ChapterOne
Parker
“How did I know I’d find you here?” Liam says as he drops down in the little metal chair next to mine.
He’s wearing his jersey again today, and I’m starting to wonder if he owns any other shirts. I quickly close my book and turn to him. Why is he even here? I'm going to have to find a new spot to kill time while I wait for Lexi to get out of her class. Mine ends around twenty minutes before hers does, so I’m always here.
“Because this is my spot?” I push my glasses up my nose and take a drink of my cocoa so I don’t have to speak more.
I always buy one so I don’t feel bad occupying one of the tables. I have them put it in one of the to-go coffee cups so no one knows that I’m drinking hot chocolate, heavy on the marshmallows. Coffee has never been my thing, and I have no idea how people choke it down. Especially when cocoa is an option.
“It sure is.” He smirks at me, and I wonder if his expression is supposed to make me swoon. It definitely doesn’t.
This is my second year at Kingston University. When I was a freshman, Liam was a junior. He’s more of a player off the football field than on, which is ridiculous because he’s the star quarterback. He helped the team take the school to state last year, and they likely will again this year. It only goes to show how much he gets around, and unfortunately, he’s suddenly got his sights set on me.
I curse the day I caved to my mom's wishes and pledged to Delta Phi Sigma. I wish I could take it back, and now I’m wondering if I actually can. Are people allowed to drop out, or do you have to wait for them to say they’re not accepting you? I’ll die if I somehow get in.
Getting in would mean leaving my dorm, which would really blow. I’ve been banking on not getting in. So much so that I spilled all the lame things about me so the sorority will think I’m a dud and scratch me right off their list. One of those things was me still being a virgin.
What I hadn’t planned on was that while it might make me a dud with all the popular fun sorority girls over at Delta Phi Sigma, I hadn't expected it to get around to the male population and suddenly make me popular with them.
“Did you need something?” I ask, hoping to move this along so I can get back to my book.
“I only wanted to sit with a pretty girl.” This time he winks at me, and it’s a fight not to cringe. This is so awkward, and I can’t be the only one feeling this. Liam clears his throat, waiting for me to say something.
“You’re pretty too,” I blurt out, sensing the pressure to return some kind of compliment. Even if he’s full of utter bull crap.
He doesn’t think I’m pretty. I’ve seen the girls he’s been with. I’m cute with maybe a side of dorky. Unless my roommate Lexi gets a hold of me and makes me adorable. Lexi is so pretty too, but she’s an artist and can make us look amazing when we feel up to it. She’s got a great sense of style that’s different than everyone else's.
“Pretty?” He chuckles before silence falls over the table once again.
As people pass our table outside of the small coffee shop on campus, they glance our way. They’re probably wondering why Liam is sitting with me, and some might even know who I am if they know my last name.
“You’ve been reading this book for a while now.” Liam makes a grab for it, but somehow I beat him to it. He really is paying attention. I need to update my book sleeve, I suppose.
“Slow reader,” I lie, pushing my glasses up my nose again.
“I’ve never read him before. Any good?” he asks. Damn it, why is he pushing to have a conversation?
“Yeah, it’s good.”
I did read the Joe Hill book when I got it, but the truth is while I enjoy most of his stuff, I enjoy the sleeves of his books more. I can slide them over other books and hide what I’m really reading. I’ve been doing it since freshman year of high school when I got made fun of for my reading choices. Sure, I could use my Kindle, but I still enjoy the feeling of a book in my hands.
“Are you going to the party at Delta Phi Sigma this Friday?” Liam asks.
“I think I have to.” Or I at least have to help set up or whatever, but hopefully I can dip out after.
I should go and be horrible at everything they ask me to do to make sure I don’t make the cut. I wish I could blow it off altogether, but my own stupid personality tics ensure that I’ll be there. Being late drives me insane, which only makes me double insane for caring if I’m late to something I’m trying to get kicked out of.
“How about I swing by Hayden Hall Friday night and pick you up? We can go together. You’re on the second floor, right? Unit 2 or 3?” I stare at him for a second. How the hell does he know all that?
“We’re going to be late.” Lexi snags my cup from off the table, and I’m relieved that she’s here at the perfect time. “Come on.” She doesn’t give Liam the time of day, and right now, I love her with all my heart.
We struck gold the day we got roomed together. Lexi is a freshman and here on a partial scholarship. She gives no shits about who is popular or if they come from money or not. She wouldn't even know Liam’s name if not for me complaining about him to her.
“Sorry, I’ve got to go.” I hop up from my seat and grab my bag as I slip my book into it at the same time.
“All right.” Liam gives Lexi a dirty look, and I can tell he’s hating that she isn’t sparing him a glance. “See you later,” I hear him say as Lexi links her arm with mine and hurries me away from him.
“I get to keep this, right?” Lexi takes another sip from my cup.
“You earned that,” I laugh. “Hell, I owe you a dozen. Where the hell did you even come from?”
“Got out early and tracked you down.” She tosses the empty cup into the trash before pulling out her phone and key card to let us into the building. “Told you we needed to share locations on our phones.”
Lexi actually just got an iPhone since I forced my old one on to her when my mom sent me a new one. It took some pushing, but I finally got her to take it. Now she’s obsessed with it.
“He’s not backing down,” I sigh as we take the stairs up to our floor.
“Well, soon you’re going to rid yourself of that virginity anyway, so he can go kick rocks.”
“Whatever.” Heat fills my cheeks. “You’re a virgin too.”
I wish I could care less what other people said about me, like Lexi, because she doesn’t give two shits. When I’d let it slip about still being a virgin, the comments rolled in from the other girls in the sororities and other pledges. I hadn’t missed one mumbled comment about no one wanting to have sex with me. Ouch.
“Who cares about the virginity thing? I'm concerned about this orgasm thing.” This is the tenth time she’s bringing this up. “I might not be having sex, not that anyone can blame me when people like…” She pauses, and her brows pull up as she thinks.