University Of Love

Flashback: Age 18

"Hey Nathan. Are you ready for college?" I blurt out to my best friend in the whole world as I stare up into the dark sky with the shining silver moon. He turns and looks to me, smiling. He's always had a thing with the moon.

"Why are you asking me, Astrid?" I loved it when he said my name, it made me feel like I was the only special person in the world.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just kind of nervous." I admit, we were both leaning on our sides now. I was looking deeply into his light coffee colored eyes with admiration.

"Hey, don't be. It'll be alright, there's nothing to worry about. Plus you have Ava, Brandon, Derrick Jareth, and I. We'll protect you." He says, naming all my friends with a smile peeking out from under his high and perfect cheekbones.

"Yeah, I guess." My back was now pressed down against the soft and rocky ground. I look back up at the moon, a cloud was covering it slightly. It was probably two o'clock in the morning by now.

"What do you mean you guess? Am I not awesome or what?" He sits up on his elbows pretending to be hurt and his bottom lip starts to tremble. I wanted to kiss him so bad ever since the start of high school. His lips, his perfect quirky hot lips.

"You could do better. Only kidding, yeah your awesome." I let a little giggle escape my sore throat and look back at his perfect complexion.

"I know. I know, no need to thank me. Just doing my job." He turns into a little smart ass, his lips turning into a hot smirk.

"Omg shut up. You just ruined it." I begin to sit up and start ignoring him but I can't ignore his 6'1 broad and muscular figure.

"I'll give you five seconds to get back here." He's already up now and is standing perfectly in line under the moon.

"I'll give you five seconds to get back here." I mock him, laughing and walking towards my house.

"Oi!" I hear him yell. He'll be right in front of me in 3...2...1...and I close my eyes and don't dare to open them. I hear a swift sound from the trees. I hate the dark now, I've watched too many horror films, something that my mind can't erase.

"Nathan?" I don't open my eyes, I have to squeeze them shut in order to stop myself. I'm getting scared now. 

"Don't open your eyes, don't do it!"  My mind tells me. 

"Nathan? C'mon, I'm scared now." I can feel my bones start to shiver because of my fear. I can feel the coldness of the sky start to blow against my back. My eyes start to tear up. "Nathan....?" I can't hold my eyes shut anymore, I open to see a bunch of black creatures all around me. "Omg, Nathan!" I scream, I'm really scared now. 

"What happened to protecting me?" My heart is instantly hurt. My eyes have created slow rivers now and the shadows won't move. 

"Wh-ho-o aaarrre -t-yyyyyou?" My voice shakes.

"Your worst nightmare! Haha! Where's your precious little boyfriend now? Nobody will ever protect you! Nobody will ever want you! Nobody will ever love you!" The voice starts out with a nice gentle voice then changes into a crackling witch.I crawl to the ground and curl about into a ball. I squint my eyes as I see the shadows go out like candles. 

"Nathan?" I cry and hope. I hear a soft crunch behind me. "NATHAN?" I scream my cries as something goes through me and takes my breath away. I hear myself gasping for air except I can't hear anything now. I'm watching myself now, standing inches away from myself, watching myself cry and scream his name. I watch as he runs over to me with lighting fast speed and picks up my head. I'm no longer living, my heart has stopped and he's limply carrying my head in his lap, clear tears racing down his perfect chin. I see more figures approach behind him. Afraid to move I squint and make the figures out. My friends. All huddled around me. I walk towards them, not knowing I'm moving. I look above them, Nathan's eyes are now blood red and there's blood around my neck. Quietly I move around Ava, who's holding my hand in hers. And what I see can't be forgotten. Two little wholes in my neck. I start crying as Nathan does. I can't stop crying, his tears make my heart fall and crumple into little paper balls. 

"Astrid?" I hear my name. It's as quiet as a whisper. I feel a forceful urge to lay on top of me. My legs carry me over and drop me down onto her. And this time when I open my eyes, Nathan's in front of me, his eyes returning to his friendly ones. My body is on fire and my eyes are blurred with tears along with my face which is frozen with his tears. 

"So, does this mean you are ready for college?" My stupid question makes him roll his eyes but all I want to do is sleep.

"What did you do? What were you guys doing out here?" I hear Ava screaming questions at me. 

"Can you walk?" I hear his gentle words flowing through my heart and picking the pieces back up. I try to stand up, looking at the relieved faces of my peers. I fall down as I stand up.

"What's wrong with you? You can stand up, it's not that hard." My mind shouts. My body screams back, "No! Stupid! Think!" and I start to laugh. They look at me like I'm crazy and I can't help myself from laughing. I feel strong arms pick me up. I look at Nathan, he's holding me like I've always wanted him to. 

"Your lips are so cute." I blurt, not being able to stop myself.

"Yeah and your drunk off your ass." Derrick says, and we start moving really fast towards the trees. 

"Your hotttttttttttt." I emphasize, feeling dizzy and light-headed. I turn back to Nathan and go into another round of spastic laughs. I hiccup as we go through my house, my parents out for the whole weekend.

"I'll inform her parents." Ava speaks as the others search the house for friends and family. I shut my eyes and in two seconds were in my room. I jump out of his grasp on me and start dancing around me room for now apparent reason. 

"Come dance with my sexy." I hear my voice flirting with the crush of my dreams. He shuts the door behind us, ignoring my invitation. "Oh, you want to do something else?" I wobble up to him and press my finger against his solid chest. 

"Your going to be resting for a few days. You'll get the hang of it after a while. Just call any of us if you need help with anything." He's now tucking me into bed. 

"I don't want to go to bed. I want youuuuuuu." I sing, rubbing my hands in his soft hair. His eyes are now gleaming but not with delight. He shakes his head and stands in front of me, his back facing me and he rubs his hands into his face. "Nathan?" I sit up and then my room starts spinning. "Nathan?" I drift the room becoming faint. Nathan comes back to me and is right in front of my face. He looks me straight in the eyes and then looks at my lips. 

He leans in and whispers,"Let's just hope you don't remember any of this." He leans in and kisses me on the lips. I can feel the warmth of his kiss and I touch my fingers to my lips, they feel soft and fluffy.

And that night it was my first kiss. The kind of night you'll never be able to forget.....