CHAPTER ONE
JAX
“Man, do we have to go?”I pull at the hem of my cropped-tee, urging it to cover the lower part of my stomach. It’s definitely outside my comfort zone, but, of course, I was convinced I would look great going to the one, and probably only, party I’ve ever been invited to. It doesn’t help that my pants are low-slung, hugging the widest part of my hips and showing off way more skin than I’m used to. The combination of the two has me wanting to crawl out of my own body.
My group of friends is small; it’s always been that way, and college is no different. I met my friends freshman year in my Intro to Engineering course, and we all stuck with it. Late night study sessions, no parties, research—we’ve all been together.
We’re definitely perceived as the nerds on campus, the group of students who would rather have their noses buried in a textbook than attend a football game, but that’s fine with us. We, of course, know the big name, though.Kai.
The senior quarterback, the one who rebuilt the team from the ashes and made us bowl champions, the one hosting tonight’s party.
It’s still mid-football season, so I’m sure it’s going to be completely hype, but when in Rome, I guess. We don’t have any exams, and our research is at a stand-still, since I’m not sure I want to continue in this direction, so there’s really no reason for us not to go. Well, except for the people.
Totally not our crowd, men and women humping each other all night. It’s really not where I want to be, but when Seth begged me to go, I couldn’t say no. Not now.
Seth and I started as friends and tried to take it further, but we mutually decided that’s not us. I borrowed tonight’s outfit from him, and, although it makes me more than just a little uncomfy, I do think I look really fucking good.
“Yes, we have to go. This is our only shot.”
He’s really not wrong. It’s not just that we don’t want to go normally, but we’re also not invited. I guess we’re not their type of crowd either.
He comes out of the bathroom, outfit almost identical to mine.
“You look good,” I say, drawing out thegood.
“I know,” Seth says, popping his foot up for extra dramatics before throwing his wallet in his back pocket. “Let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER TWO
JAX
This house is fucking massive.Seth and I stand on the sidewalk just ogling it like a pair of losers. We both rent little studio apartments, and I grew up in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house. This? This is on a whole other level. There must be at least ten bedrooms. It’s two stories, windows showcasing different rooms along the front of the house, a veranda covering the front porch. Party lights flash from the lower level windows, music pouring through the stone work.
“What the actual fuck did you get us into?”
“I–I have no clue.”
I let out a deep sigh and let my tongue play with the little bit of the sucker still sitting on the stick. I start my way towards the front door, and as soon as I reach it, it swings open, a pair of women stumbling out, bumping into us along the way. They both reek of liquor, my nose turning up as we watch them laugh and trip over their own feet.
With one last glance at Seth, I take the first step into the house and look around.
It’s like we’ve been transported to a different dimension, the music becoming that much louder and the lights flashing throwing me off-kilter.
Groups of people are littered about, the ones clearly not dancing either talking or sharing spit. This is exactly like the movies make it seem.
I move like a snake, turning my body back and forth to wind around people while also trying not to touch them. It’s harder than it sounds, but, after a few moments, we finally reach the kitchen. Littered across the island in the middle is liquor bottles, a tub in the corner housing bottles and cans, and a keg in another corner with plastic cups sitting on top of a pump.
There’s a ton of people squeezing around the kitchen, so I opt for the path of least resistance. I grab a can each for me and Seth before sidling right next to it, where no one else is occupying space.
“This is, uh, a lot,” I say as I take the stick from the candy out of my mouth and crack open the cheap beer. Taking a sip of the cool liquid, I grimace at the taste. It doesn’t taste all that good, especially with the blue raspberry from the candy still filling my mouth. I continue to take in my surroundings as Seth cracks his open and takes a drink too.
“Uh, yah. This is. But how cool! We’re at our first college party!”
My eyes don’t stop moving. Seth stands next to me so we can watch each other's interactions.
“I could really go for a shot, though.” I thread my hand through my black hair before I shove it back into my pocket, cross my legs, and lean into the wall. My anxiety is steadily rising the more people crowding into the space. For as big as this house seemed from the outside, being inside? Way too fucking small.
“How about you go get one? I could save our spot.”