Chapter 3

Ricky absentmindedly spun his pencil between his fingers, barely registering the professor's words. He wouldn't even be here if his mom hadn't begged him to go– hell, she practically dragged him though the admission process. It wasn't all bad though. The university lab was pretty sweet, and he could go anytime he wanted thanks to Professor Williams. Too bad he was stuck here losing brain cells instead.

"Ugh, I'm actually going to shoot myself if I have to sit here one more second," Ricky groaned, slouching back in his chair. His eyes darted to the guy sitting a few seats away, diligently writing down everything the professor was saying. Seriously, who even paid this much attention in class? Was he trying to make him look bad or something? 

Ricky wouldn't be surprised if this was the case. He was a cocky bastard who was under the impression they were friends– always trying to talk to him after class, which was every class, since he was in every single one of Ricky's classes. 

Unfortunately, no matter how hostile Ricky was, this guy just couldn't take a hint. His persistence puzzled Ricky. And even weirder, he was pretty sure this freak had been the one that called him last night. And Ricky knew for a fact he'd never given that oversized weirdo his number. His fist tightened around his pencil. What was this dude's deal? 

All of a sudden the man set his pencil down and met Ricky's evil bright green gaze. "Careful, keep looking at me like that and I might start thinking you've got a crush on me," he whispered, leaning in just enough to invade his personal space.

"Shut– shut up, you," Ricky huffed, jerking his head away. His face was burning, and – goddammit – this bastard was definitely smirking. 

"No, not you, Victor," the man sighed. "I can't believe you keep forgetting my name. I'm a little hurt." He pretended to wipe away a tear, and Ricky rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. I'm trying to learn right now, so stop talking to me, pervert." Ricky opened a notebook and started scribbling random nonsense. Hopefully, this bastard would leave him alone if he acted all studious.

 He didn't.

"Really? I would've thought you weren't paying attention. Do you even know what class we're in?" Victor teased.

"Sure I do! We're in, uh… umm…" Crap. Ricky wasn't sure what class they were in. Usually he'd make invention blueprints, sleep, or skip all together, so he hadn't exactly been a model student. Still, he should know what damn class he was in. If he couldn't figure it out he knew he'd never hear the end of it from this smug bastard.

Ricky surveyed the classroom for hints, grinning when he spotted a girl with a physics book out. "Pfft, we're in physics."

Victor stifled a laugh. "Are you sure we're in physics?"

"Uh yeah. What's so funny?" This moron had to be trying to throw him off or something? Why would that girl have her physics book out if they weren't even in that class? Was she an idiot?

Victor coughed loudly, still trying not to laugh. "Very good guess Ricky, but this is sociology. Looks like you're still pretty bad at paying attention to your surroundings." 

Victor's words left Ricky feeling a bit unsettled, but he chose to ignore it. He probably was just paranoid after what happened last night, that was all. "Whatever. I'm too smart for this class anyway." He scowled, turning away — annoyed that this guy… Victor… was making him look like a fool when he was clearly superior to him in intelligence.

"That's all I have for you today, make sure to email the TA if you have any questions." 

That was his que. Ricky snatched up his backpack and bolted for the door, weaving through students like his life depended on it. Nope. He was not dealing with this weirdo anymore. How dare that bastard try to make him look like an idiot. 

Ricky quickly strode down the hallway, muttering under his breath about what he'd like to do to Victor if he ever caught him outside of school. He was about to reach the exit when he was suddenly violently jerked backwards by his backpack and lifted off the ground.

"What the–?! Let me go, asshole! Or else!" Ricky kicked his feet, but it was useless. Whoever grabbed him had ridiculous strength and was pretty tall as Ricky stood at a respectable 5'7 and his feet were now dangling a few inches off the ground. This bastard was lucky Taze Daddy was in his backpack right now and not his hands.

"Or else what?" A deep, familiar chuckle sounded behind him.

Ricky stiffened. Goddammit. He didn't need to turn around. He already knew. 

"Why is it always you?" Ricky groaned loudly. It wasn't fair. All he wanted to do was go to the lab and not talk to this asshole anymore.

"I'm the one who should be annoyed," Victor sighed. "You ran off in the middle of our conversation."

"I didn't have anything else to say," Ricky grumbled, wiggling out of his backpack, sick of being suspended in the air like he was a misbehaving child. It definitely wasn't helping with his manly image. He landed on his hands and knees, making the bastard in front of him look all the more intimidating. 

"Oh well if that's the case." Victor walked away, casually swinging Ricky's bag over his shoulder like it belonged to him. The audacity of this moron.

"Hey!" Ricky chased after him and grabbed the back of his shirt. "Give it back!" He was only thinking about it before, but now he seriously wanted to hurt this guy, clearly he had never been put in his place.

"Hmm" Victor tilted his head like he was contemplating Ricky's demand."I don't think I will," He held the bag above his head, knowing that Ricky would be unable to reach it. 

Okay that does it. Ricky lunged at him, but Victor sidestepped easily.

"Just give it back already, bastard," Ricky snapped. He grabbed Victor's arm and tried to pull it down with the entirety of his body weight. It didn't even budge. "I don't have time for this!" If Victor hadn't grabbed him he'd already be in the lab right now researching the blue diamond. Now Jerry, his arch nemesis, would get there before him now and hog all of the equipment.

Victor's grinning face became more punchable. "Oh? Got some top-secret after school business, or are you just avoiding me?"

Ricky crossed his arms. "Yeah I'm super busy with… uh… stuff." This bastard didn't need to know his plans. It was his own personal matter.

Victor pretended to take Ricky's after school plans into consideration. "Hmm. Seems a bit suspicious."

"Shut up," Ricky scowled. He was now attempting to climb up Victor's muscular frame to reach his bag, an effort that was futile.

Victor pulled Ricky off his arm like he weighed nothing and tapped the side of his backpack. "Tell you what – if you put your stuff on hold and kill a couple hours with me I'll give you it back."

Ricky's face turned beet red. Normally, he'd just storm off and let Victor be a moron – but his bag was actually important today. Since he had brought both the Taze Daddy and the blue diamond with him. He was regretting that decision now.

He exhaled slowly, glaring up at Victor. This bastard really knew how to piss him off. "... Fine. You get one hour, but then you have to give me back my bag. No take backs!" 

Victor had a predatory glint in his eyes– like he'd just won some sort of game Ricky didn't know they were playing. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Ricky avoided Victor's gaze to keep himself from starting a fist-fight he knew he wouldn't win. "So what are we doing?" He snapped. It was unfortunate that he had to hang out with this guy, but maybe he'd use him to get a free lunch or something.

Victor chuckled. "Aw, you sound impatient. Relax princess, I'll make it worth your time."

Umm eww. 

"Don't call me that!" Ricky shot Victor a nasty look, and the taller man smiled unapologetically. This bastard better pray he makes this hour worth it or Ricky was going to dispose of him when he got his bag back. It was bad enough talking to him in class today, but now he was tormenting him outside of class too. Sighing, he followed Victor out of the building and into the parking lot, dragging his feet every step of the way. This seriously sucked balls.

"Get in."

Ricky glanced up– and did a double take. A sleek, black Mercedes-Benz. Damn. He'd been too busy sulking to even notice where Victor was leading him.

"No way in hell that's yours," Ricky blurted, running his hand down the car's glossy frame. He had seen it parked around campus and been wondering who it belonged to, planning to befriend them so he could drive it himself. Maybe this hangout wouldn't be so bad after all, especially if he got to drive.

"Are you going to keep staring at it or are you getting in?" Victor laughed, amused by Ricky's sudden change in mood.

"I'm getting in," Ricky snapped, trying to hide his excitement as he opened the driver's side door. He didn't want Victor knowing he'd actually started enjoying himself. Besides, he shouldn't be having fun anyways. The only reason he was doing this was so that he could get his backpack back. 

"That's my seat." Victor clamped a hang on Ricky's shoulder, his fingers pressing just hard enough to make a point.

"Oh, I was just… uh… opening it for you. Yeah." Ricky rubbed his shoulder and shot him a glare, watching begrudgingly as Victor slid into the driver's seat and started the car. Figures. No way this evil bastard was letting him drive.

Reluctantly, Ricky slumped in the passenger seat and Victor peeled out of the parking lot and sped away from the school. How dare he force Ricky into a hang out then not even let him drive his sweet car. 

 Now Ricky was expecting Victor to drive them to an arcade or restaurant nearby. He didn't. They were now driving in an area Ricky had never been before. A small alarm bell sounded in his head. Was this guy driving him out somewhere to kill him? It was weird he acted so close to Ricky and even forced a hangout. It was leading him to believe that there might be something sinister behind the bastard's motivations. 

Ricky knew this guy probably wouldn't tell him if he was, but thought it it couldn't hurt to ask. "You mind telling me where the hell we're headed, or am I getting kidnapped or something?"

Victor smirked, not taking his eyes off the road. "My place. Unless you're scared?" 

Ricky scared? This guy needed to get off his high horse already. "Why the hell would I be scared?"

"Guess we'll find out."