Chapter 8
“So, please explain what in the hell happened last night because I’m totally confused.” I finished the sip of my latte as I sat down and hooked my handbag on the back of my chair. Callie stared back at me silently as I took my time and drummed her pink nails impatiently.
“Chill girl, at least let her sit down before you start grilling her.” I scooted in my chair and was just about to thank Zoey until I saw the stare-down she was giving me as well.
We had gotten home late last night from the bar and had all passed out as soon as we got back. I was a little surprised that they hadn’t made themselves stay awake just to interrogate me. I had ducked out early this morning for my first class, so we were now just meeting up before our afternoon classes.
“Well, I met Justin when-”
“Hold up,” Callie interrupted. “Start at the beginning, don’t think we missed all of that flirting going on between you and Nash. We need ALL the details.”
“Fine,” I huffed out, “but you are going to be disappointed there. Nash and I are strictly friends. That’s it. We were just catching up, that was all.”
“Ri-ght,” Zoey dragged out, giving Callie a look like she believed nothing I had just said. “We saw the way you two were together. You basically look like soul mates. Now, you know I’m not the biggest fan of Nash but that’s mainly because of Mariah. I think you should be the one to save him from her clutches.”
“Nash is a big boy, obviously he’s happy or he wouldn’t be with her. But it definitely got awkward when she showed up. That’s when I escaped to the bathroom and ran into Justin. He was definitely a good distraction, but that’s all he was. I have no plans on seeing him again.”
“Good luck with that.” Callie snorted as she drained her frozen coffee and stood up to throw it away. “Justin Parker is the biggest man slut on campus. I’ve heard that he’s slept with every girl in the Sigma Delta sorority.” Raising her eyebrows, she leaned over and added in a hushed voice. “And not just one at a time either, if you know what I mean.” I choked on my drink a little bit, knowing exactly what Callie meant. Gross.
“He gets whoever he wants and then leaves them wanting more. If he has you in his sight, you are definitely in trouble,” she finished, her eyes sort of glazed over like she was thinking about all of the different possibilities if Justin decided to focus on her.
Zoey quietly chimed in, humming Taylor Swift’s songs, ‘I knew you were trouble’.
I snorted at her choice of song and shrugged my shoulders. “I think I can handle him. This campus is big enough to avoid him anyway.” I drained the rest of my drink and scooted out my chair. “Sorry to cut this short girls, but I have a class on the other side of campus, so I’ll catch up with you at home.”
I made my way across campus, weaving in and out of the cluster of students that were gathered across the pathway. It was definitely a bit overwhelming compared to MCCC, but I was quickly beginning to fall in love with it. It almost made me wish that I had started off at a four year college, but I think I really just needed that time to myself to completely heal.
I walked into the auditorium that my human studies class was in and headed towards the middle section. This had to be my biggest class yet; it was only partially filled and looked to hold at least two hundred students. I felt my heel catch someone’s bag in front of me as I made my way to a seat and plummeted forward, almost kissing the ground before an arm snaked around my waist and stood me upright.
A pair of amused gray eyes stared casually back at me as I glared down at him. “You! What the hell is your problem? Are you working some kind of voodoo magic so I’m always falling into your waiting arms?”
“Seriously? Maybe we just have some kind of connection. It’s not my fault you’re a bit of a klutz. I certainly don’t mind catching you though.” Justin continued to stare back at me as I stood there, anger bubbling up in my chest at his nonchalant attitude. I turned to find another seat far, far away from him, but he stopped me, grabbing onto my elbow. “C’mon, Della. Can’t we at least be friends? I promise I won’t bite…yet,” he added with a smirk as I hesitantly turned around.
The professor walked to the front of the room, setting down his briefcase, as I reluctantly plopped down into the seat next to him. I couldn’t help but notice the line of at least five girls sitting on the other side of him who all looked to be dissecting me with their eyes. All probably wondering why Justin was paying so much attention to me, over them. I really had no clue, but I didn’t care. He probably considered it some sort of game since I wasn’t being very cooperative.
I tried to concentrate as the professor went over what we would be doing for the semester but it proved difficult with Justin sitting next to me. He seemed to not be able to sit still, and his body kept inching closer and closer to mine. My whole body was tense with the closeness, so when the professor ended class, I practically jumped out of my seat, heading for the doors.
“Damn, I’ve never met a girl in a hurry to get away from me before. I think I kind of like it.” I didn’t turn around, just kept walking, but I could feel the closeness of his body keeping up with my quick pace. “So, think you want to be study buddies? I have my own place, so it would work out perfectly. I’m sure we could do all kinds of studying; you’re an excellent subject.”
I glanced over quickly to see his eyes roving every inch of my body and came to an abrupt stop. “Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t want any part of it. So just forget me and move onto the next one. Really, I’m a waste of your time. Because this,” I motioned my hands between the two of us, trying my hardest to keep a straight face as he gave me a twisted smirk, “is not going to happen.”
“What ever you say, Della,” he backed up a few steps, holding his hands up in defeat. “Just know that I don’t give up that easily. Ever.”
**********
“Would you mind setting the table, Della? I just have a few last minute things to finish up and supper should be ready in no time.”
“Sure, Grams.” I pulled out three place settings and began laying them out on the dining room table. My first week of school was complete and had gone as smoothly as expected, I guess. Strangely, Justin had left me alone for the most part and seemed to be moving on from his infatuation with me.
Every time I saw him there was a different girl perched on his lap or wrapped around his body. Honestly, it made me a little sick to see those girls throwing themselves at him. Sure, he was practically sex on a stick. He oozed manliness and trouble; it was something you could sense as soon as he walked into the room. But didn’t those girls have any self-respect?
A knock on the door broke me out of my thoughts of Justin, which was probably a good thing, and I ran to get it. Nash stood on the other side, a big grin plastered on his face, as he stepped in with a small bouquet of daisies, handing them to me. I inhaled deeply, playing with the white ribbon that tied them together. “What are these for exactly?”
“Well, kind of as an apology,” he said, shuffling his feet nervously in the entryway, “for the other night. I didn’t mean to ditch you when Mariah showed up. She can be a little territorial, if you didn’t notice.”
“Really?” I responded sarcastically with a smile. “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure she was a little surprised to find you with another girl, even if we are just friends. I completely understand.”
“Good.” A look of relief passed over his face, and he finally came to a still. “Think we could talk outside for a minute?”
“Sure. Grams, I’ll be right back, I’m just going out front with Nash,” I yelled into the kitchen.
“All right, sweetie,” she yelled back. “Invite him for supper if you would like.”
I closed the front door behind me, taking a seat next to Nash on the porch swing where he was all ready sitting, his lean arm stretched out across the back. I hesitantly sat next to him, trying to make as little body contact as possible. Nash would really be just the kind of guy I needed right now, but he was taken, and I didn’t want to step over that friends line. “So what’s up?”
“Well,” he dragged out, scratching at the scruffiness on his head, “I was just wondering what was going on with you and that Justin guy, from the other night, you two seemed pretty…into each other.”
“And why would that matter to you?” I arched a brow at him, and his eyes shifted away from my face quickly. It almost seemed as if he was…jealous.
“It doesn’t. It’s just I know the guys reputation and he’s not someone you should be getting yourself involved with. You deserve way better than him, Della, someone who will appreciate you.”
“Don’t worry, Nash.” I patted his leg, swinging my legs back and forth. “I know his kind, and I’m most definitely staying away. Thanks for your concern though.”
“Not a problem. I was also wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime this week. I could introduce you to the guys and show you the house I’m living in. It’s basically a bachelor pad, but we do have a pool table. I think you still owe me a game,” he gave me a crooked smirk, tapping me lightly on the nose.
“I don’t know. How would your girlfriend feel about that?”
“Don’t worry about, Mariah.” He stood up, reaching out a hand to help me up. “You were always one of my best friends; just because I have a girlfriend now doesn’t change that. Tuesday night sound good?”
“That sounds awesome.”