Oh, it won't."