Undone: A New Adult College Bad Boy Romance (Mature Young Adult Fun Contemporary Romance) (2 page)

“Anyway,” Fiona said as she pinched the bridge of her nose, “I met this guy named Nick and he’s really nice. I mean, he doesn’t look like my usual type, but I like him. I guess we’ll see what happens Saturday.”

“I’m happy for you Fi, but please remember exams are on Monday,” Aubrey said.

“I won’t forget. They’re too important.”

“Good. Now, shut up Aubrey,” James complained with a scowl. “Tell me everything.”

Fiona found it hard to concentrate as she told them about her dinner with both men. She found it even harder to study as she thought about Nick, her highlighter simply hovering above the page. When she was finished, James whistled.

“He sounds cute. No car though? Shame.”

“No, he has one. We just decided to walk since the campus was so close.”

James perked up. “What kind of car?”

“Black and expensive is all I can remember.”

Aubrey rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well that’s great and all, but you
really
need to study. You’re going to get behind again.”

Fiona tried not to scowl. Aubrey could be a bit overbearing at times, without even realizing it. Instead of responding, Fiona spent the next hour studying before she began to yawn. Her eyesight doubled. It was time to catch some sleep.

Fiona waved off Aubrey’s lecturing as she closed her books, sat them on her desk and climbed into bed. She pulled the thick blanket up to her chin. As she fell asleep, she thought about Nick and the time that they’d share Saturday. A faint smile came to her lips.

Saturday couldn’t come fast enough for Fiona. She tried to focus on her studies. Every time she really got into it though, Nick would text her. It had gotten to the point that she had to shut the phone off if she wanted to do anything at all. Halfway through the week, he showed up.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as they strolled through the campus grounds.

“I wanted to say hi, see how you were.”

Fiona raised an eyebrow. “Look who’s impatient.”

“Yeah, I’ve never done well with the whole patience thing.”

“Fiona! Where have you been? We have class!” Aubrey ran up to her, out of breath.

“Nick, this is Aubrey. She’s my roommate and a good friend. I better get going though.”

“See you Saturday then,” he said holding her eyes for a moment before he turned to Aubrey. “Nice to meet you.”

When Nick was out of sight, they started walking to their next class. Aubrey was biting her bottom lip. At first, Fiona tried to ignore it. She could tell when her friend was trying to give her bad news.

“Spit it out, Aubrey.”

“I know him. He used to go to this school about two years ago when my sister was attending, but he dropped out. From what I’ve heard, he’s got a really bad temper too.”

Fiona didn’t respond. It was hard to tell what was truth and what was just the usual campus bullshit. Besides, Aubrey believed it was true. If she didn’t, she never would have let the words fall from her lips. It only worried Fiona for a moment, she knew there was more to him than that.

Saturday evening, Fiona stood at her dresser. There were clothes covering her bed, the drawers of the dresser and her desk even. A finger tapping against her cheek, she glanced at everything that she’d laid out. They were supposed to go to a movie then out to eat. It was simple, but she was excited.

Fiona threw another outfit back into the drawer. She was already behind. Aubrey stepped into the room, took one look around and sighed. Fiona ignored her as she held up a pair of jeans and a dark blue shirt up to her body.

“I can’t believe you’re still going to go out with him after what I said,” Aubrey said as she plopped down on her bed.

“Well, you don’t actually know him,” Fiona mumbled as she examined her image with a cream colored sweater held up to herself, “so I think I’m going to give him a chance.”

Aubrey shrugged. “Suit yourself. James and I are going to Infinity tonight if you want to meet us there afterwards. New DJ hopefully means decent music to dance to again,” she said with a laugh.

Fiona grinned at her. “I’ll try my hardest to meet you guys.”

Aubrey walked over to her. Without a word, she picked up a pair of jeans, a long sleeved purple top and pulled out a pair of dark brown leather boots. Fiona looked at the outfit as she nodded slowly.

“You never steer me wrong,” she said as she picked up her jeans.

Aubrey left her alone to get dressed. When she came back with James, Fiona was carefully filling in her lipstick as she leaned in close to the mirror. Both of them nodded their heads at her in approval. Fiona thanked them before she settled in on her bed to zip up the tall boots.

“What time is he supposed to be here?” Aubrey asked.

Fiona checked her phone. “Five minutes ago. I better text him again,” she said as her fingers slid over the screen quickly.

Fiona finished up her makeup. She put her hair up into a bun, took it back down. Her fingers drummed against the dresser, her toes working impatiently as they tapped against the floor. She checked her phone again.

“Did he text back?” Aubrey asked. “It’s been thirty minutes already.”

Fiona checked her phone. The screen was empty. No text, no calls. She pressed his name, put the phone against her ear. The more it rang, the more her stomach twisted into a tight knot. She called him again. The nervousness began to turn to anger. When an hour passed, Fiona sat on her bed, James and Aubrey comforting her.

“I don’t get it. We’ve had such a good time this week. He was the one who insisted on a date this weekend. Why do they all act this way?” Fiona asked as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

“Maybe something came up. He could have gotten sick or something,” Aubrey said.

Fiona waved her away. “Screw that. I’m done with men,” she said as she stood up. “I’m going out with you guys and I’m going to get over this.”

“You sure you’re up to going out hon?” James asked.

“Oh, I’m going.”

Fiona shed the makeup stained purple shirt. In its place, she slipped into a navy blue shirt that tied around her neck and showed off a peek of her cleavage. Carefully, she reapplied her makeup. When she looked in the mirror, she was impressed with her own image.

Shrugging into her coat, she made her way down the hall. James’ powder blue Mustang was parked in the lot. They all slipped in, Fiona taking the back seat without a fight for once. As they drove, James kept glancing up in the rearview mirror at her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked for the hundredth time.

“I’m fine. I just want to get drunk,” Fiona replied, scrolling through her  phone.

The heat in the car warmed her up as she began to delete name after name from her phone. Once the contacts were gone, she started in on the texts. Then the phone logs. Last were the pictures. By the time they reached Infinity, Fiona had wiped her entire phone clear of  any man that she had dated or wanted to date. She slipped her phone back into her bag.

The lights outside of Infinity were a dark green that glowed whenever the door was open. They walked up to the man at the door, showing him their IDs before they entered. Inside, the music pounded away. It rattled Fiona’s chest. Their first stop was to the bar.

Shots in hand, they threw them back in unison. Fiona twisted her lips up as the sourness hit her tongue. They ordered another round before Aubrey was dragging them further into the club. They shed their coats at one of the tables that lined the dance floor, but they didn’t sit down. Fiona was much too angry for that. She wanted to dance until the forgot all about Nick.

For a moment, Fiona forgot her usual shyness. She pushed aside all of that and did what she wanted to do. Fiona danced with who she wanted, then walked away when she was bored. For once, she was completely in control and she wasn’t going to give that feeling up anytime soon.

Fiona made more trips to the bar than she could remember. Whenever she went back, another guy would buy her  a drink. Aubrey looked at her, concern in her eyes as Fiona washed her hands in the bathroom sink.

“You have to slow down.”

“Why?”

“You’re going to get sick, Fi. There’s also the fact that you’re just lashing out right now. How long do you think you can do this?”

“All night if I have to,” Fiona said before she marched out of the door.

She tried to hold her emotions in check, but the alcohol wasn’t helping in that regard. Still, she wouldn’t let herself cry. Definitely not over Nick. Not over anyone anymore. Holding her head up, she walked back to the dance floor, the only thought in her mind how much fun she could have at that moment.

Fiona backed into someone as she headed back to her table. When she turned around, her mouth fell open before she smiled wide. Henry stood in front of her in dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt. His black hair was pushed back, his blue eyes enough to make her melt. He smirked.

“What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t do clubs,” he said as he sat beside her at her table.

“That was the old me. The new me likes to have fun” she said with a laugh.

Henry ordered them a round of drinks. “Still no boyfriend?”

Fiona winced.  “I didn’t know I was required to have one.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, Fi. I don’t have a girlfriend either. I was just curious.”

She smiled at him. They took their time chatting, drinking and even dancing. Fiona had never really liked dancing before, not in front of people, but with the alcohol flowing through her veins she was confidant. She moved her body up against Henry’s, his hands traveling down to her hips as he moved against her.

They stumbled outside, their laughter filling up the night air as Henry took out a smoke. Walking to the side of the building, he lit up before gazing over at Fiona. She pushed her hair back behind her ear, a grin on her face.

“What?” She asked when he wouldn’t stop staring.

“You never used to be this fun,” he said as he took a drag.

“Thanks, jerk.”

He laughed. “No, I mean it. I like you this way.”

Henry walked up to her. Fiona expected to feel the hammering of her heart against her chest, but nothing happened. He leaned towards her, his lips about to graze hers. She turned her head.

“Henry, this was fun. Really fun. I can’t though.”

“Why not?” He whispered. “You said you were single.”

“I am, but I care about someone. Maybe he’ll get it together, maybe he won’t, but I’m not just ready to move on to,” she gestured between them, “this.”

Henry scoffed. “I should have known,” he said as he pushed away from her.

“Known what?”

“You’ve always been a prude, don’t know why I thought you’d changed,” he said as he ground the cigarette out under his shoe. “Still, I sat there buying your drinks all night, the least you can do is pay me back.”

As he spoke, Henry started walking closer to her. At that moment, she remembered why they had broken up. His pushy ways coupled with his verbal abuse had been the thing that drove her over the edge. She had left him, never looked back. It was amazing how something two years ago could slip away, then be back by one simple action. She balled her fists up by her side as she backed away from him.

“Get away from me,” she said as her back bumped against the wall, “or-”