Page 5 of Calm Before the Score

She bursts out laughing and grabs the bathroom counter for support. She’s laughing so hard that she can’t breathe. She grabs onto me, and I join her. Before I know it, we’re laughing so hard that we’re in tears. “Ok, I’m sorry, I just assumed, but if you ever need a break from Hartley and his antics, my dorm is always open. We should hang out sometime.”

“Yes, I would love that,” I answer eagerly.

“Let’s go back to the party. We can’t leave those boys by themselves for too long.” Liza loops her arm in mine.

Did I just make my first college friend?

Liza and I shimmy through crowds of people back into the packed main room, where the music has gotten louder, and the people are drunk. More people are dancing, bodies are closer, and hands are roaming.

“Alright it’s time for the back-to-school bash tradition: truth or dare! Meet in the living room, and let’s get this party started,” a random voice yells over the crowd before we can make our way back to Hartley and the rest of his friends.Truth or dare? Did I hear that right?

“EEEEEPP! Let’s go!” Liza screams and pulls me into the main room. Where is Hartley? My pulse quickens. I can’t do this.

Before I know it, I’m sitting in a messy circle in a crowded main room while most of the football team and their friends start the game. I choose a spot on the couch instead of the floor. There’s alcohol bottles and spills everywhere, and I don’t want to ruin my new shorts. Liza takes a seat next to me and leans her head on my shoulder as her knees bounce in excitement.

The typical things happen: people kiss, shots are taken, and clothes are stripped. Unfortunately, it’s my turn, and I still can’t find Hartley. At this point, I’m fuming. He knows all about my anxiety, and he promised not to leave me alone at this party. He used to never leave me at our old high school parties. I still remember those house parties we used to go to. I always taggedalong with my best friend and his teammates. I never drank much, so I made sure Hartley got home safe. I didn’t mind watching over him. He needs me, and I need him for different reasons.

You’re an adult, Violet. You can do this. You can play this game.

“New girl, truth or dare?” an annoyingly loud girl shouts to me. She’s sandwiched between two football players and can’t keep her hands off them. She’s wearing a skin-tight red romper with her black hair curled down her back. Her chest is pushed up in perfect view for the boys next to her to get a closer look.

“I’m Violet, and I guess dare?” I have way too many truths that I do not want to uncover tonight, so dare seems logical. As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to vomit.Dare, how stupid are you, Violet? You don’t do dares.

“I dare you to make out with Locke.” She snickers loudly, facing the smirking boy next to her.Am I missing the joke here? Makeout?I don’t do things like this. They make me uncomfortable, and this was definitely not in my plans for tonight. I like consistency, control, a plan, and random make-outs with football players are not in the plan.

“Really, Savannah? Locke? You know she’s a freshman, and no offense, Locke, but you are disgusting,” Liza states strongly towards Locke and rolls her eyes at him. If I wasn’t sure if she was a friend before this, I was now. She clearly has my back.

“We’ll break her in then. Locke is perfect for that. You should know that, Liza,” Savannah spits back with a wicked smile. I am missing some crucial info here. Why would Liza know that?

Liza softly whispers to me, “You don’t have to do this, you know. I’ll kiss Locke. He’s a major player, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.” She chuckles uncomfortably, and my cheeks start flaming red. My heart is slamming against my ribcage, making it difficult for me to breathe.

“No, I’ll do it.” I shock myself when the words come out of my mouth, but I can’t let her bail me out. When I get up from the worn-down couch, I leave the safety blanket of my brand-new friend. I walk towards Locke, and my legs turn to jello, and my fingers tingle. Taking a deep breath in, I demand myself to get it together. I have to do this. I need to push myself out of my comfort zone. Locke and I are face to face. He’s cute enough with light brown hair styled in a mullet. He radiates comfort with his hands at his side and a goofy grin. This isn’t his first rodeo, that’s for sure.You’re ok. He’s harmless.

Right as Locke touches my waist, I close my eyes to make this easier, but his lips never touch mine. His hands yank off the loops of my jean shorts. My eyes shoot open, and I see Locke replaced by another body. A much bigger, tattooed, and scruffy one. Before I can push him off, his soft lips crash into mine. My brain doesn’t have time to process what is happening. My ears ring, and I can’t hear anyone else in the room. My body immediately reacts to him. I feel him tug my waist closer until we’re pressed together. I inhale his scent—woodsy mahogany. It’s intoxicating. I don’t taste any hints of alcohol on him, but I feel his tongue weave its way into my mouth. I open slightly, allowing him access. His hands slowly move up the small of my back, touching the skin right above my waist for a second, but they don’t stay there.Why do I wish they did?I feel the rough calluses from his giant hands make their way up to my neck, and his hot skin on mine brings goosebumps back to my arms. This is the best kiss I have ever had, and it’s over just like that. It takes a second for my eyes to flutter open, but when they do, I’m reminded that it’s Ryan staring back at me.

6

Ryan

Ihate games, and I’m done with this party. When I hear someone scream about truth or dare starting in the main room, I decide that this is my cue to leave, but my eyes catch Liza bulldozing her way to the circle with Violet on her arm.You don’t care, Ryan.

Instead of walking out the door and to my car, I find myself heading the opposite way in a direct line to trouble. I find a spot outside of the actual circle. They know better than to ask me to join in. After a few classic dares, I hear Savannah’s venomous voice ask Violet, “New girl, truth or dare?”

I hardly hear Violet’s response beforeredtakes over my eyes. Savannah’s next words dare Violet to kiss Locke. Of course she would. Savannah has been in love with Hartley since freshman year, and she throws herself at him at every party. That’s why she’s wearing what she’s wearing tonight. It’s pathetic. She was threatened by Violet the minute she walked through the door tonight by Hartley’s side. In her mind, Violet is enemy number one because of how much attention Hartley gives her. Wait untilshe finds out they live together. Savannah has nothing on Violet, and she knows it.

In typical bratty girl fashion, she asserts her female dominance by putting the hottest girl in the room on the spot. Savannah can tell that Violet is shy–anyone could. It’s written all over her face. Thank God for Liza. She’s the best, and I hope Violet sees that, too. She knows how to stand up for herself and put other girls in their place. I’m close enough to hear her whisper that she would take the dare instead. Knowing Liza, that’s a big deal. Locker room stories have a way of gaining traction, and I’ve heard my fair share of Liza and Locke’s situationship drama. He broke her heart a time or twenty in the past year.

Violet gets up and walks towards Locke. Locke towers over her and looks thrilled with a stupid grin plastered across his face. Violet is a smoke show, and he is going to brag about this for weeks in practice–the biggest dirtbag on the team. He talks–a lot. Where is Hartley when you need him because this wouldn’t be going down this way if he were in the room?

Locke’s fingers thread through the small loops of her shorts, and I lose it. Before I can stop myself from doing something insane, I shove Locke out of the way. His hands don’t belong on her waist. Mine do. Her eyes shoot open, and without hesitation, I kiss her with a reckless force. When her lips connect to mine, my brain short circuits, and I can’t stop myself even if I try.

I note every inch of her body on mine. The way she leans into me shows how perfect our bodies fit with each other. Her skin is soft and tender. She tastes like vanilla, and I can’t get enough. I slide my hands up her back and rub circles around the skin right above her waist with my course thumbs. I need to stop touching her, or I’m going to throw her over my shoulders and take her to the nearest bedroom.

My hands leave her waist and follow a trail up to her warm neck as I deepen the kiss even further. She grants me access to her perfect mouth with a small sigh. Goosebumps rise on her warm arms, and I graze each one. I smirk slightly knowing her body is responding to my touch. For someone who’s so timid and jumpy, she doesn’t appear that way right now.

I finally break away from her tender lips and get lost in those icy blue eyes. She’s breathing heavily, and I’m holding her arms. I tilt my head gently against hers to get my thoughts together. My mind has completely left my body, and I know I’m in trouble. My body never responds to a girl like that. I don’t feel kisses ripple through my chest like dynamite. This isn’t me. I don’t make abrupt decisions and bulldoze.

Like the jerk I am, I dash away from her to the door and hustle to my car–slamming it closed without looking back. I’m hoping no one follows. I crank the air to full blast, cooling myself down from the overcrowded party and unexpected makeout session with the one girl I was supposed to stay away from. Drawing attention to myself is something I try to avoid at all costs, so I need to leave before I barge into her space, yet again. I may do something even more stupid than I already have.

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