by Dawn Doyle
“Because I won’t give into him,” Raven sighed, feeling like a broken record.
“He’s not the one who does the pursuing, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Raven had noticed. She’d noticed from the very first day they started Freshman. Even coming to the last semester of the year, he hadn’t pursued a single girl, except for her.
She hadn’t given him a reason to think she wanted him.
Except for the gasps when he got too close.
The hairs standing on end when he gave her goosebumps as he whispered in her ear.
The way she couldn’t stop her eyes from roaming over his broad, well-developed physique.
Other girls had done that, too; she was no exception.
“He’s just an ass,” she finished.
An ass with an incredibly great ass.
“Raven,” Beck nudged her with his elbow. “Are you even listening?”
“Sorry what?” she blinked, turning to him.
A ghost of a smile was on his lips, and she was wondering what he’d found amusing.
“The prof told us to turn to page sixty-nine,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. The fire shot to Raven’s face in an instant, causing Beck’s smile to widen. “Just thought you should know,” he finished, straightening up into his own workspace.
The rest of the lecture went by with Beck in silence.
That just made things worse for Raven because, as she was waiting for something to happen and it never did, the lecture dragged
The class was dismissed and before Raven could leave, she felt a hand on her arm. The tingles told her who it was.
“Hey, um, did you take any notes?” he asked shyly.
That was new. Beck wasn’t shy; not at all.
“I did, why?”
“I didn’t. Could I take a copy, please?”
“Uh…” she narrowed her eyes wondering if it were going to turn into a Beck-ism. Something innocent yet twisted to be filthy.
“Sorry, I just had a few things on my mind. I wasn’t listening to the last part.”
“Ok.”
Raven took out her notebook and handed it to Beck, watching him for any sign that he might just steal it. Instead, he took out his phone, snapped a shot of the page, and handed it back.
“Thanks, Raven,” he smiled, gave his usual cheeky wink, and walked away.
“What happened?” Ava asked as she walked across from her own room.
“Beck…” Raven pointed down the hall to his disappearing form.
“What did he do this time?” Ava chuckled, shaking her head.
“He asked for a copy of my notes.”
Raven explained the interaction between them.
“Wow,” was all Ava managed.
“Yeah.”
The party was set up, the music playlists were sorted, and the drinks were ready to be consumed. All the party needed was the guests.
The girls had bought a few items from the store and had been getting ready to go. It hadn’t taken them long; there wasn’t much to the outfits.
They’d decided to go in different variations of the same thing; shirts and shorts.
Kerry wore a denim shirt, Leila wore a short-sleeved lilac plaid shirt, Ava wore an oversized sports shirt, and Raven decided on a plain white button down dress shirt that scooped up at the sides; complete with blue plaid print boxers.
Bed head hair was a must, and Raven shook her hair out with her fingers and tossed her hair back. She checked her makeup free face in the mirror. Her cheeks were pink, from lightly pinching them, giving her the ‘just got up’ look.
“You look hot in the mornings, Ray,” Leila said, looking her up and down. “I’m guessing somebody else is gonna see that too.”
“Yes, but not in the literal sense,” she replied, stepping into man slippers. “I doubt he’s seen a girl this way before.”
“Probably,” Kerry nodded as she, herself, looked Raven up and down. “Dayum, girl. That guy does not know what’s gonna hit him.”
“Ok, you’re making this weird,” Ava said, pushing the girls out the door. “Even though they’re right, Ray. You look smokin’ like that.”
That’s the idea.
Examining herself once more, Raven looked to see she had done what the girls had suggested.
Black bra under white shirt: check.
Top buttons open showing a little cleavage: check
Bottom buttons open showing a little midriff: check
Showing lots of leg and ‘boyfriend’ slippers on bare feet: check.
*****
The four girls arrived at the party in the senior hall. It was the only time other students from other years were allowed in there, and only because it was spacious and didn’t have the furnishings like the main hall.
It was as though it were designed specifically to party in. That, or it was made to by the students.
The music could be heard through the doors, and the sounds of laughter filled the air as the Freshman mingled with the others.
Raven felt sick to the stomach with nerves. She had a whole butterfly farm setting up camp inside her, fighting for space, and her hands were shaking as she lifted them in front of her.
Breathe Raven. You’re only going to a party. Nothing’s going to happen with the other people there. He can try, but he’ll probably end up taking some girl off somewhere.
Raven’s inner reasoning had pissed all over her campfire.
Of course Beck would go off with somebody. Why wouldn’t he?
He would just open his dirty mouth, spout some rubbish, get her all hot and bothered as usual and then go bang some slut in the bathrooms.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Hey, are you ok Ray-Ray?” Ava took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
“I don’t think I can do this,” she squeaked as she felt the tears come to her eyes.
“Of course you can, honey. It’s just a party,” Kerry assured her, stroking her hair.
“If Beck does his usual tricks to you, just do what you did at orienteering,” Leila rolled her eyes and started making sex noises.
Raven burst out laughing.
“That’ll shut him up,” Ava giggled.
“Anyway, I doubt he’ll be able to say anything when he sees you,” Kerry looked her over again. “He’ll be trying to hide a huge boner.”
They think I’m worried about what he’ll say? They couldn’t be more wrong.
Raven was worried about what she would say.
“Fuck it, let’s go.”
Shaking it off, she fluffed her bed head again, and opened the door.
It didn’t take long for the other students to notice the girls were there. Heads turned, and mouths dropped open.
A lot of the other girls had worn clubbing outfits, as if on a night out. Their makeup was a little smudged, and hair slightly messy. Some had worn their pajamas. It seemed impossible that they were the only girls to come up with wearing the guy’s clothes as their morning attire.
Raven felt self-conscious until she saw the looks were appreciative of their chosen costumes. Some were envious too.
“I told you,” Ava whispered as they walked through towards the bar.
Raven bit her lip and smiled.
“Ho. Ly. Fuck.”
Raven looked up to see Donnie standing a few feet away. His eyes were all over her as he took in her appearance.
“What are you..?” Beck said before turning to see what Donnie was staring at.
His mouth dropped open wide, his eyes bugged almost out of his head as he took in every detail in front of him.
The way his gaze heated had Raven throbbing right between her legs. He looked as though he wanted to devour her on the spot. Her cheeks warmed. No need to pinch them anymore.
“Where’s your costume?” Raven asked when she found her voice.
“I…um…” Beck cleared his throat. “I don’t have a morning after. I’m just me.”
Beck wor
e his usual clothing; a pair of jeans, and a tee.
His eyes didn’t leave her legs, and Raven felt triumphant in affecting Beck just as much as he affected her.
“So…”
Raven swallowed when Beck suddenly came to his senses. He took a step forward towards her. She looked around for her friends, but they were talking to other people.
Traitors! I need help! Oh God he’s so sexy.
“You look so fucking hot like that, Raven. I can just imagine you getting out of bed after a hard night.”
Raven straightened her shoulders.
It was when Beck talked shit like that that brought her to her senses. ‘He didn’t do morning afters.’
He did ‘fuck ‘em and leave ‘em.
“Well that’s all it’s ever going to be for you, isn’t it? Imagining,” she smirked, narrowing her eyes.
Beck took the two steps separating them, getting right up close.
Too close.
Raven could feel her nipples hardening already, and he hadn’t touched her.
“Is that what you think, Raven?” he asked, his voice so low she had trouble hearing him. “You have no fucking idea what I want.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth, his jaw tensed and he swallowed.
Raven held her breath, waiting for the next thing he was going to say.
He gazed into her eyes, over her face, and let them drop to her lips once more.
Saying nothing, he turned and walked away.
Raven released the breath she was holding and searched for her so-called friends.
“He looked in pain. What did you say?” Ava asked, rushing towards her with a huge smile on her face.
“Where were you guys?” Raven growled. “I needed you and when I looked, you’d all left me alone with him!”
“Sorry, Ray, but we thought you needed that moment with him.”
“What the fuck for?!” Raven almost yelled. “I needed you!”
“Honey, he needs to know that you’re not going to put up with his bullshit,” Kerry cut in. “We saw his reaction. We instantly knew that you had it under control. Fuck, Ray…”
Leila gave Kerry a look Raven didn’t understand. It was as though she was trying to stop her from saying too much.
“Ray-Ray, you’ve dealt with his mouth for years; you’ve dealt with his actions for years. Now let him deal with yours,” Ava said, taking her hand.
Ava was right. She’d fought back before, and there was absolutely nothing stopping her from doing it again.
“Fuck yeah.”
“Fuck yeah!” The girls chorused, and they cheered as they got a round of shots, and downed them in one.
“Let’s rock the fuck out of this party.” Raven said, grinning as she looked over to Beck.
His eyes were on her as he stood with Donnie.
Girls were already orbiting around him, but he wasn’t paying them attention.
Her confidence got a boost when he moved a girls’ hand that was starting to stray towards him.
The noise of the party increased in volume as the drinks were consumed. Those getting tipsy began to sing loudly to the music.
Others had begun to bounce on the mattresses and started to fight with the pillows.
They were having fun, even getting tipsy themselves and danced wildly to the music.
Raven’s shirt fell off her shoulder exposing her black bra strap. She adjusted it, and looked up in time to see Beck staring daggers at some young juniors who were eyeing up her and her friends.
What’s his problem? He’s not got any right to do that!
Raven turned her back on Beck, only to wiggle her hips as she danced along to The Vamps ‘Last Night'. A song fitting for the theme.
Ava had pointed out that Beck had been watching her the whole time.
“He can watch all he wants,” Raven lifted her arms up; knowing the boxers would be on show. “He’s not going to have this piece of ass!” she slapped her own ass cheek and Ava threw her head back and laughed.
“You go girl!”
The next song came on, ‘Don’t wake me up’ by Chris Brown, and most of the crowd threw their hands in the air to the beat, including Raven.
She felt a pair of hands grip her hips, and they weren’t a pair she recognized.
“You’re hot,” Bobby’s voice rasped in her ear. “How about we get out of here?”
“What?” Raven jerked and grabbed his wrists to pull his hands away.
Instead of releasing, he gripped harder.
“Let go, Bobby,” she said, pulling at him again. He pushed his hips into her behind.
“Come on, sexy, let’s have some fu.. Whoa!”
Raven turned to see Bobby being yanked away by the back of his vest.
“What the fuck, Beck?” he asked, his hands out to the side.
“She told you to let go. That means get the fuck off,” Beck snarled, looking dangerous.
He towered over Bobby, and Raven thought he was going to tear him apart.
“I was just playing with her, man, come on!”
“Raven is not a toy,” Beck growled.
“Whatever,” Bobby threw his hands up, rolled his eyes and walked away.
Beck turned back to Raven, fire still in his eyes as he looked down to her.
“Are you ok?” he asked, his expression softening.
Raven stared.
“If I’m not a toy, then why do you play with me so much?” she asked, wanting to know the answer to that question.
He said nothing.
“Let’s go get another dri-ink,” Ava sang, linking Raven’s arm and leading her over to the bar.
Kerry and Leila joined them, and they moved over to the other side of the room where the mattresses were thrown about on the floor.
The different colored streamers, for the morning, hung like drapes from the ceiling.
Pillows were all over the place from fighting, and throwing.
Taking off their slippers and putting them to the side, the girls jumped all over the mattresses, laughing and screaming as they fell about.
Raven lost her footing and fell in a heap, into the soft pillows. As she was lying on her back, she moved her hair out of her face, rolling on to her stomach.
A movement caught her eye and she looked up; into a pair of gray eyes.
“Yes?” she asked, giggling. The shots were having more of an effect on her and her head was spinning a little.
“Is that how it looks?” he asked, licking his lips.
“How what looks?”
“You. In bed. Rolling around.”
The image of Beck in bed appeared in her mind, making her angry. She didn’t want to imagine something that was an impossibility. If she gave into her body’s wants, then she’d just be like the other girls; used.
“Not to you,” she spat, with more venom than she intended.
Instead of Beck getting angry like she expected, he looked amused, confusing the hell out of her.
“Goodbye, Raven,” he said, leaning forward a fraction as if making sure he had her full attention.
Beck stood, kissed the air in her direction, then left.
“I don’t care what you say, Ray, that’s fucking hot,” Kerry stared at her. “Please tell me you’re tempted to go after him and just…grrr.” She bunched her hands in front of her as if about to rip somebody’s clothes off.
“Gah!” Raven yelled, screaming into the pillow she pulled over her face.
“He’s gone now, so let’s go dance!” Leila jumped off the mattress and headed to the makeshift dance floor, the girls following behind.
The girls enjoyed a couple more drinks and a few more songs before they felt they’d had enough. They were going back to their dorms.
“Our slippers are gone,” Raven said, looking round. “They were right there.” She pointed to the ground where they’d left them.
“Oh no,” Ava laughed, throwing her head back. “Well it was our fault for leaving them; it’s no problem.�
��
The girls nodded their heads, slightly swaying as they stood.
“Lessgo girlies!” Raven said, slightly slurring, and pointed to the door in an exaggerated motion. “I need to go to bed.”
*****
“My head hurts!” Ava groaned from the bed across the room.
Raven also felt a little worse for wear and had trouble opening her eyes.
“I’ll get us some Tylenol,” she said, forcing herself to get out of bed.
The girls were wearing the same clothes they wore to the party. No sense in getting changed if you were already dressed for bed, right?
Raven collected the pills from her drawer and opened some bottled water. They both took the medication, and she climbed back into bed.
“That party was so much fun,” Ava said, covering her eyes with her arm. “I couldn’t believe how good it was considering what happened.”
“Did I miss something?”
“No. I meant with Bobby and Beck.”
“Oh.”
Raven remembered Beck removing Bobby from behind her, and the look on his face as he told him to move away.
“I really thought he was going to hit that kid. I don’t know why Bobby thought he could behave like that, especially in his first week; and with a senior!”
“Yeah. He came on a bit strong, I guess,” Raven said, her voice almost a whisper.
“What’s wrong, Ray?”
“It’s nothing, forget it,” she said, plastering a fake smile on her face. “I’m starving, lets get breakfast.”
Kerry and Leila didn’t look too good either. They all wore sunglasses to hide their hungover eyes.
They left the dorm building and walked towards the main hall for breakfast.
They sat at one of the wooden tables near the back. The last thing they wanted was to be in the center of the noise filled room with their heads feeling as though they were going to explode.
