Chasing You

4

LACEY

I shove my face further into the pillow to block out the stupid alarm sound coming from my phone. I sigh slamming a finger down onto what I hope is the 'stop' button and sit up. My room is light from the morning sun casting a warm glow across my cream-colored room. I sigh tossing my blankets off of me. I glance at the time on my phone and almost kick myself at how early I made myself get up. Yesterday, was hell. After that stupid fight with Braden, I wish I said I went home. But no, I went to Q's frat and drank a lot of shots. Majority of green tea.

I sigh, again, grabbing my towel from the back of my door. I need to shower to get the smell of alcohol off of me. I have a chapter today, the first of the semester, which should be interesting. If I'm being honest, I hate my sorority. None of the other girls are in one and rightfully so. It's so cliquey and they always seem to harp on me. It's probably in my head but whenever they have examples of "wrongdoing" it's always me. They damn near had a hernia when I said I couldn't be there all the time for rush.

I shuffle into the bathroom making sure I am quiet walking past Julie's room. I made sure to text the girls to let them know where I was going. They don't know why I left though. I shut the bathroom door behind me and glance at myself in the mirror.

I do a double take when I see how hungover I look. I have dried mascara underneath my eyes, my once curled hair is half curled half matted, and I never changed out of my top from last night. Now, I have to pull myself together all over again. I turn the shower on and plop down onto the toilet seat. I lean my head against the cool marble top counter and take a few calming breaths.

Last night did not go as planned. At all. Braden and I shouldn't even have talked and I should have just ignored it. It's just a stupid nickname.

A giggle falls from my lips when Braden trails his finger up my shirt. He raises an eyebrow at me dipping his lips closer to my.

"What?" he asks his breath falling over my lips. My heart skips a beat at the way he is intently staring at me. I trace over his beautiful chocolate skin as he watches me carefully.

"Does anyone call you Bray?" I ask him. I don't know why I ask it and he too looks just as shocked. I guess not shocked, taken back. "I was just curious I don't have to call you that I just-"

He cuts me off his full lips meeting mine as I tug him further onto me. His lips reassure me that he wants the nickname and he knows it too. He knows he is reassuring me. He pulls away making me miss his touch but I don't reach back out for him.

"My younger brother, he calls me Bray but yeah you can call me Bray," he says a lazy smile falling onto his lips. A smile crosses over my features as well as I pull him back in for another kiss.

I groan lifting my head from the counter. I reach over and turn the shower on cold. I need to wake up and actually look alive for chapter this morning. I honestly don't even know why I decided to join a sorority. To be honest maybe it was the self doubt in the back of my head telling myself that I could never make friends on my own. Or my mother.

Probably both.

People glorify college and leave out the horrible hangovers, the heartbreak, the roommates, the drama, the classes, and everything else that blows about it. Which I must say is most of it. All my other roommates, always have so much fun and it's like we are at two different colleges. They're at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and I'm at University of North Carolina - Hell Version.

I strip away my tee shirt and shorts and hop into the shower. It's freezing cold but I welcome it. In all honesty, coming back from summer I tried to have a good outlook on coming back here.