Your Hoodie still smells like me - Stop Looking At Me Like That

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZdQoO4S6l

Episode 21 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59v2reS1BH

“Stop Looking At Me Like That”

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSmaXCK4KS

The morning after should have been awkward.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPuobk1qDq

It was.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAk1qkT54W

Just not in the way Eli expected.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnkoQ2pi6a

Because when Kai finally woke up, the first thing he saw was Eli already sitting on the edge of the bed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKxIbCly8c

Looking at him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpyBMn2ISa

And unfortunately—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ69vAQQs5

Kai noticed immediately.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2x4Y57YSh

"...Were you staring at me?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvY1nGfc0Z

Eli nearly choked.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZUxtDcjig

"No."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSou9Qb6cO

"You were."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTfZw8mAz7

"I wasn't."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA4bXOmf3h

"You absolutely were."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjoV2KkCPv

Eli grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1DLr3CDwL

Kai laughed for the first time in days.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CWdtnHTkC

A real laugh.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Pq3GzWYe

Warm.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1n8icLECH

Comfortable.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTSZTA9vSy

Dangerous.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZPSKH2s2u

Because hearing it made Eli's heart do stupid things.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjB0SUUbrg

—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wb4PV9mB7

The ride back to campus was worse.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXniuQgFC6

Much worse.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaHQVUx45k

Noah drove.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfm9ReNVhe

Rowan occupied the front seat.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYfUMl8kMU

Which meant Eli and Kai were stuck together in the back.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwr1yfRC78

Shoulders touching every time the car turned.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK8t1kOEiB

Neither acknowledging it.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZLC0YQu8M

Both very aware of it.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52kJ5O1YxY

Rowan noticed immediately.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGKeJNDLoW

Of course he did.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoVXllAeeA

"You two seem less homicidal today."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeHJZuY47Q

"Rowan."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B46Gj1Fs0

"What?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K3IKKizX5

"Be quiet."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lvbMi35eI

"No."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxWKmGe8PV

—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtED9bvsos

Back at Westbridge University, reality returned.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB0HfP1eZA

Classes.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP3GtvW7St

Projects.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlbKpaaZXj

Deadlines.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgSW3vlbpk

Unfortunately, feelings returned too.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8isZEHDTxR

Because after spending an entire night sharing a room with Kai—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WkaxJlbkB

pretending nothing happened felt impossible.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4yVBolnXL

Eli kept noticing things.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGprq9AqcQ

The way Kai smiled when concentrating.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BihBk5gqp

The way he rubbed his eyes when tired.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mxDRpP7L7

The way he still wore the bracelet.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1ay1y9QLa

Always the bracelet.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpNFLGjV5N

And it was becoming a problem.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqwPHd4M0j

—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiaoVQTMMU

Three days later, Team 8 and Team 14 met for a joint competition review.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3yqXlX3Yl

A disaster waiting to happen.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylHlIbn0JI

Eli sat across from Kai in one of the library study rooms.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrBRu29Z1W

Trying very hard not to stare.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnWa2YjcY7

Failing.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdfuaXlMSf

Badly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBgbq0NKGm

Kai noticed around ten minutes into the meeting.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBLNdStGjl

The first time, he ignored it.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOwxWjstu2

The second time, he got suspicious.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV85DmUJELR

The third time—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60QsBl3Uyw

he looked directly at Eli.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0llSiZ0rUv

Caught.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYjbDh7iwp

Eli immediately looked down at his notebook.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkZRgIfqlY

Smooth.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yJIEY6Ar7

Very smooth.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUhAWwCfyD

Across the table, Damien looked amused.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxk7sHBB0C

"Oh, this is new."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdC6hElGAf

Kai narrowed his eyes.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLKKRjgK8A

"What is?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlbXBCJVOZ

Damien pointed at Eli.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymxXk9IVd7

"He's staring."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqjNW13Jz1

Eli nearly dropped his pen.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaPM5ahkIf

"I am not."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLkteytYwb

"You are."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPTcs5c4NT

"No."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBHAoCObMI

"Constantly."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80V1hHyebD

Rowan looked delighted.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKbsrwmmdl

"No way."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DQdDYECvf

"Rowan, don't."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwImU5TpnYj

Too late.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVlnyOR1US

Everyone was looking now.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH2zr9koil

Including Kai.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAS2Cux4c1

Especially Kai.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOye8TSpJK4

And suddenly Eli wanted the floor to open and swallow him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eICJvdcqT

—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoszhnfkV8

The meeting ended thirty minutes later.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwixdRTl2X

Eli escaped immediately.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoxbQSy4u4

Or tried to.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5je0vnpOfI

Because halfway down the library hallway—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DRTybWsby

someone grabbed his sleeve.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eUxlEnIhK

Kai.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAqBJG4hty

Again.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2j77PFp1k

Always grabbing sleeves.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvcQkrAmtm

Eli turned around.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcOFyJ2Mtj

"What?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0H5Rck0uA

Kai looked oddly pleased.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCroPOp4Bpq

Which was suspicious.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFP6PPUGzo

Very suspicious.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiqFy3vqpR

"You've been staring at me."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpUy6lViGa

Eli groaned.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXThnMF94Up

"Not this again."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UvREixSB4

Kai stepped closer.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmL5PjWele

"Why?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwlmvi3ZFv

"No reason."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2bmmQvPbm

"Liar."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43eXsFzdze

"No."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolp0pr1Pe0

"Yes."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7IxojGuGw

Eli hated how familiar this felt.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXEBO6JpDa

The arguing.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04BsXgG0lp

The teasing.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdsiZ6V5XY

The impossible tension.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9fFOQC5Mn

Kai smiled slightly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr7EMdJK0t

Small.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv50gCI8it

Rare.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHJvISUxN6

Beautiful.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcRhOQx6y2

Annoying.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXhsmVMiE2

Eli looked away first.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QqLgT8F8y

Mistake.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddssjaeNGx

Because Kai immediately noticed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP1Ium4Ck7

Then his smile widened.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyqZstsYWA

"Oh."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkt1RwdRXf

"Oh what?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaS3d9AkEx

Kai folded his arms.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87zIGo2Kqw

"You missed me."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjsoGuwZr

Eli looked offended.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4f5xMQxcu

"I saw you three days ago."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3GcnRvYxw

"That's not an answer."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dVvw5UsV5

Eli hated this conversation.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vxT78SJU2

Mostly because Kai was right.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HVe0BnZRh

The night at Noah's apartment changed something.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgetzIhznF

The distance felt harder now.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx1D7rvodp

The pretending felt harder.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw5jrmOKkr

Everything felt harder.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg5ONENg6B

Kai studied him carefully.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sbj6RuVXC

Then asked quietly:

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9TU9HvQ5f

"Are you still mad at me?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd4mZ4gJDt

The question caught Eli off guard.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8vT71PZZ9

Because for once—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxHxm6xXx4

Kai sounded nervous.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFckO6zLgAr

Not jealous.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNV0ZWRYCG

Not sarcastic.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYScBPQNSr5

Just worried.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Lg3inlzbB

Eli's irritation faded slightly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGk9RRezKl

A little.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7nTmG5I7i

Not completely.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x9jwypEq5

"Sometimes."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp4PxE4p36

Kai nodded slowly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG6VjSDuq4

Fair answer.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1lL7RvakG

Then he surprised Eli.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNeOG0Xruc

"I'm still mad at myself."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2FyfMuhPp

Silence.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKhU1jXw7p

The confession hung between them.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwPNVK18hQ

Kai looked away briefly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDSjedd5GE

"I should've talked to you sooner."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0S2ramtPA

His voice softened.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wvDu3vhJY

"I should've stopped acting like I could have all the benefits of being your boyfriend without actually being one."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkpNJXReRQ

Eli's heart skipped.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4ncBCRUnD

Because that was exactly the problem.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtnWT0NWCN

The one they'd been dancing around for months.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqe2TXLNme

Neither spoke for a moment.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6HNSV3ha3

The hallway around them was empty now.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdDEdmcVG3

Quiet.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fGSm673Zd

Safe.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkgBI3eF7I

Dangerous.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDnt4JirXK

Kai looked back at him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUpe67Db9P

And for the first time in a long while—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorddHbyCPs

there was no joke.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qIedSkqbX

No jealousy.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl33OUyJXe

No game.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUr2m7FryZ

Just honesty.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkboJE2gQc

"Eli."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrpG2Lggc8

"What?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGtnOrDEkV

Kai hesitated.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19V2nWLIm0

Actually hesitated.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCCKYeNts4

Then smiled weakly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqfP53PC6n

"Can we stop making each other miserable?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBzt1Vo19L

And somehow—

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFayIx4AYs

that was the closest either of them had come to admitting what they really wanted.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaDJ4w8rlP

ns216.73.216.37da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically