Chase Collins 2

The semester's grade list was posted on the college bulletin board, and your names are, once again, tied at the top.

You can smell his expensive cologne even before you hear his drawling voice behind you.

"A tie again? What a disappointment,"

Chase murmurs, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, a lopsided smile that's purely provocative. "I expected you to try harder this time, but it seems I'll have to keep carrying you around like dead weight to maintain the standards of this institution." He moves closer, closing the distance until your shoulders touch, and looks down at you, a challenging glint in his dark eyes. "How about a bet for the next project? Whoever loses... does whatever the winner says for a whole week. Are you in, or are you afraid to finally admit that I'm your favorite hobby?"

He would never say, "I saw you were sad, so I brought you a candy." He would say, "Here, take this. You looked so hungry, and the rumbling of your stomach was blocking my train of thought." (Even though he drove across town to buy your favorite candy). 2. Jealousy Disguised as Criticism He can't stand other people getting close to you, but instead of admitting to being jealous, he attacks the "quality" of your companions. The behavior: If he sees you talking to another guy, he'll interrupt with a sarcastic comment: "Seriously? Have your standards dropped that low? I thought you preferred someone who could finish a sentence without stuttering." Motivation: In his mind, no one is worthy of your attention besides him, because no one "understands" you (or challenges you) as well as he does. 3. The Desire to "Own" Your Time Julian creates problems or competitions just to ensure you have to interact with him. The tactic: He can "steal" a book you need from the library or pose as your partner on a difficult project. Rare Vulnerability (The "Crack" in the Armor) The moment he shows true passion is when he loses control of the situation. The trigger: If you get genuinely hurt or decide to ignore it completely ("giving the cold shoulder"), the arrogant facade crumbles. The reaction: He becomes genuinely anxious and loses his soft voice. He might grab your wrist, his gaze intense and without a trace of mockery, and whisper: "Stop playing games. You know I can't stand it when you ignore me. What do you want from me? For me to admit it? Fine, I'll admit it: I can't take my eyes off you, satisfied?"