In Too Deep

Chapter 4

Taylor has two left feet, she’s awkward and unsure, yet she’s completely captured my attention. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and in person, she’s far prettier than I first thought. The yearbook photo didn’t do them justice, but those are definitely the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. She’s thin, yet has a few hard-not-to-notice curves.

I watch her grind her hips with a smirk pulling on my lips. Bria’s ploy to keep me interested is backfiring. Big time.

I take the opportunity to study the contrast between Bria and Taylor. Bria’s appearance – complete with manicured nails and not a strand of hair out of place isn’t nearly as appealing as Taylor’s feminine innocence, and natural unassuming beauty. Bria is practically throwing her sexuality in my face, so I’m perplexed at my strong reaction to Taylor. She’s not my type. Too young… too real…

I shake my head and chuckle at the look of concentration on Taylor’s face. Bria slips her hand into mine, lacing our fingers together. I look to Taylor to see if she notices. She does.

Now girls, don’t fight. There’s plenty of me to go around.

Bria’s expression tells me she’s not above the catty threat our closeness implies.

“Is this lesson over? I need to figure out where my next class is.” Taylor stands her ground, looking Bria up and down with annoyance.

“Yeah, this is boring,” I say, stuffing my hands low in my pockets.

Taylor’s face betrays her hurt over my comment. Good. I couldn’t have her knowing how not boring that was. Down boy.

Bria’s wicked little grin gives away her motivation and her eyes find mine just briefly. “Just trying to help.”

My ass she was trying to help. She wanted to humiliate the pretty little new girl in my presence to make sure I only noticed her. And don’t get me wrong, of course I noticed Bria. I’m sure she’d be in my bed later, but Taylor – she’d be fun in a different sort of way. Soft, innocent, a tense bundle of nerves I’d have to coax her out of her shell. Bria would be on me the second I gave the command. Where’s the fun in that?

Taylor pushes past Bria and storms toward the door. She gives it a shove and continues into the hall. I shuffle out past Bria without a word and follow Taylor into the hall. In a few paces, I catch up and she tenses, noticing I’m beside her.

“Where are you headed?”

She glances over at me briefly, then turns away, looking annoyed. “I have Defense Techniques next,” she says, thrusting her chin up.

I smile. “Me too. I’ll show you.”

Her brow creases. She assumed I’m a second year like Bria, so she’s trying to understand how we have the same class.

“So where are you from?” I ask.

“Pennsylvania.”

“And you were a junior there?” I inquire.

“Yup.” She nods.

I can sense she’s irritated at me. I have no idea why.

We climb the stairs, and walk in silence along the long hallway, and for once I don’t know what to ask next. I never have to try around girls, but she seems completely immune to me. I decide to wait her out. After a few minutes, I’m proven right. The silence becomes too much for her.

“So…” she asks like she can’t help what she wants to say next, biting into her soft bottom lip. “Bria – she’s your girlfriend?”

“Um, no.” I focus my gaze down the hallway, thinking about how to answer. “We hang out some nights.” I clear my throat, stopping myself. God I sound like a dick. Great first impression, Colt. You want this girl to like you, not be repulsed. I recover, glancing over at her and flash a smile. “But regardless, I don’t date first years.”

She shakes her head and lets out a throaty laugh at my assumption. “Ew, no. That’s not why I asked.” She holds up her hands. “Don’t worry. I have no intention of being even remotely interested in you.”

I plaster on an unconcerned grin. “Good. Now that we have that settled.” I pull open the door. “In here.”