BAD INFLUENCE
Bad Influence - Episode 21&22
(•Tainting Her Innocence•)
GENRE: College romance
By, Mide L.
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✮{...FRAT PARTY I...}✮
ONE WEEK LATER, HAILEY'S DORM ROOM*
Hailey groaned as the sound of blaring music yanked her from sleep. Her face was buried in her pillow, but the pounding beat was impossible to ignore.
She peeked one eye open just as a high-pitched squeal filled the room.
Her roommates are so annoying.
"Oh my God, this song is everything!" Nia shouted, spinning in a circle, her arms in the air.
Riley, equally energetic, was doing a dramatic body roll near the mirror, completely lost in the music.
"J-Hope never misses! I swear, this is my new obsession!" she declared before flipping her hair over her shoulder and striking a pose.
Hailey let out a tired sigh, her brain still sluggish from sleep.
"Guys… what time is it?" she mumbled, voice hoarse.
"Time to vibe!" Nia shot back, winking before dragging Riley into an impromptu dance battle.
On the other side of the room, Ava was standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. Unlike the other two, she wasn’t paying them any attention, her focus entirely on perfecting her eyeliner and dressing up.
"They’ve been at it for thirty minutes," Ava muttered without looking up. "I’ve learned to tune them out"
Hailey groaned, finally sitting up and running a hand through her messy hair.
"Great. And here I thought I'd get to sleep in today"
Nia twirled towards her, grinning.
"Come on, Hailey! Live a little!"
"Yeah, we barely see you do anything fun. When’s the last time you actually loosened up?" Riley asked and Hailey rolled her eyes.
"Trust me, my definition of fun does not include getting woken up like this"
"Killjoy" Nia teased, but she didn’t seem offended.
Ava, now fully dressed, stood up and grabbed her bag.
"Unlike you three, I actually have class to get to" she said dryly before heading for the door.
"Ugh, you're so boring" Riley whined dramatically, flopping on Hailey’s bed.
"Some of us take college seriously" Ava shot back, flipping her hair over her shoulder before stepping out.
As the door clicked shut, Hailey sighed and fell back on her bed.
"It’s too early for this"
"Girl, it’s just eight in the morning" Nia deadpanned.
"Hailey what are you wearing to the frat party tonight?"
Hailey blinked, still half-asleep. "Frat party?"
Riley gasped dramatically. "Don’t tell me you forgot!"
"I didn’t forget" Hailey mumbled, even though she absolutely had. She had been so busy with assignments and avoiding certain people—one person in particular—that she hadn’t thought about the event at all.
Nia plopped down beside her. "It’s gonna be the party of the semester. You have to come!"
"And don’t even think about showing up in one of your boring sweaters. We’re picking your outfit" Riley added.
Hailey groaned. "I don’t know, guys. I’m not really in a party mood"
"Of course you’re not, which is exactly why you need this. It’s time to loosen up, Hailey. Let go a little wild!"
Riley smirked. "Besides, he might be there, he doesn't misses parties"
Hailey’s stomach did an involuntary flip.
"Who?" she asked, feigning innocence.
Nia and Riley exchanged a knowing look.
"Xavier, duh"
Hailey stiffened.
"Why would I care if he's there?"
Nia raised an eyebrow. "I don’t know, maybe because he definitely cares if you’re there"
Riley grinned. "C’mon, Hailey. Are you really gonna pretend he doesn’t look at you like he wants to eat you alive? I wish he can stare at me like that, I would be wet in seconds"
Heat rushed to Hailey’s face. "You guys are delusional," she muttered, throwing her blanket over her head.
Nia laughed, tugging it off her.
"Denial is a river in Egypt, babe. Now get up. We’re finding you something hot to wear!"
"Guys I'm not going okay? I want to take y'all advice of staying away from him" Hailey said and they sighed.
"Yeah you should take the advice, Xavier is dangerous believe me but that doesn't mean you shouldn't come to the frat party "Nia said.
"I will go if only you tell me what happened to the girl that disappeared, by going close to him"
Nia and Riley exchanged a glance, their playful expressions faltering for a split second.
"That’s just a stupid rumor" Riley said quickly, waving a dismissive hand.
"Yeah" Nia nodded, though her tone wasn’t as convincing.
"People love to make up stories about him because he’s… you know, Xavier"
Hailey crossed her arms. "That’s not an answer"
Nia sighed, sitting beside her on the bed.
"Look, all I know is that some girl...Layla or Lara or something, was obsessed with him. She wanted to be his girl, but Xavier doesn’t do relationships. One day, she just… stopped showing up to school. People say she transferred"
"Others say she ran away" Riley added in a whisper.
"Or that something happened to her because she got too close to him"
Hailey swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "And you still want me to go to the party?"
Nia rolled her eyes. "Girl, no one is saying you should get involved with him. We just want you to have fun! Stay away from Xavier if you want, but don’t miss out on the best night of the semester because of some stupid rumors. We dont really know what happened"
Hailey hesitated. "I don’t know…"
"Come on, Hailey. Live a little" Riley said.
"And wear something hot" Nia added with a wink.
"Just in case"
Hailey had spent the past week doing everything in her power to avoid Xavier.
She took different routes to class, skipped meals at the cafeteria whenever she thought he might be around, and even lingered in the library longer than necessary just to make sure she wouldn’t accidentally run into him. It was exhausting, constantly looking over her shoulder, her heart racing every time she heard his name in passing.
But it wasn’t just fear that had her avoiding him. It was something worse.
Temptation.
Because no matter how dangerous he was, no matter how much she knew she should stay away, a small, traitorous part of her wanted to see him. To know if he had been looking for her. If he had even noticed she was gone.
So far, it seemed like he hadn’t. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
It should have been a relief. It wasn’t.
And now, with the frat party looming, she wasn’t sure if she could keep avoiding him much longer.
She hates to say this, but she misses him.
•••
Hailey stepped out of her dorm room, already dressed for the day. She had no classes, but she had plans to visit a restaurant not far from campus and apply for a job. It wasn’t the most exciting way to spend her free time, but she needed the money.
She has to fend for herself.
As she adjusted the strap of her bag, ready to head out, she barely took two steps before colliding into someone.
"Oh!" Hailey stumbled back slightly, blinking in surprise.
"Wow, you’re in a hurry" the girl in front of her said with a small laugh.
Jasmine.
"Sorry" Hailey muttered, shifting her bag on her shoulder.
"You heading somewhere?"
Hailey hesitated, not sure if she wanted to get into a conversation with someone she barely knows But Jasmine was already smiling, expectant.
"Yeah, just out to handle something" Hailey replied vaguely.
"Well, if you’re free later, maybe we could—"
"I’ll see" Hailey cut in quickly. She wasn’t trying to be rude, but she wasn’t in the mood for company.
Jasmine’s smile faltered for a brief second before she nodded.
"Alright. See you around, then. I'm Jasmine by the way"
"Sorry if I was rude, I'm just trying to get somewhere. I'm Hailey" she said and Jasmine smiled.
"I'm aware, everyone knows that. Xavier has his eyes on you"
Hailey stiffened at Jasmine’s words, but she forced herself to keep a neutral expression.
"I should get going" she said quickly, shifting her bag again.
Jasmine tilted her head slightly, as if expecting more, but Hailey didn’t give her the chance.
"See you around" she added before stepping past her and walking away.
She felt Jasmine’s gaze on her back, but she didn’t turn around.
The last thing she wanted was to entertain more talk about Xavier.
She had spent an entire week avoiding him. She wasn’t about to let some random girl drag her into another conversation about him now.
With a sigh, Hailey tightened her grip on her bag and focused on her real goal for the day—getting that job.
•••
Standing on the rooftop of the old lecture hall, Xavier exhaled a slow stream of smoke, the cigarette between his fingers burning low. He leaned against the railing, his sharp gaze fixed on the entrance of the school building below.
And then he saw her.
Hailey.
She stepped out, her bag slung over one shoulder, her posture stiff like she was trying to disappear into the crowd. He smirked, watching as she hurried down the steps, completely oblivious to the fact that she was being watched.
She had been avoiding him.
Taking different routes, skipping meals, staying late in the library. She thought she was smart, but Xavier always knew where she was.
She was running.
From him.
He let his tongue run over the piercing in his mouth, eyes darkening.
It was amusing, really. Did she think distance would make him lose interest?
She had no idea how much she was tempting him.
Xavier flicked the cigarette away, watching as it disappeared into the wind. Then, he pushed off the railing, hands slipping into his pockets.
She wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever.
And when she finally stopped running?
He’d be right there.
Waiting.
•••
NIGHT AT THE FRAT PARTY•
The bass from the frat house pulsed through the air as Hailey, Nia, Riley, and surprisingly—Ava stepped out of the cab. The front yard was already packed with students, some lounging on the steps, others dancing under the colorful glow of LED lights wrapped around the porch.
Hailey tugged at the hem of her dress, suddenly self-conscious.
"Stop that," Nia scolded, smacking her hand away. "You look freaking hot, and I won’t let you ruin it"
Hailey still couldn’t believe she let them talk her into wearing this. The dress—if it could even be called that was a black number that clung to her figure in ways that made her feel exposed. It had thin straps, a dangerously low neckline, and a slit running high up her thigh. It wasn’t something she would’ve ever picked for herself, but Nia had shoved it into her arms and practically ordered her to wear it.
And judging by the way heads were turning as they walked up the driveway, Nia had been right.
"Whoa!" someone exclaimed, and Hailey felt heat rise to her face.
"Is that Hailey? Damn, girl!" a guy whistled.
"Damn, I didn’t know she was hiding all that"
"Bro, if I knew she looked this good, I would've been chasing her since day one"
"Hailey?" Ava said, giving her a once over with raised brows.
"I’m shocked. In a good way"
Hailey groaned, covering her face.
"I hate you all"
"Relax," Riley laughed. "Enjoy the attention. It’s good for you"
Nia grinned.
"I told you, babe. You were meant to shine"
"Okay, can we go inside now? I need a drink" Ava said.
"Yeah, yeah," Nia waved her off. "You coming, Hailey?"
"In a minute" she muttered, still feeling overwhelmed.
Riley shrugged.
"Suit yourself. Don’t take too long, though"
With that, her roommates disappeared inside, leaving Hailey standing alone at the entrance. She let out a deep breath, gripping the strap of her purse as she debated whether she should actually go in or just turn back now.
"Hailey?"
She turned at the sound of a familiar voice and spotted Jessa making her way towards her, a bright smile on her face.
Jessa looked effortlessly stunning in a cropped satin top and high-waisted jeans that hugged her curves.
Beside her, Asher walked with his hands in his pockets, looking just as put together as always. His button-down shirt was neatly tucked into dark jeans, and even in the chaos of the party, he carried himself with a calm, easygoing aura.
But the moment his gaze landed on Hailey, his steps faltered.
His eyes widened slightly, raking over her from head to toe. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Jessa, completely oblivious to his reaction, reached for Hailey’s hands, giving them a squeeze.
"Girl, you look amazing!" she gushed.
"I swear, if I wasn’t straight, I’d be all over you right now" She adde.
Hailey let out a nervous laugh. "Thanks, I guess?"
Asher finally snapped out of whatever trance he had fallen into, clearing his throat as he tried to compose himself.
"You… uh…" He paused, running a hand through his hair. "Wow."
Hailey raised an eyebrow. "Wow?"
Asher let out a breathy chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah. I mean… you look—uh—really beautiful"
Jessa smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Took you long enough to say it"
Hailey's face warmed under his intense stare, and for a moment, she felt something unfamiliar flutter in her chest.
"Thanks" she mumbled, looking away.
Jessa grinned. "So, are we going in or what?"
They all went inside and Asher grabbed a drink immediately.
Just then, Hailey’s phone vibrated in her hand.
Unknown Number.
Her brows knitted together. Who could this be?
Hesitantly, she unlocked her phone.
Unknown Number: You have no idea what that dress is doing to me.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Unknown Number: The way it hugs your body… innocent, yet sinful. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Her fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard. She should ignore this. She should...
Unknown Number: Do you even realize what you're doing to me, princess?
A slow heat curled in her belly, spreading through her like wildfire.
Unknown Number: Come upstairs. Last room at the far end.
Her throat went dry. The music thumped in the background, people brushed past her, laughing, drinking, lost in the party.
She swallowed, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral as she turned to Jessa and Asher.
"I’ll be back. I just need to use the restroom"
Asher barely looked up from his drink, nodding absentmindedly.
Jessa, on the other hand, arched a brow, skepticism flashing in her eyes. She didn’t believe her.
But she only nodded. "Sure"
Hailey ignored the knowing look Jessa shot her and turned toward the stairs, her heart hammering.
She should stop.
She should turn around.
But she didn’t.
Hailey swallowed hard as she climbed the stairs, each step making her pulse race faster. The thumping bass of the music downstairs faded slightly, replaced by the quieter hum of voices and muffled laughter from behind closed doors.
Her phone vibrated again.
Unknown Number: Close the door when you come in.
Her fingers curled around the railing. She could turn back now... go downstairs, pretend she never saw the message.
But her feet kept moving.
At the end of the dimly lit hallway, she stopped in front of the last door. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Slowly, she raised her hand and knocked.
Silence.
Then, the door creaked open just enough for her to see a shadow moving inside.
She hesitated.
"Come in" a deep, familiar voice drawled.
Xavier.
Her stomach flipped. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to turn and leave. But something in his tone... low, smooth, and filled with something dark... had her stepping inside before she could stop herself.
The door clicked shut behind her.
The room was dimly lit, the glow from a single bedside lamp casting long shadows across the walls.
Xavier leaned against the desk, arms crossed, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His piercing gaze locked on her, trailing over her body in a way that made her toes curl inside her heels.
She swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of how small the space felt.
"You actually came" he murmured, exhaling a slow stream of smoke.
Hailey forced herself to stand tall, ignoring the way her knees felt weak.
"You told me to"
Xavier let out a low chuckle. "And you listened"
Her fingers tightened around the hem of her dress.
"What do you want?"
He took a slow step toward her.
"I already told you, you have no idea what you did to me tonight"
Hailey’s heart skipped a beat.
Xavier reached out, fingers skimming the edge of her jaw before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was featherlight, but it sent a shiver racing down her spine.
"You walked in wearing that dress," he continued, his lips curving slightly.
"Looking like temptation wrapped in silk. And you expect me to just sit back and watch?"
Her pulse pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.
She knew she should step away... put space between them, but she couldn't move. Not when he was looking at her like that, like he was ready to devour her.
"Tell me to stop" Xavier murmured, his fingers trailing down the side of her neck.
"Say the word, and I'll let you walk out that door"
Hailey opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Xavier smirked.
"You look like sin tonight, princess, makes me wonder what kind of sounds you'd make if I touched you the way I really want to"
A helpless, breathy sound escapes her lips before she can stop it.
"Then touch me instead of torturing me" she breathed.
Xavier's eyes darkened, a slow, dangerous smirk tugging at his lips. His fingers ghosted over her arm, barely touching, yet sending a wildfire of sensation through her skin.
"You sure about that, princess?" he murmured.
"Because once I start, I don’t think I’ll stop"
Hailey’s breath hitched. She should be thinking...should be questioning, but her mind was a haze of heat and reckless desire.
"Then don’t...stop" she whispered.
___
💕TBC💕
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