Twisted romance

The group of friends, Dominic , Callum, Darrick and Shaun were huddled around a small table in the back of the canteen. The plastic chairs creaked beneath their weight as they leaned in, their faces illuminated only by the faint glow of the sunlight through the tinted windows.

"So, Dominic," Callum began, his blonde hair falling over his eyes, "how's you and Evie?" There was a collective rustle of interest from the others.

Dominic shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Uh, we're fine, I guess." He glanced at Darrick, who snorted derisively.

"Oh, come on," Darrick drawled. "You know she's into you. You're practically blind if you can't see that." The others chuckled, but Dominic felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck.

Evie was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful girls in their year. Her long, wavy auburn hair cascaded down her back, and her emerald green eyes seemed to sparkle whenever she laughed. Her figure was curvaceous yet delicate, and she had a way of carrying herself that commanded attention. She was smart, funny, and always seemed to know what to say.

Dominic, on the other hand, was more of a quiet type. He was certainly attractive too, but in a more subtle way. His dark brown hair always fell into his eyes, giving him a slightly disheveled look that many find endearing. He had a strong, broad jawline and was fairly tall. Dominic was intelligent, thoughtful, and had a great sense of humor. Despite their different social circles, they had been good friends for a while now.

"Pff, he's just jealous," Shaun chimed in, nudging Darrick with his elbow. "You’ve been trying to get with her for ages, Darrick, but she so obviously wants Dominic."

Dominic couldn't help but smile at that. "I don't know about that," he said modestly. "Just cause we’re friends doesn’t mean there’s a secret attraction"

Callum rolled his eyes. "Even if you think that, she clearly doesn’t" They all laughed.

The door to the canteen swung open, letting in a rush of students arriving in to queue for mediocre cookies and square pizza. Amongst them was Evie, her gaze scanning the room for a seat until it landed on Dominic’s table. Her eyes brightened when they met his, and she flashed him a smile.

Dominic’s heart quickened as she walked over to their table. "Hey, Dominic," she said, her voice soft and melodic. "Do you know what room we have psychology in later?" Without waiting for a reply, she pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

"Hey, Evie," he managed to say, feeling a bit flustered. "Yeah, I think today’s the day it’s the smaller room, should be in about fifteen minutes, right?" He glanced at his phone to make sure he wasn't wrong.

The others at the table chuckled amongst themselves, exchanging knowing glances. Evie ignored them, focusing her attention on Dominic. "Do you want me to help you study for it again later?" she asked, leaning in slightly. Her voice was soft, but suggestive, implying there was some history.

Dominic felt a wave of heat wash over his face. "Uh, sure," he replied, composed. "That would be great." He locked eyes with her, his heart racing. Her lashes fluttered with satisfaction at his response.

"Perfect," she whispered, her tone hinting at something only the two of them could pinpoint. "I’ll see you later then" she said, getting up and excusing herself. She waves goodbye and continues through the room to the table with her friends.

“Dominic, what was that about, did you guys…?" Darrick trailed off, looking at him with an expression somewhere between astonishment and acceptance. Dominic felt his face heat up even more, but managed to keep his cool.

“Maybe” he whispered. “It was at Tash’s birthday party last week. We were both a bit tipsy and... well, it just sort of happened."

Darrick’s eyes widened. "You had sex with her? Like actually?" he asked incredulously.

Dominic nodded, affirming what they’d all just wondered. "Yeah and she hasn’t let up since."

Shaun looked at Dominic with a mixture of awe and jealousy. "You got to tap that? mate, she's fit as fuck."

"I know, right?" Darrick said, unable to keep the envy out of his voice. "I've always wondered what it'd be like to be with her."

“Yeah, we know you have, Darrick” Callum laughed, prompting an angry scowl from Darrick.

“Alright I’m gonna head to Psych” Dominic said, getting out of his chair. It was obvious he was trying to avoid further conversation about Evie, but it was hard to miss the smile that had crept onto his face.

"You're not fooling anyone, mate," Darrick chuckled, shaking his head. "You can't hide that grin."

Dominic threw a dismissive hand up as he walked away, but he knew Darrick was right.