Twist of Fate (12 page)

I heard the music blasting before I saw the house. Blow up palms trees lined the walkway, white lights twinkled across the banister. I grinned as I started to make my way in when I heard a few guys yelling to me. I kind of recognized them from the other parties, but kept moving when they started asking me what it was I hid under all my dresses.
 

Once inside, it was hot, sweaty smelling, and very crowded. Guys were in board shorts, pledges manning the kegs were in banana hammocks, which got several laughs out of me. There must had been a hundred, or more barely dressed girls in bathing suits. Some, were even topless. I thought about turning around, going back home when I spotted Ellie, waving her skinny little arms in the air for me.
Dear God! Not her too.

"Ellie? Ellie?" I yelled over the music. She sashayed over to me with her hands up in the air to the beat of the music, shaking her ass the entire way, before giving me a big naked chest hug. One that I was not prepared for.
 

I looked over her shoulder. "Where the hell is your top?"

"I don't know. Someone untied it an hour ago. I can't find it."

"You realize guys are staring at you, right?"

"I don't give a shit. It's not like they haven't seen boobs before." Ellie grabbed my hand, dragging me downstairs. I wanted to focus on something else, but all I could see were her boobs literally bouncing all the way down, with me in tow. I spotted the one thing I wanted to avoid instantly. Ben was in the corner wearing green and white board shorts, and a very tan, very naked girl was wrapped around him, dancing like he was her own personal stripper pole. At least from the bottom down she was dressed. I felt like throwing up. What a skank. I felt slightly guilty thinking this since my roommate was obviosuly not any better. "Ellie go find a top, any top."

"Look who's in the house?" Tommy yelled so loud that several people stopped to look at me. Ben didn't move an inch. He never heard him, and if he did, he chose to ignore it. I worked my way over to Tommy keeping my head down, until I got to him. "Hey, this is some party."

"What happened to your date?" Tommy teased.

I grabbed the cup out of his hand, tipped it slightly. "It sucked ass."
 

"That's not beer, P," he warned me as I slammed a large gulp. I might as well not fight it. Maybe if I admitted I was wrong about Will, he wouldn't tease me. I chugged the rest down in one huge gulp.
 

"Damn! I didn't know you could drink like that?"

I smiled widely.
 
I wanted to let lose tonight. I wanted to not give a shit about anything, but being a normal girl with normal college needs. "Please! They used to call me Hoser in Jersey. Bring on the funnels, boys."

His mouth opened, shocked. Then he grinned. "I'm calling your bluff."

"Just show me the way." He laughed out loud, practically pulling me over to the keg. Tommy placed both hands around his mouth, then hollered out. "Benny, get your ass off that girl and get over here. Our little P here is gonna do us proud."
 

I tried to shrink into the crowd, but a few guys were now chanting my name. Ben raced over, stopping dead in his tracks when he saw me. He shook his head several times. "Nice dress. I thought we told you this is a beach party?"

I looked over briefly to the one pledge holding the funnel, another one next to him filling it up. "Tell me when to stop." He told Tommy.

Tommy nodded for him to ease up. A few guys yelled out that I was going to puke, so stand back. To be honest, I was a little worried myself since I started drinking hours ago. Still, most of the shots from the honky tonk wore off while I debated coming here.

I scanned the pledge quickly, turned my back to him, tilting my neck forward, then twisted around slightly to peek over my shoulder. "Could you get that for me?" I turned back around, and stared straight into Ben's eyes. I was tired of hearing about my dresses, and what was underneath them.
 
He seemed amused, but nervous since he was now chomping down on his nail, but for some reason I was feeling brave tonight. He always seemed to bring this side of me out. I wan't sure what was happening behind me, but after a quick nod of approval from Ben, I felt fingers touching my neck, and my dress falling to the floor.
 

A few of the girls glared at me, then turned around and whispered. A few cat calls sounded from behind them, and then one guy yelled out. "Finally, we get to see what's under those dresses. Damn, girl!"

Ben turned to the voice, and the guy backed off. Ben's face said it all. He didn't expect me to do something so out of character for me. He literally scanned me from head to toe, drinking every inch of me in, then smiled this devilish little grin. "Alright, Mike. Hold it down for her."
 

He gestured for me to stand under the hose. I took a deep breath, put my mouth around the plastic, stuck my thumb up to them, and then they raised it up over my head. The beer instantly flowed down my throat. The last of it was foam, as I pulled it away from my mouth, letting it trickle down the side of my face. Tommy and Ben were smiling, and clapping for me. I obliged them with a little curtsy. "That was nothing."

Ben looked over to the pledge, Mike, that filled it. "How many?"

"I don't know, sir. Maybe three."

"Give me one." Ben assumed position and then they lifted it up, and he downed it in seconds.
 

I nodded to them again. "Let's go."

I stumbled a little as I inched my way over. At this point we had quite a gathering and the music was almost nonexistent. "You sure, Paige," Tommy asked.

I grinned, squatting down slightly. I grabbed the hose, placed it in my mouth, but then they hoisted it up without my go ahead, and I almost spit it out. This one didn't go down so easy. But, I managed to get all of it down without looking like I missed a beat.

Ben began to start another one, but cocked his head, took a good look at me, then held his hands up. "Alright. P. You win this one." He handed it off to some guy standing next to him, who gladly polished it off in his place.

I started jumping up and down, high-fiving everyone next to me. Ben grabbed my arm. "Stop jumping. Your chest is almost ready to pop out."

"Are you saying you have no desire to see this chest?" I flaunted it by sticking it out further, and rubbing my hands along my curves, teasing him.

Ben's eyes dropped instantly, then he tugged me along by his side. "Now I know your drunk. C'mon."

"Wait! Where are we going? I just got here like ten minutes ago."

"Yeah, well in ten minutes you drank a six pack, and by the looks of it something more than that." He looked all around. "Hold on a sec! Where's that date of yours, huh?" He looked up the stairs.
 
"Did you leave that poor bastard outside?" He started laughing at me, and I didn't feel like listening to any more of his crap.

I fumbled out of his grip and back to the makeshift bar. I could be fun like all those other girls. "Can I have another beer, please?" I shouted. The stupid pledge looked over my shoulder, then back down to me, apologetically. "Sorry. You've been cut off."

"What?" What kind of frat cuts off girls from drinking?"

He shrugged, then moved on to the next person in line.
 

I glanced around to see Ben and Tommy laughing their asses off a few feet away. I could play this game. Tommy disappeared minutes later, so I stormed past Ben to head upstairs to find another keg set up with yet another pledge. "Sorry. I would, but I'd get into a ton of trouble. I have orders."

"Whose orders?" I asked, even though I knew full well who got to him. I was going to kill Tommy when I got my hands on him.

Matt came up from behind me. "Those two can get a little possessive, huh?"

I crossed my arms like a spoiled brat. "You can say that again."

Matt looked over my shoulder. "Give me two."

The pledge poured one, starting to say something. Matt stopped him. "I don't give a shit who cut her off. I say pour her a beer, Tony."

The pledge winced, but poured it. I started to feel bad. "You know what I don't need it. I'm fine."

Matt handed me the beer, then his knuckles ran down my arm slowly, causing me to shiver. "Paige you're not fifteen. If you want a drink, then get one." He turned to Tony. "If she asks again, get her one. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Matt started to nudge me forward, but I cranked my neck around to tell Tony I was sorry. He didn't respond, he just poured another beer, then downed it. God, I hope he didn't get in any trouble.

Matt pulled me aside, then started to move to the music coming from downstairs, his arms held onto me tightly, kissing my neck. I wanted to throw up. I stumbled back a few steps, my feet hitting the couch, then fell back onto it. I just wanted to close my eyes. I was conscious of him landing hard down next to me, his hand rubbing my leg, and then I remembered I was sitting in a frat house in a bikini. How did I let this happen? When did I become one of those girls? But, I couldn't move. I had no energy, my head was spinning, Matt was out of focus as he kept groping me. I thought I saw two of him, maybe three. Someone yelled, but I was being pulled away. The feel of soft fabric slipping over my head came next, but I knew these arms picking me up, I knew that fresh Tide smell that went along with it, and I knew I was safe.

The next morning I woke to find myself inside a bathtub. I could barely process anything since my head was throbbing, my hair was sticking to my chin, and I felt like vomiting. By the smell in there, I was pretty sure that happened already. At least once. My one eye struggled to get a good look at my surroundings, while the other one wanted to remain shut forever. I shifted slightly feeling a very solid naked chest behind me. I sat up slowly turning to see Ben lying behind me. We were inside the tub. He was leaning back against a pillow propped up against the tile, while I sat in between his legs, with a blanket covering both of us. The shower curtain was pulled closed, but a soft light streamed through the bathroom from the window above the tub. I leaned back softly trying not to wake him, but fate stepped in. The sound of someone peeing a minute later stirred him ever so slightly. I was hoping to avoid whoever it was and prayed they only came in to go to he bathroom, but the curtain flew open a second later. One of the guys from his frat that I recognized jumped back. "Shit!" He peered around me, sighing. "Yo, Ben! Get your ass up and out. I need to shower."

Ben slowly came alive, taking the scene in, then pulled me back down with him. "Fuck off. We're sleeping."

I squirmed out of his arms, but I felt like I was about to faint as I stood. "I have to go. Thanks, Ben."

I didn't stop. I just kept going out until I was outside the front door. The sucky part was that I was doing my first walk of shame on this campus, and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be ashamed or not. I had no idea what happened. And, I had no clue how I was supposed to haul my ass to the rec center in a few hours to teach a class. Memories from the night haunted me as I walked back to my dorm. The funnels, the bikini, Matt touching me when I didn't want him to, then waking up with Ben. The only thing I did know was that it was going to take twenty aspirin when I got home to get rid of this hangover. But, I knew for a fact, that at this point, nothing could stop me from feeling something for Ben.

BEN

Chapter 14

I felt like complete, and utter shit. It had been some time since I let myself get so hammered. But, I couldn't help myself. I could tell Paige was in a mood, and I was ready to play her game last night. I wished the end of the game turned out better. I was usually a winner. I threw out the blanket, and my shorts since they were covered in vomit. I spent the majority of the night holding back Paige's hair while she threw up. I tried so hard not to fall asleep. I was too afraid she had alcohol poisoning the way she kept heaving. She scared the shit out of me. Not to mention when Tommy and I walked up the stairs to find her so we could give back her dress. Only to see her being groped on the couch by Matt. A few more minutes more, and who knows how far he would've taken it. God, that girl owed me big time.
 

Matt was pissed, and from what I was told, he was out for blood.

I needed food. Greasy food to get rid of this hangover. I hopped into my car, and headed straight to a diner a few blocks away. While I waited for my food I quickly dialed Paige's cell. It went straight to voicemail. After the beep, I left a message. "Hey, P. It's me. Just making sure you're okay and all. Call me." I looked to the clock over the door, which let me know it was two in the afternoon. She must still be sleeping or something because I knew her schedule. She didn't have any Friday classes. Tommy texted me three times while I was eating. Each one asking me if I knew where Paige was. After a few minutes of thinking, I typed back.
Not sure. Maybe working, try there.
 

Once I hit send I started to panic about why he was asking. He never texted me about Paige-ever. Quickly I typed back, "
WHY? Is everything okay?"

A few impatient minutes later on my part I got one back.
 

"Yep. I got her. She's good. Teaching yoga."

I slumped back into the torn leather seat. That was weird. He's got her, and she's good. That made no fucking sense. Why wouldn't she be good? All these terrible thoughts creeped their way in. What if she did have alcohol poisoning, and was at the hospital? What if she got hit by a car crossing campus? What if Matt went back to get what he wanted last night. I swore when I saw his fingers moving toward the bottom of her suit I wanted to murder him. And, Paige? She barely knew who I was when I took her upstairs.