Page 16 of Your Side of the Offense

Our outfits are coordinated, a cardigan on top of her crop, and I don't, and instead of a short skirt, she has a pair of jeans.

It's a cool night and I realize how great outside is when we step out.

"Oh, my god. I hope the boys here are gorgeous like that guy."

"You still hung up on that guy from the shop?"

"Uh, yeah. If you saw him too, we'd be fighting over him right now. Girl, I tell you he was made by the deities to lure us away from the righteous path."

We laugh.

"Oh, come on, no one is that gorgeous," I say.

What I mean to say is I've seen better. I've dated better. And I haven't seen anyone here who is anything to write home about. I mean, I've seen more than a few hot guys and maybe I'm biased, but my exes were gorgeous.

We walk across campus to the other side of the standalone houses. A few streets with more student accommodation, separated by years. We get to the senior's street and don't have to ask where the party is. The whole street is congregated in this house of the apparent lords of the college.

We approach the girl friend who invited Hazel. Apparently, they met on the plane and she's a sophomore. Thanks to Hazel's social skills, here we are.

"Oh, hello pretty girls!" the gorgeous blonde approaches with a bright smile.

I smile involuntarily. Her energy is infectious, or maybe she's tipsy.

"Gabby!" Hazel squeals and they hug and air kiss. I chuckle a little cause I wasn't expecting that.

"Gabs, this is my next-door neighbor and current bff." Hazel gives me a challenging arch of the eyebrow and I bite my amused lips. "Her name is Summer, but her parents and I call her Su. Su, this is Gabby. The reason we are going to be the cool freshmen."

"Hey, Gabby." We hug only, which I'm glad.

Double-cheek kisses are weird for me. I always forget where to go first. Like I know in my head, but when it's action time, I drop the ball. Jaden used to say I should just embrace the fact that I'm a thug for life. I find myself smiling. But hide it quickly when I see the gaze of both girls on me. Okay, I just did something weird. Save yourself.

"I'm thirsty. Can we get drinks?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come and let me introduce you to the generous gods who threw this party."

We follow her navigating through the crowds. The party is crawling with hot people and the energy is infectious and intoxicating.

We are definitely not in high school anymore.

The music is deafening as we pass the kitchen counter; the whole living room is open plan, and head to where the tall guys are. I'm guessing the athletes. The ones every girl comes here hoping to hook up with. I realize then, I have no such hopes. In fact, I'll pass.

I hate how my heart still clings to something that will never happen. I decided to move on, but it’s like my heart is holding out for something. It refuses to let go and that annoys the fuck out of me. I should just find a nice guy and move on.

A guy comes around grabbing Gabby's waist and gives her cheek a sloppy kiss.

I miss those. My envious heart breaks. Why do men have to be pieces of shit? I would still have all of that. But I resign my focus and get back to the present where a second guy just turned up.

"Landon! Stop!" Gabby giggles, the fondling not stopping. I have a suspicion this guy would finger her right here if she said yes.

"Get a fuckin room!" the second guy says. I look to him and appreciate his physique. He's not bad looking, not bad-looking at all. I get out of my thoughts when Hazel nudges me and I realize I was staring.

"Hi," I say, a little shy.

He gives me a bright grin. "Hello, pretty girls. I'm Logan."

"I'm Hazel and my friend here is Summer." I almost scowl at her. I had it.

Another guy comes around.

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