“Awkward,” Delilah sings in a hushed tone as she, Olivia, and Rat Boy stand and shrug on their backpacks.
Olivia flashes her friend a warning look before we all file out of the room. We walk down the hall of the science building, and my mind goes haywire trying to think of something to say to clear the obvious tension still lingering.
Do I apologize?
But what do I apologize for? I did nothing wrong.
Do I not say anything at all?
“See you guys later,” Delilah says as we descend the stairs to the first floor, Rat Boy following her down the hallway toward more classrooms as Olivia and I head for the exit. I make sure to grab the door for her.
“Thank you,” she says, and we walk in silence, some awkward tension still lingering.
“You sure you don’t want to come tonight?” I ask, stuffing my hands in the front pockets of my jeans.
She shakes her head. “No, thanks.”
“Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow in class?” I confirm, and detect the uncharacteristic sound of insecurity in my voice.
She gives me a soft smile, any lingering tension dissipating. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget to read those poems.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
>> <<
The wall vibrates against my back as I post up against it, the bass rattling the entire house. I press a red Solo cup to my lips, taking a swig of the cheap, lukewarm beer inside. I’m surrounded by some of my teammates, talk of our first game this weekend fading in and out over the music.
Ciara sashays up to our group, her shoulder-length blond hair tousled from being out on the dance floor all night. She wedges herself between Taylor and me, taking a seat on the arm of the couch. Taylor wraps his arm around her waist as he chats with Brennen, who’s sitting to his left. It’s been rumored for the past week that Taylor and Ciara have been hooking up. Nothing serious, though.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” I ask Ciara, bending at the waist to chat with her more privately.
She shrugs. “She’s not my girlfriend anymore. We broke up just before the end of last semester.”
“Oh shit. I’m sorry,” I apologize, not realizing they’d broken things off.
She waves her hand dismissively, unaffected. “Don’t be. I think you and I both know she wasn’t quite up to my speed.” She smirks.
Ciara is another one of my frequent repeats, after Adrianna. We started casually hooking up freshman year and slowed down last year when she started having a couple of exclusive relationships. She had a boyfriend for a handful of weeks and then she was with her girlfriend for about three months. During that time I kept my distance, respecting her relationships, but when Ciara approached me at a party last semester with her girlfriend, asking me if I wanted to have some fun with the both of them, I couldn’t say no.
We ended up going back to Ciara’s place and I could tell Molly, her girlfriend at the time, wasn’t too into it. I kept asking her if she wanted to continue and she would always say yes, wanting to please Ciara. But I could sense she was uncomfortable, that this wasn’t something she was used to, sharing Ciara and being intimate with a male. So I kept my distance and my hands to myself unless asked, letting her come to me and give verbal consent frequently during that night we all shared.
I guess Ciara became too much for Molly to handle. Or Ciara felt Molly couldn’t keep up with her. Ciara is wild as hell, and I feel a little guilty for their split, but I know it’s going to take someone really special to keep Ciara’s interest.
Ciara peers up at me with hooded eyes, and I can tell that thoughts of that night are dancing around in her mind. She bites her lip, her eyes leaving mine to do a quick sweep of the house. When her eyes come back to me there’s a naughty glint behind them, especially when that wickedly talented tongue of hers slowly pokes out to moisten her plump pink bottom lip.
Without a word, Ciara stands from the couch, Taylor’s arm falling from her waist as she does, but he doesn’t seem to mind, focused on his conversation with Brennen. Her body slightly brushes against mine, and she leans in to brush her lips against my ear. “Meet me in the upstairs bathroom,” she whispers before disappearing into the crowd for a moment until I spot her form reemerge, walking up the staircase.
Not wanting to draw any attention, I wait a few minutes before downing the rest of my beer, dropping the cup on the floor, and casually walking over to the stairs. I make my way to the second floor and head for the bathroom at the end of the hall. After I knock twice, it doesn’t take Ciara long to open the door and eagerly pull me inside by the collar of my shirt, the two of us going at each other.
Ciara stands as I zip up my jeans, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She walks over to the mirror, combing her hair with her fingers before reapplying some lip gloss.
“Always a pleasure seeing you, Bronx,” she says flirtatiously, flashing me a smile over her shoulder. “Hope to see more of you this semester.”
“Likewise.” I chuckle, bidding her goodbye as she slips out of the bathroom.
I walk up to the mirror myself, straightening out my clothes and splashing some water on my flushed face. Once I look put together enough and some time has passed since Ciara exited, I slip out of the bathroom.
As soon as I do, I spot Adrianna leaning against the opposite wall, looking absolutely livid. Her green eyes are hard and dark as she scowls, her arms tightly crossed over her chest.