Page 126 of Honey Pot

The drive to the row wasn’t long, ten minutes at the most, but the closer we got the more nervous I got. I couldn’t even remember the last party I had attended and they had never been my thing. Too many people, everyone drunk off their faces being idiots. Blurred lines and even worse entitlement. I shuddered as the cab stopped in front of a massive building overflowing with bodies.

“There are guys here…” I said to Bobbi as we stood on the front lawn.

“Yeah?” Bobbi turned her head to me. “Some of the popular sororities will do co-ed parties for rush. You’ll be okay, just stay close and try to have fun.”

Bobbi had been a life saver, literally. The first day of University had been mortifying, and for a little while there I was convinced that I should just go home. She was working at the small coffee shop on campus and the first time we had met she asked my name and never forgot it. After that day, for at least two months, I struggled with my own shortcomings.I didn’t know how to make friends.

Everytime I opened my mouth to talk to her, nonsense came out and I just embarrassed myself, but she didn’t seem to care. She started getting my coffee ready before I arrived and tossed in small pastries because ‘you don’t eat enough.’

Turned out we had three classes together and she had never once seen me in the cafeteria. But that was because I avoided it. It reminded me too much of high school and I couldn’t stand eating in front of everyone, so I usually found a quiet spot on the back lawn and nibbled on the snacks I brought.

Eventually, we just started being friends.

I couldn’t actually put a finger on when it happened but she’d come over to watch movies and I show her how to fix lines in her media homework. Bobbi was my best friend but never once did I feel eclipsed by her. It was equal.

The music thumping into my veins brought me back to reality as we climbed the stairs inside. It looked like any other party I had ever been to; girls in short dresses, guys double fisting whatever drinks they could find, and everyone blissfully unaware of the mistakes they would make in the dark.

“I’ll go get us a drink.” Bobbi smiled and her hand left mine without a second thought. I tried to follow but the crowd closed around her and I was stuck with my back against the door.

“Matthews.” His voice raked down my spine and left goosebumps in its wake. Appearing like a nightmare from my left in a tight black shirt and a pair of jeans. He was taller, but his hair was still tucked beneath a faded cowboy hat and his smile was just as bright.

“Kiefer.” I swallowed tightly and stepped back from him.

“I didn’t know you went to AU,” he said, those green eyes rolling over me and stopping at my hips before snapping back up to my chest.

“Eyes up here,” I said and the comment made him flinch. His eyes darkened on mine but his smile widened.

“Easy, Matthews. I come in peace.” He put both hands in the air and some of his drink spilled.

“I thought you didn’t drink,” I said as the tequila wafted into what little space he left between us. At one point the smell of his cologne was a turn on, I sought it out. On his clothes, in class, on dates. Now it made me gag.

“I’m a grown up now, juice doesn’t cut it.”

“Does the tequila make you a better person?” I stared at the cup, raising my eyebrow at it.

The laugh that dripped from him was hollow and full of malice. “Oh come on Clemmy, we were kids, I was dumb. You’re being a little rude,” he said, his tone dropping. “That’s not like you.”

“What were you expecting?” I tilted my chin up at him, my body filling with adrenaline. I wasn’t that little girl that he had taken advantage of. He’d killed her that day and made me harder, and more aware of the dangers boys like him presented.

“Maybe a little nostalgia,” he jabbed. “The least you could do is be civil.”

I cocked my head to the side and, even though he towered over me, I stepped forward and brought us chest to chest.

“Why would you ever think I’d want to be civil with you?” I asked him with disgust, lacing every word. My hands shook at my side and my heart was in my throat but god it felt good to let myself get angry. I had been leaving it to fester for so long, mad at him, at Cael, at myself and the world. But lashing out here, at him. It made me feel alive again.

“We had fun and you’re letting a small mistake get in the way of us doing that again.” Kiefer didn’t budge on his dominant stance to appear friendly or harmless, not even for a second.

“In the way of doing what again?Sexual assault?” I watched his entire body tighten at the words, almost like he had forgotten the term used for what he had done.

“We were dating, you–”

“I’m not insecure enough to fall for that again, Kiefer, but it seems you’re still stupid enough to try it.” I cut him off quickly before he could say something he’d regret. I waited patiently, unafraid but still coursing with adrenaline as he stepped back out of my space and gave me room to make an exit.

Before I got too far I turned and looked at him one last time.

“Kiefer?” His head popped up from its hung position with an angry but hurt expression plastered across it. “If I find out you hurt any girl on this campus, I’ll go public and make sure the world knows exactly who you are.”

All the color drained from his face as the crowd closed around me and I was lost to a sea of bodies and music, drowning in the rush of finally standing up for myself.

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