I blow out one last smoke-filled breath as I watch the sexy stranger strut off. I flick the cigarette away from me and lean forward, studying her sassy strut. Her curvaceous hips swaying from side to side has me pulling my bottom lip in for a nibble.

Man, I really would've liked to get into her panties. Nibble between her legs a little bit.

Once she's far enough that she doesn't think I'm a creep who's following her, I stand up. My back is tense from sitting in a seated position for so long, especially after I had done so on the drive here. A quick stretch remedies that before I walk back to my friend's frat.

If you would've asked me if I ever pictured myself stepping inside of a fraternity I would've laughed. Yet here I am, walking right through the front door and up the stairs to my friend's bedroom.

"Dude, you can't say stuff like that around her. She's—" Carter stops and regards me. "Hey man, where you been?"

"Went for a walk. Checked out the campus. Had a smoke on a park bench with a pretty girl. Not too much."

"Already trying to nab some local pussy?" I roll my eyes at Eric. "Did you get her number?"

"Nah." I walk over to my air mattress and flop down on it. "Turns out she's already dating one of you schmucks."

"Speaking of girls dating one of us," Eric looks pointedly at Carter, "I was just fucking around earlier. Your girl didn't have to get her panties in a twist."

"Shut up." Carter leans back against the wall. "Monica just doesn't like that type of humor. She's just not into all of that stuff."

"What stuff?" I chime in, propping my elbow behind my head.

"His girlfriend won't give it up and is a complete fucking prude." Eric jokes with a laugh.

"Damn. You got yourself a virgin?" Carter nods at me with a smirk.

"I don't get why you stay with her. It's college. The time to fuck around and you're in this house. The potential for pussy is endless."

"She's... I don't know. She's just different. Something about her wanting to wait makes me want her even more. It's a hard thing to explain. Plus we've been together for three years."

That makes think for a moment. This dude could be fucking anyone he wanted but he'd rather be sex-deprived for this girl. Must be one hell of a girl.

"So wait," I furrow my brow and look over him, "you're telling me you're a virgin too?"

"Nah, we've split up a couple times and I've been with my fair share of girls."

"Yeah, see. You could be swimming in pussy. I'll never understand."

"You know, it's not always about getting ass, Eric." He gives me a hearty eye roll. "It isn't. I'm sure our boy Carter here will get some in due course."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence." He adds, "I'm hoping tomorrow night will be the night."

"You think she'll give it up at the party?"

"Wouldn't hurt to try and get her to. Just keep your dickish behavior to yourself. You had her completely clammed up earlier."

"Were you trying to get all up inside her clam?" I can't help but laugh at Eric's crassness and the grimace now residing on Carter's face.

"Bos, you going to try and hook-up tomorrow?"

I shrug. "I don't know. Maybe. I've got a long drive back the next day so I may end up not really partying that hard. Don't want to be ridiculously hungover when I'm driving. I'd rather not have to pull over every half hour to puke."

"You don't have to get drunk to get laid."

"You know, Eric, you've a really weird obsession with other guys getting their dicks wet." He laughs at that. "I'm just saying, I don't think anyone's going to want to be pounded out on an air mattress, on the floor, in my friend's room."

"Valid point."

✩✩✩

I take a sip of my drink. The tang of rum and coke swirls on my tongue. I scan the front lawn from the side of it as I take in a deep pull from my cigarette. They've invited a lot of people and are most likely going to get busted. None of them seemed to worry about that though.

Carter hollers out, "babe! Babe, come here and meet the guuuys!" Which has my attention brought to the girl walking up to him. His virgin girlfriend.

Get the fuck outta here.

Carter's girlfriend is the girl from the bench. The sassy-strut girl is his virgin, prude of a girlfriend. He grabs her hand and begins pulling her inside. The action has me automatically putting out my cigarette and following them.

Why am I following them? Because he's going to try and sleep with her. Why do I even care? I'm not entirely sure but those hips are partially the reason.

I make my way through the crowded house, spotting the two of them near the table. He's making her a drink and she doesn't look too thrilled. Doesn't like to drink or have sex. Interesting. He grabs her hand again and leads her toward the stairs. Wasting no time, are you, Carter?

I wait until they've made it all the way up before I ascend the same two flights. I hear the bedroom door close and quickly make my way to it. What the fuck am I doing? No fucking clue.

After about five minutes of nothing of much consequence happening I realize how stupid I am. I mean, am I really going to cock-block a guy I barely know over a girl that I don't even? What type of sense does that make? It doesn't.

Feeling like a complete idiot I go to walk away when a loud, "fuck!" comes out of Carter. Then the sound of him falling to the floor. I immediately go to open the door, fully ready to be some type of knight in shining armor or whatever the fuck, and see Carter in a heap on the floor, cupping his junk. I lean on the door frame and watch the scene with a smirk.

"I think it's best if I go and you sober up. You know me, Carter. We just had this conversation last night." She steps around him but when her eyes find mine she freezes.

Jesus Christ, how did I not see those beautiful eyes last night? Like blazing emerald gems.

"Excuse me." She finally managed to say. I step out of her way. "Thanks." Those sassy hips sway past me as she begins to walk away.

"Wait Monica." She stops as I come up along side of her. "Let me walk you back."

"How do you know my name?" I nod my head over to the room. I can see the wheels turning in her head. "Oh. I'll be fine walking on my own."

"There's a bunch of drunk frat dicks out there. Please, just let me walk you back. I'll feel much better knowing you're safe." Why that is I don't even know. I've never really been the gentlemanly type.

Her lips purse as she looks me over but she ultimately answers, "fine."

We walk down the stairs together without a word. Probably couldn't hear each other even if we wanted to. The music and noise are so loud. As we begin to go through the giant crowd I can see she looks extremely uncomfortable. On impulse, I step in front of her, clearing the way for her so she doesn't have to push through the people. Once we're outside and away from the majority of the people, she comes up alongside me again.

Monica takes a giant inhale of fresh air, visibly relieved. "I don't know why I came here tonight. I hate things like this."

"Not my usual cup of tea either. I don't belong inside of a frat house."

"What, you're not a— what was it you called it?" She taps her chin. "That's right, a Douche Omega Dick?"

I snort out a laugh. "No. No I am not."

"You're definitely a douche or a dick if you're friends with one of the guys in there."

"Says the girl who's dating one." She lets out a sigh. "Sorry."

"I mean, you're not wrong." I don't say anything but I do slow down my pace to match hers. "I just thought things would be different once we were here. I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"It's just this is the life I'm supposed to have. This is the way my life is supposed to go. High school sweetheart and I in college together. Get married after we get our degrees and get good jobs. Buy a nice house. Have some kids."

"That sounds boring."

"It's what I wanted. At least... it's what I thought I did."

"Didn't work out so great for my parents," I blurted.

"They're divorced?"

"Yup."

"I'm sorry to hear that." As we round a corner, coming up to her college she adds, "my mom got divorced and then got with my dad. They've been together since. How about your parents?"

"My dad got with some girl who was a lot younger than him for a while but that didn't last. He's been single since. My mom is pretty serious about some guy from her tennis club. Guy is a pompous prick, if you ask me. Cares more about what he's wearing than my mom does."

"Are they happy now?"

"Happier than when they were together." We walk for a little longer. I'm following her lead, not knowing where I'm going. Once she stops in front of a building I know this is it.

"Well this is me." She thumbs over her shoulder. "Thanks for walking me home and uhm have a safe trip home."

"I'm not going home." Why I'd said that I don't know considering that'd been the plan. "I'm going on a road trip. You want to come along?" I did not just ask her that. That doesn't stop my mouth from continuing with, "come on. Is this really what you want? This life that you've already determined in your head— is it really what you want?" Her brow furrows together as she looks over me. "Come with me."

"But... school."

"Will be here when you get back."

"A road trip sounds like the entire semester."

I shrug. "It can be if you want it to be." What the hell is wrong with me? "I'm leaving tomorrow morning and if you want to come then meet me at the bench."

"The one we first met on?"

"That'd be the one." I hold out my hand. "Phone." She hands it over to me after unlocking it. A picture of her and Carter is her background. Douche bag. I type in my name and number and hand it over to her.

"Boston?" She looks at the phone and then back up at me. "Your name is Boston?"

"I know, it's weird."

"I'm from a suburb of Boston."

"See, it's kismet." I look her over one more time. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart."

Before I can even get a few steps away she asks, "what time?"

"Text that number and you'll find out."

A/N:
Happy Saturday!

I've got great news— MALICIOUS WON A FICTION AWARD!!! I'm super excited about it and I'm feeling very grateful for all of the support I've gotten from my readers and fellow writers. Thank you all!!!