A smile invaded Kayla's lips as she walked up steps in the library of Capitol City University. This part of the library spanned over the street, forming a bridge between the two city blocks. The walls of this corridor were made of glass, letting plenty of sunlight in, as well as providing a view of the street a mere twenty feet below. And arranged by that glass-wall were a row of seats, allowing students to study by sunlight without the afflictions of rain or cold. This was mundane scenery for any student at Capitol City U, and the reason for Kayla's smile was the recognition of a familiar figure. In one of those comfy seats was a fellow student, sitting back and slouched low, with his head back and eyes closed. Kayla crept closer still. Hundreds of students passed through this corridor a day, and it was unlikely that Kayla's footsteps would draw his attention. Ignoring the once-overs from nearby loungers, she stepped over his leg which was propped up on the table and positioned herself between his legs. Still no movement from him. Finally, with the pride of a lioness dragging home its own kill, Kayla sat on the sleeper's lap, waiting for a reaction.

The young man opened one eye and took a deep breath, keeping laid back and his arms crossed. Once his eye had adjusted to the light and the imposter identified, the young man exhaled and resumed closing both eyes again.

Now, Kayla was no ordinary girl, not only in behavior but also in appearance. She had, what many would call, a naughty-girl vibe. And though she would attribute most of it to outsider hostility, she received looks from all kinds of men daily. She did, however, know that if she had sat on the lap of any other guy here, she'd at least get a "hi," and a smile. This brushoff would not do. In retaliation of his lack of reaction, Kayla gave the sleeper a long, wet lick up the cheek.

"Awwgh," that woke him up. Kayla's smug smile returned and she got off his knee. "God damn," he said, sitting up and wiping his cheek on his sleeve, "you know, when you do that, you're also putting every penis that's been in your mouth against my face."

Kayla rolled her eyes but her smile widened. Though it sounds like an absurdly mean thing to say, that was just how Don joked. If he wanted to play ball, Kayle could play. "Well, those wouldn't be the only penises that've been on your face."

"Why? Was someone violating me while I was sleeping?" Don said, looking around quizzically.

"Is that your best excuse?" she asked cheekily with a raised brow.

"Yeah, yeah," Don said tugging his sleeve back down. "I'll show you violation," he muttered under his breath as he adjusted his appearance. He pulled his torn jeans back down to their unhiked position and made sure his tight shirt was also not lifted past his studded belt. How he looked so good in black.

"What was that?" Kayla asked interrupting his refitting.

"Hm?" he asked and looked up, giving an over-the-top phony smile.

Kayla crossed her arms and grinned, "It's not rape if I want it."

For such a phrase, there was no possible response, and Don let out a great, defeated, "Ha!" His interjection had been a little bit too loud, and Don noticed they were beginning to attract some attention. "Let's get out of here," he said and picked up his bookbag. He recognized the looks he was getting. Jealousy. What made him so special? Why was he worthy?

-

The pair walked down the library steps, and though they might have looked like a couple, that was not exactly the case.

Kayla too always wore torn jeans and black tops, way back since high school, and before that it was even more extreme. She's had her hair dyed countless times, almost every color one could imagine at least once. Currently it was a flat black, further matching Don's natural black hair.

"Where are we going?" Kayla asked.

"I don't know. You feel like having a smoke?" Don asked and Kayla nodded. "Courtyard it is, then." They exited through the automated doors which led right into a large area, lively populated by the typical variety of college students. There were a few tables and chairs arranged, either showcasing some fraternity, or advocating reform of some kind, petition included. The two found a bench near the fountain with their backs to the sun. "So, what class did you just get out of?" Don asked, lighting Kayla's cigarette first.

Kayla took a drag, then exhaled tiredly. "Fucking political science. That professor can't teach worth shit."

"Why do you still go to that class? Don't you have a two hour gap until your next one?"

"Yeah," she said, reaching over one of the many cement basins placed in accommodation for CCU's smoker population.

"So stay home and sleep in," he said, lighting his own.

"I should..." she said, pulling a pair of sunglasses out of her bag.

After a moment, "Have you heard the new Wrath of Thunder album?" Don asked while looking straight ahead.

"No. Is it good?"

"Definitely worth a download," he said and took another drag on his cigarette. When he exhaled, he muttered under his breath but still loud enough for Kayla to hear, "Don't you fucking look at me."

Kayla tried to pinpoint who he was talking to. There were a few people who waved their hands in front of their faces as they passed through Don's smoke, but he wasn't looking at them. He was still looking straight ahead, presumably at something on the other side of the courtyard.

"Some hipster piece of shit," he explained, "the one in the cutoff shorts."

She saw whom he was talking about. Short jean-shorts, curly beard, with Aviator knockoff sunglasses, and carrying a bicycle helmet. College kids these days.

"Yo, I gotta head out to class," Don said a minute later, dropping his cigarette to the ground. "Later," he said, waving behind his back without turning around.

-

Kayla sat for another moment, contemplating what to do now as she watched Don walk away. Her lips spread into another smile. Don was taking a little detour, stopping by to have a word with the hipster in question. Though she couldn't hear what he was saying at this distance, she could tell the conversation wasn't a friendly one. Don stood aggressively close, making the bicyclist back up half a step. Kayla let out a chuckle as Don slapped the helmet out of the bicyclists hands and sent it rolling on the ground. With that, the cyclist stooped his head and chased after his helmet, and Don continued his walk into one of the classroom buildings. He's fucking nuts, Kayla said to herself with an open smile.

-

There was little Kayla could do on campus besides sit and listen to music. The computers in the library were always taken and she never felt like walking all the way back to the dorms. So, she found a seat in a dark corner and turned up her headphones loud enough for neighboring loungers to hear. Why didn't she just sleep in?

-

Eleven o'clock. Kayla's mp3 player lit up and quietly chimed. Ava should be getting out now. Sure enough, before Kayla could get her things together and leave the Student Center, her phone buzzed with an incoming text message: meeting up with everyone at mario's. come check out my new tat

Damn. That's on the other side of campus. Kayla made her way to the "authentic" pizza parlor, the one obviously owned by the mafia.

-

It was really only a few blocks from the main buildings to the pizzeria. Mario's was still technically on campus, but the only classroom buildings out here belonged to the school of music, a rather late addition to CCU. Kayla found her party out front under the large umbrellas, four of them all together. There was Ava, Kayla's acquaintance since high school, best friends since college, Ava's boyfriend Jay, Kayla and Ava's mutual friend Wayne, and one last guy she had never met before. After a barrage of excited greetings from Ava, Kayla went inside to get a drink. Upon sitting down, Kayla caught Jay shamelessly checking her out. That disgusting grin on his face. They had met a few times before, but Kayla never saw what Ava liked about him. Next Kayla met eyes with the stranger at the table.

Upon this awkward moment, Ava began the introduction, "Oh, this is Jay's friend-" At that point Kayla already stopped listening. Great. Another douchebag addition to the group. Despite her thoughts, Kayla made niceties with the stranger. The usual, "where are you from, what's your major" exchange took place, all the while Kayla was looking for an escape route or distraction.

When an awkward end had come to their colloquialism, she noticed the new tattoo on Ava's arm. "You haven't shown me your fresh ink yet," Kayla interrupted Ava and Jay's conversation.

"Oh!" Ava exclaimed and positioned herself to give Kayla a better view. The tattoo ran across both wrists, and when Ava put her arms side by side, it became one phrase. The font was fancy, and Ava was explaining that the tattoo was Norwegian for something or other, but by this point Kayla was distracted again. On the far side of the block on the other side of the street, Don was walking this way.

"Sorry Ava," Kayla interrupted, "Don!" she said as he almost passed by. Once he spotted the culprit, he crossed the street and stood by the table. "Pull up a chair," Kayla said.

"Nah, I'm on my way out," he said coldly.

"Come on bro, Ava was just showing everyone her new tat." Jay said, "You got any tattoos?"

Don stared for a moment at Jay. The two had never met, and it was obvious he had no interest in doing so now. "Nah, getting inked is for bitches," he said while looking down at the tribal tattoos on Jay's arms. The statement made Kayla choke on her soda, and a strange silence ensued as Don and Jay stared each other down. "I'm out," Don said as he began walking away, "Kayla, you comin'?" he said over his shoulder.

Kayla looked around the table. There was nothing good waiting for her here. "Sorry," she said to her friend as she stood up. Kayla ran to catch up with Don, leaving behind a shocked table and Ava with her wrists still hanging in the air.

-

"Why'd you say that back there?" Kayla asked once out of earshot of the group. She didn't take any offense personally, as she had no tattoos due to her allergy to ink. It was unfortunate, but she happily compensated with piercings. When she couldn't get any response from Don, she continued, "You almost made Coke come out of my nose."

"As opposed to it normally going in, right?" he said with a corner of his mouth barely upturned.

"Shut up," Kayla said, playfully hitting Don.

After a moment of silent walking, Don got serious, "I don't like that guy."

"So? You can't just be nice and play along?"

"Why the fuck should I?" Don said, irritation creeping into his voice.

Kayla scoffed. "Anyway, where are we going?"

"Back to your place," he was walking intently, "I got some shit I wanna take out on you."

Kayla's expression changed from annoyance to an anticipatory smile. This should be good.

-----

A/N: Thank you for bearing with me through the first chapter! If it bored you, good! That's actually the point. Stick around, and I promise things will get more interesting. This will be a short story anyway. So, you know the dance: Review mine, and I'll review yours!