Tangled web

The words would not leave her mind: "I wouldn't be so sure of that!" The familiar, deep voice sandaled, causing Kamsi to stop in her tracks. She didn't dare to turn and know who the voice belonged to. Fear and worry instantly filled her brow, and she had a fearful expression on her face. She didn't bother to turn and instead attempted to run back into her room.

Stop! The voice echoed, and she did just what she shouldn't have - she turned around. Xavier commanded, "Turn around."

Kamsi had an addled look on her face as she reluctantly turned to face Xavier, who had a smirk on his face as he stood in the night.

"Hey, Nudist," he greeted in mockery.

Kamsi's expression changed from fear to annoyance. "And hello to you too, Peeping Tom," she shot back, her voice steady.

Xavier's smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "How naive of you to think you can hide from me when we literally live under the same roof," he said, his smirk growing wider.

****************************

"Hey, Xavy," Patricia greeted, her hand lifting in a half-hearted wave as she approached Xavier. Her smile was small, uncertain, and it faltered slightly when he barely spared her a glance. But what happened next caught her completely off guard.

Xavier's voice rang out, loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear, "Had enough?" His tone was indifferent, his hands casually tucked into his front pockets as he turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

"Xavy!" Patricia called out, her voice tinged with desperation as she took a few steps closer. When she spoke again, it was in a hushed, almost pleading tone. "I've been really wondering when we'll get to spend some time together again. Our last time together was... memorable."

Her words hung in the air, and the girls who had been chatting nearby immediately began whispering among themselves. "What? Could they be dating?" Janelle asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"I think she's right," another girl chimed in, her voice a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Why else would she say their last time together was memorable?"

"I agree, they look perfect together," Anne added, stealing secret glances at the duo. "I'm sorry but you should know I don't like repeating my meals," Xavier smirked before walking off.Patricia stood there, trying to remain calm and composed, but her firm denial was betrayed by the shake of her head, as if trying to convince herself more than anyon I'me else.

The tension broke when Patricia's face flushed with fury. "What?" she erupted, her voice echoing down the hallway. "Oh my god, Trish, you're going to make my ears bleed!" Camella, one of Patricia's friends, laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Who does he think he is? He thinks he can embarrass me?"

Patricia's anger flared, her fists clenched at her sides. "I don't repeat my meals, huh?" she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "Is he comparing me to food?"

Tylee, another friend, hesitated before speaking. "Technically, he's saying he doesn't bed a girl twice," she explained carefully.

Patricia's eyes snapped to Tylee, cutting her off sharply. "You think I don't know that, Tylee?"

Tylee fell silent, her shoulders slumping slightly in defeat.

"Girl, I think you've got this guy all wrong," Camella interjected, trying to reason with her friend. "Yeah, Trish, how long are you going to keep up with this? You've got hundreds of guys here who would literally kill to date you, so why waste your time on someone who doesn't even see you?"

"I agree," another friend added, nodding her head in support.

Patricia drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You know what, girls? I think I'm right to get over Xavier," she declared with forced confidence.

"And who is that?" Both Camella and Tylee asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.

"Alexander Mahall," Patricia replied, a determined edge in her voice. But deep inside, her heart still ached for Xavier. She wasn't ready to let go, and despite her words, she was already planning to pay him a secret visit.

The sharp ring of the doorbell echoed through the room. "Ding dong!"

Xavier dragged himself off the couch, his reluctance evident in every sluggish step he took toward the door. When he finally opened it, his expression darkened, eyebrows knitting together in clear annoyance. "What are you doing here, Patricia?" he asked, his voice carrying a gruff edge.

Patricia greeted him with a coy smile, leaning casually against the doorframe as if she owned the place. "Hey Xavy, what's up?" she purred, her tone playful.

Xavier's indifference was as sharp as a blade. "What do you want?" he asked, his eyes narrowing, making it clear he wasn't in the mood for games.

Patricia feigned offense, sucking her teeth and tilting her head with a pout. "How rude! You didn't even invite me in."

But before she could step over the threshold, Xavier pushed the door forward with a calculated force, causing her to stumble back, her head bumping against the door's edge.

"Ow!" she yelped, rubbing her forehead, her flirtatious demeanor crumbling.

Xavier's lips curled into a smirk, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "My bad," he said, though his tone was anything but apologetic.

Patricia's irritation bubbled just beneath the surface. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. "Seriously, aren't you going to invite me in?" she asked, her voice now edged with a mix of frustration and determination.

Xavier's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression blank, before he delivered his final blow. "If you have nothing good to say, then goodbye." With that, he slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the hallway, leaving Patricia standing there, stunned and speechless.

As the door clicked shut, Kamsi emerged from her apartment, her curiosity piqued by the scene she'd just stumbled upon. She watched for a moment, her brows furrowed in mild confusion, but didn't linger. She continued down the hallway, her thoughts already shifting to other matters.

Inside, Xavier caught a glimpse of Kamsi as she walked away, something unspoken flickering in his eyes before he turned his attention back to the closed door.

Later that day, Kamsi found herself at Zendaya's place, a small but cozy apartment that bore the signs of a carefree lifestyle. Zendaya welcomed her with a warm hug, pulling her into the familiar chaos of her home.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Zendaya said with a grin, noticing Kamsi's gaze land on the pile of empty pizza boxes stacked haphazardly in the corner. "Ignore the mess," she added with a laugh. "My parents aren't really the cooking type."

Kamsi chuckled, shaking her head. "I see that," she replied, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Zendaya gestured to the couch, the cushions slightly askew from use. "Take a seat, girl. How have you been dealing with your Xavier problem?"

Kamsi sighed as she sank into the couch, the weight of her thoughts evident in her posture. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "But I'm not going to give in to his demands."

Zendaya's interest piqued, her eyes widening. "Speaking of which, I just saw him with that blonde from school," Kamsi added, her tone casual but carrying an undercurrent of tension.

"Patricia, right?" Zendaya raised an eyebrow, disbelief coloring her tone. "Can't believe some girls can be so desperate." Kamsi nodded.