Unexpected Love

Chapter 52

I haven't slept in my apartment in over a week. I feel like I can't remember the last time I was there. I was paying for a place that I didn't even sleep in anymore. But I don't think James and Josh minded. James had basically moved into our room and it gave Jess and him a lot of privacy. While Josh and I continued to sleep better than ever every night. We were getting use to the routine of waking up early to beat the morning rush of guys in the bathroom and kissing goodbye before leaving our little dorm room.

I finally got back into my routine of washing my face and taking out my contacts every night. I stopped feeling like Josh was thinking I looked hideous without make up. He stared no matter what and I felt gorgeous with him doing it. Plus I felt pretty good considering we spent plenty of time outside so my olive skin tone glowed of recent sun exposure.

Tuesday arrived and we proceeded with our typical routine. He walked me to my first class as he parted to his. "I'll see in World Religion" he shouts.

An hour or so past and I started making my way to World Religion. But I was way too early to class so I stopped at the coffee shop and picked up smoothie. As paid and waited for my name to be called I pulled out my notebook and started writing all of my pint up thoughts. I've been doing this for years to keep my "to-do lists," ideas, and potential story lines organized and removed from my mind that never seems to stop. I recently stopped but picked up the habit again after shortly being official with Josh.

I was deep in my writing when I was interrupted by a kind voice "Can I sit here, miss?" I look up and see an incredibly attractive brunette. His eyes were sold green and he looked to be about 6 feet tall. He had to be a senior at least, but I was too distracted by his muscles sipping through his black polo to determine if that was true or not.

"Sure." I said. I tried to go back to my thoughts and ignore the fact that I just checked out some other guy and hope I didn't drool. "So are you a freshmen?" he asks. I look bewildered at him "Yes, how did you figure that?" "Because only a freshmen would eat here during lunch time instead of during off busy hours. "Oh...Okay" I respond slowly. I suddenly feel agitation towards this guy and go back to writing. "I'm, Dominick, by the way...and you are?" "Jenn" I reply.

He extends his hand to me and I shake it quickly. "I'm from New York and a junior here" he continues. "So you're a freshmen, but where from?" "From, Pennsylvania...but my parents live in state now." I leave out the part of how I moved here when I was finishing high school and absolutely despised the state that I'm still residing in. "Okay, cool...so were like neighbors, then." "Do you have any more classes for today or are you---"he started. "Jenn" the lady at the counter calls.

"Well that's me" I blurt. "Headed to World Religion... It was nice meeting you." I grab my bag, hurry to the counter and thank the barista before taking off towards class. I thought to myself how I wasn't sure if I felt uncomfortable that he was hitting on me or uncomfortable to the fact that I stared at another guy that wasn't Josh.

I was filled with relief and joy as I saw Josh chatting with Jess and James. He saw me rush over and embraced my needy hug. "Smoothie, uh?" He grabs it from my hand and slurps a big helping down his throat. "Ummm, strawberry and banana." He licks his lips and plants a cold kiss on my lips.

We enter class and sit down in our typical spot. I go through my bag and realize I don't see my black notebook. "Shit!" I grumble to myself. "What?" Josh asks. "I left my notebook at the coffee place...damn, it!" "Babe, I'll watch your stuff...go back and see if you can find it...though I don't promise that your drink will still be here" he says slowly sipping.

I stand up and quickly climb over other students to the exit. I rush back while my black skirt is flying all over the place. Hopefully not high enough for people to see what's underneath? I frantically arrive at the coffee shop and look around. I graze the floors and literally drop to the ground around the table that I was previously sitting at "Are you looking for this?" I'm on my knees at this point and I see black Nike shoes and my black notebook dangling in my face. I look up and it's the same fucking guy.

"Hey, Dominick?" I awkwardly say. He offers my hand and I let him pull me up to my feet. "Some pretty interesting concepts you have in here" he grins "You, fucking read it" I say as I reach for my book. He pulls it away "Wow, it's refreshing to hear no filter on a northeastern girls lips." I instantly blush at his remark and yet again I find myself thinking I blushed because he paid me a compliment or was it because I started losing my shit in front of a complete stranger.

I placed my hand out, signaling him to give it to me while the other rests on my hip showing annoyance. "Settle down, now...I did not read it, but I flipped through it to see if there as a name or phone number inside. But I have to admit... your stuff reminded me of the great authors I've read like Faulkner, Steinbeck, Huxley or even Austin." I quickly lose the attitude and develop a smile. "Are you an English major?" he asks. "Undecided...you know since I'm a freshmen n' all."

"Well you definitely have it. I'm an English major and want to get into publishing once I graduate" he says. "I don't write but I love to read and analyze writing... I'm working at a local newspaper." "That's pretty cool" I say as he hands me back my notebook "Thank you again. But I'm missing class." As I turn he reaches for my arm to stop me... "I know this may be forward but can I see you again or can I at least get your number?" I glance down at his hand touching me not knowing what to do until I hear "Jenn!"

Dominick doesn't let go of my arm and I start sweating at the sight of Josh approaching me. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but I still feel like Josh would think otherwise. "Hey babe" I squeak back. "Dominick---"I started. "Dominick, don't you know when to leave girls alone" Josh says. Dominick drops my arm at this point and Josh moves in closer. "I didn't know she was yours...but I certainly have no idea how a talented and gorgeous girl like this would be with a dumbass like you?" he hisses. "But I can tell she's not your type considering all the things she says in that notebook of hers."

Josh's eyes go red for two reasons. One he knows about my notebook and I never have let him read it before even after multiple times of asking, but now I'm going to have to prove that I wrote jack shit about him in it (though he inspired some ideas). And two that yet again another guy is touching or hitting on me. But I can't seem to wonder if there is an underlying third reason considering Josh knew is name.

"You have about two seconds to leave, Dominick" Josh boldly states. Dominick doesn't move so I step in between them. "Dominick, it was nice to meet you. Yes, I have a boyfriend as you can tell. Thank you for finding my notebook" I say calmly. Dominick looks down at me and grins "I'll catch you later."

I turn my face back to meet Josh's who is gripping a chair pretty tight. "Babe, I never let him read my notebook and I didn't speak to him long enough for him to know I was with you. Plus how do you know him? Josh lets out a deep breathe. "Babe, he's a bad dude. He would throw major parties at his fraternity last year and I thought he was awesome as a freshmen, but he's total scum. He's worse of a player than I was considering so many girls claimed harassment against him or all the bets he placed about taking girls virginity." My mouth drops down to the floor in disgust. "I could care less about the things he said just stay away from him" he pleads.

We walk back to our class that is now over. Jess hands me my bag and James hands one to Josh. I flip through my notebook and I see that Dominick has made notes in some of the margins. I honestly don't mind if it's true that he's working at a local newspaper and knows how to edit, but I certainly mind that he wrote his name and phone number on a single page. I flip the book over and show Josh who gives me a look of anger. But before he does, I rip it out and toss it in the trash.

"What was that" James asks. "Just Dominick Cooper making a move on Jenn and being a little bitch that he always is" Josh replies. "Dominick was hitting on you? I'm surprised Josh didn't tackle him. He's bad news, Jenn" James continues. "Yeah, I kind of figured." Changing the subject. "So are we hanging out tonight while be pack and before we drop you guys off at the airport?" I ask. "Sounds good to me," James says.

We spend the rest of evening laughing, eating pizza, and packing. We were driving Jess and James to the airport for their long 4th of July trip and Jess couldn't stop talking to me about how excited she was to meet his family. I grabbed a larger duffel bag and stuffed an assortment of clothes inside for our trip with Matt and Lacey. Most of my hygiene stuff was at Josh's already so that would be easy to just throw in later. My room felt so different since I was basically living at Josh's now. As our phones showed 7pm, we piled into Josh's mustang and drive Jess and James to the airport. We said our goodbyes and I wished Jess luck. Though she wouldn't need it because who would not love her.