Текст книги "Blue"

Автор книги: H. J. Bellus

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter 2

I pull up my favorite yoga videos on YouTube and do a few sessions while waiting on Sophie. Her hour turns into more like three, but then the door finally opens, and in steps my roomie.

She’s my exact opposite. Similar builds, but that’s it. Sophie’s pale in complexion, with jet-black hair that trails down her back and bounces in curly waves.

“Hi,” I squeak out, sitting up in my bed and flipping off a dumb eye mask. Being bored beyond belief, I busted into a home spa kit and ended up with a lumpy cream and an eye mask. Thankfully, I’d washed off all the green goo and just laid bored out of my mind in my bed.

“Oh my god, I’m Sophie, and you must be Blue.” She bounds toward me, throwing the heap of items in her arms onto her bed. She knocks back onto my bed and lands right on me. “I’ve been dying to meet you. We got lost on the way here. Long story, I’ll fill you in later.”

I held no doubt she’d fill me in on everything.

“Can I help you?”

I tried sitting up and pushing her off to the side. I’m definitely the bubble type of person, as in stay the fuck out of my bubble until I feel comfortable enough hugging you on my own. And it’s clear within thirty seconds of meeting Sophie, she has no concept of a bubble.

“Holy shit, cheer orgy.”

Looking up, I see Lane standing in our doorway holding large boxes.

“Er mah god, thank you.” Sophie pops up and makes her way to Lane.

Along with no bubble, the girl clearly has no shame either. Lane nods in my direction, and then a huge smile covers his face when he recognizes me.

“Blue.”

“Lane.”

“You’ve got some green shit around your eyes,” he says as he walks in and gently sets down the boxes.

Springing from my bed, I go to the mirror behind the door, and holy fuck if I don’t have two perfectly shaped circles framing my eyes. I’ll be kicking the dog for this one when I get home. Damn spa kit. Damn Mom. And Damn Lane for pointing it out.

I snag a wet makeup remover cloth from my vanity and begin to scrub. My only saving grace is that it wipes away easily, only leaving behind a light red mark circling my eyes. Raccoon, it is.

When I turn around I’m surprised to see three more men join Lane in the room, and I find myself quickly scanning the small crowd for Tuck. I recognize one of the men from the diner, but that’s it; the others are all new faces. I don’t remember the name of the familiar man and feel sort of assholish for it. I’m thankful the crowd goes to setting down boxes and unpacking stuff for Sophie. I’m amazed to watch the men sort all of her shit out as she tells them where to place things and exactly how to unfold the bedding.

It only takes seconds before I know I landed the perfect roommate. She likes to talk and be loud, has men following at her heels, and will be the perfect person to hide behind and blend in.

“I’m starving.” Sophie plops down on her bed and covers her stomach. Lane quickly joins her, and the other men exit the room.

“I have some food over in that little fridge. Help yourself.” Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I take a seat at my hot pink office chair near my desk.

Sophie waves off my suggestion. “It’s probably all healthy shit. Right?” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer her question, she just continues talking.

“How do you two know each other, anyway?” she asks.

“Oh, Blue dined with me and the boys earlier.”

“You little hussy.” Sophie zings a pale purple zebra striped pillow toward me. I’m able to bat it away easily. “You told me you were walking downtown to get a bite.”

“I did.”

“Whatever,” Lane pipes up. “She practically begged to sit with us and even offered us a twenty dollar bill.”

Rolling my eyes, I nearly pop both eyeballs out of the socket.

“Well, let’s go eat. I want to see something other than the damn dorms.” Sophie stands, straightening out her tiny white shorts and shamelessly readjusting her boobies. Lane is standing right behind her like a lost little puppy.

The writing is clearly etched on the wall with these two. The only question left is whether they will be bedmates or have something a little deeper.

“I think I’ll just stay behind. I’m actually going to go for a run after the late lunch I mowed down.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

Lane wraps his arm around Sophie’s waist, and she doesn’t even flinch. “Let’s go eat. I’m hungry too. Careful, Blue, it’s almost dark.”

“I’m going to use the running trail around the campus. My dad did some research and it seems to be pretty safe.” I shrug while picking at the hem of my shorts.

“Yeah, it’s well lit and the best place. The gym will be open for athletes tomorrow.”

“I hate the treadmill. Actually, I despise the fucker.”

Sophie giggles loudly. “I already love you, Blue Williams. I hate that fucker, too.” She takes two large steps and wraps her arms around my shoulders, giving me one more hug. This one lasts a bit longer, and I realize Sophie Watson has burst my bubble and any hopes of having one.

The couple wastes no time getting out the door, and if I were a betting woman, I’d bet Sophie comes back with messy hair. Plucking the damn spa kit from the bed, I toss it in the trash and nail it from feet away. I played basketball all through high school and loved every single second of it. It’s weird to think I’ve never cheered at a boys’ basketball game because of scheduling, but thankfully my school allowed cheerleaders to participate in sports as well.

Looking out my dorm window, I notice the dusk settling in over the campus and decide to hustle my ass. We sure did luck out on the view. It’s a gorgeous view of the cityscape, and with the setting sun, damn near picturesque. I wiggle into some tight spandex running pants and toss on a light hoodie.

Walking back out into the commons, it’s even more crowded and rowdy. It seems all the athletes are excited to meet each other.

A different guard sits behind the desk watching a television show and doesn’t even notice me as I exit the building. The running trail parallels our building and is only fifteen feet from the side of the dorm. There are several different routes you can take, lengthening or shortening your workout with different stations throughout to work your muscles.

I decide on the longest route and begin my five-mile jog. Visualizing the map in my head, I decide about a half mile down the trail that this might not have been the best idea. Darkness envelops the night air with just enough groups of stars and a sliver of the moon lighting the way.

I find my pace, and it feels good to let my longs legs go. Signs point the directions at each crossroad, signaling which loop to take. I’m thankful and find myself melting away into my thoughts with no worries. Pushing myself to the point of breaking has become my drug of choice over the years.

I never count sets in the gym when doing weightlifting; no, I always go to failure. It’s an exhilarating feeling to push my body to its limits when my brain is screaming to quit. I’ve never been one to listen to that tiny voice saying, “Stop.” I set my mind and do it.

Mile three, and my lungs are beginning to sting a bit, but I push it away from my thoughts and dream of meeting my new teammates and coach. I met Coach Lindsey at try-outs, and she was amazing and super inspiring. It was her charisma and aura that drew me to choose Preston.

The breeze sends chills through me when it meets the sweat droplets running down my skin. I reach back and pull my hoodie up and over my Beats and focus on Lil Jon’s song blaring in my eardrums. I’m able to block everything out for the next mile as I pick up my pace, forcing my body to keep up.

A dark figure comes into my peripheral, and I jump to the side. My legs tangle together as I jolt off of the trail. My upper body lands in a grassy area as my legs crash into the pebbled running track, and I feel each stone tear into my flesh.

I grab my head to protect it from anything that might be coming next. The dark shadow hovers over me. I’m too out of breath to look up and still in a daze from whatever the fuck happened. Seconds go by before I realize I just ate shit. When I look up, I see Tuck standing above me, clothed in a black hoodie and loose gym shorts that fall right below his kneecaps, exposing very impressive calf muscles.

“Are you okay?” He squats down to face me. “Blue, are you okay?”

He finds my Beats and takes them off my ears. I’m still too startled to respond, and find my breath continuing to race out of control.

“Blue.” He drags the back of his knuckles down my cheek, which only fucks up my breathing more, and the panic sets in.

“I, uh, I’m fine.” I bring my legs up to my chest and see my torn running pants and the blood pooling around the ragged material.

“I was just passing you. I had no idea it was you,” he offers.

“I’m an idiot and spooked.” I try to bury my face in my knees and avoid the blood and cuts.

“Is this your first time on the trail?”

“Yes.” My voice is muffled.

“Probably not the brightest idea to be out after dark.”

“I know. I just needed to run.” Tears stream down my cheeks. “I might miss home already.”

I have no idea where my words came from, but they’re true. My heart already misses my parents, home, and my bed.

“Freshman, right?”

I nod, suddenly feeling foolish for my psycho breakdown in front of Mr. Hunk-O-Rama.

“Yeah, sorry, I think I’m just tired.” I stand and my rubbery legs wobble underneath me. “Go ahead, I don’t want to mess up your workout.”

He chuckles, and that slight grin dances on his serious face. “I just nearly killed a freshman cheerleader. I’m not about to run along without making sure you make it back to the dorms.”

“Really, I’m fine. I may be a little, tiny,” I gesture with my fingers, “itsy bitsty emotional and exhausted, but besides that, I’m good.”

“When do you report to cheer camp?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

We begin walking down the running trail side by side.

“Your knees may be a bit sore.”

“Slightly,” I respond, as my knees sting like a bitch in heat.

I break into a slow jog and look out the corner of my eye to see Tuck keeping pace with me, and just like in the diner, I find it impossible not to stare. There are so many questions I want to ask him, but know it’s completely inappropriate. Like why he portrays such a dark vibe, his clothing, and if he can makes girls scream in bed.

Instead of exercising my mouth, I keep jogging, quickening my pace. My Beats bounce off the back of my neck as I find my rhythm. Tuck sticks quietly by my side.

“You can go ahead, Tuck. I’m fine, really.”

“What? You don’t think I can keep up with a cheerleader? Just because I’m quiet doesn’t mean I’m a pussy.”

I can’t help but laugh at his joke.

“What’s so funny, Miss Blue?”

“My dad always uses that line about not being a pussy.”

I kick in the last gear at my full gait and don’t say another word. Tuck keeps up with me step for step. When we hit the next sign on the jogging trail, I decided to take the eight-mile trek back to the dorms. It feels good to be running at full speed again. With each bend of my knees, I feel the crusted blood break.

Tuck’s heavy breathing makes me feel good because I know he’s pushing himself just as hard as I am. The light of my dorm comes into view, and I internally groan, never wanting this run to end. It was exhilarating before Tuck joined me, but since he did, the open air with his musky scent entangled in all of it made the workout more than satisfying. I could’ve done without the tumble, though.

I come to a stop in front of the dorm and take a second to catch my breath, heaved over, resting my palms on my kneecaps.

“Have a good day tomorrow, Blue Williams.”

I look up to see Tuck jogging in place, facing me.

“Did you Google me? How did you know my last name?”

“I have my ways,” he replies with his stone-cold, serious face.

“I see. Thanks for scaring the shit out of me and nearly killing me before I start my freshman year.”

My sentence rambles on, and I do that on purpose. I’m not ready for Tuck to jog away into the darkness. It’s too late for dinner, and I’m betting he’s not the tea or coffee type…I scramble to come up with an excuse. Tuck begins moving backward in his jogging stance.

“Where are you going?” My voice comes out more panicked than I’d like to admit.

“Home. Goodnight, Blue.”

Tuck continues to jog backward until his black outline fades away into the darkness.

“Goodnight, Tuck,” I holler back.

Within moments, I’m standing in front of the dorms all alone in the darkness, feeling exhausted and satisfied. Falling asleep will be easy tonight.

Tuck, who the hell are you beneath that iron-clad persona?

Chapter 3

Walking back into the dorm, it seems the crowds have gathered behind closed doors, as muted sounds escape each room I pass. Some sounds make my ears bleed. I’m surprised to see the door to our room cracked open slightly, and when I push it further open, Sophie and Lane are all sorts of tangled up…and very naked.

“Oh lord,” I squeal.

“Shit, I told you to lock the door.” Sophie slaps Lane’s back.

I snag a medicine kit off my dresser. “I’ll wait out here. No worries.”

Holy shit, unbelievable. I better become a betting woman.

My mom really thought of everything when she helped me pack and buy stuff for the dorms. An emergency first aid kit was the last thing on my mind, and I do remember rolling my eyes at her when she tossed it into the shopping cart at Target. And if on cue, my phone blares out Mom’s ring tone. I swear she knows everything that happens.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetie,” her voice rings out. “Hi, baby Blue.”

Oish. I must be on speakerphone. My parents love this shit.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“How was your first day?”

“Good, Mom. It was really good.”

“Say bye to your dad. We’re just checking into a hotel for the night.”

“Bye, Dad. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Blue. Don’t go getting knocked up.”

“Deal,” I say.

I listen to my mom fumble with the phone while she turns off the speakerphone, and then my father slams the car door.

“Okay, I’m back. How’s your roomie?”

I giggle at my mom’s vocabulary and then prop the phone between my shoulder and ear. “Mom, I don’t even use that term. Sophie is fine. She arrived late, and well, then…”

“Well, then what?”

“She wanted to go out to eat, and I…”

Before I have the chance to finish my thought, my mom takes control of the conversation.

“Did you offer her some of your food?”

“Of course, Mom.” I roll my eyes. I really need to stop that shit. It may get me in trouble one day. “But she had already made a new friend, and they went out.”

“You got ditched on your first day in the dorms?” Her tone is bathed in horror.

“No, Mom. I told them I didn’t want to go, and it was a guy she’d met, and they are now currently finishing up bumping uglies in our room.”

I smile to myself as I pop open the tube of antibiotic cream. I’ve never kept anything from my mother, but her facial expressions as I revealed stuff like this are always priceless to see. I can only imagine her now.

“Oh, dear, where are you?”

“Out in the commons room. I took a slight tumble tonight on my run, and I’m just cleaning up the scratches.”

I’ll leave it at scratches when it’s more like craters and feels like fucking Jaws is gnawing at my kneecaps.

“How did you fall? Who were you with? Are you okay?”

And the rapid-fire questions begin.

“Just being a dumbass and running after dark. Only some scrapes.”

So, I guess I don’t tell my mom everything. I leave out Tuck and the larger cuts on my knees and my torn running pants. I listen politely as she gives me her motherly lecture and asks about twenty times if I need to go to the hospital. I know she’s made it into the hotel room because I hear my dad chime in just like he does every single time. “Shit, just tell her to rub some dirt on it and move on.”

Listening to the two of them eases my homesickness a bit, and by the time my mom’s done talking, I have both knees cleaned and bandaged up.

“Okay, bye, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Blue. I can’t wait to hear about your first day of camp, and remember Dad and I are coming to the first home game to watch you cheer.”

“Got it. Night, Mom.”

I hang up the phone, knowing the goodbyes could last a century with that woman, and it’s best to cut it short. I try to stand up and realize I may have gone a little heavy on the Band-Aids, as I’m unable to bend my knees. Walking like I’m on stilts, I laugh out loud at the day I’ve had and wonder if it’s any sign of how the year will go.

“You laughing again?”

I look up to see Ethan and a beautiful woman draped off his shoulder. My butt puckers up at the realization this must be Stephie the Ball Crusher. I’m unable to form a word, not knowing which direction to take. A, admit I know Ethan and had lunch with him. Fuck, that sounds so bad and incriminating. Or B, pretend I have amnesia and peg-leg it to my door. But, there’s a slight chance of naked bodies humping each other behind my door.

“Bad habit, I guess.” I shrug and take a few steps away from the couple.

“This is my girlfriend, Stephie.”

I cringe and turn around. I’m fully trapped and at their mercy, just like a rabbit under the teeth of a hungry coyote.

“Hi,” I barely squeak out.

“And how do you know her?” Stephie places a hand on her hip and stares down her boyfriend.

His stall gives me a moment to take in Stephie. She’s gorgeous from head to toe, with shoulder length blonde hair and long, lean legs.

“I had lunch with her and the boys today.”

My butt fully cramps from the tight puckering, and I kiss my chance of fitting in on the squad goodbye. I’d just pissed Stephie off and painted an overly large target on my back.

“Oh, nice, and what other females were there?” she spits out.

“It was just Blue.”

Might as well slit both wrists now and offer up my blood to the vampires of cheerleading hell. I’m toast.

“I went there on my own and had my own table. Lane started singing a song and being obnoxious. They really forced my hand,” I ramble on and wish like hell my knees weren’t locked tight with bandages. If I live past this encounter, I’m swearing off Band-Aids the rest of my life.

Stephie processes my words, but the look on her face doesn’t soften. If anything, she grows more and more pissed off at the whole situation.

“Stay the fuck away from my boyfriend and know your fucking role tomorrow on the squad, freshman.”

Clearly, she enjoys using the four-letter word. I only nod and carry on to my dorm in penguin fashion. This time when I open the door, Lane is standing and zipping up his fly.

“Sorry about that, Blue. We got carried away.”

“You don’t say.” I plop down on my bed and inhale the fresh scent of fabric softener.

“Yeah, really sorry.” Sophie sits up in her bed, guarding her chest with Lane’s shirt.

“How about we keep the bumping and grinding to Lane’s dorm?”

“Absolutely. You’re not mad, are you?”

I don’t have enough energy to explain how highly inappropriate her actions were, so I just shake my head.

“I told you Blue was a cool chick.”

“Get the hell out of here, Lane, before I decide to kick you in the baby-maker.”

And that’s when their eyes land on my knees.

“Good lord, who was the lucky man?” Lane asks.

I grab the closest water bottle and sling it toward his head.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” He uses his arms to deflect the bottle.

Lane places one final kiss on Sophie’s forehead before he exits the room, shirtless. And then, without shame, Sophie sits up in bed, exposing her tits to the world, and slides on his shirt. I’m not sure if it’s an only child issue, but I’m extremely modest when it comes to lady parts. Even in locker rooms you can find me changing in a stall. I try not to stare at her perfectly shaped boobies and then wonder if they’re fake.

“That will never happen again, and you have to believe me that I’m not a slut.”

“Are you boobs fake?” slips from my mouth.

Sophie tilts her head in my direction. “Um, yeah, is that okay?”

“Oh, they’re great,” I explain.

“But really, Blue, I just got out of a bad break-up with my high school boyfriend of four years, and I guess I enjoyed the attention Lane gave me a bit too much.”

“You could say that again. I mean, he had you nailed less than two hours after meeting. You slut bag.”

Sophie goes pale and fumbles with the hem of Lane’s shirt as she tries to stand, not knowing how to take my comment.

“Gotcha,” I squeal.

She clutches her chest. “Oh my god, I thought you were mad.”

“Don’t mess with my cheer career or schooling and we will get along just fine.”

“Really?” she asks, clearly stunned.

“Really.”

“I’ll be right back.” Sophie cracks the door and rushes across the way to the bathroom, and I can only guess she’s cleaning up or stitching up. I’m not quite sure what you do after sex.

I, on the other hand, take the moment of solitude to wiggle out of my pants, trying not to rip off my bandages, and then cozy on up in an oversized cheer camp t-shirt and boy shorts and crawl back onto my bed. Just as I snuggle in, my stomach rumbles and I decide to pop a bag of popcorn. I mean, I need to eat something on the first night since my mom supplied me with enough food for an army.

Right as I climb in bed, Sophie comes back into the room. I pat the bed beside me. Since she’s already busted my bubble, I offer her some popcorn. I can tell she’s uncomfortable.

“I’m really not a slut, and the more time that passes, I feel awful.”

“Was his dick big?” I ask around a mouthful of popcorn.

I laugh at the shock on her face and inhale a kernel. I begin spastically choking and grabbing at my throat, indicating the internationally recognized choking signal. Sophie pounds on my back relentlessly, and then finally the kernel dislodges.

“Water,” I croak out.

She bounds from the bed and grabs the bottle of water I tossed at Lane and offers it to me.

“Who needs porn with these two?”

We look up to see Lane and Ethan staring at us from the doorway. I send both of them a “what the fuck” look.

“The door was cracked open and we heard some ruckus, and since we head up neighborhood watch, we had to investigate,” Lane says.

I point at Ethan. “You stay away. Stay far, far away from us. I don’t want your girlfriend to eat us for breakfast.”

They laugh loudly and clearly take it the wrong way, and most likely the perverts would.

“I’m serious. She already hates me.”

“Calm down, Blue, she just broke up with me,” Ethan says.

That’s it, I’m packing my bags tonight. First flight home. I’ll flip burgers before I endure the wrath of Stephie, AKA the Hulk.

“Are you freaking crazy? Now you’re in here?” I whisper-scream.

“Calm down.” Lane and Ethan both take a seat on Sophie’s bed.

“Get out now,” I demand again.

The men find it quite comical how upset I am.

“Really. It’s fine, Blue. She explained it was over, and we both kind of knew that last spring. It was just convenient.”

“Explain her threat then, Casanova!”

“Stephie is just a bitch,” Lane pipes up, and Ethan only nods.

“How long were you two together?” I ask.

“Most of high school and on and off through college.”

“And you’re going to be a junior, right?”

“Yeah, we both are.” Ethan signals between himself and Lane.

“She’s cheated on Ethan more times than Gaga changes at an award show.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise at how casually Lane just threw that out for us to hear.

“Whatever.” I finally throw both hands up in surrender. “Both of you out. We need to bond, and clearly I need to teach numbnuts here how to shut a door and lock the sucker.”

“Okay, one thing first.” Lane covers his chest with his hands, and I already know he has some sort of wild proposition for us.

“Be strong,” I whisper into Sophie’s ear, and she nods.

“If you two survive your first week at training camp, will you do us the honor of attending a summer party with us?”

Not even a millisecond passes before Sophie bounces up off the bed and wraps her arms around Lane’s neck screaming, “Yes.”

I roll my eyes at her and hold back my gags. Yes, I’ll admit I’m beyond excited for my first college party, especially with football players, but never would I bounce off the bed and squeal to high hell like a stuck pig.

“Out now, boys.”