Chapter 2 - Challenge

Elle snapped back to reality.

"What do you mean by that? I'm the one who should be asking you that question. This is my house.", She replied.

"Don't tell me. You're my housemate? I expected it to be a guy. Anyway, I'll take it as my luck.", He said smirking.

"Housemate? What do you mean housemate? I live here alone. ALONE.", Elle informed him with her voice filled with confusion.

"You don't know?", he asked her.

"All houses have two tenants. So we're homies. So, come in and get to your room. I'll give you the garage password later."

Elle walked in without a word. Her mind was repeating only one thing. I'm homies with a guy. No way. He led her to her room and opened the door.

"Enjoy.", He said, winked, and walked down the stairs.

She saw that her room had a bed, a desk, closet, bookshelf, and its own bathroom. The rest of the space was occupied by her luggage which she had yet to sort.

"Let's get to work.", she said to herself and changing into a pair of shorts, and a tank top started opening up her luggage and pulling out her clothes.

***

A few hours later, she finally finished sorting her stuff and was incredibly tired and thirsty by the end of it. To soothe her tired muscles she decided to wash up starting with a long soak in the tub. She picked out some home clothes and laid them on the bed. Putting her hair in a shower cap she went into the bathroom.

She lighted some scented candles and then infused the water with her favorite lavender bath salt. Stripping completely she sank in and sighed contently as the warm water instantly soothed her and relaxed her muscles. She set the 10-minute timer on her cell and closed her eyes drifting off as she slowly inhaled the rose and freesia scented candles around her.

Elle woke up startled as her bathroom door banged open. She looked at the intruder through her sleepy eyelids. Her eyes widened, she curled her legs and wrapped her arms around herself to cover her upper body.

"What do you think you're doing?! Get out!", she screamed at her housemate who was smirking at her with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Can I stay?", he asked."I love the view here."

"Shut up and get out. Who gave you permission to barge into my room?"

"Well, for starters the door was unlocked. Secondly, I only came here to tell you that I'm getting back to campus, you can join me if you want. All newbies have a lecture at 5 apparently."

"Oh. I'll tag along. I have to go to the office and get my book lists."

"Fine. I'll wait downstairs. Bye, Elira.", he said over his shoulder as she went out the door.

"How the fuck does that jerkhole know my name?"

She got out of the tub and showered hurriedly. Wrapping a towel around herself she walked to her room. She locked her room's door so that the asshole housemate of hers couldn't barge in as she was changing. She then decided to ditch the home clothes and wear something casual to go to the campus. She finally put on a black Adidas top with white shorts and white converse.

She freed her hair from the shower cap and brushed it. She left her hair down and applied some light makeup which consisted of moisturizing cream, lip balm, and a thin line of eyeliner. She took a small purse and stuffed some money, her phone, and the medical slip she had filled up earlier into it.

The jerk's voice floated up just as she was closing her room's door.

"Are you done yet? Elira?!"

"I'm almost down.", she shouted back rolling her eyes. Geez. Have some patience.

Not finding him in the kitchen and living room she walked out to find him already in his car. It was a beautiful Hennessey Venom GT Spyder in yellow[pic on top ↑]. She got in and turned to him and asked him the question that had been bugging her.

"How do you know my name?"

He turned to her and smiled creepily.

"Do you really want to know?", He asked and continued when she nodded. "Then listen carefully...", He whispered.

Elle's heart thumped in her chest as she waited for his answer. She expected something creepy by the way he acted.

"I saw it on your luggage.", He said and burst out laughing as he saw Elle's bewildered expression.

"What?! You son of a bitch. Why did you have to act so creepily? I thought you were a stalker or serial killer or something.", She said as she slapped him on his arm.

"What's your name?", she asked him as she sobered up.

"Jordan. Jordan Canerio."

As he parked the car near the office all eyes turned to them. As the other students watched Jordan and Elle get out of the car they started whispering. Jordan walked towards the office without giving a shit about the talk around him. Elle however, looked around and saw many of the girls staring at her with hate-filled eyes. Elle rolled her eyes. I wonder why? She thought and walked faster to catch up to Jordan. They submitted their medical slips and walked out of the office. Elle closed the door behind her, turned, and collided with the girl who had been in front of her. They both landed on their butt.

"Ow! That fucking hurt!", They both cussed loudly.

Then realizing that they had said the same thing they started laughing.

"I'm sorry. I should have been more alert.", Elle apologized to the raven-haired beauty in front of her as she helped her get on her feet.

"It's okay. I shouldn't have been daydreaming anyway.", The girl replied smiling sheepishly.

Elle looked at the girl in front of her. She had skin the color of milk chocolate and a petite figure. She a head shorter than herself and was stunningly beautiful. Her raven hair was long and was a beautiful contrast to her hazel eyes. As she smiled, Elle noticed genuine happiness and shyness in her eyes. She seems like a nice person. She thought and then extended her hand.

"I'm Elle."

"I'm June.", She said as she shook Elle's hand happily.

Elle and June chatted as they went towards the parking lot. Elle found out the June too was majoring in English literature and that she had two half-siblings - an older brother and a younger sister. As they reached the parking lot, a voice shouted out.

"Finally! What were you doing in there?!", Jordan's voice rose above the chattering students around him.

"I was making a friend. And stop calling me Elira. The name's Elle.", Elle replied calmly but she noticed him staring at June beside her. Oh no. I know he's a player but not my friend. Not my first friend, please. She thought and prayed.

"June? What are you doing here? Why haven't you called me? Which house is yours?", Jordan started battering June with questions. "Talk damnit!"

"Uhh... Elle?", June called her.

Elle turned with questioning eyes.

"This is my half-brother. The one I told you about." When June said this, Elle finally noticed the resemblance. They both had dark skin of almost the same color and raven hair and the same stunning features. The only difference was their eyes, Jordan's were cerulean while June's were hazel.

"Ohhhh. That makes sense. I thought you were dating or something.", Elle stated letting out a breath of relief.

"Were you jealous, Elira?", Jordan teased her and ran his hand up her arm.

Elle shook his hand off and smirked.

"Not gonna happen. I hate bad boys.", She told him, and pulling June walked towards the staff room to get her book lists for class.

***

When Elle returned home, the lights were off. She unlocked the door and walked in. Suddenly, someone came to her and pushed her back against the door. She tried to fight but her arms and legs were pinned to the door by the attacker's arm and legs. She knew that no one would hear her if she screamed, so she spoke calmly.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

She felt the man lean forward and felt his hot breath on her neck. Jordan? She thought suddenly as the attacker's scent of smoke and mint reached her nostrils. That was Jordan's scent which had surrounded her in the car.

The asshole.

"Jordan, let go of me.", She said twisted her arms. She succeeded in freeing them but froze as she felt Jordan's mouth close to her ear.

"You hate bad boys don't you, Elle? One day, you'll fall for me." Jordan whispered in her ear, making her twitch slightly.

"Keep dreaming.", She said and pushing him away, walked out the door.