by Shane Morgan
“Hey, dude,” he whispered, “you mind giving me and my girl some time alone?”
“Sure.” I hopped off the bed, grabbing my grey sweater from the small closet we shared, along with my backpack off the floor.
“Thanks,” Warren grinned and gave me a fist pump as I opened the door to leave.
Selene sashayed past me behind Warren, closing the door quickly as I stepped outside. She could hardly walk in her tight mini black dress and high heels. Her flirtatious giggles reminded me of the other girl from last week. I could already perceive the kind of guy my roommate was. Whatever the case, it was none of my business.
I headed over to the library—which was less than two minutes from my dorm—to finish my Statistics homework. Scoping out an empty spot in the lounge to chill, a natural beauty caught me by surprise.
There was Moya, as captivating as ever, stopping me in my tracks. I struggled to recover my cool. The rich, golden-honey tone of her skin glowed in the ceiling light. Her thick black curls begged my fingers to twist every strand across my flesh. Damn, she was the epitome of unearthly beauty.
Swallowing hard, I walked over to her table. Moya kept her eyes lowered as she took notes from the humongous textbook in front of her. I cleared my throat to draw her attention and nearly jumped out of my skin when she glared up at me with anger.
Her chocolate brown eyes bewitched me. Moya’s fierceness made me smile. That only pissed her off more.
“What?” she asked, irritatingly.
Settling my backpack down on a chair at the table, I asked, “May I sit with you—”
Right away Moya said, “No,” her voice solid and without hesitation. There was something exquisitely sexy about her deep and sultry tone. I would enjoy having her whisper sweet words in my ear at nights.
She went back to writing. Instead of walking away, I pulled out a chair and sat down.
Moya looked up at me, surprised and annoyed. “What are you doing? I said no. Now go away.” She even emphasized by pointing her pen in the direction of the exit.
“Well, this is not only a place shared by students it’s also my favorite spot to study. Since it’s a large table and there aren’t any names written down, I think I’ll stay.”
My assertion enraged her even more. Placing her pen down in the middle of one of the textbooks, Moya sank back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. Oh yeah, she was definitely fuming and getting ready to light my ass on fire with that biting tongue of hers.
As she examined me carefully with her enthralling eyes, I couldn’t help but do the same. I glanced down to her mouth and envisioned kissing her lips intensely.
Amidst my admiring her sexiness, I noticed a gold necklace with a butterfly locket pendant reminiscent of the one my dad bought my Mom for Christmas last year. The details seemed exact, right down to the ivory glaze. The owner said they were unique to his jewelry store. Did that mean Moya was from Berlin Heights? Baltimore wasn’t far from Harrington, so we could hang out on weekends easily if she went home. Yeah, right. I was way ahead of myself. She hadn’t even given me a shot yet.
“Do you like me or something?” Moya finally asked, disrupting my thoughts.
As I carried my eyes back up to meet hers, I nearly choked on my voice. “Well, I would like to get to know you.”
Moya unfolded her arms, bending over the table on top of the books with a questioning look. I admired her full lips as she parted them and asked sarcastically, “Why is that?”
Honesty was my best policy. “You seem so closed off,” I explained. “I’d like to get you to open up a bit.”
That didn’t go well with her. Moya jumped up, slammed the books shut, and clutched them to her chest as she struggled to carry them all back at once. I wasn’t trying to upset her. Still, those flares of intensity surging through her shields only made me want her more.
I shot up to help Moya gather her things. She brushed my hand away. “I don’t need any man’s help. Give it a rest. We both know what you really want me to open.” She lifted a brow and eyed me up and down suspiciously. Her body, on the other hand, slanted with hesitation, as if she was finding it hard to walk away.
“What?” I held my hands in the air as defense and backed up a few steps. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She rolled her eyes and walked off, mumbling. That was another failed attempt at communicating with Moya Douglas. Wow, I was turned down twice in one day. My pride was wounded by her pre-judging me. I wasn’t like my roommate. Warren was the type of guy who ditched girls once he got them out of their clothes and into his bed.
I was far from being that guy. But even though Moya was so hard to get through to, I became even more determined to prove to her I was different. I was adamant on making her mine.
CHAPTER THREE
Moya
After classes ended on Thursday, I stopped by Vanessa’s dorm to hang out before going shopping. More precisely, she wanted to shop, I was tagging along because I wanted to find a weekend job at Sheppard’s Plaza near school.
While idling in her room, I told Vanessa about Branden and his mission to torment me.
“It’s because he can’t have you, all guys are like that. They love a good chase.” Vanessa resolved.
I exhaled, falling onto her bed. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t know why he’s pursuing me though. Talking ‘bout how I seem so closed off. Who does he think he is to say that to me? He doesn’t even know me.”
Vanessa sat down on the edge of the bed. “He kinda has a point, though.”
“What?” I got up fast. “You agree with him? Nessa, I’m not closed off.” My best friend was taking a guy’s side over mine?
She said, “Girl, you haven’t had a boyfriend since like forever. You refuse to date and you diss every opportunity. So, yes, I have to agree with this Branden. You are closed off and somewhat angry, too. If only you could see the way you stare at people sometimes. Like, the way you’re staring at me right now.”
The way Vanessa squinted and puckered her lips made me laugh. Her teasing was adorable.
I poked her in the side playfully, then hopped off the bed and walked over to the full body mirror on the closet door to check my hair. “Where’s your roomie, anyway?” I inquired to change the subject. “I swear, I never see her whenever I come here. Not sure if I’ve seen her since the day you moved in.”
Vanessa groaned before answering, “I don’t know. That girl’s on some serious power trip. I can’t stand her.” She shot up from the bed and walked over to me, throwing her arm over my shoulder. “After this semester, girl, I’m finding a way for you and me to room together. Why didn’t you do that in the first place?”
I turned, giving Vanessa a tap on the forehead, then joked, “Because I refuse to share a room with someone who snores.”
She puffed. “Whatever.”
I glided over to the chair by her desk and collapsed into it, resting my chin on the back. Vanessa remained in front of the mirror, admiring her impressively done braids with burgundy highlights, transfixed in her thoughts.
“Hmm…his name does sound familiar, though. Branden McCarthy? Branden McCarthy?” she repeated.
“What the hell! Stop saying his name,” I squealed.
Vanessa spun and blurted, “The hockey player?”
My head sprang up. “He’s on the hockey team? I didn’t know that.” I was surprised, yet curious. Branden never gave me the impression he played sports. Well, his body did seem somewhat athletic.
“Oh, not here at Easton U,” she clarified, turning back to the mirror to reapply lip-gloss. “But he was pretty good from what I’ve heard. He played at Harrington High School. What’s his major anyway, and how come he’s not playing anymore?”
So Branden was from Harrington. I guessed he didn’t want to travel far from home to go off to college. Like me, he stayed within the state of Maryland. Only I traveled nearly fifty minutes from my home, while he probably lived five minutes away.
> Still, Vanessa was asking questions I couldn’t answer and it seemed she knew a lot more about him than I did.
I shook my head. “No idea. I didn’t know you cared for hockey much less kept tabs on players.”
Vanessa strutted over and grabbed her red satchel off the desk. “Girl, my boyfriend’s on the Easton U Tigers Basketball team. Most of the parties here are attended by members from other sports teams. Of course I’m gonna hear about Branden, especially if he was good.”
She knelt down and tapped my nose. “Plus, the last party I went to, which you failed to attend, Branden was there and some chick wouldn’t stop going on about him. I think his family’s loaded and she wants a piece of that. Whatever, let’s not waste the rest of the day. It’s time to go shopping!”
Vanessa clutched my hand and hauled me off the chair, tugging me out the door as I left my thoughts and all things Branden behind.
***
My intention was to find a job at Sheppard’s Plaza. When that didn’t turn out so well, I decided to give it a rest for the time being and enjoy the remainder of the day with Vanessa.
While browsing the new arrival rack at Donna lee’s clothing store, Vanessa sighed as if something was bothering her.
My head shot up. It was rare seeing anything but her liveliness. “You okay, girl? What’s with the gloomy vibe all of a sudden?” I asked.
Vanessa continued checking out an embellished, blue sweater as she answered, “Hmm…just thinking about Calvin and how Basketball takes up so much of his time.”
I observed her expression. Vanessa seemed awfully bothered, with her forehead cringed and a worried look in her chocolate brown eyes.
Moving around the rack, I squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t worry so much about it, Nessa. He has to put in a lot of work to be part of the team.”
She shrugged, recovering her exuberance. “Yeah, I know. It’s just hard sometimes. Like, we barely spend time together anymore. But,” she exhaled, taking the sweater over to the fitting room, “I hear what you’re saying. I shouldn’t let it bug me so much.”
I nodded in agreement as Vanessa stepped into the room to try on the sweater.
Going back to the new arrival rack, I let out a snort when she called out, “So, girl, about this Branden,” I knew she still had him on her mind and wouldn’t simply drop it. “Would you consider the possibility of dating him?”
“Nessa, how did we end up on Branden again?” I chuckled.
She came out of the fitting room then, fixing the sweater on her body as she asked, “What do you think?”
I bobbed my head to signal my approval. “You look nice, girl. Are you getting it?”
Vanessa turned and stared into the mirror. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Anyway, back to Branden.”
“Oh, jeez,” I breathed, lowering my head in exasperation.
She walked over and lifted my chin. “I’m just saying, in a perfect world, would you consider going out with Branden?”
“No—” I made to answer.
Vanessa pressed her finger to my lips and stopped me. “Hold that thought while I change.”
She hustled back into the fitting room. I waited outside to see if she was going to purchase the sweater or not. Either way, I certainly wasn’t giving any thought to what Vanessa said.
I wouldn’t.
But unwillingly, I did. Branden really was attractive, and even I could admit that. It would be hard for anyone to forget those enchanting blue eyes of his. Thinking about him now, how he sweetly annunciated my name in class and stole glances at me every second, made me lean my head to the side and twine my fingers around my curls.
I shuddered and put aside the silly feeling as Vanessa came out of the room. She shook her head ‘no’ and went over to the new arrival rack, setting the blue sweater back in its rightful place.
Leaving the clothing store to continue shopping around the plaza, Vanessa turned me around to face her. Her eyes got bigger as she asked, “Well?”
I blinked in my astonishment. “Well, what?”
She jerked me slightly and I released a chortle. “Okay, yes, Branden is a good-looking guy. But there’s no way I’d go out with him. I told you, I’m not interested—” I stopped abruptly, realizing Vanessa wasn’t listening to me anymore.
She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. “Isn’t that Branden, girl?” she asked, nodding in the direction behind me.
I spun swiftly. It really was Branden, walking rather hastily down the street. I found myself admiring his behind—how perfect he appeared in his jeans. The thought was short-lived as Vanessa strutted past me, hollering his name.
I cringed. What the hell?
Branden swiveled, eyes widened, brows raised. His undeniable good looks stirred me inside.
I had to shake it off. Whatever it was.
CHAPTER FOUR
Branden
I never thought I’d see Moya at the plaza near school. It looked like she was out killing time with her friend since classes were done for the day.
Moya would probably accuse me of stalking her if I simply breezed up and said hi. She would never consider I was out enjoying the afternoon as well. And as much as I desired another attempt at talking to her, I decided to take my new purchase and leave Sheppard’s Plaza without saying a word.
I barely made it out of the shoe store when her friend caught sight of me.
She called out to make sure, receiving confirmation when I turned around. “It is Branden.” How she knew me I had no idea, though, it excited me thinking Moya mentioned me to someone.
I walked in her direction as Moya’s friend, smiling brightly, hurried over to where I was. Moya dragged behind, though. Their personalities were so opposite. One was bubbly. The other had a dark cloud hovering over her head. Interesting.
When she got close enough, she explained, “I remember you from Casey’s freshman party last week.” Her voice sounded lively, like the only person who could revive a really dead atmosphere.
I couldn’t remember her face at all, though. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
“I’m Vanessa.” She reached her hand out to shake mine. “We didn’t talk to each other that night. But I remember one of the girls going on about you. Colleen something…” She tried to remember.
“Oh. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Vanessa,” I offered back.
I glanced over at Moya. She stood there, quiet, no eye contact. Even then I was utterly in lust. I quickly acknowledged her, “Hey, Moya, how’s it going?”
She looked at me momentarily, feigning interest. “It’s going great. Let’s go, Nessa.” She tugged on her friend’s arm.
“Girl, what the hell? Don’t be rude,” Vanessa snapped, freeing her arm.
I laughed lowly then asked, “You girls out shopping?”
“Something like that,” Moya said.
Vanessa elbowed her in the side. “Actually, Moya’s looking for a job. Something she can do on weekends.”
A light bulb went off in my head. “I know a place that’s hiring. I could put in word for you—”
Moya interrupted, replying politely, “I don’t want you to go out of your way.”
I shrugged. “It’s not out of my way. I’m happy to help.”
She said nothing, only gazed at me with marveling eyes. Then I felt it again—a moment where there was a brief connection between us. The silence meant I’d pierced Moya’s barrier a tiny bit.
Suddenly, her eyes flickered away from mine, and with the disruption, she fought my assistance again. “No thanks. I’m good.”
I didn’t want to annoy her further so I decided to leave. “Well, let me know if you change your mind.”
I nodded at a silent Vanessa, who regarded us with a smirk on her face. “It was nice meeting you.”
Turning to walk away, I could hear Vanessa pressing Moya to say something to me. Moya groaned in protest so her friend called out instead, “Hey, Branden.”
Not surprised
, I spun halfway and looked back coolly. “What’s up?”
“There’s a party tomorrow night at the Alpha Kappa sorority house. Will you be there?” Vanessa asked with pleading eyes.
I smiled. “Depends, will you be there, Moya?”
Moya straightened. “No, I don’t think I will—”
“Yes!” Vanessa piped in. “She will.”
Even with her friend answering for her, I already knew what Moya would say. Her view on that subject was obvious. She hated parties; so did I. Still, if I knew she would be at a party, I’d go to talk to her—even face the possibility of her ignoring me again.
Going back to the conversation, I replied, “Then I’ll see you there.” I waved politely as I walked down the sidewalk towards my car.
I tossed the bag with my new socks onto the passenger seat and got in around the steering wheel. Closing the door, I placed the key in the ignition and started the car. Before I could take off, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket.
A huge lump formed in my throat, seeing the text reminder from my mother:
Remember the meeting tomorrow morning at 10am.
I collapsed, my body sinking back into the seat, unable to drive. Then I started to wonder, if I were able to start a relationship with someone—with Moya—would she understand? Was it even right to try so hard to get her in the first place when I had no guarantees? Only time would tell, and whether or not she’d even give me a chance.
CHAPTER FIVE
Moya
I whined the entire walk over to the sorority house with Vanessa. She wouldn’t take no for an answer so I ended up going to make her happy.
Stopping at the entrance, she spun me around to face her as she advised, “Be nice, and mingle a little.”
I rolled my eyes, slipped out of her grip and sauntered into the party, Vanessa pranced in beside me. She had no problem sexing it up, in her black laced mini dress with three quarter sleeves and matching five inch stiletto cutout booties. I was more minimal, wearing dark skinny jeans, black pointed toe embellished flats, and a studded shoulder chiffon button-down blouse and a black blazer.
