My comment hits its mark because I can practically see him grinding the molars in his jaw. “I'm a student here too,” he grits out.
At the look on my face, he scowls before he explains, “Football scholarship.”
I don't say anything, because I'm not rude enough to say that the only way he could get in is on an athletic scholarship. I used to help some of our teachers grade his papers, and while he passed, he wasn't the smartest kid on the block. I certainly don't think Joey is dumb. I just don't think he ever really applied himself to anything but football.
But that’s not my business, and I certainly don't care.
The blonde dude apparently can't take a hint even after being slung away by Joey. He slinks back up and cast questioning eyes between us. “You two know each other?”
Joey turns and gives him a withering stare. “Beat it,” he tells him in a deadly voice.
Blonde dude holds his hands up and backs away. “Sure, man. She's all yours.”
I don’t know whether to be more offended that Joey just scared off my first potential friend or at the fact that blonde dude gave me up so easily, so I choose to be pissed about both.
I cross my arms over my chest and tell Joey reasonably, “Look, just because we're both on this campus doesn't mean we have to be in each other's way. Act like I'm not here.”
Joey's eyes rake me from head to toe, blazing as they do so before they come back up to meet mine. My breath catches at the look in his eyes. “Hard to do when you're dressed like that, honey.”
My cheeks flame at both the insinuation and the way he calls me “honey.”
I stare at him for a moment before I decide I’ve finally had enough of this bullshit. The last thing I need is Joey Brown killing my vibe at my first college party.
I push past him and head over to the bar.
Another guy grins and hands me a red solo cup. I've never drunk alcohol at all in my life, so I take a tentative sip before wrinkling my nose and swallowing.
It's definitely not good, but I hold onto the cup, determined to try to blend in.
I can still feel Joey's gaze on me, and when I turn around, he's standing on the other side of the room with his arms crossed, glaring at me.
I turn back away from him.
Fuck him. He doesn't own this campus. He might have owned high school, but he can't stop me from being here.
I take another sip of the liquid and then smile to myself as I start to relax.
A girl with brunette hair bumps into me and then looks me up and down before complimenting me, “Love the look!”
She's dressed similarly to me in a mini skirt and a top that shows plenty of stomach and cleavage.
I instantly relax at being accepted by another female. She wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me toward another group of girls. She introduces herself as Alicia and then names off the other girls too.
I can't remember all their names. The music is pumping, and it's so loud in here. The little bit of alcohol I've consumed has already got me buzzing.
I tell the girls my name and let them pull me onto the dance floor where we all begin to dance together.
I throw my head back and laugh, forgetting all about Joey Brown because for the first time in my life, I'm being accepted.
I'm having a blast, and nothing‚—especially not some arrogant football player from my past—is going to ruin this for me.
CHAPTERTHREE
Joey
I frownas I keep a studious watch on Penny as she dances. Thankfully she's with a group of girls. I don't know what I’d do if she was dancing with other guys.
Actually, yeah, I do. I’d lose my fucking mind.