Choices (2 page)

Chapter 3

The first thing I notice when we get to the fraternity house is that it’s packed. People are spilling out of the doors onto the deck and lawn. We have to park two blocks away and walk to the house. Jenna and I talk and laugh as we walk. I’m so anxious for my first college party! Somehow being with her gives me courage as we get closer.

We walk around the
side of the house to the deck which seems to be where most of the people are. Some are dancing while others stand and talk. The keg is in the yard, under a tree, and most people are drinking from red Solo cups.

“Quince, you
wanna get a drink or are we doing this sober?” Jenna asks as she looks toward the keg. I want to loosen up and have fun, but I’m not going to get drunk and make a fool of myself at my first fraternity party. She knows this, so I don’t even need to answer. Instead, I grab her arm and head straight for the tree. While she is filling her cup, she gives me the rules. Don’t go into any room with a closed door (besides the bathroom). Don’t take drinks from anyone. Don’t leave without each other.

Just when I’m about to tell her we aren’t in high school anymore, I hear a smooth, deep voice behind me say, “
Now, there’s a girl who takes her partying seriously. You’re killing my buzz, and I’ve not even had anything to drink.” Simultaneously, we turn to see who has spoken. I’m shocked to see the blond guy from my psych class, but Jenna seems to know him already. I realize he’s the mystery guy who invited her. And he’s not alone.

Holy crap! It’s all three of the guys from my class, in their
trifecta of glorious perfection. Jenna’s guy looks perfect in a preppy kind of way. I try to casually glance at the other two, but there is nothing casual about them. The tall guy is totally hot with his dark buzzed hair and a five o’clock shadow. His eyes are so dark they are almost black. He’s smiling at me like we’re old friends.
I bet he’s a nice guy
. And then, there is the other one. He is shorter but much more built. He is wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, yet his clothes look like they were made just for him. He still looks like he just rolled out of bed, and I wonder if that’s what he would look like in the morning if I woke up next to him. My eyes trail up from his chest to his face, and I am shocked to find him watching me. The corner of his lip twitches slightly, and it seems as if my discomfort amuses him. But it’s his eyes. Oh, gosh… those beautiful deep blue eyes, the kind that whisper secrets and make you forget where you are. I’m so shocked that I step back. Only seconds have passed, but it feels as if it were in slow motion.

Jenna
lays her hand on Blondie’s arm as she introduces him to me. “Quincy, this is Eric. He’s in my Lit class, and he’s the one who invited us. Eric, this is my BFF, Quincy.” I reach out to shake his hand, but he pulls me into a loose hug instead. He’s watching her, but he says, “Glad you all came. I wasn’t sure you would.” I’m pretty sure he means her, but I don’t say so.

“And these ar
e my friends. Declan and Brody,” he continues, gesturing to the two next to him. The tall one reaches out a hand. “I’m Declan, and we’ve met. Well, sort of. You’re in our psych class.” He smiles that sweet smile, and I can’t help but smile back. He’s easygoing, and I know I’d really like him if I ever get the chance to know him.

As
I turn to the friend who must be Brody, I freeze. There is nothing easy about him. He looks at me like he’s going to eat me alive, and his smile holds a threat. Those piercing blue eyes look right through me. Like he knows me. I know it’s my imagination because guys like him do not want girls like me. He extends a hand, and when I clasp it, it feels as if hot lava flows from him into me. I immediately drop my hand to my side. He watches me, waiting for me to say something first. “I’m Quincy. I think you’re in my class, too.”
Good grief! Couldn’t I think of something better than that?

And just like that, the moment is lost. He’s already backing away when he says, “
Yeah. Nice meeting you guys. Gotta get back to the party.”

That was the first time I heard him speak, and it was sinful. His voice was very smooth and d
eep, managing to sound seductive, even though we’re standing in the middle of a drunken party. I’m sure he is aware of its effect and uses it to his advantage. Honest to goodness, it sent a chill down my spine. I think I’d follow him anywhere, just to hear him talk.

Jenna is looking at me like I have three heads, and I realize I’m just staring after Brody. I look bac
k at the boys, hoping they have no idea what just happened.

“So, do you guys belong to this fraternity?” I ask.
Duh! They invited us here, stupid!
So much for my social awkwardness not making an appearance.

“
Yeah. We’ve all been here two years. Did you say that you’re in our psych class?” Eric asks. I had noticed him in class, but of course, he hadn’t noticed me.

“She
was late and sat near the back,” Declan says.  And now, I’m pretty sure my mouth is hanging open. I feel my face heat up, and I’m not sure if it’s my nerves or if I just like knowing he noticed
me
. Jenna rescues me by saying, “How cool is that? We all kind of know each other.”

“
Hey, since we’re all friends now, you mind hanging out while I show Jenna around?” Eric asks, but I see the hesitation on Jenna’s face before I even answer. She shakes her head, but Declan intervenes. “Sounds good to me. Quincy can hang with me, right?” And I agree because I don’t want Jenna feeling like she has to babysit me. I’m a big girl, so I need to start acting like it.

As soon as Jenna disappears into the crowd, Declan asks if I’d like a drink. Instead of explaining that I don’t drink, I tell him I’m the designated driver. That seems to work.
And it sounds cooler.

Declan says he wants to show me around
, so I allow him to take my arm and guide me onto the deck. Along the way, he stops to talk to various people. He seems to know everyone, and I get the feeling he is well liked by all of them. He introduces me every time, even when I can tell girls are clearly trying to get his attention. That makes me smile, and I realize I am enjoying this much more than I expected.

We go inside t
he house, and he guides me by the elbow. There are even more people inside than there are outside. We push through the crowd until we are in a large room with furniture pushed against the walls. There is a DJ in the corner, and people are dancing in every square inch of the room. Declan leans down, and with his mouth close to my ear, he asks, “You like to dance?” It is so loud, I can barely hear him, but I nod my head. I may seem like a stick in the mud, but I love to dance. I don’t drink. I don’t sleep around. I dance.

Declan pulls me to him, and we start moving with the music. He is smiling, and I’m enchanted. He is at least 6’4, but with my heels on, we are able to find a fit and dance together. I’m actually surprised that I enjoy dancing with him so much.
As one song fades into another, we keep dancing.

Finally, the DJ slows it down, and Declan moves behind me and pulls me against him. I lean my head back against his chest and move with the music. I’m hot and sweaty, so I close my eyes and try to relax. When I
open them, we are facing another couple. They mirror us, with her front toward me. His hand is hanging low on her waist, and he’s kissing her neck. She leans back with her eyes closed. It kind of turns me on to watch. Until he raises his head, and our eyes meet. I know these blue eyes that are dark with desire and filled with promise. He’s watching me as he grinds his hips into hers. I can’t look away, and my breathing gets deeper. I don’t know what is happening to me, but I desperately wish it were me he was holding like that. And slowly, oh so slowly, he lowers his head and kisses her neck, running his tongue along her shoulder. All while his eyes are on me. I can’t break the stare.

Suddenly, I feel too hot and overwhelmed. I want out of here. I turn to Declan and rise up on my toes to ask if we can go back outside. He takes my hand and leads me through the house, out onto the deck. Taking a few deep breaths to calm myself, I turn to Declan. He smiles. “It can get to be a bit much in there with all of those people
. You ok?”

“
Oh, yeah. I’m fine. I just got a little overheated. I think I just need some water or something.” I hope he thinks I’m just flustered from dancing and doesn’t realize I’m turned on by the show I just saw. “Come on. We have some water out here.” He guides me off the deck, toward the tree where there is a cooler that I didn’t see before. It is filled with water and sodas, so I grab a water and take a long swallow.

Declan spots Jenna and Eric
and waves them over. I was having so much fun that I didn’t realize how long we had been gone. Jenna looks relieved to see me. She comes over and links her arm in mine. “You ready to go home, party girl?”

I tell her I’
m ready when she is and turn to say goodbye to Declan. But Eric offers to walk us to our car. All four of us move toward the front of the house. As we round the corner, I am surprised to see Brody and the girl he was dancing with. She is leaning against the wall as he kisses her. I trip on a step and begin falling forward. I am suddenly pulled upright, and Declan has his arm around my waist. It feels a bit intimate, but I like it. I like that he is a gentleman, and he’s not taking advantage of the situation. And I kind of like how his arms feel wrapped around me like this. I mumble a thanks, and try to laugh it off. “I promise I haven’t had anything to drink. You’re my witness!”

He slides his hand down my arm to hold my hand and guides me to the sidewalk. “I don’t mind as long as I get to catch you again.” I am not sure if he’s flir
ting or if he’s just being nice, but he doesn’t let go of my hand. Walking beside him, I purposely flirt. Just in case Brody hears us.

Jenna and
Eric are walking in front, leaning into each other with their heads close together. Once, she looks at me over her shoulder and winks at me. That girl had the nerve to wink at me!

Declan laughs when he sees her and says, “It looks as if your
friend and Eric are having a good time. I hope you did, too. Because I sure did.”

“You did?” I can’t help but ask. I’
m still a little unsure of myself, and it helps to hear him say it.

“Couldn’t you tell? I’ve been wondering all night
how I’d get your number and convince you to hang out with me again sometime.” He looks at me with a question in his eyes and a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He actually looks a little nervous.
What could he possibly be nervous about?

He takes his phone out of his pocket, and I reach for
it. I program my number into it and say, “If I give you my number, you have to use it.” And I really hope he does.

Jenna and I get in the car, and she squea
ls, “He got my number! And you! Girl, I saw you dancing all over Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!”

I’m
afraid to read too much into it because I don’t want to be disappointed if he never calls. “Yeah, but we’ll see if I ever hear from him again.” And I smile. I admit to feeling a little giddy, wondering if college will always be this fun.

When I’m finally in bed, I lie in the dark
and replay the whole night. I am too excited to sleep because I’m looking forward to the possibilities. Declan was so sweet, so yummy….. Why, then, am I thinking of hungry blue eyes watching me?

Chapter 4

The next day is Saturday, and we sleep late because we don’t have plans. That’s my favorite thing about being in college. I can make my own schedule. I do plan
to find a job at some point, but I’m putting it off until I get settled in. My sister’s doctor and lawyer bills come with a huge price tag, and I don’t like being a burden to my parents.

Thinking it might be a good time to call home, I check my phone.
One text message.

Unknown: GM. Had fun last night – Declan

That makes me smile
. He already texted me!
I send a quick message back. I don’t want to sound too eager or desperate. And I immediately program his number into my phone. That’s not a number I’d want to lose.

Me: Me 2 :) – Quincy

My mom answers the phone on the second ring, and I am relieved. If I call and no one answers, I worry that something has happened with Katie. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t relax until someone calls me back. It’s just the way it is.

“Hey, honey. How was your first week of class?” I love my Mom’s voice. It immediately soothes my nerves. It just feels like
home
.

“It’s been so much better than I imagined it would be! I love my classes, and our professors are awesome. The food is good, and there are so many things to do here. And the boys! Mom, the boys don’
t look like the ones from Collier!”
Thank goodness for that
, I think.

She’s used to my rambling, but she giggles anyway. “I’m so glad it’s working out. How’s Jenna? I know it makes things so much easier with her there.”

“She’s doing well, too. You know how she is. Never met a stranger and nothing upsets her.” Jenna is just what I need. I’m a worrier. She’s a fixer. We go together like peanut butter and jelly.

“I’m just so thankful for her.
” Then she lowers her voice. “Your sister misses you.” She sounds a little sad, and I’m sorry for that. It was hard to leave Katie, but I need to be away from her or I’ll never have a chance to be me.

“Is she home?
Everything OK?” I have to ask. It’s the question I’ve been asking every day for the last few years.

“It’s been a good week, you know? I took her to dinner and a movie. Don’t you be worrying about
us. It’s time to take care of Quincy now, alright? I gotta get lunch together, so I’ll chat with you later. Call if you need anything.”

“Alright.
Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too
. Bye.” Sometimes, I feel guilty for leaving my parents alone with the burden of my sister. But for as long as I can remember, I knew I’d have to leave Collier if I ever wanted to be happy. To just be me. It’s only a two hour drive from Knoxville, so I can get home quickly if I need to. I hope I never need to.

My phone buzzes with a text as I’m about to la
y it down. I jerk it up quickly and can’t help but smile. I’m even feeling a little giddy.

Declan: Plans 2night?

Me: Not yet

Declan: I’d like to see u

Me: Sure :)

Declan: Which dorm? Pick u up @ 7?

Me: Baxter Hall. CU then

I lie back in bed and smile to myself. I have a feeling that my college life is about to get interesting.