Needing You (3 page)

“So he’s a male slut,” I say easily enough.

Natalie continues to stare at me then says in an all serious tone, “Harp he ruins girls. I should know he ruined two of my best friends. One night with him and they were never the same.” She states with an angry tone.

“What the hell does that mean….does he have some super powers that he’s changing the way they are?” I am so confused.

Our conversation is cut short because more people are waiting for drinks; maybe we will continue this another time if not o-well.  It’s not like I’m going to get swooned by the deviled brown-eyed man myself.

The rest of the night is a blur. I never did get to talk to Natalie and ask her anymore about the brown-eyed devil himself, but o-well, it’s probably for the best. Before I know it we are closed and I am headed home. It’s a little chillier tonight but it feels good against my burning skin. By the time I get home, it is shower and lights out.

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Well today is my first day of college and I could not be more excited yet nervous at the same time. I have no idea what to expect, but I can’t wait to find out.  My schedule is a little hectic because clearly I do not think things out thoroughly.  I took some AP classes in high school that earned me a few college credits.  So here I am in a boring history class, no idea why I scheduled this sucker as my first class.  My second class is English which is fine, I don’t mind writing, and my third class for the day is some Psychology course.  I love the human mind so that should be an interesting course.

The day flies by and it’s just a typical first day, receive the syllabus, listen to the instructor talk and talk and talk and then head out for the day. Well that was easy enough. I decide I will go over the course syllabus for each course just so I know what I am getting into through the semester. Tomorrow, I have two more classes.  I am excited about the two classes tomorrow; it’s a human genetics and another psychology class.  Both of those go hand in hand with my major being Psychology.  I want to learn why people do the things that they do.  Actually, it’s more of a need to know than a want to know but then again Psychology is fascinating.  I am off work until Friday night, which is good because I have so much reading to do that it is gonna take me forever. Unfortunately nothing exciting happened to me today, which I didn’t figure it would.  I lead a pretty boring life but boring is good for me, it’s safe now, comforting even.

After reading through each teacher’s instructions I decide I need to go for a run, I need a break badly.  So I put my gear on and head out the door to free my mind for a little while.  I decide on five maybe six miles today and turn my jams up on my iPod and start my run.  I’m about three miles in when all of a sudden someone starts running alongside of me and this makes me a bit nervous.  I forgot my damn pepper spray at the dorm,
shit shit shit
. I never forget my pepper spray. I take a chance and glance over at the person who is running next to me and then stop dead in my tracks. Go figure it would be the sexy brown-eyed devil that is beside me. My stomach does little flip-flops, but then the things Natalie said spring to mind.

“Can I help you with something?” I ask.

Mr. Sexy says in a sexy voice that should be illegal, “I saw you running and thought you might like some company.”

Oh he’s good, real good. As much as I would love company, its best I don’t, I would probably end up tripping over my own two feet just stealing glances at him.

“I would rather run by myself but thanks anyway,” I state and then start my running again. Too bad it doesn’t look like he takes the hint, what the hell.  So I stop again and say a bit irritated, “Look, I don’t know what you want but I’m not interested so why don’t you save us both the time and beat it.”

Now the sexy devil has a damn smirk on his face, truth be told it’s a pretty sexy smirk. Then the little shit has the audacity to say, “Oh I think we’re both interested, but I appear to be the only one with balls to come out and say it.”

Wow, seriously are all guys this presumptuous.  What a douchebag! 

“Look asshole, you are right you are the only one with balls but go figure you are a pompous ass, and you are wrong, I am not interested.” Let’s hope he can take the damn hint now.

“Oh sweetheart that’s where you’re wrong, I saw you checking me out at the bar last weekend.” He continues to speak with a smug look on his damn face.

Oh I want to punch him. If I thought he was sexy before now, he’s just a douchebag.

“I have no idea what the hell you are talking about, but clearly you got me confused with another girl. I have no interest and I have no problem with telling you that. If you don’t mind I would like to get back to my run ALONE.” I practically yell at him. I start to run again and this time he doesn’t follow. Finally, took the smug shit long enough to get the hint.

Damn that sexy brown-eyed devil. I keep running but now he has ruined my run.  All I see is that damn smug smirk on his face and those sexy brown eyes. Clearly he is trouble and I need to stay away, but wow if he isn’t fine eye candy.  Oh the things he said, who says shit like that other than cocky conceited assholes that always get what they want. Well not this time, that man will not get me, no one will get me. I will never allow someone to get close to me in any way. God knows I have enough secrets of my own.

I finally make it back to my apartment, time for shower, dinner and then bed.  Too bad my mind keeps racing; hopefully a little reading will help and put me to sleep. Finally after hours of reading I fall into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter 4

I wake up screaming and soaked in sweat. I flip the nightstand light on and check the time, 3:34 a.m. Damn it, I haven’t had a nightmare like that in a little over a month, why now. Why is it starting again?  The images, the fact it was so real plays over and over again.  I can’t say it’s just a bad dream because it’s not. It’s reality of what the hell happened that my mind can’t get past. 

See, that’s why I’m going into Psychology so I can learn how to block shit out and move past it.  The vision of my sister this time plays over and over, how things were great.  My sister was my best friend, she was everything to me. I looked up to her and then boom shit happens and she’s gone. But tonight it was the look in her eye that I cannot get out of my head. I cry for a bit because that’s what I always do. I know sleep is a lost cause now because no way am I shutting my eyes again.  I decide to head to the little diner that’s open all night and get some coffee.  I just need out of this apartment right now.

I walk to the diner and sit down and order a coffee. In my stupor I didn’t even see Declan and their band sitting in the corner.  Declan comes over and asks if he can sit. “Sure why not,” I say. Company is best at this moment anyway; it can get my mind off that damn nightmare.

“So how have you been?” Declan asks.

“Okay, just busy with work and school, how about you?” is my stupid response. I hate the typical type conversations but here I am engaging in one.

“Oh yeah that’s right, you started classes, I forgot. What’s your major again?” Declan asks.

Weird I spoke to him once before and I never told him anything about me let alone my major.

“Umm I never told you I was in school or what my major was, how do you know stuff about me?” Okay so I am getting a bit bitchy but what the hell, don’t ask around about me.

Declan looks flustered a bit but then says “Oh Eddie was telling us who’s all going to school. Someone asked your major and I thought that Eddie said what it was but I can’t remember. Don’t worry I’m not checking around on you.  If I want to know something important I’ll just ask you myself.” He seems so self-assured but I guess he usually gets what he wants too; he is in a band after all.  Plus he is pretty hot too. If you like that rock star image type thing he’s got going on.

“Oh well that makes sense then, I’m majoring in Psychology. Did you guys have a gig tonight?” that was my way of taking the topic off of me and putting in on him, let’s hope it worked.

“No just practice but it ran pretty late so we decided to come out and have some breakfast. You can join us if you want, our food should be out shortly.” Declan offers.

“Thanks but I’m good right here, enjoy your breakfast though!” I say nicely.

Declan says okay and then heads back to his table with the guys. Before I know what is happening, Parker sits across from me and just looks at me. He finally speaks up after a few moments of silence and reaches his hand out and introduces himself. I shake his hand and introduce myself. How weird!

Parker then states, “So we aren’t good enough to have breakfast with you?”

Oh shit, where did that come from?  “I never said that, I just didn’t want to interrupt you guys, that’s all.” I shyly say.

Wow, now sitting across from Parker I see he is freaking hot, he has dark green eyes.  I have never seen eyes such a dark green color before. He has sleeves of tattoos on both arms, his hair is a little shaggy but could be tugged on, and he is sporting some fine muscles under those tattoo sleeves. This guy oozes sexiness. If I were wearing panties they would be drenched right now!

He shakes his head and tells me he has heard all about me from his uncle. I don’t know whether to be excited or freaking nervous. But I now know that Parker is the one related to Eddie.  “There’s not much to know, I work at your uncle’s bar, go to school, and yeah that’s about it.” I say with a slight laugh.

He looks at me, shakes his head, and oh shit…is that a dimple. Wow so missed that sexy mark on his face! He’s even hotter than I first thought. Then he says in a sexy deep voice, “I’m sure there’s a lot more to know about you than that.”

Is he flirting with me, no he cannot be flirting with me. I am just me, your average girl. I have dark auburn hair, hazel eyes, I’m 5’6”, and I have curves. I am not your model type girl, but I’m not fat either. Running helps keep me in shape, but I am most certainly not this guy’s type.

“That about covers me in a nutshell. I moved out here to go to school, no family, and no pets, just me.”  Shit maybe I shouldn’t’ have told him it’s just me, then again he doesn’t look like a serial killer, and he is my boss’s nephew after all.

Before he can say anything else the rest of the band walks over to us and gladly joins my table. Did I ask for this? Ugh.  I have no choice but to slide over and Declan sits beside me. I learn the rest of the guy’s names which are Nate and Luke. Wow, I am surrounded by sexy men.  Not one of these men is bad on the eyes. I can’t tell which one is sexier though because they all have their own special qualities!

I do not want any of these men, or any man for that matter, but it is fun to look and appreciate the male sexiness that is all around me!

We all fall into an easy banter and the guys are down to earth and the conversation is easy.  I am enjoying my breakfast with the guys of King Dread.  Before I know it, time has passed and I need to get home, get showered and get ready for my 8am class. I say good-bye to the guys and make my way home to my dorm. Before I know it I am in class and thinking how crazy it is to be surrounded by hot guys everywhere I go.

I mean I grew up around guys that were good-looking and cute, but not at all close to the sexiness that these men have and not the arrogance either. Yes I am a country girl, but I’ll be damn if anyone here learns that about me!  I could only imagine the teasing the people would do to me here. Since I’m new, I am able to reinvent myself and not be the girl that hates life like I used to.

I wasn’t always that way. Things changed when I lost my big sis. We were two peas in a pod, she was gorgeous and so outgoing, but she included me in everything so I was in the popular outgoing group as well. But once she was gone and shit turned ugly, I made myself fade into the background, and I didn’t want anyone to notice me or talk to me. At first it didn’t work but eventually over time, it was like I was never there.  This is my new beginning, the new me! I can be who I want to be without the backlash, without the abuse, without the anything.

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Wow, before I know it, the first week of classes is over and tonight I work at PowerTrip.  There’s a band so that’s exciting!  I am always up to listening to new music and some of the bands that come in are pretty awesome.

I get to work around nine and it’s great to see everyone! Man I miss some of these people; they are the only friends I have and I work with them, so technically they aren’t even my friends.  But it’s still great to see everyone. Natalie is working beside me tonight and she informs me the band is new here and their name is Pierced Prodigy. Seriously, what the hell kind of band name is that? Then again, when I see them, I now get the name.  Every one of them is full of facial and body piercings.  I don’t want to know where any other piercings are on any of them that I can’t see right now.  The band is scary looking. God only knows what kind of music they play. Natalie laughs at my facial expression because clearly it says all that needs to be said.

We get to work and when the band starts playing at 10 p.m. I am surprised, they aren’t bad at all. They are a more rock/rap type band but I should have figured that.  The songs they play have a good beat to them and the words make sense too.  I am impressed.  The bar is pretty busy tonight which shouldn’t be surprising after the first week of classes, people want to drink.  The night goes by pretty quickly and the band is wrapping up soon. This is a pretty good night.

Apparently I spoke too soon.

“Hey sweetheart, may I have a rum and coke please?” speaks the sexy devil man himself, Tucker. It’s funny he has yet to tell me his name but of course I already know it because of Natalie.

“Sure” This is my job, so I get his drink, he pays and then I turn to help the next customer, only to see Mr. Smartass hasn’t left his spot.  Ugh, here we go again.

So being nice because I am on the clock, I ask “I’m sorry, did you need something else?”

Of course he’s not done, “Yeah I was wondering what your name is?”