King of Campus

by Jennifer Sucevic

  Even though I’m desperate to leave, I won’t abandon Brooklyn. We agreed early on to always use the buddy system when we went out at night which is partly how I got wrangled into this mess in the first place. And if I’m not being forced to join her for a night of heavy drinking and possible hook ups, I usually make sure she’s with someone who won’t flake out at two in the morning and leave her stranded at some off campus fraternity party.

  Because bad things happen to girls who think there is safety in a party of one.

  I’m hoping if I ignore Mr. Beautiful long enough, he’ll simply go away. That’s usually my go-to weapon of defense. And most of the time, it’s effective.

  “Hey, are you going to answer me?” Again his voice is rather distractingly right at my ear. I can practically feel his warm breath slipping over my flesh. Little shivers of pleasure laced with just a bit of fear skitter their way down my spine. I grit my teeth in response still trying to ignore him.

  Good looking or not, this is just plain annoying. Most of my irritation is actually directed at myself for the reaction he’s able to pull so effortlessly from me. It’s taken the better part of nine months to emotionally deaden myself. And somehow this guy has shot all my hard work to hell with two adorable dimples and a pair of gorgeous whiskey colored eyes. Not to mention the rest of the package.

  Yeah, it’s definitely best not to think about that right now.

  Without a word of warning, I spin towards him again. I’m hoping the element of surprise will have him backing off. Of course he’s much closer than I anticipate. And so, with the shitty luck I’m having this evening, I crash right into his rather impressively muscled chest.

  Did I happen to mention just how hard those muscles feel beneath the soft pads of my fingers?

  Or that I might actually enjoy running my hands slowly over what I imagine to be completely amazing pecks?

  Well this isn’t good.

  With lightning quick reflexes, he reaches out to steady me as my eyes clash with his.

  “No.” Usually if ignoring doesn’t work, bitch-mode will get the job done rather nicely. That’s my second go-to line of defense. And since I’m not naturally a bitch (I’m really not), it’s not something I enjoy doing.

  Once in a while I’ll actually get called a dyke for not being interested. Why is it that the most persistent ones are usually the ones who take rejection the hardest? And they certainly like to go right for the jugular when it finally becomes clear (to them anyway) that they won’t be tapping anything of mine with anything of theirs.

  Totally annoying.

  Narrowing those gorgeous eyes of his, half his mouth lifts into a smile. My breath catches again. How can that possibly be just as devastating as the full blown smile he’s already treated me to?

  I almost have to shake my head just to clear it of the spell he’s weaving around me.

  “No?” His head tilts just a bit to the side as he continues watching me. There’s just a hint of a smirk hovering around the edges of his lips.

  “No.” Forcing myself to hold strong against all this gorgeousness crammed into one irresistible package, I repeat slowly before elaborating, “I wasn’t going to answer you.”

  Brows drawing slowly together, he blinks his eyes as if I’m some sort of strange specimen smeared across a microscope slide. “What’s your name?”

  Hastily I shake my head.

  Nope. We are definitely not going to play this game. There is absolutely no way in hell I’m getting dragged into some quasi-friendship with this guy. That would be a mistake of epic proportions. I can already feel it.

  If, and that’s a really big if, I have a type, this guy is it. Therefor he must be avoided at all costs. That would be the smartest thing to do and I’m all about being smart. I refuse to fuck up my life any more than I already have.

  His brows, which are thick but not overly caterpillar-like, hike up his forehead in disbelief. “So, let me get this straight- you won’t tell me what Alex did to upset you and you won’t give me your name?” Once again laughter brims in his rich deep voice as he shakes his head.

  The slow scald of a blush burns its way across my cheeks. Nervously my eyes dart around the crammed, dimly lit room one last time hoping that Brooklyn will magically appear so I can just grab her and bolt, but that apparently isn’t meant to be.

  Because there hasn’t been a Brooklyn sighting in at least twenty minutes.

  “I’m not upset.” But I’m definitely getting there. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the gigantic ass who groped me and everything to do with the gorgeous, tawny eyed, dimpled Adonis who won’t leave me alone.

  “But you did sic those three girls on him, right?” He nods his head to the left and my eyes naturally slide in that direction. We’re both able to see the incredibly tall and brawny Alex along with the three girls who are still in the process of tearing him a new one. Actually, focusing on that for a moment lightens my mood considerably because you can just tell those girls have totally committed themselves to their mission. It’s doubtful that Alex will be going anywhere for a quite a while. And if he does somehow manage to escape their clutches, they’ll probably follow him, picking up even more girls along the way.

  Technically speaking, I only pulled one girl into our conversation. That being said, I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of a proud moment for me. I’m seriously hoping that Alex has learned his ass grabbing lesson tonight.

  “He got what he deserved.”

  I’m going to think of that whole incident as a public service to all the women who attend Western University.

  You’re welcome.

  Not to be thrown off course, he persists. “So just tell me what he did to deserve it.” He looks genuinely interested. But still…

  I narrow my eyes because this little back and forth is exactly what I didn’t want to get sucked into.

  Hmm… ignoring him didn’t work.

  Bitchiness hasn’t deterred him either.

  Maybe if I just give him the answers he’s after, he’ll get bored and wander off in search of easier prey.

  Huffing out an aggravated breath, I finally mumble, “He grabbed my ass.”

  Those golden eyes darken as his mouth sinks into a deep frown. “I’m sorry he did that to you. I think Alex is pretty wasted.”

  The edges of my lips instantly pull down into a scowl. “Being drunk isn’t a legitimate excuse for sexually harassing me. What he did was wrong.” I stab a finger in Alex’s direction. “That dude got what he deserved. Actually, he’s lucky I didn’t knock his teeth out.”

  Eyes flaring, he quickly holds up both hands. “I never claimed it was an acceptable justification for touching you.” He looks seriously put out that I think he’s making excuses for his meathead friend. But I don’t care. I want him gone. His very presence unnerves me. And I don’t like it.

  So even though I know he means well, I carry on with my plan to drive him away. “Actually,” I cut in, “that’s exactly what you said.”

  Those thick brows of his jerk together as he shakes his head. “But it’s not what I meant. I just wanted you to know that he drank a few too many and isn’t using good judgment. Alex is a pretty harmless guy. But yeah, I guess he thought you were pretty and was looking for a way to approach you.”

  This conversation has gone from bad to worse. My mouth literally falls open. “So you’re actually telling me,” I say with a shitload of disbelief, “that this is my fault because he thinks I’m pretty?”

  Is this guy for real?

  His eyes widen at the insinuation. “No,” he finally snaps with just a bit of heat, “that’s not what I meant at all.” Looking frustrated, he quickly runs a hand through his messy brown hair.

  I’m momentarily distracted by those rich chocolate colored strands of his. Yep, totally dangerous.

  “But that’s what you just said.” Thankfully this conversation is going exactly where I need it to- right down the tubes. Like I said before- gorgeous guy
, total asshole behavior. Guess I’m not as far off the mark as I’d originally suspected. But this is exactly what I want. For him to expose himself as a douche and for me to move on without so much as a second thought.

  So why does him doing exactly what I want leave me with a feeling of disappointment sitting in the pit of my belly? I force that thought away before I’m able to examine it too closely.

  Looking exasperated, which yeah, is a totally adorable look on him as well, he finally snaps, “Damn it, I know that’s what I said. All I wanted to do was apologize for Alex pissing you off.” He actually glares at me… with those amazing golden eyes of his. “I’m apologizing on behalf of my friend. That’s it. Okay?”

  Not knowing what else to do, I shrug my shoulders. “Fine. Apology accepted.” It’s definitely time to leave. If this guy has any self-preservation skills what so ever, he’ll let me go about my business without trying to detain me again. “Bye.” Turning, I give him a half wave, before continuing to search through the thick press of bodies for my roommate.

  Make that my former roommate…

  “Hold up!”

  Christ Almighty!

  All I want to do is shake this guy loose. Can he seriously not take a hint? I’m not interested! I don’t want to be interested. I don’t need the distraction. And he’s definitely a distraction.

  “I need to find Brooklyn so I can get the hell out of here,” I mutter to myself.

  “What?” His breath feathers along the back of my neck making goosebumps ripple across my arms. I grit my teeth trying to suppress my body’s natural reaction to him.

  With heat flaring in my narrowed eyes, I careen towards him for a third time. “Are you following me?” My gaze locks on his. As annoyed as I am right now, I still find him completely dreamy. Which only exacerbates all those feelings of frustration and annoyance that are roiling through me right now.

  “Um… yes?”

  He sounds none too sure. His eyes continue to hold mine and even though I don’t want him melting the thick sheath of ice protecting me, he kind of is.

  Inhaling a deep breath before blowing it slowly out, I try to calm the raging mess inside me once and for all. “Look, you seem like a nice guy.” Well, as nice of a guy as I’m going find at an ass grabbing kegger. “But this isn’t going to happen.”

  His thick brows instantly slide together and it’s kind of… argh, adorable. Aw hell, it’s completely adorable. Damn him for being completely gorgeous and adorable. That is such a lethal combination. I’m sure he has all the girls at Western swooning at his feet.

  But I’m not one of those girls.

  “What’s not going to happen?” His utter confusion only adds to his adorableness.

  Seriously… I cannot catch a break here.

  Slowly I point my finger between the pair of us. I have to stifle a groan because he’s so damn close. And yes, I probably should have known he would smell completely amazing. Like the ocean on a perfectly sunny day with just a hint of a breeze. I want to inhale a great big breath of him but I don’t. I don’t dare because he’s much too dangerous for the likes of me.

  “This.”

  “I just want to know your name,” he replies quietly as if he actually means the words. And I can’t deny that a very teeny tiny part within me wants to tell him.

  Holding firm against all that cuteness packaged neatly in front of me, I force myself to give him a long patronizing look. “Right.” I stretch the word out for a good five seconds before adding an exaggerated eye roll. “Sure you do.” Then I go in for the kill. “Look, I’m not going to fuck you. Not tonight or tomorrow night or ever.” Instead, I point to all the scantily clad girls that surround us. Of which there are many. “There are a lot easier marks around here than me. Go find one of them to play with.”

  That being said, I spin back around but don’t get very far. Surprised by the sudden grip on my upper arm, he swings me back around. His brows are scrunched together and low over his eyes as he glares. Sounding irritated, he bites out, “I’m not interested in getting laid for Christ’s sake and it’s a pretty shitty assumption on your part for thinking it.”

  With widened eyes, I freeze beneath his touch as my heart jackhammers painfully. A sudden release of adrenaline careens through my veins. Sweat pops out across my brow as my chest instantly tightens.

  Even though his grip isn’t biting, it has every cell within my body seizing up with panic.

  I don’t like being touched. Or grabbed. Or manhandled.

  In all honesty, I’d been nice to Alex. I’d let him off easy. But this… this isn’t okay. I don’t even realize that I’m baring my teeth until I’m already doing it. When my words finally tumble out, they’re nothing more than an angry hiss from between tightly clenched lips. I can’t stop the fine tremble that slides its way through my now taut body.

  “Take your damn hand off me!”

  Eyes flaring wide, he immediately drops my arm as if I’ve burned him with the heat of my words. Silently we stare at each other for a long painful heartbeat… or maybe it’s more like twenty. The rowdy laughter and pulsing music surrounding us fades into the background as our eyes hold. My ragged breath hitches as I suck in a great big gulp of oxygen before forcing it slowly out.

  Even though he’s dropped my arm, I’m still gripped by a tidal wave of anxiety as it crashes over me, threatening to drag me under. The slight trembling turns into bone shaking tremors. My chest feels like it is being squeezed by a vise.

  I can’t breathe.

  I have to… I have to get out of here.

  In another moment I’ll be choking on my panic. I can feel the familiar tendrils coiling inside me. The last thing I need is to lose my shit in front of all these drunken strangers.

  Without another word, I spin on my heels before frantically shoving my way through the thick press of bodies until I find myself at the front door. Staggering outside into the brisk night air, I inhale deep gulps of fresh oxygen as I stumble my way down the sidewalk like some drunken idiot. I need to put as much distance between me and that god awful party as I can. Even though I try desperately to settle the frantic thoughts rolling through my head, it’s impossible.

  It’s way too late to rein in all my out-of-control emotions.

  Bending over, I promptly vomit my dinner onto someone’s overgrown front yard. The only bright side I can find in this mess is that my pile of puke probably won’t be the only one gracing the lawn come morning.

  About the Author

  Jennifer currently lives in Michigan with her husband, kids, a dog named Rocky and a cat named Lily. After pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, she spent five years working as a high school guidance counselor which she loved. Please contact Jennifer at jmolitor6@hotmail.com. Connect with Jennifer on facebook https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.sucevic (word of warning- just getting this page up and running!) or check her out on Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/jsucevic.