Chapter five

“I was thinking tonight actually.”

I’m currently standing in front of our mirror, doing my hair, when Kayla decides to drop the sentence of the year. Jerking around, I watch as Kayla shrug her shoulders, half her head hanging off the bed. Her black hair swings to the floor and I watch it go back and forth as her eyes stare up at me.

The statement wouldn’t have been bad if it wasn’t for the fact that it was Sunday. Seven o’clock at night on a Sunday. There was no way in hell that I was going to a club a night before I had a class in the morning.

This is Kaylas thing. She’s the one who can handle getting drunk and going to class sobor. I, on the other hand, am a horrible drinker. I’m about as bad as Mia, who when drunk, likes to get naked and parade around in the nude.

Kayla must see the ‘look’ come over my face because she groans and turns her head and uses her stomach muscles to bring herself fully back on her bed. She folds her legs under her, forcing hair behind her ears before making her convincing statement

“Come on Kelsey! You never go to the clubs anymore. And tonight I heard is half drink night. You know what that means.”

I sigh and shake my head in the mirror. Kayla seemed to always get me into these kinds of situations. It would either be girls night or open bar night, and she just had to have me come along.

This is how it usually went: I would drink with her, she would get wild, and Mia would be

somewhere behind her, and I would have to help them out of somewhere half naked or pry them off some poor guy.

Not that the guy complained or anything, it was just the fact that with my sister there was no such thing as “Just one drink.” Plus, if I drunk too much, she would have to be carrying me out of the club.

I mean what I say by I don’t want to go, but by the look on Kayla’s face I know she will go without me. She will literally go to this half off drink thing and leave me behind without even thinking about the consequences.

And since, one: I have no idea how she is going to get drinks and two: I have no idea how much trouble she could get in, I know I have to go. If I don’t, there is a high chance Kayla won’t make it back in time to make it to class.

Plus, Kayla always seems to get in trouble when going out.

Oh, damn it! And I really wanted to stay inside and watch the new episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Hey, that stuff is addicting people!

I snatch my shirt off my dresser and head out into the hallway so I can get some fresh air. If I’m going to go through with this thing later, I needed to have a few minutes to myself.

I pull my arms through the sleeves of my jacket as I shut the door behind me. A few girls linger down the hallway, laughing and hanging out. Apparently for them, this was the last hours they could get in before classes started back up.

Luckily for Mia, she doesn’t stay in the dorms. Her and Aiden rented out an apartment together and come whenever they have have too. Between Aiden’s financial aid and Mia’s new job, it was enough for them to scrap by at an apartment.

They asked me if I wanted to join, but living in a house with them too? Alone? Doing only things God will know?

No thank you. I’ll stick with my housewives show any day.

I slip my hood over my head and  pull out my car keys that I still had in my pocket from earlier today and head out. It was risky to drive out when everyone was heading back, especially if you have an illegal parking space as a freshmen, but sometimes it’s worth the risk.

I just start to  walk down the walkway leading to the student parking lot, when a guy with a head full of blonde hair steps in my way. Annoyed, I go to dodge around the guy when he blocks my way again.

I stop,aggravated, and when I look up, I see Mason, Mia’s older brother, staring  down at me. A smile covers his goofy ass face. Sighing, I tighten my hands around my keys and and cross my arms over my chest.

Since Mason was technically older, it must be weird to have his little sister attending the same college as him. His whole life he has prided the idea that he was older, now he was nothing more than an overly annoying upperclassmen.

Even though he acts like it doesn’t affect him either way, you can tell that he tries to keep an eye on her every time he catches her here. Even though he could care less what she did or who she stayed with, he still cared about his sister.

Rolling my eyes, I jut my chin toward the boys dorm rooms. Unlike Mia, Mason loved the dorms. Apparently it was the thing he has been waiting for his whole life. No idea why, and really, I didn’t find it in me to really find out.

“Shouldn’t you be in your room?”

Okay, maybe I should be in my room too, but Mason was one of those guys that were like Kayla.  Always causing trouble wherever they went. Mason shakes his head and his smile grows. Apparently the fact that he’s catching me leaving the dorms is funny to him.

“Ah, I missed you Kelsey. Actually, I think I am in love.” I laugh at that one.

Mason always seemed to be in love and always seemed to be in it with a different girl every day. Every time I stayed at Mia’s house he would declare his new love without hesitation. His own mother stopped listening after the twenty fifth declaration of love. I  twirl my keys around my finger and turn my head to the side.

“Who’s the unlikely victim?” He makes a face at the word victim and I grin. For real, if you are a girl and you see Mason heading your way, run. Because once he likes you he is like a little lost puppy.

He never goes away.

“Actually, I think I have a shot this time. She won’t tell me her name and every time I try to get her name, she laughs and puts her hand over her name tag. But, I know she wants me,”

“What does she look like?” I ask. I might not really hang out with a lot of people, but I was good when it came to placing names with faces. And since I spend a lot of time in the library studying, i know what I’m talking about.

You wouldn’t believe the amount of people that go to the library.

“Red hair, green eyes? I don’t think she goes here. Maybe though. She works at the little -”

“Hey, Mason. Hold up!” Mason’s words get cut off and I freeze a little and turn my head to take a peek over my shoulder. Really, I shouldn’t have. I should have just went on my way, leaving Mason to deal with his girl crises.

Because I know who the voice belonged too without bothering to even look. I see Nick jogging his way to us and when he sees me standing there with Mason, his smile gets bigger.

“Oh, hey Kels. I didn’t know you and Mason knew each other.” He says a little out of breath. He wipes a hand over his forehead, moving some of his hair with his fingers, and I nervously try to get my bearings.

Small fact: I sucked at talking to guys first. So  If he isn’t here to talk about the new episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, then he will be greatly disappointed.

Mason forgets what he is talking about and slings his arm around Nick’s shoulders, making Nick take a few steps back. Next to each other, Mason looks like a washed up version of what a college guy should look like.

Nick.. Nick looked perfect.

“Kelsey, meet my roommate Nick. Though, I am guessing that you two already know each other. Man, I am so late to learn these things. We should fix that.” He says the last sentence to himself and frowns a little.

Poor Mascon.

Always late to the party.

I let out a nervous giggle, mentally slapping myself, Because come on giggle? When Nick moves out of the reach of Mason’s arm. Mason just shakes his head as if it was recurring theme. Nick grins before gesturing to the keys still in my hand.

“Going somewhere?” I look at my keys and realize that I was on my way to Mia and Aiden’s. I let out my breath and nod my head eagerly. Finally I have my excuse to leave this bizarre scenario.

“Yeah, I should get going.”

I smile a good bye to them both before heading back the way toward my car. Letting out a tense breath, I don’t even take a few steps before I hear Nick call out:

“See you in Physics tomorrow!”

Oh, flying fudge monkeys!

How could I forget that I had Nick in my Physics class too? No, scratch that. How did he and Julio both know I was in there class? Is there a memo I forgot to read somewhere?

Great though. Him and Julio in the same school, in the same class, with the same teacher just makes everything so much better. If anyone told me this last week, I would have ran to the hills laughing.

When I get in my car and start it, my thoughts go back to Julio.

I mean, Friday night when he teased me at the Café I never felt more aggravated in my life. I admit the guy was a little sarcastic prick, but I realized that maybe I could give the whole ‘friend’ thing a try with him.

It’s working with Nick, even if we aren’t really friends, but I mean it isn’t really right that I judged him without even knowing him. It isn’t right that I assume the worst everytime he opens his mouth.

Everyone deserves a fair chance, right?

But, that’s the thing. I don’t really have to know him to know him. He was like so many other guys I have fell for and who ended up leaving me. He is the kind of guy you read in books and want to fall for but know it will never work out.

But, if I was going to have to deal with him, I might as well be civil, right?

I don’t know. Am I right? For all I know, I could be heading down the rabbit hole. I could just be getting myself in a mess, but it seemed like messes have been following me my whole life.

It wasn’t like I liked trouble or that I caused it. It was the people around me that always brought it to me, so I decided a long time ago to put myself in this bubble and make sure no one ever was able to get in.

If I come off as the cold hearted bitch, it was better for everyone involved. There’s only a few people I let my guard down for and that’s close to none. It’s the only mechanism I have to make sure I never get hurt again.

Finally I  pull up to the apartments that a lot of kids from Michigan State stayed in and  turn off my car. I pop open the door the same time a stray cat lets out a loud squeak. I try to look for the cat when I see Aiden’s car in his usual parking space and I know they are here.

Now here is where I think Mia is crazy.

I can’t even see myself with a guy, at all, and here the girl was living with one of the devil’s own creations. She’s basically living with the kind of guy your mama’s warn you about.

Not that Aiden was bad, I consider all male species the Devil’s creations; I just don’t think I could do it. Maybe I was to stay single forever. And really, I didn’t mind it too much.

I like it over here on the single side of things.

I mean, if I wanted too, I can go to the store and get a tub of ice cream for myself. I wouldn't’ even have to share it.  Yep, it’s true, it’s the best perk of being single.

I find their door and I bring my knuckles to the chipping white paint and rap on it. They could honestly benefit on a fresh coat of well ... any color of paint really.

But if I knew Mia, she would probably chalk the door up to old time flare and keep it the way it is.   When a burst of laughter comes from the other side, I cross my finger and hope that they are at least halfway decent.

Catching my best friend in the middle of her getting it on with her boyfriend was not on my list of things to see before I die. Actually, seeing anyone having sex isn’t on my list. Plus, since when do I have a list?!

“Hold on!” Mia yells; her voice filled with laughter.

I lean against the railing and  hear the door click open before Mia’s head pops through the crack, a smile lighting up her face. When she sees its me, her face lights up even more.

“Oh, hey Kelsey.”

I hear something get yelled from inside, something to do with cats, and Mia turns her head, biting her lip to keep from laughing. I’m sure Aiden is having a good time torturing her with the mere mention of the word cat.

“In your dreams tough guy!” She shouts and I realize I must have caught them at the wrong time. I kick off the railing and point down to where I was parked. Hopefully the stray cat found somewhere else to be.

“I’ll just leave you two to discuss cats ...” My voice trails off and Mia walks outside, clicking the door shut behind her. She rolls her eyes and inclines her head toward the door. We both can still hear Aiden’s sweet laughter through it.

“Aiden thinks it would be a good idea if we got a cat. He knows I hate cats, but he is trying to sell me on the idea.”

This time I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. The sole reason Mia hates cats all started in seventh grade. It was her birthday and her mom too her and me to the pet shop in celebration. She said Mia could have any pet she wanted as long as it had four legs.

She and I went straight toward the cats, because back then we thought they were the cutest things.  When we finally found one we wanted, we decided that we should go ahead and grab it so her mom didn’t have too.

Yeah, bad idea.

Apparently there was a sign that said ‘Do not touch the cats’ on the display case but we didn’t see it then. The only thing we could focus on was the cute little cat that Mia was already starting to name Fred.

So when Mia picked up the cat, the thing totally freaked out. It hissed, showing it’s teeth, and in pure panic Mia dropped it on the floor. We both screamed and started to run and what do you know?

The cat freaking chased us.

I swear; this cat was a hybrid or something. It was more like an attacked dog then a sweet little kitty cat. It seriously wouldn’t give up no matter how fast we ran or how hard we tried to outsmart it.

The monster cornered us in the back and Mia started to cry her eyes out, yelling for her mom. I tried my hardest to calm it down by sticking my hand out to it, but it didn’t work. It  turned out to make things even worse and I still have the scar on my small pinkie from where it attacked.

Mia’s mom found us both being held hostage by a small cat, both of us holding each other and crying our poor seventh grade heart out. We both swore to never, ever talk about it again for as long as we lived.

From time to time I can look back on the moment and laugh, but Mia will forever hold grudges against every and any cat she ever sees again. It’s like her own personal demon of something.

She shakes her head and points behind her. Even though it’s been about a minute since Mia left Aiden, we can still hear him laughing. Apparently whatever was said earlier was worth hearing.

“You can come in if you want. We were about to eat dinner.” I shake my head and straighten out. No offence to Mia and Aiden, but the last time I had dinner with them I had to leave early from all the things I saw.

“I was actually on my way to see if you and Aiden wanted to go out tonight.” Mia looks shock for a few seconds before her face goes blank. Though I already know what she’s thinking. Me? Going out on a Sunday night?

Did Hell freeze over?

I hold up my hand to stop her from saying whatever she was going to say. No need for her to point out the obvious. “I’m going so that I can keep an eye on Kayla. She’s just like you when she drinks.” Mia blushes a little and I smile at it.

Realizing that I’m teasing her, she suddenly gives me her famous glare and then shakes her head. “Whatever,” She looks over my shoulder and her face turns a little thoughtful.

She leans her shoulder on the door and  eyes me for a few seconds. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? We are finally old enough to be on our own and here we are. I never thought I would be living with anyone and now look at me.”

“At least you are staying with someone you love.” She smiles this tiny smile, clearly enjoying the word love. It was small but it was full of so much happiness that it was kind of hard to look at it. How did it feel to trust and love someone so openly?

“I do Kelsey. I really do love him. Which is stupid, but I can’t help it. Whenever we are together it just feels right, you know?” No, I didn’t. She reaches over and lightly punches my shoulder, drawing my attention back to her.

“And no matter how much you are against it, I can see you finding someone soon.”

“Rigggghhttt.” I drag out before the door knob twists.  Mia turns and grabs it, holding the door closed, keeping Aiden in. She laughs and looks over her shoulder the same time the door pulls her forward.

“I’ll see if Aiden wants to go. I’ll call you, okay?” I nod and quickly go down the stairs, Mia’s laughter following me all the way down.

I was glad that she was happy but there was one thing she was wrong about.

She said that I would be finding someone soon.

Well, unless that someone was Orlando Bloom, I wouldn’t bet my life on it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

I’m wasted.

Wasted as in drunk off my ass, call someone as fast as you can wasted. I know that much as I bring my drink to my forehead, salute the hot guy who was in front of me sloppily, and tip my head back.

The acid like taste of the liquor goes down my throat, making me try to hide the cough that is suddenly trying to surge it’s way to the surface.

Everyone in the little group I picked up earlier cheers me on and I slam the drink on the table. I hurriedly wipe my mouth and then sling my head back and yell with them in one big crescendo. The bartender was going to have a long night trying to clean up the mess we were blatantly making.

I look over and see Kayla making out with some dude and suddenly I want to laugh. Why didn’t I want to come here again? I go to reach for another shot glass and feel my head spin a little.  Before I can think to much about it I take the shot, the dizziness from earlier disappearing. That was the best thing about whiskey.

One minute dizzy, the next numb.

The music from the shabby speakers wraps around me like a blanket and I just wanted to stand up and dance. Dance until my legs fell off and my body felt like jello. Dance until I forget about every single thing that is wrong with my life.

Until I forget about what’s wrong with me.

When we first got here, I swore I wouldn’t touch a drink and have Kayla out of the club by at least eleven. It was the deal I made with myself when we had to wait in the long line leading into the club. I had a long day tomorrow and I couldn't afford to go through it with a hangover.

But when she pouted her lower lip and told me to just take one shot, I agreed. Why? Because it seemed like the right thing to do in that moment. But, when one turned to two and two turned to five, I just couldn’t help but keep going.

The more I drunk the more all my worries evaporated. It was like the real Kelsey was coming out to play for awhile.

Mia and Kayla drunk are scary things. But me wasted? Someone call 911 because something was bound to happen. Something always seems to happen when I let loose.

I was one of those drunks that just didn’t know how to say no. I’m one of those drunks that you would rather see sober. Looking around, I smile and  catch the eyes of some guy across the club.

He dances to the music, his hips swaying as if he actually knows what he is doing. Next to him, a girl in a short dress matches his moves, her hair sticking to her face from sweat. Even though the girl is clearly feeling him, his eyes are soley on me.

Honestly, this place sucked. , It even had  the unfortunate name of The Blue Lagoon. Which made since once you saw the blue lighting and blue bar counter. The place was also so packed that I wasn’t even five minutes into here and  was already sweating. I guess the idea of drinks being half off beings half of Michigan to join in the fun.

My hand starts to wrap around a beer when the guy from the dancefloor starts to walk toward me. He kind of reminds me of a snake, slinking his way through the crowd, watching his new prey with eager eyes.

The guy who Kayla is still currently making out with was the one who got us the liquor and when I see Kayla’s half cup of beer on the table, I reach for it and drown it within seconds. If this guy is going to come talk to me, I might as well be prepared.

The people we were hanging out with were now talking among each other and I drop the now empty cup on the table and wipe my mouth. I could totally do this. What’s one dance with a guy anyways?

The guy finally makes it to our excluded corner and his eyes run over my body. I had on jeans and a hoodie earlier, but now my jeans were rolled up at the ends and my hoodie was lost somewhere along the way from the bar to the corner I was in.

My black tank top was now is what showed and my hair was up in a slick ponytail, showing off my chest and bare shoulders. If I turned my shoulder at the right angle, I could even flash him my tattoo.

The guy seems to like what he sees and I like that he likes it. I like the way he’s checking me out like I’m a piece of candy he would like to suck.  My mind is telling me to stop, my legs were telling me to go already!

My mind gets foggy and I decide to listen to my legs. Like I said, one dance isn’t going to kill me. The guy must see my resolve melt and a slow smile spreads across his face. I match it with my own.

Up close, he’s older than I first expected, maybe late twenties. The severes buzz cut didn’t help his case either. He wasn’t bad looking, not at all, and the more he stood there, the more his face just turned into a blur.

So really it didn’t matter.

“Well, are you going to ask me to dance?” I bravely ask  him and he just continues to smile as he brings his hand out for me to take.

I grab onto it, using it for balance more than anything else. Before I can wrap my mind around what I’m doing he drags me to the dance floor, all laughter and limbs, and I turn around and look at Kayla.

With her mouth still on the guys, she looks up and smiles before leaning back and giving me a thumb ups.  I try to give her one back, but I mess it up and just give up on the whole thing. The guy is still pulling me forward and I stumble in my flip flops, but the guy doesn’t seem to mind.

He pulls my arm hard, bringing me toward him and his hands go to the lower half of my waist before I can even get my bearings. I feel his cold palms press into my hot skin and I give a little nervous laugh.

“That was quick.” I say, slurring my words a little. The crowd descends around us and soon we get lost in the sea of people that are dancing and screaming.

He just smiles and I just listen to the music and let it bring me under. The guy gets closer the longer we dance, his hips moving along with mine. His hands keep running up and down my back, his mouth getting closer every time a song ends and another restarts.

At first, I don't mind. My mind is so into the music that it doesn’t really bother me, but as the night went on and my mind got clearer and his hands got lower, I realized that this wasn’t going to turn out well.

The last straw comes when his hand cups my butt and squeezes just a tiny bit too hard. I jerk back, knocking into a girl behind me, and meet his eyes. He just shows me that stupid ass smile, but doesn’t move his hand. I bring my hand back to move it the hell away, but he captures my hand and brings it to the back of his neck instead, pressing me even closer.

Now I feel like I am going to hyperventilate. Sweat starts covering my body from anxiety  and the people all around me feel to close in. No, no, no. This isn’t how I’m supposed to end this night. It’s supposed to be great, not like this.

The guy’s fingers suddenly end up at the bottom of my stomach and he lifts up my tank top at the bottom and his fingers skim my abdomen. His clammy fingers score and touch every inch they can get their grimy tips on.

I try to move, but he keeps a tight hold.

“Stop! Let go!” I hiss under my breath but all he does is laugh loudly in my ear. His breath smells like stale beer and something  equally sour and I realize that this isn’t fun anymore.

I just want to get Kayla and leave and never think of this night ever again.

His cold hands seem to make my mind more sober and I look into his eyes and  bring my foot down and nail it into his toes. If he isn’t going to let me go then I’m going to make him.  He yelps at the pain and bends down, losing his hold on me and I jerk away from him.

“Oh,  no you don’t...” He mutters out in between clenched teeth and he finds my wrist and squeezes it harder, trying to bring me back. I turn toward him and try to move my hand, but he won’t let me move. He won’t let me do anything.

“I said let me go!” I am about to make a scene. I know it and he knows it too. I will literally scream at the top of my lungs if it means getting away from him.  He starts to bring me closer, meaning to do who knows what, when I feel something hit my shoulder.

Hard.

I stumble to my right and I feel the hold on my wrist go away. I lose my balance and land on my butt, people who were dancing clearing out of my way. My hair from my ponytail falls loose and I push it out of my eyes, shocked.

I look up, stunned, and  see no other than Julio Hernandez standing where I just was. He doesn’t even give time for the guy to explain himself before he brings his fist back and strikes the guy in the face.

Square in the nose.

The guy staggers back and hits the ground, harder than me, and seems to stay there. Julio heads toward him, a look of pure murder on his face. His body is tense and his jaw is locked in place, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Right now he’s the scariest guy in the place.

He’s also my savior.

He starts to shake out his hand and I realize that he must of knocked the guy unconscious. I stumble up, nothing but a movement of legs and arms, and  try to reach Julio before he does something stupid.  No need to beat the guy up for manhandling me. Sure, he deserved a hit or two, but not the wrath of Julio.

“Julio, stop!” I gasp, trying to reach for him. I look over his shoulder and see that Julio now has his hand around the collar of the guy’s shirt. If I thought Julio was out of control, I was wrong. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

The guy’s head is limp and falling to the side. He groans and his eyes seem to flutter. I put my hand on Julio’s forearm and try to get him to meet my eyes. I know what he’s thinking because I think it everytime something like this happens to Kayla. Only I can’t hurt the guy’s she says no too.

Julio can.

“Just stop. He isn’t worth it.” I don’t know if it’s true, but I’m already freaked out as it is.  Julio’s eyes finally meet mine and he searches my face, trying to find something. What, I have no idea, but I answer him with a small nod.

A few tense seconds pass before Julio pulls the guy closer, his hands almost white against the guy’s shirt. I begin to wonder if he even heard anything I said.

“Isn’t that what she asked you? To stop?”

The guy seems to actually whimper and I see blood forming at the side of his mouth. Julio lets out a disgusted sound and shoves the guy away, making him fall into a group of guys.

“Guys like you make me sick. You think you can take advantage of any girl who comes your way.” He spits out angrily at the guy who was now cowering on the floor, moving away from us. A few people watch his retreat with disgust.

I’m still watching the guy when Julio finally looks toward me again. I mean really looks at me. His eyes run down my body, not lingering in a way of checking me out, but seeing if I was okay.

He’s making sure the guy didn’t do anything permanent.

I fold my arms over my chest, embarrassed over the whole thing. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, if Julio wasn’t here at this moment I have no idea what would have happened. I’m scared over what could have happened and tears sting the corner of my eyes.

God, I’m going to cry in front of Julio.

I look down at my feet in embarrassment. Now over how weak I am then what the guy just did. My hair has now since come out of its ponytail more and it now hides my face, shading me from him like a curtain.

“Thank you.” I whisper, but he doesn’t hear it. Instead, he reaches forward and cups my face in his hands, his eyes running over every inch they can.

“It’s not your fault, okay? That guy should have let you go when you said no.” He drops his hands and I look away. He lets out his breath and runs his hands through his hair, agitation in every move he makes.

“Are you okay enough to make it to your dorm?” He asks and I know that I am able to do anything at this moment. I can run a mile if I really wanted too.

This whole thing has made me more sober than I could be and I nod my head, shoving down the feeling of embarrassment yet again.

I would deal with that when I was in my dorm room alone.

Julio nods his head, more for something to do then anything. He goes to move away, to leave me to what I need to do, but suddenly  stops in his tracks. This time when he looks at me his eyes turn a little weary. He lifts his hand, as if he was going to touch me again, but as soon as it comes up, he drops it.

“Please be careful for me Mays. Okay? I don’t need to be punching any more guys tonight.”

He gives me a small smile and starts to weave his way through the crowd and I watch him go for a minute and start on my way to finding Kayla. I see my hoodie on a table and I pull it on and throw my hair back up. Anything to keep my mind off of what just  happened.

On my way to find Kayla I realize that maybe I should give Julio the matter of the doubt. Maybe people just got the wrong idea of him. Maybe he just shows the world an image while on the inside he’s a different guy. Maybe he’s just thrust into the role life gave him like me.

If he was truly as bad as everyone thought, he wouldn’t of helped me tonight.

And just because I am being nice to him, it doesn’t mean he won’t still get on my nerves. That he want stop taunting me every chance he gets. Because let’s be honest, we are talking about Julio here.

And he gets on everyone’s nerves.

Even if he did kind of saved me tonight.