No One Better

Chapter 1

The booming music filled my ears as I was pulled from my haze. As I walked through the crowded room of people, I was observing. There by the bar was a group of friends talking and laughing, just having a good time. Over on the couch were two people with their tongues down each others throats, seemingly not being able to get enough of one another. Some night, I thought. As for me, well I was aimlessly walking around, a red cup filled with a questionable substance. I had been separated from my friend Sam and really just wanted to find her so I could leave.

I saw no point in this. She dragged me along telling me I'd have a great time if I just loosened up. I gave it a chance and well, I was dreading every coming second I spent here. The atmosphere was sweaty, with drunk college students bumping into each other with every step they took. It was crowded. It was pointless. It was a waste of time. I needed to leave before I exploded. I walked into the hallway searching for the front door. I could just walk back to the dorm and text Sam that I had already left. As my sight landed on my escape route, someone called my name.

"Jess!" I turned to see my friend Jacob, waving from a distance, beer in his grasp. I walked over.

"I haven't seen you this whole night, where have you been?" he rested an arm on my shoulder, clearly intoxicated.

I giggled as he began to stumble over air. "I came with Sam. Haven't seen her in a while, she probably found some guy to hang on. I was actually just heading out. Do you mind telling her I left if you see her around?"

"Aye-aye captain! Are you sure you don't want to hang back a little while longer?"

"No I'm sure. I have to get back and get ready for Monday, you know, new semester and all."

"Alrighty then. I'll see you later bud." He engulfed me in a sloppy, way too long embrace.

"Bye Jake." I was heading towards the door.

I reached for the silver handle and it opened. I stepped onto the porch and breathed a sigh of relief. The crisp, late night air hit my face. I stood there for a moment, just enjoying the peacefulness. The music was now muffled, with the walls of the house encasing the vibrations. As I walked down the steps to the sidewalk, the door behind me swung open, a tall figure walked out. I couldn't see him very well at all because it was well past 12 pm and the only light source was from a lamp post a few houses down. He sounded angry as he yelled back to someone inside.

"Yeah, and how about you do me the kind favor of fucking off huh? I told you I didn't want to come because of her! She's a piece of work and now apparently, so are you." He had a strong English accent. What in the hell was he doing here? Who is he? I thought. He slammed the door shut, not letting whoever was inside have the last word. I was half expecting the door to shatter off the hinges with the amount of force he used.

He turned to walk off the steps and leave. I was still standing where I had been before, mainly because I hadn't figured out which way to get home, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about the man walking in my direction.

Wait, my direction? I hadn't noticed he began taking long strides towards where I stood. I caught a glimpse of his eyes as I saw they looked into mine. He looked away as he got to the sidewalk where I stood and he turned and started walking in the opposite direction. I began to walk back to my dorm but I turned to look back at him. He had a mop of curly brown hair and tattoos. Lots of tattoos. That was all I could infer from his backside facing me. I had never seen him before on campus, did he even go here? His appearance wasn't exactly that of a scholar. He probably knew someone that went here and that's how he went to the party. I shook him from my thoughts as I walked away.

I had finally reached my room that I shared with Sam after getting lost once or twice. I stripped my clothes off and went to shower. There was no way I was getting into bed feeling sweaty and dirty from the small space I'd just shared with other sweaty, dirty people. Once I'd gotten out I put my pajamas on and went to get in bed. I sent Sam a text letting her know I had gotten back and I put my phone down on my nightstand.

I had so much on my mind. The new semester started Monday, which meant my new English literature class started as well. I wasn't scared for the course itself, I loved writing. It would just be having to get accustomed to a new building location, a new teacher and new faces to see everyday that I wasn't particularly excited for. As I laid in my bed drifting off into sleep, thinking about whatever decided to pop up in my mind, one thought was reoccurring,

I wish I'd seen his face.