“How? The man is fine as fuck. I’d go.” She winked and Francesca laughed.
“He’s her teacher's assistant. She can't go with him. It’s against the rules.”
“Girl, that's just a title.” Trinity had a devious look on her face and Fran rolled her eyes. “Besides, what are rules even? I’d still go out with him.”
“Yeah, you're all for guys like him.”
“Girl, he's been pining after you since you got here. The man obviously doesn't care about his title. So why should you?” Trinity wiggled her body and grimaced when her hair was yanked again.
“Because he’ll get fired?” Because he isn't my type, I thought. Trinity loved forbidden romances. They were her guilty pleasure. If there was a challenge, she’d dive right into it. I was apprehensive. Keirsten would run away.
Francesca stopped fiddling with Trinity’s hair for a moment. “There's a guy named Damien that thinks you're cute. Maybe you could go with him?”
“But is he cute?” Trinity pointed her finger at Francesca.
“I think he's cute.” Francesca’s voice was soft as she spoke. “But he's not butter melting on abs cute, or I guess your type of cute.”
“Pass,” Trin and I said together.
“But are you going or not? It’s not like he’s going to be your T.A. forever and if anything, going with him is an excuse to leave the house.” Trinity squirmed in her spot on her bed. Francesca almost flopped over from Trinity’s movements. It looked like she was building a bird’s nest on top of her head. “Just go. Have fun. If he ends up being a weirdo, you can always make new friends and we’ll kick his ass.”
Trinity’s look of determination said she wasn’t going to budge. She’d probably bother me until I agreed to go. I sighed. “Alright, might as well. I have nothing else better to do.”
“Yes! I win! Send him a message like right now.”
I spun my chair towards my desk and typed out a quick message. He responded in less than a second. God this guy moved fast.
TRISTAN: Great! Want to meet up tomorrow after class? We could meet outside by the trees and choose a place to hang out at.
This guy was way too eager for me. He was already planning rendezvous points. All I did was agree to go to the fraternity dance. That was it, but I would give him a chance. Maybe he just wanted to be comfortable with the person he was going to go dancing with?
Was it just me or had this guy been eyeing me the entire class? I’d catch Tristan stealing glances at me whenever he did something. He watched me the way people watched the last slice of bacon on a platter. Making sure to catch it if it came in their direction. I was afraid if I moved he would strike. Most people in the class would’ve felt flattered by his looks. I couldn’t decide if I should run or not.
Class was dismissed early, and I headed outside to the stupid tree Tristan wanted to meet at. Why did he want to meet under a damn tree? A bench would’ve been better than a tree.
Ten minutes later, he jogged over to me, a large smile on his face. “Sorry if this spot freaks you out. I’m not trying to eat you or anything.”
Was I that obvious?
“I just thought this would be a private place to talk, seeing our positions and all.” He gestured to no one around us and I nodded.
“Maybe try a bench next time?”
He smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind.” A group of girls passed by ogling him. I noticed him stand a little straighter and a cocky grin slip onto his face. The grin fell back into the nervous one he had been giving me and his stance returned to its awkward state. I wondered if the nervousness was all an act and if he was actually cocky. “You wanna take a walk?”
“Sure.” He used his hand to guide me to another side of the building that had a pathway of arched trees. He walked a little too close to me for a guy who wanted privacy.
“So, let me get to the point.” He put his hands together behind his back. “I like you a lot, Serena. I know you don’t know me well, and I don’t know you outside of classes, but I think we could get along fine.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” The nervousness returns when he places a hand behind his head. “You seem easy to talk to. You’re comfortable.”
“I don’t know if comfortable is a good thing,” I said and chuckled. Comfortable sounded like a settlement. Comfortable sounded easy. When was liking someone ever easy?
“You’re right. That came out wrong.” He dropped his hand back to his side and moved closer to me. “How about I tell you a random fact about myself? Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” A real smile forms on my lips. That was much better. I could handle that.
“I want to be a lawyer, but I haven’t decided what kind yet.”
“Really? I kinda assumed you wanted to be a teacher.”
“No.” He laughed and waved his hand at me. “Its extra money, and I got a perfect score in the class. Teaching is my backup plan. I love kids, and I’d like to have a bunch of my own one day, but maybe I can be a custody lawyer. You’re an English major, right?”
I nodded. “I’m actually interested in teaching literature. Like on a university level.”
“Oh.” His tone felt condescending. He didn’t think it was okay for me to be a teacher, but he could be one.
“Why’d you choose teaching as a backup plan?”
“I figured it would be easy, being a teaching assistant’s pretty easy.” He shrugged.
“Of course, adults are easy.” Adults were supposed to know how to take care of themselves. Adults could sit through boring hour long lectures and still manage to get their homework in on time. You didn’t have to constantly remind adults to do things or to be quiet in class. Of course adults were easy.
Wait, was he laughing? He put his hand on my shoulder and another on his belly. “You’re funny, Serena.” He dropped his hand and checked his watch. “I’ve got another class to go to, but I’ll catch up with you later. I’ll pick you up on Friday around 7:30.”
He was running across the grass towards another building before I could say anything.
BRANDON
I placed my laptop on the coffee table in the living area of my suite style dorm. I shared the place with Keith and another teammate of ours and with the amount of shit everyone had, it was a miracle we had legroom.
“So your next game is in my town, right?” Trinity spoke in between slurps of noodles.
“Yeah. Like Saturday afternoon.”
“Come visit me!” She stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to punch the screen. “I’m already planning to come next month for fall break.”
“Yeah to see that weird rock band. And then you’re going to leave.”
“I’m staying the whole weekend! I promise.”
“Alright. Alright. I’ll see what the coach will let me do, and I might say hi to my sister.”
“Turd.” She stuck her tongue out and I smiled. My smile fell a bit when I heard rustling in the background.
“How’s she doing?”
“Good.” Trinity picked up her bowl and began drinking the liquid and set it back down. “Great actually. Why haven’t you spoken to her?”
“I don’t know.” I should have. One summer wasn’t long enough to forget about her. A bunch of women definitely wasn’t enough to forget about her. She was only two fucking hours away. Two hours was easy, but I couldn’t bring myself to send her a message. “Is she going to be there?”
“Depends on when you show up. If you actually come to visit.”
“Okay.” I knew my coach wouldn’t let me leave the team for even a second. I had to come up with a good reason to leave early. I needed to see her again. If she had already forgotten about me and moved on, I needed to know, so I could get her out of my mind.
20
Brandon
I parked in Trinity’s driveway and cut off my engine. Somehow my coach let me come a day early. Trinity told me to meet her before she left for some sorority and fraternity party, and then I was supposed to go se
e my father. I wasn’t excited about the last party, but at least I could see how Trinity and Serena turned my dad’s place into their own.
I got out of the car and forced myself to walk up the stairs. My legs felt like noodles. I knew Serena would be here. I was prepared to see her, but I was still nervous. Would she ignore me if she saw me? Would she stay in her room until I left? I didn’t know what to expect and I was terrified. I wasn’t prepared at all, but I wanted to see her at least once.
I finally worked up enough courage to wrap the door with my fist. I heard something fall and then the click from the lock.
The door swung open and everything I felt about her came flooding back to me like a hurricane. Her chocolate brown eyes went wide when she noticed me and man, were they beautiful. She looked a thousand times better in person than in her profile picture. She was more toned and her curves in that dress . . . I swallowed. She looked like some sexy ass chocolate ice cream, and I wanted every last drop of her.
“Um . . .” She almost trips and catches herself. “I should probably say hi. Hi.”
I felt myself grin. I could still make her clumsy. I liked that. I moved closer to her and pointed behind her. I could hear chest stuttering as she tried to breathe. She smelled like cherries and apple pie. “You gonna let me in, Serena?”
She seemed to melt a little at the sound of her name before clearing her throat and gathering herself. “Right. That would make sense.” She stepped aside and closed the door behind me. “You know where the living room is, right? I’m gonna get Trinity.”
“Okay.” God she was fucking cute. She scurried towards Trinity and knocked rapidly on the door. She gave me a lingering glance before falling into Trinity’s room.
SERENA
“Trinity!” I looked back at the closed door and lowered my voice. Trinity was standing in front of a large mirror putting makeup on her face. “What the fuck?”
“What?” She paused and glared at me.
“Brandon. Your brother is out there.” I waved my hands at the door. “You didn’t warn me. I almost tripped on the fucking door. The back of my dress isn’t even zipped up!”
She waved me over and motioned for me to turn around. “You didn’t need to be prepared. This dress did most of the talking. I’m positive. Now suck in your belly.”
I did what I was told, and she zipped me up. He got a haircut and he was way more in shape than he was before. I noticed everything. I noticed the stubble on his chin, the darkness of his green eyes, how his muscles flexed when he moved closer and the way his lips curled when he saw me. And god, why did the sound of my name ring in my ears like a sweet ballad?
I was going to a party with a different guy, with a different pair of eyes, who wanted to be a lawyer and probably had a problem with me wanting to be a teacher. I wasn’t sure about that part yet, but I already had plans. Why did he have to come and mess them up by being smooth and fucking Brandon Eliot?
“You might want to finish getting ready. You’ve got like thirty minutes before Tristan shows up.” She grabbed a pair of earrings from her desk and began placing them in her ears. I looked at the door and back to her.
“I can’t. I can’t go back out there.” I was not graceful today. I could feel the fool climbing up my toes. “Can I just borrow your shoes?”
“Oh my god. Serena.” She grabbed my shoulders and laughed. She opened her bedroom door making sure to keep a hand on one of my shoulders and pushed me out. I stumbled and caught Brandon’s eye. My cheeks warmed as he lifted a curious brow at me. Oh my god. I’m being such a dork. I tried to wave as casually as possible before lifting my dress and disappearing into my room.
BRANDON
I stood and glared at my sister as she approached me. “You planned this, didn’t you?”
“Brandon!” She squealed and gave me a hug. “Of course I did. I wouldn’t be your evil twin if I didn’t, and I bet my plan worked.”
“I don’t know. I didn’t throw myself at her, if that’s what you were expecting.” I returned to my spot on the couch, and Trinity took the seat adjacent to me.
“I was hoping you would, to be honest.” She shrugged and grabbed candy from the coffee table. “But not every dream can become a reality, I guess, but oh my god! She reacted exactly how I wanted her too. Fucking fantastic!”
I rolled my eyes, but was amused by my sister's happiness over her accomplishments. “This guy that’s picking her up is cute, but I know she doesn’t like him at all. I mean, she’s actually pretty cool around him.”
“How do you know she doesn’t like him?” I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees. She could’ve moved on quickly. She did push me away.
“She doesn’t talk much about him.” Trinity leaned back into her seat and slumped. “I mean, she didn’t talk to me about you, but that’s probably because you’re my brother, but still.”
“Yeah. That’s probably why she didn’t mention me.”
“I guess. But prepare yourself when you talk to Dad today. He was using his my-way-or-the-highway voice on the phone today.” A knock sounded at the door and Trinity got up. I scratched my head. My dad probably wanted to convert over to some weird dark plan of his. I wasn’t in the mood for him.
“Hey you must be Tristan. I’m Trinity.” I heard my sister yell. “You can sit in the living room. I’ll get Serena.”
My sister ran towards Serena’s room, and a tall blonde guy in a black suit with a blue tie walked into the living room. The dude’s shoulders were larger than mine. He looked like he could’ve been a UFC fighter. I didn’t know Serena was into the burly types. He hiked up his pants and eyed me as he sat.
“You look like Serena’s roommate,” he said and then stuck his hand out at me. “I’m Serena’s date. Tristan.”
“Brandon. Trinity’s brother.” And Serena’s mine. I gave him a firm handshake and let go when Serena walked out of her room. Her face was still free of makeup, and her hair was pulled back into a high bun.
“Hey Tristan.” Serena smiled at him, as he and I stood.
He walked over to Serena and kissed her on the cheek. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah. If you are.”
He extended his arm and she took it. He gave me this possessive look as if she was someone you could claim.
“See you in a bit, Ree!” my sister shouts, and Serena waves at her.
“Later, Trin.”
SERENA
Tristan pulled into a half circle driveway that had a huge water fountain in the middle of it. He stopped under an archway, and a man dressed in a red suit approached the car. Tristan got out, and ran to my side before I could let myself out. He yanked open the door and offered me his hand. I grinned and took it, letting him pull me out of the car. He tossed the valet his keys and led me down the long walkway to the country club's entrance.
This would be the point where panic would strike. Where my hands would start sweating and my heart would try to run away from me to hide behind the nearest bush. But I had learned to breathe. To remind myself that I was here, and my mom was five hours away from me. That I was okay and I could date freely.
We walked up a short flight of stairs. He opened the door, and I walked in first. Another guy directed us to our left. Two guys in red suits were standing guard in front of a set of double doors as we approached. I could feel the bass of a heavy R&B beat through my shoes.
"Proof of fraternity or sorority membership, please." The guy on the right said. Tristan dug into his suit coat and pulled out a small card. The man read it quickly. "Is she your plus one?"
"Yep." Tristan gave my wrist a light squeeze. The kind of squeeze a guy would give his girlfriend. The guards opened the door and let us inside.
The place was large and the lights were dim enough to give a late night party feel but bright enough to see everyone. Strobe lights were everywhere, and people were wiggling their bodies around the place. I felt overdressed, but other girls had on gowns as fancy as mine.
He pu
lled me towards the middle of the dance floor and began swaying back and forth. He had a huge goofy grin on his face. He looked so happy to be here, and that made me laugh. He pulled me close to him and then spun me around. I yelped as he caught me and more giggles escaped me. This guy had a lot more confidence than he had let on. He placed my arms over his shoulders and placed his hands on my waist.
“How’s the dance hall?” His voice was loud so I could hear, and his eyes were expectant. “I had to put it together. So I hope it looks cool.”
I scanned the high ceiling. I could see colorful fabric hanging down whenever the strobe lights hit. The DJ had a large booth at the front of the dance hall and seemed just as happy as everyone else with the music as he jumped around and bobbed his head.
“I like it. It’s nice.”
His smile exploded and pride filled his eyes. “I’m glad you like it. Throwing one of these together is a lot of work.”
“I bet.” It looked like a lot of money too.
“Now. Your roommate's brother . . .” He pulled me close to him, and his voice dropped a bit. He narrowed his eyes. He still had a smile on his face, but it was more curious this time. “Who is he to you?”
I found myself laughing on the inside at the question. I didn’t think he cared about Brandon being there with how cool he’d been acting. “Oh. Trinity is my best friend, and he’s an old friend of mine.”
“So, no romantic interest?” His eyes searched mine, and I struggled to keep mine looking at his. If I dropped my eyes a hair he’d probably notice the old bubbling feelings I still had. It wouldn’t be fair to not give him a chance. But wouldn’t it be unfair to lie to yourself. I shook my head.
“He doesn’t go here. He’s a soccer player for Triton.”
Tristan leaned away from me, his gaze unreadable. It cleared into another smile, and he dropped his arms from my waist. He grabbed both of my hands and began to back up into the crowd.
“Come on. I want to show you something.” He turned and took me to another set of double doors. We walked through, and there were couples sitting at tables with small candles sitting in the center of each. Large beautiful lanterns lined the roof, and a large patch of neatly cut grass sat on the other side of the balcony. The decorations were simple, but pretty.
Longing for the Impossible Page 12
