It was always you

Chapter 8

As the night progressed, the beat of the music became a pulse in my head, a rhythm in my body I had no control over.

I had missed this.

Not the crush of bodies, nor the noise of a party but the carefree vibe, the energy.

Above all, I missed dancing.

The strings tied to the purse that was funding my degree had absolutely put their foot down on me pursuing dancing in any form in college. A consequence of which had been me avoiding dancing as much as I could outside of the casual bits I sometimes did with Lexie at home.

In that moment though, as the music swept over and then through me, I let it guide me, let myself loose and let in the one thing every bone on me had missed.

Lexie was a good partner, keeping up with my moves mostly. But she grew tired-or was easily distracted-and sooner than I had expected, she was leading a boy away from the floor, a wink sent in our direction and thumbs up for me, a simple sign I'd asked for to ensure if any of us left with a boy, it was consensual.

"Hey," I heard Rhea scream over the music to my right, "I want to go grab myself some more beer, you good here for a minute?"

I gave her a quick nod, even as the beat changed to a much loved song, "I will be ok, just hurry back."
"I will, and then we will work on our mission," she replied with a wink before making for the bar.
I rolled my eyes and then let the music pull me back into itself.

A hip sway, a curving arm, a flow that came from deep within. So lost was I in the moment it took me longer than a second to realise I had hands on my wrist, pulling me back.

Jolting, I moved away and turned, fists ready to fly and anger barely relenting as I felt the hands fall off.

My mouth, already open to send away the unwanted company, pinched when I saw who it was. "Jasper?"

He grinned, in what might have been an affable manner but right then rubbed me in every wrong way, "You looked to be having so much fun, I thought I had join you."

A dance floor is not the place, I felt , to tell him all I felt in the moment so I settled for the simplest, "Do not sneak up on me!"

His hands shot up at my tense tone, palms out to show me meant no harm. But harm had been done.

"And don't touch me without asking."

Here his brow furrowed, but I didn't wait for a response, pushing away from him, in the direction Rhea had taken. Hoping he would get the hint and stay away.

He didn't, take the hint that is. "I am sorry. I thought we are friends, so this would be ok. I should have asked."

I paused, the bar in sight but I could see Rhea no where. " Being friendly does not mean you can touch me without permission."

"Hey, Nat, I mean it. I am sorry."

I sighed, turning back towards Jasper. He looked sheepish, a bit embarrassed but I was not having it. "A girl dancing on her own is not permission to a man to touch her."

He nodded, quickly, though I noticed the red spreading up his ears, "I am sorry."

I glanced away, looking around in hopes of catching a glimpse of Rhea. 

Failing at that I pulled my mobile out to text her. "Apology accepted," I finally replied, quickly shooting Rhea a 'whre u @', "Just-I don't like to be touched by anyone other than close friends."

"I understand," Japser nodded, still shuffling on his feet.

Had to peeeee, came Rhea's reply.

I'm by the bar, waiting 4 u, I sent back.

Okkie

"So, did you come here alone?"

I glanced up, only just realising that Jasper was still here. "No, actually. I came with friends."

He looked around me as if to say, are you sure. And despite best efforts I bristled.

"We are not attached at the hip."

"Of course not. I came with friends too," here a laugh, "Although I have no idea where they went off to."

"Well that's what parties are for. Branching out."

Jasper nodded though he kept glancing somewhere to my right, slightly behind me. "I tried doing that. But I failed miserably when I crossed a line I hadn't asked permission for."

I paused before replying, noting the self deprecation but also the real apology in his eyes. Sighing, I put away my mobile, letting him have my full focus. "Its ok, Jasper. Just now you know, for future references."

He smiled then, a full smile and I remembered that before Allen had unloaded all the gossip about Jasper on to me, in those very early interactions, I had found him attractive. Mildly charming even at points, though a little too pushy. 

"This is the first party I have seen you at though, I think."

And a little too watchful. "Not really my scene."

"It's not mine either. Mostly. But a few friends are part of the team involved in hosting tonight so we thought we would show up for support."

"That is sweet, are your friends part of the sorority hosting today then?"

"Yeah, one of them. The other is her best friend so they both got roped in."

"Ah, so they both are busy leaving poor you to fend on your own."

He grinned back, a little lopsided. Definitely cute. "Well, I don't really mind. Besides they are closer to Aaron than me, I am here mainly to support him."

Aaron. Of course. But did it mean...blonde hair, legs for days. The kind of face made for magazine covers...Had Aaron come here for her?

"I had him and another friend of ours with me right before I saw you on the dance floor and well...sorry for what came after."

He blushed, and I relaxed fully. Maybe all that I had thought of this man was in my head. He did look truly apologetic. So I changed to the topic, for both of us. "What would you be doing if you weren't here."

"Honestly?"

I nodded, nudging him on.

"Do not judge me, but there is a match going on right now-"

"Which match?"

"Ah, Arsenal vs Liverpool," he replied, a little hesitantly as if ready to be judged despite his request.

I could only laugh in response, "Wow, soccer fan in a college that is crazy for its football team, brave!"

"Well, I like being a rebel."

"Who is rebelling what?" A voice cut through between us.