Falling for my Best Friend’s Bully

I blinked my bleary eyes open, a yawn slipping past my lips as I stretched lazily. My body protested as I sat up, the weight of a late night of horror movies—till 2 a.m., no less—making itself known.

The room came into focus, cluttered with remnants of snacks and blankets. I was in Noah's dorm room, and I felt like absolute trash.

Noah, meanwhile, was completely dead to the world, sprawled out on the floor in a position that would've been uncomfortable for anyone else. His long hair fanned out around his face like a messy halo, the soft rise and fall of his chest accompanied by a steady, thunderous snore.

"Your ability to sleep anywhere, in any position, is truly a gift," I murmured, glancing down at him with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

Noah answered with a particularly raspy snore, and I couldn't help but let out a weak giggle as I swung my legs off the bed, scratching absentmindedly at my stomach.

A quick glance at the clock made my stomach sink—it was already 10:15 a.m., and I had less than two hours to make it to class.

"Coffee first, everything else later," I muttered, shuffling toward the kitchenette.

By the time I was on my seventh sip, savoring the life-giving warmth of the coffee, Noah finally stirred. He stumbled into the tiny kitchenette, his hair a tangled mess, his eyes barely open.

"Good morning," I greeted, my voice still rough from sleep.

He grunted in response, not even pausing as he shuffled past me on his way to the bathroom. Classic morning Noah.

I finished my coffee in one long gulp, set the mug aside, and grabbed my toiletries and a change of clothes. Noah was already out of the bathroom, his hair still damp. Without a word, I nudged past him, slipping inside and shutting the door behind me.

This was familiar, comforting even. I'd been living with Noah since my parents passed, and by now, we knew each other's routines as if they were our own. Six years of sharing space had forged a bond that no amount of time or college chaos could shake.

As I brushed my teeth, a small smile tugged at my lips. I trusted him more than anyone else in the world.

"Ellie! Hurry up! We've got time for half a movie before you head out!" Noah's voice rang through the door, his excitement undampened by my obvious schedule.

I snorted, rinsing my mouth. "You have zero sense, Noah Net!" I shouted back.

"So mean!"

Once I was ready, I grabbed my bag and phone, glancing at the time. 11:15 a.m. Not early, but not late either. Good enough.

"You look nice," Noah said from the couch, barely glancing up as he flipped through a textbook.

I smoothed down my green dress, the fabric stopping just above my knees. I'd paired it with simple black flats and clipped back my hair with two green barrettes.

"Thanks," I replied, offering a small smile. The lack of makeup on my face made me feel a little self-conscious, but it was just one class—I figured it wasn't worth the effort.

Noah finally looked up, his gaze steady. "No, really, Ellie. You look great."

I laughed, waving him off. "Alright, alright, thank you. But I'm still putting on lip gloss."

"Let's meet up later yeah?" Noah said.

"Today?"

"Yeah today. No roommate remember?"

I nodded. "I'll drop by this evening."

"Cool. I'll get some reading done and go get some lunch. Bye Ellie."

"Bye," I said, closing the front door.

I made it to class with a few minutes to spare, slipping into my seat with a quiet smile still on my face, one that had been there since I woke up.

It was nice, knowing everything with Noah was good and solid.

"You look beautiful," a voice I instantly recognized said, making me turn around.

Aiden was sliding into the seat behind me. I hadn't even noticed when he arrived. He was dressed in a relaxed, yet sharp look—black jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a loose-fitting grey cardigan that looked effortlessly cool. His sneakers were simple but clean, and as he settled in, I caught a glimpse of the K tattoo on the side of his neck, peeking out from under his hair.

I wanted to know the story behind it.

I realized I had been looking at him long after he'd settled sound and brought out that same tattered notebook and pen.

I coughed, my eyes darting away as I fidgeted in my seat. "Your hair's extra curly today."

Aiden flashed a grin. "Thanks. Finally had the time to actually take care of it. But seriously, Ellie, you look great. So natural, but still pretty."

I shrugged, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. "You don't like makeup on girls?"

Aiden smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Do you care if I do?"

I found myself turning more fully in my seat, facing him with a teasing edge. "You wish, Aiden Hartley."

Aiden chuckled, leaning back casually, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "I don't just wish, I know." He let the words hang between us with that trademark confidence, as if it were a challenge I hadn't quite accepted yet.

I rolled my eyes at Aiden just as I heard a high-pitched voice from the front of the class.

"Goodness, I finally get to see the two students who skipped my first class days ago."

"Is that—" I mouthed to Aiden, my eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Aiden's face morphed into something between amusement and mild discomfort, his lips twitching as he nodded.

I slowly turned around, taking in the sight of the woman at the front of the room—dressed head-to-toe in black, her presence commanding despite her small frame.

"Aiden Hartley and Ellie Waters," she said, her gaze sharp as she surveyed us. "I'm very much looking forward to your finished project."