Casey
My eyes go wide with panic as it finally hits me—where we are.
I shoot him a sharp look, my glare screaming this is your fault, but he only shrugs and mutters like it's no big deal,
"They'll knock, they'll tire out, and leave."
I stare at him, stunned. How can he be so careless?
"What?" I ask, my voice sharp, but he steps closer. There's no smirk this time, just boldness in his eyes.
"Now," he says, low and firm, "where were we? Yes, I was going to ask you—"
BANG! BANG!
A louder knock cuts him off.
And this time, there's a voice behind it.
"Hello? Is anybody in there? Open the door! Casey? Casey, open the door—it's me!"
Leanna.
My stomach twists, dread washing over me.
I whisper under my breath, my nerves completely shot as I grab Caesar's arm.
"Leanna can't find us both in here. She'll freak out—she'll figure it out... What am I going to do?"
Cesar just looks at me, calm, unbothered.
"Why are you so afraid of her?"
"Afraid of her?" I snap. "Are you seriously asking me that right now?"
"She's just your roommate. A friend maybe. Why are you so scared of her finding out about… us?"
"There is no us, Caesar. Are you insane?"
"I'm not insane," he says, eyes narrowing slightly. "I just… don't get it. Can you explain why you're acting like this? So what if you lost your virginity to me? So what if it's complicated? Nobody cares, Casey. It's college."
"Well, I care!" I shoot back, voice shaking.
He stares, and then says softly, "If you care so much, then why did you sleep with me?"
Because I was stupid. Because I was weak. Because I had managed to lie to myself for one night. Went against what was expected, and went against my rules... Now I am paying for it.
"Shut up, Caesar," I whisper. "Just shut up."
But Leanna's still out there. Knocking. Calling my name again.
"Casey, are you okay?"
"Casey, open the door..."
Panic takes over.
I shove him back a little away from me.
"I'm not talking to you about this. You have to hide."
"Hide?" He looks around, lifting his arms like this is some joke. "Hide where? This is a college bathroom, Casey. I'm a grown man. Where exactly do you expect me to go?"
"I don't know, Caesar!" I hiss. "But she can't find us here!"
He stares at me, annoyed now. "Why was I even in here in the first place?"
I spin around, glaring. "You tell me!"
He groans, then mutters, "Well, if you'd let me talk, I was going to tell you why I followed you in here."
"I don't have time for your nonsense," I hiss. "I cannot get caught. You have to hide. You have to get the hell out of here!"
Caesar crosses his arms, totally unbothered. "I'm not hiding. And there's only one door, and Leanna's right behind it."
I whip around, desperate, and then I see it—the window behind the toilet.
"Up there," I say, pointing. "Go out through the window."
"What?" His face scrunches up, confused.
I laugh, losing it a little. "I don't want Leanna to see me like this."
"You don't seriously expect me to climb through that window?"
"It's big," I say, already heading toward it. "It's a public bathroom. They made it wide enough for emergencies. Just unlatch it and go. It's like… football training or something.... please..."
"Oh my God," he mutters, staring at me like I've grown two heads. "You're insane."
But he doesn't say it like he's angry. No. His eyes sparkle, and there's a tiny amused smile playing at the corner of his lips—like he just discovered something oddly fascinating about me.
I glare at him. "Window. Now."
He sighs dramatically. "Fine. But…" He pauses, taking his sweet time before adding, "You're going to have to give me your number."
I blink. "What?" For fucks sake, can't I catch a break?
"You want me to climb out of a window, Casey? I want something in return. Give me your phone number." he demands. He is calm, relaxed, and completely unbothered by Leanna's knocks getting more frustrated by the second.
"I already told you—I'm not giving you my number," I whisper shout
"Yeah, yeah," he says, smirking. "You said that in front of Leanna. Now it's just you and me, you don't have to keep pretending you don't know me..."
"I'm not giving you my phone number, Cesar," I repeat, firm.
He raises an eyebrow. "Why not? What's the big deal?"
"Because I don't. Why do you even want my phone number for anyway?" I ask suspiciously
"People give numbers so they can talk. Maybe call. Maybe text."
I look him dead in the eye. "And I said no. Why the hell do you even want it, Caesar? Stop bullshitting me."
"I don't know," he says like it's the most casual thing in the world. "Maybe I just want to hear from you again."
I narrow my eyes. "We already slept together. That doesn't mean you get my number."
"Exactly," he says smoothly. "We slept together. I should have your number."
"You don't need it," I snap. "Stay away from me."
He tilts his head. "You do realize that if I really wanted your number, I could get it, right? I have connections, Casey. I can find it. I could surprise you."
That sends a chill down my spine. I don't want to have another interaction like this with Cesar again.
"What the hell do you want from me, Caesar?" I snap, my voice rising with frustration. "What do you want?"
He doesn't flinch. "I want your phone number."
"I'm not giving it to you." I seethe
"Why?" he asks, his eyes locking onto mine, soft and stubborn.
"Because you're…" I stumble, emotions boiling. I just want him to leave...
"You're an asshole. A womanizer. The devil himself. You're all of those things. And I don't want to be close to someone like you."
I take a step back, my voice sharp and loud now. "I want you to get the fuck away from me, Caesar. Okay? If you ever see me again, pretend you didn't. Pretend I'm just like the rest of your sexual conquests. Just walk past me like you don't know me."
I'm shaking. " I know it was my first time and perhaps you feel guilty or obligated to do this.... but you don't. I wanted to get rid of that hymen and I did. They're done..." I took a much-needed breath and finished off,
"I don't want to talk to you. And I don't want to see you again. Once was enough."
His face shifts. At first, it's disbelief. Like he can't believe the words I just threw at him. Then something else flashes through—sadness? Regret? Hurt? Maybe even resentment. I can't tell. I can't breathe. The look he gives me—it almost makes me take it all back.
But thank God for the banging on the door. Louder now. More urgent.
Outside, I hear Leanna's panicked voice.
"It's my friend. We were having breakfast and she said she needed the bathroom. She hasn't come out. It's been nearly half an hour, and I'm worried!"
Then another voice—an older one, probably a staff member. "Okay, I'm going to get the spare key. We're opening the door."
My heart stops. I whirl around, eyes wide, and snap at Caesar, "Window. Now. You are not ruining this for me."
He stares at me, and something in him seems to just… break. He looks defeated. Like all the fight has drained from him. Tired. Worn. Hollow.
"Okay," he murmurs.
He steps into a stall, climbs onto the toilet seat, hoists himself up to the window, pushes it open, and slips out without another word.
I stay there, staring after him for a beat. My chest tightens. But I don't have time to think about what I'm feeling.
I hurry to the mirror, wipe my face, straighten my clothes, breathe—breathe—until my expression is composed again.
Then I unlock the bathroom door.
Leanna stands there, her eyes wild with worry. The second she sees me, she exhales a deep breath and grabs my arm.
"You're okay." Relief floods her voice.
"Yeah," I nod, trying to sound casual. "I'm fine. What was all that banging?"
She narrows her eyes at me, not entirely convinced. Then she steps past me, walking into the bathroom like she's expecting to find something.
Or someone.
My stomach flips.