Pinky Promise

Chapter 2

There was a mob of people standing in the hallway. Do I turn back? It's not too late to go back to go back to my bed. "And do what?" Jane's imaginary voice countered complete with the hand-on-the-hips and "oh-no-don't" look. I sighed and squeezed my way through. The music progressively became louder, drowning out everyone's voice, including my own self-doubts. The lights in the living room were off, with a light machine projecting multicolored lights. People danced wildly with red solo cups in their hands. Most of the girls were wearing extremely short shorts or mini skirts. This isn't high school anymore, Dorothy. I was not blending in here at all. In the corner—actually everywhere—there were pairs of people making out. Girls lay on the counter in the kitchen as people took body shots off of them. One of girls looked like Demi, and for a second, I wondered if it really was her. This was college, but it felt more like an R-rated movie.

Before I could make any other observation, a sloppily drunk guy spilled his cup of choice poison on me. I shrieked, shocked at how fowl it smelt. It looked like he was trying to apologize as he draped his arm across my shoulder, but I couldn't hear a word he said. I shook my head and took his arm off of me, holding up my hand to let him know it was fine. He took the hint and held up his empty cup as the next song, which I assumed he liked, played. I muttered my annoyance as I adamantly pushed my way upstairs.

Now to find the bathroom. Even though I was upstairs, where the music slightly let up, the pulsating vibrations from the speakers traveled from the soles of my feet up to the rest of my body. I didn't drink ever, but the rhythm was giving me a headache. I jumped when a door opened unexpectedly. A guy and a girl came out of one of the rooms giggling and kissing each other. Welp, I'm definitely not going in there. I shivered at the thought of what they had been doing in there.

In an attempt to shake the thought, I walked to the room at the end of the hall. With my ear pressed to the door, I tried to listen to see if anyone was in there. I didn't hear anything suspicious, so I advertently turned the silver knob. As I slowly opened the door, I peeked my head in with my eyes closed tight in case there was something happening that I wouldn't be able to unsee. I opened an eye to see a boy staring quizzically at me laying on his bed. A book was in his hands that had been lowered at my disruption. A lamp dimly lit the carpeted room.

"Yes?" he said irritated.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize someone was in here," I muttered , standing between the crack of the door and the hallway.

He examined me for a few minutes to see whether or not I was drunk. He sighed and shook his head disapprovingly. "Well you might as well come in and close the door."

He put his book down and watched me with a dubious expression. Feeling his eyes on me, I felt awkward and I tripped on the carpet. He smirked, and I blushed. After a few moments of standing there wondering where to go, I settled on the floor.

Dammit. He was very handsome. I couldn't tell before, but, "DAMN," Jane's voice chimed in the back of my mind.

"What is that smell?" he asked, his face twisting. "You're not drunk, are you?" His voice was very husky. It was kind of sexy even with a disgusted tone.

I coughed out a laugh at the unlikeliness of my being drunk. "No, not drunk. Someone just spilled a drink on me... at least I think it's a drink. It could be piss for all I know. I was looking for the bathroom."

He pursed his lips to suppress a laugh. "Trust me, you don't want to go in the bathroom."

I held up my hands. "I believe you."

The silence crept over us while both stared at each other, trying to figure the other out.

Finally, I broke the quiet. "I've told you why I'm in here. Now, why are you in here reading when there's a party downstairs?" I nodded at his book.

"This is my room, and I'm not exactly a party animal," he shrugged.

"Oh." So he's a frat boy. He quickly interrupted my thoughts.

"God, could you take that filthy sweater off? It reeks. I don't see why you're wearing that in the summer anyway" He pinched his nose.

I was taken aback by his abrasiveness. "Fine, jeez. And because I want to," I snapped back. I looked at what he was wearing. A thin gray v-neck t-shirt and shorts. He looked good, really good, but I didn't dare let that distract me from my annoyance. "There's no rule that says you can't wear a sweater in the summer."

"Still, that just doesn't make sense. Honestly it smells so bad you might as well put it in the garbage." He sat up, and I crossed my arms defensively in response.

I looked away not wanting to let him have an upper hand over me. I pulled the sweater over my head and tossed it to the side of the room angrily.

When I turned around, he was sitting next to me faking a pout. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

I gasped at his close proximity to me. I could smell him, a distinct scent of aftershave mixed with body wash, and worn out musky cologne from his shirt. His hair was wavy brown hair was short and messy. I rolled my eyes at his mockery, but the Jane inside me was shrieking like a fangirl.

"Whatever," I muttered.

"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that you're a freshman," he said matter-of-factly.

I crossed my arms again, staring into his blue eyes. Shit. I quickly looked down. "And what makes you think that."

"Well, for one you're up here in this room at a party, and you're clearly very awkward."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So are you."

He put his hand on his muscular chest pretending to look hurt. "Ouch."

The door opened. A drunk guy walked in and saw us on the floor. "Oh shit," he laughed. It was the same guy who had spilled the drink on me earlier. The mysterious boy sitting next to me immediately tensed and moved over, putting more space between us. "NO," little Jane whined.

As soon as he closed the door, I got up. I had forgotten I was at a party, and I think this was an experience enough. Besides, I had class tomorrow morning. He got up as soon as I did.

"I'm leaving," I said curtly looking down to avoid his beautiful eyes.

"Yeah, I should get back to my book," he said under his breath. He went back to his bed and picked up his book, but I could still feel his eyes on me.

I opened the door, and I walked out shaking my head.