Love 101: Box Set (Love 101 #1-4)

by J. Nichole

  Chris rushes to my side and we walk up the stairs to the apartment. When I finally get the key to cooperate, I fling the door open and I pull Chris into my room before anyone can see us.

  Locking the door behind me, I rip off my pants and lie on the bed. Chris doesn't hesitate, pulling a condom out of his pocket then pulling his pants off. When the hell did he grab a condom?

  Noticing the look on my face Chris says, “I’m always prepared.”

  I shake my head and tug at Chris’ shirt. He rolls on the condom and then lies on top of me. Skipping all foreplay Chris opens my legs. With a slight inspection of my lady parts, to check my moisture levels, he slips right in.

  Already at my peak, I can hardly resist the oncoming orgasm. Within a few seconds I’m clawing my comforter. My body relaxes but Chris is still grinding his hips. I don’t want to be a tease so I gyrate my hips until I feel his body jerk.

  Chris lies beside me and sighs. "I better leave so you can study." He sits up and says, "With sex like that I could stay here forever."

  "Yeah, you better get out of here. My study group will be pissed if I'm not ready."

  I sit up and grab my pants off the ground slipping them on before I stand up. Chris gives me a hug before we walk out of my room. Monica is sitting on the couch looking at us with her eyes wide open. I'm not sure if she was sitting there when we rushed through the door or not. "Hey, Monica."

  "Oh, now you see me." Guess she was.

  Chris looks at me, then to her, and says, “Sorry about that.”

  Monica laughs then looks back down to her book. Chris and I walk hand in hand back to his car. Before he leaves, he whispers in my ear, “You can surprise me with a visit whenever you like.”

  Chapter Eleven

  "L…U. L…U. L…U, say what, say what! L.U." Cheerleaders have the freshmen out on the hill, yelling chants while L.U. supporters, young and old, are rallying around. The chants get my blood pumping as I walk to the economics building. As soon as I finish this exam I'll probably be ready to lead a cheer myself.

  My usual desk has a bouquet of flowers sitting on it. I look from the flowers to Jason and Danielle, before sitting at a desk a few rows over. Jason shakes his head and says, "Get in your seat, girl. Can't mess up our mojo."

  "Looks like someone's already claimed that desk." I look around to the people sitting nearby. Everyone's heads are down in their notebooks for last minute studying.

  “Like I said. Sit in your seat." I squint my eyes and move slowly to the seat. Just as I get settled the professor walks in, ordering us to clear our desks.

  I swipe the card from the flowers as I move them to the floor.

  This time last year we started something special. I love you more each day. - Chris

  The smile on my face fades as the professor bellows, “Clear your desk, Ms. Jackson. No notes.” I slide the card in my purse and grab a pencil. I look back to Jason and Danielle while the professor hands out exams. Jason has a cheesy smile on his face. I shake my head and look forward. When we leave, I’ll have to ask him if he had anything to do with these flowers finding their way to my seat.

  “Campus is live. Is it just because it’s homecoming?” Tanya stares at the crowd.

  “Mostly because it’s homecoming, but the campus does stay live.” As if on cue, the cheerleaders begin a chant.

  “Sometimes I wish things would have been different.” Tanya loses her smile and she hops off the stoop where she’d been sitting. “Better get to the apartment so we can get ready for tonight.”

  “Yes, between the five of us it may take a while.”

  Tanya looks at me with a strange stare. “Wait, please don’t tell me you all are still sharing a bathroom like you did in the dorms.”

  I laugh. “No, thank God. We each have our own bathroom, but we still manage to take forever to leave the apartment.”

  "Good, I need time to get right." Tanya smooths her hands over her thighs. "Maybe I'll find a decent guy for the weekend."

  Just before we reach the car, a guy approaches. “Hey ladies, where are y’all headed tonight?” Tanya looks at me with a nervous grin.

  I give the guy a once-over and then smirk at Tanya. “We aren’t sure yet.” Tanya squints her eyes at me.

  The guy hands us a flyer then tells us to check out their party, and walks away.

  Tanya slaps my arm. “That was rude as hell.”

  “You’ll quickly learn. Everyone on campus is not in school. Some of these dudes are just hustlin’.”

  “And what about that young man made you come to that conclusion?”

  “His hair was a mess, his eyes were glazed, and he smelled like weed.”

  “Damn. You got all that in five seconds?”

  “Yes, as he stared down your hips. I evaluated the situation.”

  Tanya looks at me, laughing. “You know you sound like a lunatic, right?”

  I put my hand on the door, “Get in. I’ll drop you off at your car.”

  “Thanks, that walk is ridiculous.”

  I place my flowers in the back seat while Tanya climbs in the car.

  While we look for Tanya’s car, she looks back at my flowers. “Chris seems like a good guy. My brother doesn’t have a chance.” She shakes her head.

  “How did you find an open parking lot?”

  “Nice change of subject.”

  I smile coyly.

  “It didn’t have any signs posted. I just assumed I could park.” She points out the window. “There’s my car.”

  “Alright, follow me to the apartment.”

  I watch Tanya get in her car before I dial Chris’ number.

  "Hey, babe."

  “The flowers are beautiful. Thank you!”

  “I’m glad you like them, but I was hoping you’d say thank you in person.”

  “Sorry about that. Tanya surprised me on campus. Now I have to get her to the apartment.”

  “Right, I almost forgot she was coming. Guess that means I can’t sneak into your bed tonight.”

  Just the thought of him in my bed makes my panties wet. “That sounds very enticing.”

  “Just don’t go the whole weekend without seeing me. Alright?”

  “Promise. I love you.”

  “I love you. Be safe tonight.”

  We are creeping through traffic. Turning to my right, I catch a glance of someone who looks familiar. I strain my neck to get a better look, but the girl turns slightly and I can’t see her completely. Keeping the same pace, I stare through her window, trying to catch a better look. I hear a horn beeping. I look ahead just as I pass under the red light. Checking my rearview mirror, I see Tanya stopped.

  My phone rings and I’m sure it’s Tanya. “I know. I know.”

  “What the hell?”

  “I was trying to figure out who that was beside me.”

  “You mean the car with the Tennessee tags?”

  “Let’s pull over at the Zaxby’s ahead.”

  Might as well get some food in our stomachs before tonight. At the most, we probably have crackers and maybe a few pieces of chocolate at the apartment. Tanya pulls into the parking spot beside me and we walk into the restaurant together.

  Tanya shakes my arm. “So who was this person beside you?”

  With my eyes rolled back, as if I can recall her face from my eyelids I say, “Courtney?”

  Tanya scrunches her nose. “Whoever Courtney is, he must be sexy as hell for you to run that red light like you did.”

  Looking down I whisper, “She.”

  Tanya screeches. “How could I forget her?” She laughs. “The stalker chick.”

  I nod my head. Last time I saw her, my hand was going across her face before she was dragged out of Chris’ apartment.

  "Wait. Didn't Courtney move?"

  “She did. That probably wasn't her.” After stalking me all semester she was finally booted out of school.

  Tanya walks up to the counter and orders a meal. She turns to look at me, “Whatcha wan
t? I’m treating.” She smiles.

  Laughing uncontrollably I say, “If I knew you were treating I would have stopped at an actual restaurant.” The lady at the counter rolls her eyes then smacks her lips. “I’ll take whatever you ordered.”

  Tanya looks at the lady, “That’ll be two Snak Meals.” Tanya cocks her head, observing the lady’s attitude. “When I show up at my job, I smile. It could be better, but it could be a helluva lot worse.” Before the lady can open her mouth Tanya turns away.

  I shake my head. Ironically, Tanya didn’t start working until a few months ago. If it weren’t for baby Ava I think she would have gone without a job for as long as her parent’s supported her. We post up against the napkin counter. “We should keep an eye on our food.”

  Tanya arches her eyebrows, “She wouldn’t dare do anything to my food.”

  Without taking my eyes off the kitchen I speak through tight lips. “As long as she doesn’t add extra spit to both I’m good.”

  Tanya shrugs her shoulders. “Always so negative. She may throw in extra fries. I was only speaking the truth.” She nods towards the counter where the girl is holding both of our bags with a smug look on her face.

  We grab our food and head to the parking lot.

  Standing in front of the mirror, I slide myself into a sweater dress. Unlike last year, I’m not worried about having my legs exposed. As I bend down to step into my booties I laugh as I remember Chris climbing my leg like a tree last year.

  “What are you laughing at?” Tanya walks out of the bathroom and tugs at my dress. “Snug. Is Chris going to be okay with that?”

  “I was just laughing about how we met last year.”

  “You should change. You caught one already. Leave the rest to us… or me.”

  “You don’t have plans to meet up with Randy this weekend?”

  “Girl, whatever. He isn’t worried about me.”

  Tanya scoots me away from the mirror while she adjusts her skirt. There’s a knock at the door and I yell, “Come in!”

  Nicole walks through the door carrying two shots. She smiles, handing each of us a glass. "Bottoms up, bitches!" Tanya downs her shot without question. I hesitate before scrunching my nose and taking the shot.

  Nicole takes the glasses back. “Now which one of you is driving? I plan on having a few more before we leave.”

  Tanya raises her hand, “I can drive.”

  “Good.” Nicole dances out of the room.

  We all pile out of the house an hour later and climb into Tanya’s car. Jennifer and Monica bicker back and forth over their lack of space in the back seat. Nicole leans forward, “Can we turn up the music. Act like it’s homecoming!”

  Tanya obliges and Jennifer’s voice rises over the music telling Nicole to scoot over. When we arrive at the club we see very few cars.

  Tanya pulls into a parking space. “Are you sure this is the place?” Tanya looks at me with her eyebrows raised.

  I turn to Jennifer, who nods her head. “It is. Maybe we are early.”

  Nicole groans. “That’s what we get for trying to be all…” She waves her hands in the air. “Sophisticated and shit. We should have just gone with the masses back to the convention center.”

  Monica opens the door. “While y’all figure it out I need space to breathe.” She steps out and shuts the door.

  Tanya tries to strategize. “How far is the convention center from here? Can’t we get tickets at the door?”

  Jennifer points across the parking lot. “Look there’s a bus.” As the bus parks near the curb she continues, “And a line.”

  Nicole leaps and grabs her purse. “What you waiting for, let’s go!”

  Jennifer passes out our invites as we walk towards the bus.

  Monica taps a girl on the shoulder and asks, “Is this the bus for the Invite Only party?”

  The girl looks at Monica from head to toe before responding. “Yes.”

  Monica chuckles. “What? You don’t think I could have an invite?” She waves her invite in the air.

  We walk to the end of the line and wait for everyone to get on the bus.

  Jennifer stares at the bus. "What kind of invite-only party brings people to the location?"

  Nicole smirks. “You said it, not us. Who the hell invited us anyway?”

  The line starts to move. “I got the invites from a kid in one of my classes, but the person throwing the party is a secret.”

  We all stop moving, "Oh hell naw." Nicole reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone. "Let me find someone who can get us tickets to the convention center."

  “Yo, y’all getting on the bus or what?” Nobody moves.

  “Hey.” The guy tries again to move us forward.

  I turn to look at the short, light-skinned guy with a bald head. "Go ahead and get on. We haven't decided yet."

  “Wait.” Jennifer puts her hand up. “I’m not trying to pay for tickets now. They will be sky high. Let’s just get on the bus.”

  Tanya whispers. “There goes my chance of finding a man tonight.” She looks at the short guy and shakes her head.

  Chapter Twelve

  Tiki lights line the path as we pull into the woods. The bus stops and nobody moves. “This looks like a scene from The Blair Witch Project.” I reach for my purse, then glance out the window. I can hardly see my reflection because of the darkness.

  Two guys run up the stairs of the bus and a girl in front of us screams.

  “Dammit, Jennifer, this shit is not cool. It’s Homecoming, not Halloween.” Nicole stares with her eyes wide open.

  “Welcome to Invite Only. When you get off the bus, walk through the path and you’ll see the party hopping on the left.”

  Monica turns to the guys sitting behind us. “How about y’all go first, then send someone back to tell us what’s going on?”

  One of the guys laughs nervously. “How about we all go together.” He looks at his friend. “You know splitting up in the movies never works out.”

  People in front of us start getting out of their seats and leaving out of the bus. “Alright, we either shit or get off the pot.” Jennifer stands up. “Let’s go.”

  Tanya looks at me with a frown on her face. “I better find a man after all this nonsense.”

  We walk blindly towards the blaring music. As soon as we round the corner our vision is restored. The lights from the building illuminate all those gathered around.

  Jennifer starts swaying to the music, and says, “Now this is a party!”

  The guys that followed us closely from the bus start yelling, “Hey, it’s a party, it’s a party!”

  The crowd is no indication of an exclusive, ‘invite only' event. The building pumping the music is filled and the people pouring out are reaching far into the woods. I can only imagine the sexual escapades happening beyond our sight.

  Monica grabs my arm, and looking down, says, “Bad decision on the dresses.”

  Lifting my foot in the air I say, “Not worse than the shoes.” My heel has already collected a stack of grass.

  A guy carrying plastic cups passes in front of us, and Tanya perks up. “Are those drinks for someone else?”

  Monica laughs then says, “Guess we need to designate a different driver.”

  The guy stares Tanya down before handing her a cup. "Not anymore." He nods towards the rest of us. "Y'all want a cup too?" His features contrast with the darkness of the night. I glance at Jennifer because he is her type… light skin, tall and lanky, but she is caught up in the music and doesn't notice him.

  “I’ll take one,” I say, and reaching my hand out I grab a cup from his grip.

  Monica shakes her head. He looks at Nicole with his hand extended with the last cup. “Might as well take it.” Nicole smiles, reaching for the cup. I can’t tell if she is more excited about the attention or the drink. Without another word the guy turns away and walks back towards the building.

  We continue walking towards the music, and Jennifer joins the crowd do
ing a line dance to Before I Let Go. The rest of us stumble through to catch onto the steps. As soon as we get into a good groove the DJ switches the song, and the crowd is swaying left to right. The concrete slab that is acting as a dance floor is overcrowded.

  Monica moves closer to the building and I follow her. The look of boredom is plastered on her face as she scans the crowd. “Not having fun?”

  She pokes her lips out. “Not really.” She fidgets with her hair. “I’m just not in the party mood tonight.”

  Glancing at her sideways I say, “I can tell. I could tell before we even left the house.”

  She smirks. “That obvious, huh?”

  Tanya steps beside me. "Where are all the sexy men at?" She stands on her tippy toes looking out over the crowd. "I haven't seen a single dude that I'd consider cute."

  Between Tanya and Monica, my excitement has dwindled to almost non-existent. This time last year I was publicly seduced by Chris and loving every moment of it.

  I look between the two of them and say, “Think we should try again tomorrow?”

  Monica shifts her weight and scrunches her nose. “I don’t want to be the Debbie Downer. But…”

  “Alright, let’s see what Jennifer and Nicole want to do.” Neither is nearby. “I’ll go find them.”

  “Wait. I don’t want to leave. Not much more to do at the apartment.” Tanya follows behind me. “If they are staying, I’ll stick behind with them. You can drive my car if you come back to pick us up when we get back from the bus.”

  Looking through the crowd I still can’t find Jennifer or Nicole. “You’ll be okay without me?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be good.”

  I finally see Nicole near the dance floor chatting up the guy from earlier. I navigate through the crowd and speak over the music, “Monica wants to get out of here, and I’m going to leave with her.” Nodding my head towards Tanya I say, “She wants to stay and I’m sure Jennifer wants to stay too. I’ll pick you guys up when you’re ready.”