Shots - Frat!l.h.

Seven: Nora

"The cold in clime are cold in blood, their love can scarce deserve the name." - Lord Byron

Nora Keilee

I walked into my room, a heavy sigh escaping my lips as the door creaked open. It was only one PM, so it wasn't like I was waking anyone up, but all of the girls were in the dorm.

"Why is your hair wet?" Kailee asked.

"I went swimming."

"There's a pool here?" Emma asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"It isn't open until the swim team season starts," Ming said, looking at me suspiciously. "Where'd you go?"

"Nowhere," I shrugged.

I watched from my position on the sand as Luke got up, quickly ridding himself of his shirt, leaving him in only his boxers. The plane of this chest was visible, and the slight tan he had made him look like the sun was coming from within his body.

The one thing that stood out, though, was the array of spidery scars over the plane of his right shoulder.  The scars peeked from over  his collarbones from his back, and I wondered if the faded, slightly pink things covered his entire back.

I looked away, a blush painting my cheeks as I bit my lip.

"You coming in?" Luke asked, his eyebrows raised.

I shook my head. "I don't have a bathing suit."

"Do I look like I'm wearing a bathing suit?" He asked, his hand held out to me. "C'mon, we aren't really that close. Think of this as a bonding experience. I won't even look at you."

"I just... turn around, okay? No peeking," I said, standing up. I quickly took off my shirt and shorts, running into the water before Luke could even open his eyes.

As he heard the water splash, he opened his eyes, looking at me. I was grinning widely at him, waving my hand at him to come into the water.

"It's really nice!"

"I'm coming!" He said, his tone like I was accusing him of something. He slid off his pants, leaving his navy blue boxers to cover his hips.

He dived into the water. I couldn't see him; the water was murky. Not dirty, just... cold.

I felt something grab at my ankles, screaming as it pulled me under.

As I resurfaced, I could hear Luke laughing. His laugh was wonderful, honestly. I could have listened to it for ever.

"Not funny!" I yelled, splashing him with the cool September water.

"It was so funny, God, you should have seen your face!" Luke laughed, throwing his head back.

After a beat of silence, I heard him again, his laugh still clear in his voice.

"Your mascara is leaking."

"Your hair is flat," I retaliated.

"No," He chuckled. "That's not what I meant. I'm not teasing you, I just-- just let me..." He trailed off, stepping closer to me in the water. The pad of his thumb ran over the skin beneath my eyes, coming away with a black mark on his finger.

"Oh," I mumbled.

He hummed, his eyes going from my eyes to my lips and back to my eyes again. I could feel his body gravitating closer to me before he stepped back.