Previous: Back in the Dorm

He was barely starting to stir when Winter arrived with the notes.

The knock on his door was sharp. It almost -sounded- pissed. The sheer…anger of the elder Caldwell was almost palpable. Summer stood there, arms crossed, fingers holding a notebook. The things she did for her sister.

Huff. I'm awake, I'm awake. I thought I told Winter there was a key on the hook by the door? Why didn't she take it? Why didn't she use it? She… Oh, god, she lost it. She doesn't want to be my girlfriend. She… Pull it together!

He got up groggily, rolling his neck, stretching his arms, slowly coming to. She wouldn't mind seeing him like this so he didn't bother getting clothes on again. When he pulled the door open he greeted her. “Wint-_eeeee”

He pushed the door closed, not quite hard enough to make it latch and dived for his jeans.

Summer quirked a copper eyebrow as the door was shut again though not completely, her foot tapping. And she waited. The woman wasn't one to enter uninvited. She approved of what little she saw but he was more Winter's type of guy. Kaine was Summer's ideal man.

“Any day now, Mr. Evans.” She said tersely. “You act like I've never seen a man in boxers before.”

“Just, gimme a sec” He yelled at the door while hopping around on one foot, getting his jeans back on. Once he was done, he opened the door, still topless and barefoot. “I was expecting your sister, not you. Plus there are already so many women fawning over me here, I didn't want to distract you.”

“You cannot possibly distract me.” She held out the notebook. “It may not have been that long since I sat in a lecture my senior year at Oxford but I was never one to take electronic notes. Please make sure a copy is made for Winter.” She said. She was angry at something, it was clear in her stance. Her rigid manner. Something had the wolf out in full effect.

“Good.” He breathed an internal sigh of release but kept a calm, if annoyed look on his face. He'd been expecting Winter. “I probably type slower than your dad, Winter transcribed my own analogue notes last night.” He reached over his shoulder and grasped the back of his neck. “Guessing by the fact you're here, and she's not… And you're showing signs of stress and…” Ugh… It's probably something she doesn't want to talk about.

“Nevermind, thanks for the notes Miss Caldwell.”

“Winter never made it to class. Unfortunately as I was making my way to Amanda Sachs to confront her over the full page ad she took out to look l ile a Page Six article, she had an encounter with Winter, who is nursing a twisted ankle and a bruised ego at my house.”

“Is she OK? Please tell me she's alright?” He was concerned for her wellbeing. “And that she's eating. I had to make her eat three slices of pizza because she hadn't eaten anything in 24 hours.” Why did Amanda Sachs ring bells?

Oh, yeah, queen bitch on campus. “And please tell me the queen bitch got her comeuppance? She desperately needs to be taken down a peg or two.” Or more.

“Hmm…” She thought, then made a phone call. “I'm coming with one more. I'll make it up to you after he takes her home.” She looked at Troy. “Amanda got hers. I'm sure you'll hear all about it tomorrow. But Winter would probably benefit from you being there. She's been sobbing since Giles got her there.” She said.

“Throw on a shirt. Shoes, then come with me.”

She left no room for protest.

“Gimme a minute…” He grabbed a clean denim shirt and black socks from his closet, sitting on the bed to pull them and his trainers on. He grabbed a bed brush, pulled out his hair, and brushed out the knots, carefully, retying his hair with the colourful scrunchie, pulling it back from his face.

“Okay, what now, Miss Caldwell?”

Summer looked him over, her gaze more analytical than anything else. “This way, please, Giles is waiting.” She turned on her heel and let him out of the building, down to the waiting limo. She waited for him to get in and then slid in, every inch the detached, almost cold woman the public knew.

“I yanked her to the ground by her hair and threatened to financially ruin her if she messes with my sister again. Anything you may hear tomorrow is likely true.”

Troy reached back to grab his neck in his hand as he walked with her, then slipped into the limo. This wasn't what he was expecting, he wasn't used to this sort of money. It felt… Odd. But it was Winter's life.

“Fairly sure that would make anyone think about their life choices. Iiiii'mmm gonna guess that Winter saw this?”

“She did. But…” Her shell cracked and she softened. “I don't know how much of it she actually processed. She's been crying since.” She said quietly. She looked at her hands, then Troy.

“I don't know who you are. Well. I know who you are but not -who- you are. If you are sure about my sister then you have my blessing. Not that you need it. Winter is her own woman, but she is my best friend. Anyone who hurts her…” She shook her head.

“Don't hurt her. Don't play her.” She said then as they pulled up to the tower.

“Look, Miss Caldwell. I don't have my artwork, but I'll usually draw someone and move on. Winter has been…” How to explain this without sounding stalkery? “Let me just say I've been drawing a lot of her. And my first watercolor.” He stared out of the window and held his neck. This wasn't sounding so great.

“I've been played by women. I've been hurt by women. There's a reason I stopped bothering with the women who threw themselves at my feet. Winter isn't like that. She… I… We want the same thing. I hope I can give her what she wants. Be what she wants.”

God, that was a lot to say for a simple 'Will you be good for my sister?'

Summer listened, even if it seemed she wasn't. She was going through a report, then lifted her head. “She said you made her eat three slices of pizza the night she got notes from you. Is this true?”

“Yeah, I thought I… Her stomach was grumbling, loud enough I could hear it. She said she wasn't hungry so I grabbed her something to drink, enough to help, I thought. Then she said she hadn't eaten since the previous night, so I had some spare pizza from Sal's. She needed to eat, so I made sure she ate.”

His hand was still on his neck. He realised he was doing it and pulled it down into his lap and slipped his fingers between each other. “Was that a bad thing?”

Summer finally looked at him. “It was a good thing. Winter…I suspect she has an eating disorder. I can't prove it because she doesn't -always-. But before events or at other random times…she becomes obsessive about monitoring her food and working out at the gym. She's already missed a class because of being exhausted from excessive exercise. So when she texted me to say you were making her eat….I teared up. I don't tear up.”

He tilted his head to one side. “I… What?” That's kind of odd. “But… She's fucking gorgeous!” Yeah… Swear in front of her sister, that's a good way to get her on your side. “I said I wanted to take her to Sal's and help her workout. I mean… I try to be careful when I do, so I'd planned on making sure she stayed safe.”

That explained a lot. The not eating for twenty four hours. Missing the bio class. He had the excuse that he stayed up painting her image from his head, but she was pushing herself too hard.

“I… You're welcome, Miss Caldwell. I'd do the same again in the future.”

“I'd rather she hit the gym with someone she might listen to.” Summer said. “If you were expecting me to make you stay away, I apologize for disappointing. I came from nothing. All that matters is joy, and her face lights up talking about you.” She said as they pulled up. “Just take good care of her. She needs that in her life.”

“Yeah, I kinda felt like I was getting the Spanish Inquisition to see if I was good enough for her.” He sighed slightly, more of a huff, maybe. “And we all know how much anybody expects that!” At least he was smiling now, thinking about how Winter talked about him.

She actually talked about him? At least it wouldn't be about how he was a good lay, or just how gorgeous or handsome he was. At least he didn't think she was that kind of girl. “I will.”

“Not at all. You'll find anyone will tell you much the same about speaking to me.” But at his remark….she cracked a smile.

“I'm not going to judge you based on anything at all, Mr. Evans. Everyone deserves a shot. If the answer to “is Winter happy” is yes. Then you're fine by me.” She said as she led him to the lift, and up into the penthouse, where Winter was sniffling in the living room.

Troy looked at everything as she led him through the building, his artists eyes trying to see if there was anything worth drawing. Nothing was catching his eye until the vista beyond the windows opened up, but it was his ears that caught the more important thing.

Winter, sniffling on one of the couches. He moved quickly to squat in front of her for a moment before thinking better of it and sitting next to her, wrapping his arm around her for comfort. “Hey, Winter? Remember me?”

Winter looked at him, then leaned into him as he sat beside her. “Of course I remember you. How could I forget?” She whispered softly. Her eyes gazed into his, her hand finding his and threading her fingers through his.

Summer left the two alone and went to go find Kaine. She needed a bite.

(Done)

“Your sister told me what happened.” She was warm against his shoulder. He wanted to kiss her and make things better, to protect her. “I'm sorry you had to go through that. I think you're beautiful. I think my artwork shows what I think.” He squeezed his fingers against hers where they were laced.

“She's a strong woman, you should look up to her.”

“I know. I know you think I am. I'm just so sick of her and people like her. I can only smile so much….Summer can be cold and detached and that's just not me. I admire her and look up to her but I can't be her, you know?” She whispered, sort of partially sitting in his lap.

“I wouldn't have you any other way.” She was sitting awkwardly, so he extracted his hand from hers and instinctively pulled her further into his lap before wrapping one arm around her, the other reaching up to hold her head against his chest, leaving it there.

“Don't try to be her. Be you. The woman I draw.”

Winter wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his embrace as he held her in his lap. “I know. I know you like me just the way I am. But I can't lie. It bothers me. I want to punch her but I'm not like that.”

Her fingers moved along his arms, idly, searching for his.

“I'd offer, but I was brought up to never strike a woman.” He snorted. He'd spar with a woman, even get into a fight if it he was struck first, but not out of nowhere.

He lifted his hand to her chin, bringing her fingers along with his arm, and lifted her face to look at him. He'd been dying to kiss her. So he did, without warning, pressing his lips to hers.

Those lips…were on her own. Why was she crying again? Slowly her tears stopped as she let his kiss take away the hurt. Was this what being taken care of meant? He'd ease her hurts? Her lips began to move with his, her fingers shaking on his forearm.

Was this what love felt like? This…wonderful…feeling. I want to be the only one running through your mind. I want to be your everything. Love me. Ohgodlethimloveme. I've been falling in love with him all along and I didn't even know it.

The kiss was tentative, loving, affectionate. He'd wanted to do that for a while, since he'd invited her to come and take notes, but he'd held back as he didn't think it was appropriate. He still wasn't entirely sure now, as he was kissing her. It didn't stop him, even with her fingers shaking on his forearm.

The electricity he felt was nothing like any other kiss he'd had. Although she seemed unprepared to start, she was returning the favour, kissing him back unlike any other woman he'd kissed. She wanted it. He didn't want to pull back, but he did.

“Sorry, I…” He swallowed between sucking in air. “No, I'm not sorry.” His fingers went to brush the remaining tears from her cheeks.

Winter was in awe, breathless as he pulled away. “No, don't say sorry. Please. It was…you were…” She gasped. How could she tell him how it made her soul take flight? The way he'd made her heart skip a beat, thumping in her chest so hard she swore he could have heard it?

She took his hand. “Feel. You…did this.” Her heart beat against his hand, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “Do that. Often. Whenever you want. Okay? Never be sorry. Please…”

Badump Heart. Badump Beating. Badump Hard. Badump

His lips curled up in a smile, a small curve denoting his happiness. Then it curled further, baring his teeth as it turned into a grin. It was somewhat of a slow burn as she spoke.

“Never been kissed before?” He would do that. Often. Whenever he wanted. He would never be sorry. Even before she placed his hand over her heart he could feel how it made her feel for him to kiss her in that way. She couldn't hide it from him. He didn't want her to hide it.

Winter shook her head. “I haven't, actually…” She said softly. “So…please don't ever say sorry. That…pushed happiness up over the hurt. You did that. I felt beautiful. I…feel…. beautiful when I am with you.” She smiled, her eyes still red from crying.

“You make me believe all the things you say I am, Troy. Sir.” She said with a little grin.

'Sir.' That played to a primal instinct he'd suspected, but never looked deeper to find. Hearing her happiness from what he did to her, how he made her feel, played to the same instinct. Nurture. Love. Protection. Control. All made him buzz with happiness. He'd already been doing it to her without realizing, now she unlocked the core.

“I will never apologise for making you happy, Winter. Or… For loving you. Looking after you.” He didn't know how to explain how he felt about her, what he would do for her, simply that he felt it. He would find words, if he needed to, later.