Authors: C.C. Cartwright
New Adult and College Romance Series
Books 1 thru 6
C.C. Cartwright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2015 by C. C. Cartwright
Cover Design by Louisa Maggio of LM Creations
New Adult and College Romance Series
Books 1
C.C. Cartwright
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Romance: Close Encounters
New Adult and College Romance Series
Close Encounters – Book 1 and 2 (FREE on Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VGSK2OO
Close Encounters – Book 3
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXN2BJQ
Close Encounters – Book 4
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WGUXMSO
Close Encounters – Book 5
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XA6XI5U
Close Encounters – Book 6
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012Z6B4O2
Chapter 1
~Clarissa~
A week before school officially starts here at the University of Southern California and my parents are moving me into my apartment off campus. My new home is one block north of The Row. The Row is the main tree-lined street of the Greek System. Lining each side of the street are the renovated, grandiose old houses which the various Fraternities and Sororities call home. Our apartment is still considered part of campus housing, even though it’s pretty far off campus.
Each of my roommates arrives one by one. I’m the first to show up and start settling into one of the two bedrooms. Next to arrive is Deena, a blonde bombshell and beauty pageant winner from Vacaville. Deena and I hit it off immediately and she decides to room with me.
Next comes Lexi, a gorgeous gal of Argentinian descent. Then Kara shows up last. All of us were born and raised in California and so excited to be starting our first year at USC.
Deena and I did Sorority Rush this week and after a long grueling week, we both officially have joined a Sorority we’re both thrilled to be a part of. Lexi and Kara chose not to Rush; they’re what they call ‘GDI’s, which stands for God Damn Independents.
I’ve had the typical USC Sorority girl charmed life. I grew up in the rather exclusive city of Corona Del Mar, California. It’s a small beach community in Orange County, just South of Newport Beach, but before Laguna Beach. We have a fairly modest home a couple of miles from the water. I went to a private High School perched up in the hills in Newport Coast, the neighboring city filled with luxury mansions. That’s where I met my first love, the summer before my senior year. But that’s a whole different story; that chapter of life is closed and I am ready to start off college with a bang. Deena will make sure I do!
Deena grew up in Vacaville, in Northern California. Her father has a high up job at the men’s correctional facility up there; that sounds scary! She’s a very pretty natural blonde and has won numerous beauty pageants. She obviously enjoys the limelight and is going to try out for USC Song Girl. She would be perfect for it.
Kara grew up sheltered, in the Pacific Palisades, another exclusive Southern California neighborhood along the water near Santa Monica. She attended a private High School just like me. I don’t think she has much experience with boys, though. She’s a very sweet girl.
Then there’s Lexi, a beauty with long auburn hair, and a pretty smile. She grew up in San Clemente, which is another coastal city about thirty minutes south of Corona Del Mar.
It’s now Saturday night and we’re chilling together with a pizza and a few bottles of cheap white wine. I will say we’re a little toasted by this time. I really like my new roommates, they’re all fun and seem pretty easy going. I hope we all get along this year. I was nervous all summer wondering who my roommates would be, but these girls all seem pretty nice and normal.
“Hey what’s going to be the cleaning duties? We should have some kind of schedule,” Lexi says. Hope she’s not one of those neat freaks.
“I hate housework, I’m a bit of a mess,” I admit.
“I have an idea. Let’s make a bet, and the loser or losers have to clean the apartment for the next three months. That will solve our problem,” Deena chimes in with her proposition.
“What kind of bet?” Kara slurs out.
“A
Close Encounters
bet,” Deena says excitedly, with a twinkle in her eyes.
“What exactly is that?” the three of us say in unison, looking from one to the other questioningly.
“First of all, let me ask. We are all single and ready to mingle, right girls?” Deena asks scanning our faces. We all nod yes, except for Lexi who says her ex is wearing her down to get back together.
“For this bet or challenge, you need to put him off for one month,” Deena tells Lexi.
Chapter 2
~clarissa~
“Honestly Deena, where do you come up with these ideas? You’re one of those naughty girls aren’t you?” I tease when we wake up the next morning and we’re snoozing in our beds.
“That’s what they tell me,” she giggles.
“What a way to start college. I don’t know,” I sigh out.
“Hey, don’t chicken out. You said you hate housework, we can’t lose,” she reminds me.
“I have only slept with one guy up until now, my high school sweetheart,” I candidly admit.
“Oh brother. Please girl, you need to spread your wings and your legs, LOL!” She roars with laughter and I can’t help but laugh with her.
“Well, I will admit, it should be an easy bet to win. I imagine we could get numerous Frat boys to agree to a
Close Encounter
no problem,” I state matter of factly.
“What do you think of Lexi and Kara, do you think they are up for the challenge?” Deena whispers so they don’t hear us.
“I can’t tell, don’t know them well enough yet. Lexi may be like me. I bet she has only been with that ex-boyfriend she talked about. Kara is so ‘sweet’, I can’t imagine her being the sleep-around type either. Now you Deena, you’re a whole different story from what I can tell so far,” I laugh.
“What can I say? I like to have fun,” she smirks wickedly.
“Condoms, we need to stock up on condoms and hand them out. We will need to buy an economy size pack!” I crack up.
Chapter 3
~Clarissa~
Today is the first day of classes and I’m excited to meet my teachers and rotate through my schedule. I will size up the guys in my classes and see if anyone looks to be
Close Encounter
worthy. I ride my beach cruiser to campus and lock it up then head to my first class after grabbing a cup of coffee. English is my first subject of the day. It’s a relatively small classroom with maybe forty desks lined up into five rows, not a mega section. Grant Montgomery is the Professor. I walk in and find a seat next to an outgoing Asian guy. We exchange hellos and where we’re both from. He’s from Hawaii, a nice friendly guy named Alex. Class is getting full now and almost every seat is taken.
Then in walks Professor Montgomery, Grant Montgomery. Wow, Grant Montgomery is one hottie! Maybe he can be a
Close Encounter
I think to myself. Something about him is sexy, it’s the way he carries himself. He is definitely a man, but he doesn’t look much over thirty, late twenties would be my guess. No wedding ring. Perhaps he’s single and ready to mingle. Realistically, he probably has a girlfriend.
The girls sitting near me take notice, I can tell. They all sit up straighter and stick their chests out. Please, spare me girls. I typically do the opposite, I try to hide my chest. They have always been a nuisance. Professor Montgomery hands out the class syllabus and goes over what is expected of us. He adds a little humor here and there. He doesn’t seem too uptight. He’s got one sexy smile, I’ll tell you that. Okay, focus Clarissa, pay attention to what he is saying rather than just watching his lips. Class ends and we have a writing assignment tonight. Onto the next class of the day before I meet my roommates for lunch.
As I approach the quad, I catch a glimpse of Professor Montgomery headed my way. I look away and act like I don’t see him as he approaches me.
“Hi, aren’t you in my first class of the day?” he says giving me that sexy smile of his.
“Yes, I am. I’m Clarissa Clarkson,” I stammer out. He makes me nervous.
“Looking forward to having you in my class,” he says as he holds the door into the food court open for me.
“Uh, yeah, me too,” I stammer out again like an idiot. Great English speaking skills Clarissa.
“See you tomorrow Clarissa,” he says as he turns that panty melting smile on me again.
“Yes, see you tomorrow,” I say softly, smiling into his blue eyes. He makes my heart race. I look around the food court and spot Deena seated already with her food. She waves me over.
“Who was that gorgeous hunk of hotness you were talking to?” Deena asks raising her eyebrows at me.
“Professor Montgomery, my English teacher,” I sigh out, plopping myself into the chair across from her.
“He is definitely
Close Encounter
worthy, wouldn’t you say?” she giggles.
“Most definitely. The only problem is that I stammer like an absolute idiot in front of him. I don’t even use proper English in front of my English teacher,” I say shaking my head.
“Hey, who said you have to do any talking,” naughty Deena says and I can’t help giggling along with her.
“True, very true,” we continue laughing.
“How about you, have you met any guys who would be
Close Encounter
worthy in one of your classes?” I tease her.
“Ah, I will find random guys at the Frat parties or exchanges,” she says with a wave of her hand.
“That’s probably a better place to find random hot guys. The problem with someone from a class is you would have that awkwardness of seeing them every day afterwards until the semester is over.” I agree with her there. Kara and Lexi have found us and take a seat.
“Hey girls, Clarissa has a hot English teacher for her first
Close Encounter
lined up,” Deena announces a little too loudly.
“Shhhh, and I do not!” I say as I glance around, hoping no one sitting near us overheard her.
“Ooo, you’re daring Clarissa. You both could get in trouble for something like that,” Kara chimes in, being the voice of reason.
“Yes, I know. Deena is being delusional. Don’t listen to her, you know she has a one track mind,” I say, rolling my eyes at her.