The Freshman (College Years 1)

Good girls don’t interest him. Readily available women don’t interest him either.

“There are too many women on this campus to settle on just one pussy,” Caleb declares. He’s the player of our group, and he’s always got not-so-wise words to say. “I get why Diego is with Jocelyn. They have a baby. They’re a family now. He’s doing the right thing, and he’s always loved her. I just thank God it’s not happening to me.”

He bursts out laughing. Jackson joins in. Eli chuckles, but I can tell he’s uncomfortable because he’s madly in love with Ava and doesn’t want anyone else.

I don’t laugh either, because I have no opinion on one pussy or a thousand pussies. Everyone has a unique set of circumstances, and we all approach situations differently. I wasn’t lying when I told Hayden I thought relationships and love and marriage was a joke. They are. I’m the biggest nonbeliever in love out there.

But I’m not adverse to spending time with her and possibly turning it into something…more. I know how to keep it casual. What’s the harm in that? I’m the one who keeps suggesting friends with benefits. And she’s the one who keeps turning me down.

So fuck it.

“Your hot blonde?” Jackson says to me, pointing his beer can at me. “She’s a challenge. I can tell just from the look on her face.”

“She can be annoying,” I admit.

Jackson laughs. “The challenges usually are. Look, she’s pretty, but she might be too much for you to handle. You’re a pretty calm guy. Maybe turn her over to Caleb and he can give it a go.”

Say the fuck what?

“She’s not a toy to be passed around,” I say with disgust.

“I already said I’m not interested,” Caleb says, tilting his nose into the air as if he’s a snobbish female connoisseur. Which I suppose he is, considering the number of girls he’s been with over the years.

Guy is only eighteen and he’s been with a lot of girls.

Speaking of eighteen…

“She’s twenty and a junior. Meaning, she thinks we’re all too young,” I tell them.

They all start making noise, most of it dismissive.

“Has she seen me in action?” Caleb asks, pointing at his junk. “I’m fuckin’ impressive.”

We ignore him.

“We don’t know life without smart phones,” Jackson adds. “I’ve got years of porn watching under my belt. I know what’s up.”

I make a face. Watching internet porn definitely teaches us a few things, but I wouldn’t consider that as part of my sexual experience.

“As if that’s a life skill,” Eli says, not holding back as usual. It’s his best and worst trait. “I’m sure she’s watched lots of porn too. She’d call you out on any fake ass move.”

“She seems like the type to suggest watching porn with you to get in the mood,” Jackson says, his mood shifting to sullen. He didn’t like us making fun of the porn mention, but he asked for it. “She’s probably boring in bed.”

Doubt it. She was pretty adventurous with me Saturday night, practically stripping in front of me, and we’d only just met.

“How about we don’t talk about her behind her back, hmm?” I suggest.

“Oooh,” they all say together, before they start laughing.

How they knew to say that at the same time, I don’t get. I just scowl at them.

“You’ve got it bad,” Jackson says.

“Tony has a crush,” Caleb teases in a high-pitched voice.

“About damn time, after what Sophie did to you,” Eli says.

We all go silent, and my good mood evaporates. I hate hearing her name. Thinking about her. It’s not that I’m still madly in love with Sophie. I just hated how things ended for us. How she broke up with me and up and left right before the second semester of our senior year started. She was done with me. Done with our school and her friends. Done with the entire area, and she’s already moved on. I felt abandoned, but what else was new?