Chapter 3

Hailey was right when she predicted Dani was going to meet her sooner than later, just that she wasn't specific on what to expect. After her classes that afternoon, Dani decided to go back to her room to study and since she had resumed one week late, she had a lot to catch up on. She had already started the first assignment when she heard a knock on the door. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, if that was Jordan, couldn't he just use his key to come in? It wasn't like she was expecting anyone. Dropping the pen she had in hand she walked up to the door and cracked it open just enough to see who it was.

A girl who could easily pass of as a model not only because of her looks but also the fact the everything she wore screamed money stood there with her arms crossed and nothing but disapproval on her face on sighting Dani, her eyes narrowed in accusation "he couldn't even wait for the week to start properly" her tone hinted her annoyance.

Dani looked at her confused, "who?"

"How much did he pay you, that you're still lingering around here" she gave Dani a once over. Although the door still covered Dani partially, she could help but feel her irritation rise from the judgement in her eyes.

"Excuse you" Dani said horrified the she was assumed to be a random hookup. She wasn't even wearing anything that would potentially send off that message, since when did jeans and sweat shirt say hookup , "I think you're terribly mistaken here, this is my room"

"Your room?.... sweetheart, you're just a new addition to his list, I don't think you should assume that yet. He'll just toss you out like he does the other ones. So save yourself the trauma and make yourself useful by not being so pathetic" the girl said with a laugh.

Having heard enough of her assumptions Dani stopped her, "look, I don't know who you are or what you're actually doing here but if you have a hard time understanding that I'm his roommate you can go ask Jordan yourself." She then folded her arms defensively, "I'm sure he'll be happy to add you to that list, you look like you'll fit just right in."

Dani didn't want that kind of rumor going around school, as if she would ever hook up with a random guy, maybe when pigs start flying. Disbelieve first crossed her features at the fact that it could actually be Dani's room, she then glared at her and then stormed off bumping into Noah who was on the way to his room. Noah looked at the girl and then back at Dani, "that was fast"

"What"

Noah pointed are her receding figure, "you met Ashley already"

Dani shook her head in surprise, "that's the Ashley?"

" Wow, I guess news travels fast, I take your conversation didn't go too well"

"It was everything far from well"Dani sighed, "let me guess his ex girlfriend." She obviously couldn't be his girlfriend I'd she had assumed she was a random hookup.

He snorted "something like that, although it's way more complicated"

Dani laughed humourlessly thinking back to what Ashley said, "and he does random hookups?"

Noah didn't hide the guilt on his face, "maybe you shouldn't think too much into that, just forget it"

Dani rolled her eyes, "I can't just unhear that my roommate turns this place into a whore house on usual bases. It's also my room now."

Noah cringed, "that's a bit over the top, don't you think"

Dani sighed, " just tell him not to do that while I'm here, I get irritated easily" and with that she entered back into the room not waiting for his answer.

¶

Jordan drowned the rest of the wine in the glass and dropped it on the counter. Maria, his nanny and housekeeper since he was on diapers who had just entered the kitchen, on seeing the glass frowned at him. He waved her off, "it was just one glass."

Maria walking over picked up the glass and went to the sink, "Still. You're supposed to be in school right, what are you doing back here? Don't you have classes?" She dried the glass after washing and put it in the cupboard.

"You don't want me here?" Jordan asks knowingly.

"Of course not, where did you get that from" Maria said hitting him with a napkin.

Jordan winced in return with a subtle smile on his face, "ouch"

Maria rolls her eyes in response, "stop being a baby" she sighs after a while, "your dad's back from his business trip"

Jordan frezees, then he pickes up his keys and his phone from the counter, "then I'd best be going."

Maria smiled sadly, "you know he just wants the best for you right"

Jordan scoffed and left the kitchen. His father sure had a funny way of showing it. It had all started when he was still in middle school. His elder brother, Luke, had died in an accident.

Luke was the perfect son on the family, the golden boy and his father's favorite. Naturally Jordan nor his sister Paige had a problem with it, they where happy staying in the shadows and letting Luke do what he did best and that was being the best. But that all changed when Luke died. His death had affected everyone in the house, but his father had taken it harder than everyone else. Although, he had pretended it didn't and instead transferred all the attention and high expectations to Jordan while he sent his sister off to boarding school. All the pressure was now on him and every move he made was either criticized or frowned at. It was like he was walking on eggshells all the time. His father never once approved whatever he did but instead compared him to Luke. Sometimes he wondered how his brother had survived under so much attention

Jordan frowned when he saw his father at the entrance. There was no way he could turn back now and follow the back door because his father had already seen him and besides that, his footsteps had probably already announced his arrival. He cursed silently halting his steps, just his luck.

His father nodded at him when his greeted his face grim as always, like he was devoid of any emotion. Jordan wondered how his mum had put up with him for years.

"You must be present on Friday for dinner. The Brandwells are coming over, I'm sure your mother would have told you that" she hadn't, but Jordan nodded anyway.

"I expect you to be of your best behavior, if you have any" his father said still devoid of emotion.

Jordan clenched his fist in attempt to control his anger and still managed to answer like his fathers words hadn't affected him, "I'll be there"

That how their conversation was always like. His dad ordering and him having no choice but to agree or in cases where he didn't, an argument would start which his mum would try to calm down but to no avail which would then result in him storming out of the house.

His father walked away from the entrance and headed for the stairs, relieved Jordan unclenched his fist. He didn't think he could handle another word with him without lashing out. He left the house and got into his car to drive back to school. When his phone started ringing along the way he picked it without checking who it was.

"Hey" Ashley's voice rang out from the other end, " where are you, I came looking for you earlier"

"Yeah I left campus, why"

"Nothing", he heard noises at the other end a pause and then "I met your roommate though"

"Ok" with the way she stopped after saying that, Jordan wondered if she was expecting him to say more.

"I was just wondering if you would like to grab dinner with me, that's if you've not eaten already. I'm at Joe's place"

"No...I mean I've had dinner already. I'm coming from home"

"Oh"she replied quickly masking her disappointment, "I guess I'll just eat alone then"

Jordan nodded, "we'll talk later, gotta go now" he said and disconnected the call.

Few minutes lates he was on his way to his room, he had barely open the door when he heard the panting, like someone was trying hard to breathe. He glanced at Dani. Although the room was dark, the moon light from the window illuminated her small delicate figure. Jordan looked closely at her and realized she was shaking and breathing hard. He walked over to her bed and knelt beside it. He watched as she tightened his hand on the covers, tears falling freely down her face as she pulled it up.

"Dani...Dani wake up" he said touching her arm.

Dani turned her head from side to side, "no.....dad no"

"Dani" Jordan tapped her arm again. Dani jerked awake chocking a sob as she unconsciously pulled at Jordan's hands.

Jordan sat in the bed and held her tighter, " hey it's ok, it's just a bad dream"he said while rubbing her back in small circles.

Dani who was confused on where she was at first slowly adjusted to her surroundings before she realizes she was in her room, and in Jordan's arms. The last part didn't sit too well with her.

Although the little thing he was doing at her back was soothing in a way, she wiped her eyes and tried getting up. This was already getting too weird for her liking, she was already embarrassed as it is knowing that he saw her like that.

"Um" she said as she wiped her hands on her pyjamas, "I'm sorry" she said as she tried avoiding his gaze.

Jordan stood up too, "sorry for what? You didn't do anything"

Dani surprised raised her head to gaze at him. Although she couldn't see his expression well enough, the softness in his eyes was enough to make her melt. She immediately averted her gaze. She didn't even know why she apologized, it just came out.

Feeling nervous under his gaze, she immediately put on her slippers and headed for the door.

Jordan frowned seeing her headed for the door, "where you going to"

Dani paused, "I just need some fresh air" she said before stepping out.

Jordan was tempted to follow her, afterall it was already late. But seeing her expression as she left the room. He guessed she needed some time alone.