**ALL OF MY WRITING IS 100% FICTION. KEEP THAT IN MIND. I literally googled "common sororities" and picked the ones that I thought sounded cool. My sister is in a sorority so some info throughout the book will be from things she has told me.** 

**Edited**

Poppy's POV

I took a deep breath and released it slowly from my lips. I blinked and the last week had all but flown by. Between helping my mom get Tansy settled into her first week of preschool, and trying not to drown in the high-stress activities and decision-making that was infamously associated with rush week, I hadn't had a single second to just simply breathe. I felt like there wasn't enough time in the day for everything I needed to do, and it was starting to take a toll on me mentally and physically.

I rubbed my temples, an impending headache beginning to painfully throb there, as Kiara continued to rush around our little suite-style dorm. She'd been bustling to set random things up here and there all through the morning and into the afternoon. In true Kiara-fashion, she'd gone completely overboard like she always had a tendency to do. I would tease her for it if it wasn't one of the numerous reasons I loved her. Whenever she got excited about something, she gave it her one hundred percent all.

I hadn't really believed Kiara at first when she'd said the extra money her parents splurged for us to have a suite instead of a standard-style dorm would be well worth it; now taking in the over-the-top room-design while sitting on our leather loveseat, I knew she was more than right. Matter-of-fact, there wasn't a single doubt in my mind. The place was insanely nice. With that being said, though, I was still completely against her parents spending even more money than they already had on the both of us, I'm glad I eventually relented. The simple fact that I wouldn't have to share the space with anyone else, besides Kiara, had been the deal breaker for me. The place was basically like a little apartment for two but it resided within campus grounds and was considered student housing. Expensive student housing, but student housing nonetheless. This place was much pricier than I was comfortable with, but Kiara's parents had insisted.

"I was thinking a white faux-fur rug would look really cute under the coffee table with the decorative pillows I bought for the couch, don't you think?" Kiara's sweet, feminine voice floated to my ears. I pondered the question for a minute before replying.

"Whatever you think would look good. You've always had a better sense of style than me," I answered with a genuine smile. She flashed me her signature megawatt smile while nodding vigorously. I leaned over so that my elbows were positioned on my knees, my hands cupping my cheeks on either side of my face before speaking.

"Not to be a Debbie Downer Kiara, but what are we going to do next year when we have to live in our respective sorority houses?" I asked. I hated to be the one to address the elephant in the room - which showed up two days ago during bid day and had yet to make its leave - but someone had to do it and I knew for a fact that it wasn't going to be Kiara. She's always been one to avoid confrontation if at all possible, even more so than me and that was saying something.

She sighed heavily before saying, "I was wondering when you were going to bring that up. I just assumed that since we get along so perfectly when we're together, you would end up rushing Pi Phi as I did. It never occurred to me that since I've known you forever, you're completely different around me than you are with everyone else. The important thing to remember is that this isn't the end of the world and it's not like we'll stop being friends. That would never happen. Besides, Kappa is only a little farther along Greek Row in proximity to Pi Phi, so we'll still just be a couple houses away while we're living in," she assured me.

I could tell that us not being in the same sorority had taken a toll on her; emotionally that is. She had always planned on us doing everything and anything together, side by side. From Girl Scouts to softball - and then volleyball when we quit the former after I got hit particularly hard in the thigh from a bad pitch and ended up chickening-out horribly every time I was called up to bat after the incident - and student council in high school, this was supposed to be our next step. Now that things hadn't gone our way, she was more than a little distraught. To be completely honest, so was I.

I was upset at first, but I knew I fit in better at the house I'd picked. There was a mixture of outspoken girls, like Kiara, and girls like me; shy until I got to know someone well enough. After I got over my wallowing, I realized that I'd been just the tiniest bit glad that Kiara and I'd ended up in different sororities as it gave me the chance to branch out more and meet new people, like I'd hoped, without using her as my crutch all the time. Getting out of your comfort zone and grasping new opportunities with both hands was, after all, what college was all about. Well, and earning a degree but that one was a given.

I pushed myself off of the couch and grabbed one of my boxes labeled Poppy (Bedroom) before carefully slicing the top open with a box cutter so I could examine its contents and decide what to do with them. The box had a decent weight to it, so I had to lean over in order to shuffle the items around and take inventory of all the contents. I gave a weak grimace of pain as the high-waisted cutoff shorts Kiara lent me this morning dug into my stomach. It was at that moment that I started regretting my decision to unpack my clothes later tonight instead of last night as Kiara had done. I was surprised the shorts hadn't ripped yet with the extra weight they were bearing.

My hips were almost twice the width that Kiara's were, and my butt was undeniably bigger - I had my mother to thank for that. It was to the point that I couldn't get the buttons done, so Kiara had to teach me a trick that consisted of putting a hair tie through the buttonhole and then looping the elastic around the button itself. The spaghetti strap tank top wasn't as bad since Kiara and I were only about a bra size apart, but it still hugged me tighter than I was used to. Actually, the built-in bra, which usually does absolutely nothing for a busty girl like myself, was just tight enough for me to be able to get away without wearing a bra. It wasn't like I was going anywhere today anyway, so the makeshift outfit would do for now.

I picked up my antique jewelry box, an old gift from my beloved grandmother, and dusted the top off. I hadn't realized the front clasp had been left undone until the lid on top swung open and every pair of earrings I owned spewed across the floor. I let out a sigh of annoyance and bent over once again to pick them up just as a knock sounded against the front door. Kiara muttered a quick I got it and trudged across the living room to answer the door.

"Jesus fucking Christ," I heard a deep, husky voice growl out.

I would know that voice anywhere.

Quickly righting myself, I spun around and almost choked as my breath caught in my throat. Suddenly such a simple action like breathing became extremely hard.

This was certainly not the same preteen boy who'd left many years ago. Oh no, standing before me was no doubt a full-grown man.

And dear God was he a sight for sore eyes. The eight years he'd been MIA had most definitely treated him kindly. So kindly.

I greedily scanned Knox's huge build, taking notice of how he barely fit in the doorframe. He'd always been so much taller than me - taller than everyone, really - but if I had to guess, I would say he was at least 6'6 or taller now. His shoulders were impossibly wide and his veiny arms were bulging with muscles.

I think his muscles even have muscles.

His surprise visit was jarring, to say the least. I never, in a million years, thought he would come back here. He'd caused so much trouble for not only himself, but also everyone around him, that a fresh start was really what he needed. I felt a small flush of embarrassment rush through me when remembering all the things I'd told him in my letters after his parents shipped him off to some unknown military school right before he'd entered high school.

I only ever sent him one single letter a year - for Christmas. When Kiara told me his parents cut off pretty much all contact with him the second he'd boarded the plane, my heart had ached for him. Even as a measly ten-year-old, I'd known that was just...barbaric. So, despite his incessant bullying of me when we were children, I was able to put my personal feelings of him aside and understand that no one deserved utter isolation from everyone where they called home. Especially when you're forced to leave against your own will.

He'd only written me back twice; once when he graduated high school to inform me that I could continue sending letters to the same address since he planned to volunteer at the organization, and the second time was this past Christmas strangely enough. I'd been under the impression that he was just throwing my letters away, but clearly not. After I got confirmation that my letters weren't going directly into the bin, I started sending more than just a letter. That single, lonesome letter turned into a miniature care basket of sorts. Sometimes I would also include funny gag gifts - like the pink, sparkly keychain that spelled out Trouble in cursive. I remember seeing it dangling from a display in a gas station two years ago and giggling my head off over it.

From the most recent response he sent, I knew he'd developed a strict workout schedule over the years, but that was all he really said. The impersonality behind writing the letters was the only thing that made the small gesture possible. Had I thought there to be a chance of future face-to-face contact with him, I don't think I would've been brave enough to even send the first letter, or tell him the things I had.

But here he is now.

I gulped and eventually tore my eyes from his frame, inching them up towards his face. I wish I could say I was disappointed, but I would be a liar if I did. His jawline was sharp and lightly covered with stubble, a scar reaching from the area near his earlobe to the tip of his chin. He had a set of full, light pink lips that looked just the slightest bit chapped from what I guessed was being constantly gnawed at. I immediately wanted to kiss them, and that's what infuriated me the most about the whole situation.

When I looked at him now, two conflicting emotions swirled in my stomach. Seeing him in person again reminded me of all the problems he'd caused me as a kid. I thought I was mature enough to put those memories aside, but I just couldn't seem to fully squash the grudge that'd settled in my heart in order to move on.

But, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that those ill feelings I still harbored towards Knox Carmichael were the only ones, I knew that wasn't the truth. He was, and always will be, the first guy I ever had an intense crush on. Any logical person would want absolutely nothing to do with someone who bullied them their entire childhood - and believe me, I don't - but there's still the smallest piece inside me that causes a tiny swarm of butterflies to flutter in my stomach, my heartbeat to quicken, and my palms to sweat at the sight of the brooding figure in front of me.

I shoved the feelings as far down as I possibly could and plastered a stoic look onto my face. I finally made eye contact with his light blue-green eyes and swallowed deeply. I may be shy, but I'm not naïve; I knew for certain that the look he was giving me right now was anything but friendly. It was a look that screamed I would take you hard against the nearest wall if your sister wasn't in the room and it caused a furious blush to overtake my skin. Traitorous body. My reaction to him seemed to only turn Knox on even further, which was the exact opposite of what I wanted to happen.

Try as I might, I couldn't keep the way he was looking at me from affecting my body further than just blushing. My breathing quickened and my nipples tightened at the appreciative look on his face. A sudden pang of need shot to my lower...lady regions. Heck, could you blame me? No guy had ever looked at me this way, let alone such an attractive one at that. No matter how much I wanted to distance myself from the guy, I was still female.

Knox's eyes drifted down to my chest and I watched as a slight smirk pulled at the corners of his lips, his tongue darting out to wet them seductively. I huffed out my annoyance and angrily crossed my arms over my chest before mustering up the best glare I possibly could.

"Knox? What are you doing here?" I demanded, silently cursing my voice for coming out weak merely from his presence. His smirk grew bigger as his chest rumbled with quiet laughter.

"Hi, Flower. Did you miss me?" He asked. His voice was so rich and deep that it almost distracted me from the fiery hot anger I felt swarm through my body at what he had called me. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about that. It was the stupid nickname he'd given me when I was four-years-old. I would never forget how he went around telling everyone that Poppy was a stupid name and that I should just go by flower instead. I'd gone home crying to my mom from the park that day. Like I said, kids can stink sometimes.

"Dang it, Knox! You know I hate it when you call me that!" I hissed at him, flustered beyond belief. This is exactly what I needed to remind myself that I don't like him anymore...

Seconds later I internally scolded myself, realizing this was the exact reaction he'd been hoping to elicit out of me. I could see the amusement sparkling in his eyes plain as day. I couldn't believe I'd fallen right into his trap, but, in my defense, he always knew the perfect way to get me riled up with only a couple words or even a single gesture.

"I know it does. Why do you think I still call you it, hm?" I rolled my eyes at his response and opened my mouth to fire something clever back at him, but Kiara cut me off.

"Why are you here Knox?" she questioned, sounding just as annoyed as I felt. What did she have to be annoyed with him about? She wasn't the one he was picking on, I was.

"For the same reason I told you over the phone. Obviously your memory isn't very good, baby sister," He explained like she was a baby, a malicious smile on his face as he spoke. I was going to defend her against him, but then his words registered in my brain. I quickly refocused my gaze to Kiara and didn't miss the guilty look she was now sporting while simultaneously trying to avoid my eyes.

"He's who you were talking to last week, isn't he! Kiara you know how I feel about him! How could you not tell me he was coming back?" I yelled accusingly, trying to keep my voice level but failing. I abandoned my haphazardly piled jewelry and grabbed my phone off of the floor. I didn't think twice before storming toward the door to leave. I'd only made it two steps past Knox, who'd migrated towards the center of the room during our conversation, when he abruptly grabbed my wrist in a tight grip and pulled me back around to face him. He completely towered over me to the point of having to strain my neck just to look at him.

"Watch how you speak about me. I won't tolerate that little show of attitude again," he spoke, authority lacing his tone. I scoffed at his asinine statement and tried to walk off again, but that only caused him to tighten his grip on me to an almost painful point.

"I mean it, Poppy," he added. I gulped but stood my ground. He didn't need to know that I was losing this battle on the inside, his intense smolder doing unholy things to me. I hated the control he still had over me, even all this time later. I didn't back down and stared him square in the eyes with a challenging look until I was able to successfully shrug him off. I cleared my throat with one last glance at them both before finally walking out the door and away from the Carmichael siblings all together.