I stop in front of the Registrar’s office, and as I walk in I put all thoughts of the grass-diving pretty boy out of my mind. There is no time for that. I walk into the apartment I share with my best friend, Ciara Collins. I hear the music playing. I don’t like to come home to a dead silent place. It gives me the creeps. Music soothes me, and Ciara spoils me when it comes to this. She had a surround sound system installed in the living room, and additional speakers throughout the apartment so that I can hear music anywhere within it. Right now “Pocket Full of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield is playing. Ciara and I were roommates in the Army, and we thought we were very lucky when we realized we both are huge Ocean Tides football fans and we wanted to finish our degrees here, in Pristina. This is a small town, about 15 minutes from the beach, located in the Gulf portion of Florida. Her family could not believe that she had joined the Army and left them, and it actually made them appreciate her a lot more than they used to. She is a daddy’s girl and she will be the first one to tell you that. The one good thing about it is that her dad does not hesitate to give her everything she needs or wants. Luckily, she does not act like a spoiled brat. She is really down to earth and a sweet girl. Ciara completed her Army term a few months before I did. She and I decided that after her visit home, she would go to Florida, find a job and also an apartment that we can share. She waited for me to finish my term and come to meet her. Sadly, I did not have a family to visit before I got here. I consider her my sister and imagine the bond we share is similar, if not stronger, than the love sisters would have for each other. “Hi Brianna! How was your day? Did you accomplish everything you needed to do?” She smiles as she walks into the kitchen. She is wearing a towel on her head and a robe and has freshly applied makeup. “What’s up tramp?” I smile back at her and wink. She knows I’m kidding. I grab a cup from the cabinet and a coke from the pantry, and after a little ice I pour the soda into the cup. “Yeah, I did. I’m so ready for classes to start. The sooner they do, the sooner I can be busy. You know how antsy I get when I don’t have a purpose.” I pout a little to make my point stronger. I take a big swallow and walk into the living room. Ciara follows. “Well, that is great news” She smiles. “ What is great news, exactly?” “The fact that you are antsy and need something to do. Didn’t you get my text? Hurry up and get in the shower. We are going out!” “I’m really not in the mood to party today. I have to go through my school papers and get everything ready because I have an early class in the morning.” I tell her while shrugging my shoulders and getting comfy on the couch. “Oh! Did you get your schedule all fixed up? Are they going to give you credit for all the classes you took while you were in the Army?” She asks. “Yeah, all but a couple of electives. It’s okay. It doesn’t affect my status as a Junior. I like that eye shadow on you.” She smiles big. Ciara is my complete opposite. She is petite and I’m tall. Her eyes are like sapphires, mine are two toned: Green on the inside surrounding my pupils, and then more bluish throughout the rest of the irises. She is a natural blonde and I’m a brunette. But we follow the same principles and have been best friends for years. “Thanks!” She smiles brightly while looking at her work of art in the mirror. “Go on, get ready!” She says. “It’s a small get together. This girl, Carrie, invited us when she came to get her dog at Pet Village today.” She gives me a look that means I need to get my butt off the couch and start moving. I still don’t want to go, but I will do it for her. I sigh loudly and roll my eyes to the back of my head and tell her to count me in. When she moved here to Pristina, Florida, a new business was opening, a doggy day care called Pet Village, and she managed to score a job. She really doesn’t need the job because her family has plenty of money, but she likes to take care of the dogs and it gives her extra money that she can spend without having to explain things to her dad. When I finally arrived in town after months of waiting, she convinced her manager to hire me too. Ciara lets me pay rent, but I suspect she only charges me a small amount, because what I pay cannot be half of the rent this luxury complex charges. I don’t like the fact that I’m not paying my share, but trying to change the terms Ciara has set for this is like arguing with a cement wall. So I go along with it in order to make her happy. An hour later we are all dolled up – me in dark slim jeans, platform silver sandals and a tight black halter top that makes my boobs pop. My body is well defined and somewhat muscular without bulging. Ciara’s is the same way. It’s one of the many benefits of getting up every morning and doing push-ups, sit-ups, and a run of at least two miles. I’d like to think I have curves in all the right places. Ciara’s wearing a burnt orange strapless mini dress, cinched with a dark navy belt and dark blue platform sandals. We add a little bling with jewelry: watches, necklaces and bangle bracelets. We both chose to wear our hair down in long soft waves. “I see you chose to wear school colors – smart choice!” I tell Ciara while giving her the once over look. “Guilty as charged! And is not even football season yet!” she replies. We both giggle as we walk out the door. “I assume I am the designated driver?” I ask her. “But of course!” She says in her best Grey Poupon commercial accent and smiles. “We need to stop by the liquor store on the way there.” “But of course!” I reply. She drives a brand new white BMW 220i Coupe convertible with all the bells and whistles. I drive a metallic blue Ford Mustang GT convertible, slightly used, but all I care is that is not an automatic and it has a V8 engine. This baby runs like hell with just a tap on the gas. Yes, I love speed. I love everything that gets my adrenaline going. I should have become a stuntwoman, and if this school business doesn’t pan out like I expect, then that will become my plan B. For the moment, we take her Beemer. I love driving any vehicle, but this is certainly a smooth, sweet ride. The radio is playing, the music is loud, and the weather is perfect. Suddenly I start thinking about the guy I saw this morning and I become really quiet. I can picture those strong arms around me, his cute smile and his mouth next to mine whispering sweet nothings against my lips. It’s not long before Ciara notices I am way too far gone inside me head. “Spill it!” She says while staring at me. I give her an annoyed look at which she responds by opening her eyes really big and extending her right arm in a circular motion, meaning I better get with the program. “There is nothing to tell, really…” I try to dance away from the subject. It doesn’t work. So I continue. “When I was going to see the advisor on campus, I noticed these 2 guys in front of the building getting ready to cross the street, so I slow down a little bit to take a good look at them… and my instincts were 100% accurate, they were so freakin’ hot! Both of them were tall and buff with nice chiseled features. I guess they thought I was a guy at first, because when I passed right in front, their mouths dropped open and they were staring hard, like they could not believe what was right in front of them! It was funny, actually.” “The way that your butt lifts up when you are on that bike, really suits you! Didn’t I tell you? Uh! And you were wearing those tight jeans you love so much!” She says all that while wiggling her eyebrows up and down. “I know, right? Well, then I parked not too far away from where they were, and I hear a guy running towards me and getting closer. I see him in my peripheral vision, so I prepare myself to knock the shit out of somebody. I was getting ready to reach for my steel nunchucks from the inside of my boots, but I didn’t feel any threat, so I waited to see what was going to happen. I took a look over my shoulder to let him know I am onto him and he completely freezes in place and stares me down! He was the epitome of a god – Gor-ge-ous! Black messy hair, a bit long but not too much. Blue-gray eyes, scruffy face, tall, tanned and buffed. Oh… and his lips, they were not thin or big, just the right size – made me want to sample, know what I mean?” I show her a huge grin. “Yes! And then, what happened?” “You are not going to believe it.” I turn my head with the most straight face I can muster and her facial expression becomes a serious one. “What??? Spill it, you are killing me, Knuckles!” I roll my eyes at the term of endearment. Our friends started to call me ‘Knuckles” when I used brass knuckles to beat up a guy who tried to sexual assault me. He failed. I rearranged his face before I called the cops. No one other than Ciara knows that I never go anywhere without some kind of weapon. “Fine! I’m spilling. He got hit with a football in the head, lost his balance and fell face first on the grass.” We look at each other and bust out laughing. “Are you for real?” She giggles. “Real.” “Did he say anything after that?” She asks me. “I went to check on him, biting my tongue so I didn’t laugh out loud. I helped him up and then he tried to get my name, but I turned around and left him chowing down on some grass. I ran to my appointment, and by the time I came back out they were gone.” I shrugged. We continued to laugh and joke while at the liquor store and all the way to the party. Even though I know my past is too complicated and that I don’t need to be with anyone, I silently wondered if I would see that guy again soon.
Chapter 3 Colton Traxx and I have been running errands all afternoon. It doesn’t matter where we go or who we see, I keep going back to thinking about Biker Girl and those flawless blue-green eyes. “Hey Traxx, I’m going to take you back to the house. There is something I want to take care of.” “Aren’t you going to the party tonight, at Carrie’s house? Why have you been so quiet all afternoon?” He asks me straight up. I take a deep breath so I don’t lose my cool and then I answer him as calmly as possible. “It’s been hours and I can’t get that girl off my mind.” I grit my teeth while trying to drive and look for something decent on the radio. “Biker Girl? Yes I know what you mean. She was damn F-I-N-E!” Traxx replies. “I think I need to ride around campus a bit, to see if I come across her bike.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Traxx stating at me, with a frown and mouth wide open. “Stalker much, don’t you think?” “I know, I know… I just can’t stop thinking of what a dumbass I must have looked like this morning and I need a do-over.” I look at him with sad eyes, trying to gain his sympathy. “You know it’s hard for a zebra to hide its stripes…” then he belly laughs at his own joke. I glare at him like I mean business. “Okay, okay. I will go with you and I will not tell anyone that you are now officially a creeper. However, if I go with you, you then have to go with me to Carrie’s party tonight. Deal?” I nod and start to drive towards campus. An hour later we have driven all over campus and there’s no sign of the girl or her bike. I feel myself getting more and more irritated and of course, Traxx notices. “Come on, bro, it’s not that serious.” The image of Biker Girl’s face and that cute little dimple flashes in front of me. I should not let this shit get to me so badly. “You are right, Traxx. She is bound to turn up sooner or later.” I tell him while he is tapping his fingers on the dashboard following the rhythm of the music. It’s annoying as hell. “What if she is dating someone or doesn’t want to go out with you. Aw, shit. What if she’s a lesbian?” He says with feigned panic in his voice. I give him a dirty look. “Why wouldn’t she want to go out with me? Do you know something I don’t know?” Traxx gives me a cocky smile and goes on. “Nope. But you have to face the fact that sooner or later a girl is going to pass you over. It does not matter how good you look or the size of your dick. It happens to all of us sooner or later. And you have to remember the kind of reputation you have around campus, she is bound to hear about it. She did not look to be the ‘easy’ kind of girl. The way I see it, you have a 50/50 chance. Those are not good odds. “Who the hell are you and what have you done with my so called best friend?” I ask indignantly. “You used to be my biggest fan. Why are you the devil’s advocate all of a sudden?” “Because I have never seen a girl run away from you, especially not giving you her digits or even her name. It was harsh.” I stare at him dumbfounded. “Not happening! I always get the girl. Don’t you forget it! Once she samples the Hensley goods, she will be hooked!” “Why do I get the feeling that you will be the one hooked, not her” Traxx looks at me questioningly. I ignore him and take a deep breath. “Let’s just go to the party. I need to loosen up. Maybe we can make some money again hustling freshmen while playing pool. Are you up for it?” “Hell yeah!” Traxx makes a cowboy sound and yells “Round ‘em up, bitches!” We both laugh and head to the liquor store.
Brianna There’s something to be said for a small college get together – it’s never small. By the time we arrive, the music is pounding and there’s people everywhere. It was hard to get around all the bodies dancing, talking, playing games and the few others in dark corners doing you know what. Ciara was looking for some girls she knew from work. My heart is beating in rhythm with the music while I am looking for the kitchen so I can unload the beer and alcohol we brought. I wish it was just me and Captain Morgan getting lost in Parrot Bay tonight, but no dice. As the designated driver, I only get to have soft drinks and water. Bummer. I’m doing this for Ciara. She deserves to have fun. Finally, finding the kitchen, I put the drinks in the coolers, grab a ‘red solo cup’ and start humming that hideous tune in my head while I pour a Coke. Turning around, I scan the scene and realize it’s a little chaotic. There is a crowd everywhere and people are dancing in almost every room. Over in a corner, there are some chairs and I see people smoking out of a Hookah. I see the DJ and he winks at me. He is cute. I smile back and I put him on my list of possibilities. I am not a whore, but I occasionally enjoy meaningless sex. I have not had a partner in so long, my insides are probably frozen. I said it before. I don’t want a relationship, and I certainly don’t want to commit to anyone. No commitment is my #1 rule. From what I have seen, commitment leads to entitlement, which leads to a feeling of possessiveness. I am now free. Can’t go back in life, I need to continue moving forward. My thoughts are interrupted by Ciara, who’s coming towards me with a big smile on her face. That girl is always happy. Yeah, she must be having a great time, I see two cute guys trailing behind her… “Gurrl,” she says when she reaches my ear, “turn that frown upside down and let’s dance!” Grabbing my arm, she leads me to the dance floor, and with her head she motions the two guys to follow us. The guys are cute and dance really well, but there’s no attraction for me. No sparks - Spark less . *Sigh* After several songs I’m hot and thirsty, so I get Ciara’s attention and point to my cup to let her know I am getting a refill. She nods and I head towards the kitchen, when I glance back, she is sandwiched between the two guys and she is having a great time. As I’m getting a Coke, some people come in and start to setup a funnel in front of the main doorway, positively blocking my way out. Looking around, I decide to take the side door instead. There is a stairway leading up to a second level. Taking the stairs, I end up in some sort of sports themed room. There is a pool table, darts, and a couple of arcade style machines against the far wall. I am looking for another way out when I hear the one thing I was not expecting. “Look who’s here Colton, Biker Girl! And she looks great with or without massive power between her legs!” I roll my eyes and slowly turn around. First I notice his friend egging him on – they were quite a pair: tall, strong, built like freaking MACK Trucks, but once my eyes landed on his blue-gray eyes, I knew I was in deep shit. He was leaning in for a shot at the pool table. Dear Lord, help me! He is wearing dark jeans - tight in all the right places - and a light blue shirt with long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A personalized belt buckle with the initials CH. Really, really big cowboy boots. His black, messy hair was perfect in every way. His yummy lips were a frame for his gorgeous smile. I could not wait to see his legs and most importantly, his ass. Trying to ignore the current that started to run through my body the very second I saw him, I walk a little towards him in my most self-assured pose: shoulders up, back straight, no blinking. Looking straight at him, I seize the moment. “I see you decided to exchange your grass diet for a more liquid means of sustenance… I approve.” He smiles – at least he has a sense of humor. There is nothing sexier than a guy who can laugh at himself. He starts walking my way. Neither of us could peel our eyes away from each other. He was sizing me up, his gaze pleased with everything he saw. I was doing the same, and although my head was screaming ‘Beware! Run, bitch, run!’ my libido was interpreting this exchange in a very different way. “Hi.” He smiles and looks into my eyes. “Hi.” I reply. “I never got a chance to properly introduce myself this morning…before we were so rudely interrupted.” I swear I just saw his eye twinkle as he was talking. Damn! “All I remember was you, staring at me when all of a sudden a projectile football came in a flash, hitting you in the head and bringing you back to earth, if you know what I mean.” Where the hell this smooth voice is coming from? Shit, I’m in trouble if I already started purr-talking to him. Where the heck is Ciara when I need her?! Ugh! The guy chuckled and said, “Yes not my most shining moment, but as we all know, the past is the past, and now is the present. And because I’m a great guy, I am going to let you have a do-over.” “Oh? Are you now?” I smile like a toddler with candy. “Yes.” He extends his hand and introduces himself. “I’m Colton Hensley, and those idiots right over there,” he points at the taller guy who was playing pool with him, “are Traxx Maxwell, best friend extraordinaire with suck ass aiming skills,” Traxx smiles, waves and frowns, in that exact order. “And the other guy over there,” he points at a huge guy. If I thought these guys were built like MACK trucks, this other guy was a tank all by himself. Wow! “Is our good friend Brent Winslow also known as Notso.” The tank nods his head and goes back to the game. Then Colton looks back at me while saying “And you are…?” I turn on my most seductive voice for this. “Well Mr. Hensley, I am disappointed that I gave you one tiny, easy task to find out who I was,” I bat my eyelashes flirtingly and continue. “and you failed miserably. Makes me wonder if you really want to know.” I pout a bit and turn around heading back to the stairs, leaving him empty handed and wondering. As I take the first few steps, I hear him ask the people around him “Does anyone know her name!” Then I hear a bunch of ‘noes’ and a lot of teasing about crashing and burning and more teasing about going booty-less tonight. I smile inwardly and go find Ciara to give her the update. When I reach the kitchen I see her and notice she’s getting to the point where I don’t need to leave her alone again.