“If you want to. I had you first, so I’m not letting you go. But if you want us both, I’ll gladly accept.”
This seems like an unreal situation right now, and I can’t figure out what the fuck to say. But it’s what she just said that’s making my head swirl.I had you first, so I’m not letting you go.That might be an issue.
LEIA
“Push, Leia. You have two more intervals to go.”
Keep pushing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Drive. Lean. Accelerate. Repeat.
Two intervals in, and I fall out on the track. I. Cannot. Feel. My. Legs. I see stars. I see the sun. How pretty. My breathing is having trouble slowing down. My heart feels like it wants out.I feel you, heart.Running four intervals of 200 meters and having only a one-minute break feels likeass. Taya stumbles over to me, hardly catching a breath herself.
“Leia—”cough.“Come on, girl. You have to get up. We need to shower before the party tonight.” Ah, yes. Another party. It’s the second freaking day of school, and I’m already over the parties on Greek Row. Friday night was a pain. Nick was very annoying; I couldn’t stop crying when I got back to my dorm. All night at the party, he kept trying to lure me to an upstairs room for ‘alone time.’ It wouldn’t have bothered me as much because I know how guys are with their ‘needs.’ It wouldn’t have bothered me as much if he wasn’t pushy about it.
I’m a virgin. I should be ashamed of this, but I’m not. Nick is the last guy I would give it to. I think every guy on campus are the last guys I would eventhinkto have sex with. It sounds pathetic, but that’s important to me.
We make it back to our dorm, and I take a long shower. It was definitely needed after that wild training session. I don’t know what pissed Coach Venus off, but now I know what to do to avoid pissing her off. My legs are already sore. The strange thing is that it always feels good after a hard workout, because you feel accomplished. Mentally, it feels amazing. Physically, I’m about ready to inject some sort of feeling into my legs.
“Hey, Leia. Can we talk? I need to tell you something,” Taya says ominously. My senses are immediately spiked.
“Yeah, sure. Are you all right?”
I take out my makeup kit as she sits down on her bed, pensive. I frown.
“Yeah, I’m alright. I just have...guy problems.” Oh. Not much different from how my life is right now anyway. Who knew college would be more relationship-heavy than high school? “I’m seeing Hunter Rosen.”
I suddenly freeze. “Hunter Rosen? Not—”
“Yeah.” I mentally groan. Jake’s fucking friend, Hunter. Taya is seeing him. The fuckboy? How is sheseeinghim? He doesn’t...seegirls.
“What do you mean byseeinghim? Doesn’t he sort of sleep around?” I try to tread lightly with her. Getting involved with Hunter doesn’t seem like a great idea. I haven’t spoken to the guy that much, and I can already gather that he’s not into monogamy. Or maybe she doesn’t mind.
“Well...I figured he had a past.” I can’t help the chuckle that comes out. ‘Past’ is an understatement. “We’ve sort of been hanging out lately. It was kind of platonic...until two Greek Row parties ago.”
I close my eyes. “So...do youlikehim?” I’m not sure what this conversation is about. Is she wanting advice? Reassurance that he’s not a bastard? Because I can’t give her any of those things when I can’t even handle two guys. She just shrugs, trying to play it off. But I know Taya. She’s a party girl and never gets serious like this about a guy.
“I don’t know. IthinkI do. But I’m not sure if he feels the same.” Taya’s a beautiful girl. Completely opposite of how I look, and she attracts a ton of attention. In fact, she and Sarah both do. Where Taya is more brunette, Sarah is a redhead. Sarah has a girl next door look that guys would kill for. Taya has a more sultry look. Me? I’m more of a tomboy girlygirl. All three of us get attention, but they will most likely get more attention than I will.
With that said, it breaks my heart to see Taya having second thoughts about whether or not a guy likes her. Especially a womanizer like Hunter Rosen. I want to say ‘Give it a chance,’ but I feel like I’d be setting her up for failure.
“Why don’t you try exploring it? Don’t dive in too fast, but if you see him as a potential boyfriend, I say go for it.” That’s the best advice I can give. And maybe I need to take my own.
She gives me a brilliant smile and a hug.
“You just made me so much better saying that. Thanks, Leia.”
“Of course. Just be careful. Those hockey boys are a whole league that everyone aspires to be a part of. Getting their attention is easy. Keeping it is what might be difficult,” I say truthfully.I know firsthand.
Part of being a college freshman? They assign you a peer guide to make sure your transition from high school to university goes smoothly. My peer guide? I don’t think she wants to have anything to do with me.
Every time she meets me outside my classes, she doesn’t seem like she wants to be bothered. She has the most monotone voice too.
“This is the library. So...if you need to check out books...this is where you go.”
Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. I might have to trade her in for another one. I feel such an unwelcoming presence from her, it’s not even funny. I don’t even know why I have one. I know my way around the campus. I’ve been going to summer camp on this campus for two years, so obviously I know where to go.
I was finally about to get away from her for about ten minutes. I asked for water from one of the guys in the kitchen at the party. My liquid courage. I’m not sure if it’ll be strong enough to get me through the night. If I have to walk around with this miserable senior for the rest of the night, I might need to reconsider my stance on drinking.
“Seriously? That’s all you’re going to drink? Water?” Shit. She found me.