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“You don’t want to go to a party with yourfavoritebest friend?” The pout was in full force now, and I fought the urge to take a cursory look at the back of my eye sockets.
“First, you’re my only best friend. Second,” I relented, “I will totally go with you, no need to make your lip run away from your face.” I snickered as her face turned up into her megawatt smile. Hearing books thump behind us, we looked in the direction of the sound. There was a small mess of books piled at feet I recognized.
“Hey, Brent!” Mari greeted him.
He had gone to our high school and mixed into a few of our classes. It was no surprise to see him early; he sought academic achievements and accolades all the same. He was more determined than most.
The three of us hadn’t been close then, but students who came from Riverwalk High School in Cape Haven seemed to flock together. Monarch Ridge University wasn’t exceptionally large compared to the elite colleges, but there were a lot of students from all over, and it was nice to see familiar faces.
“Hey, Bexley. Hey, Mari.” He seemed shy around Mari. Her infectious personality was opposite to the introverts, but everyone eventually warmed up to her. Mariana was impossible not to love, and over the years, I had noticed the way boys would flirt or pine for her attention. Brent blushed and looked to the floor whenever he said her name, and I was positive he was enamored with her as well.
A body moved behind Brent. There weren’t many people it could’ve been other than Jai Wells. He could look over just about anyone’s head here. He fidgeted with his phone and earbuds as he walked up to our table. He rolled his muscular neck sharply. Painful sounding cracks pierced our quiet bubble.
Mrs. Whitcomb huffed a disapproving sigh from behind the metal cart.
He had a reputation from Riverwalk. He was massive compared to Brent. Seeing them stand side by side made it clear they were polar opposites. Brent’s thin-faced features contrasted the sculpted angle of Jai’s jawline.
If Brent could belong to any faction, he’d associate with the preppy vibe. He didn’t have an expressive or interesting personality. Brent wasn’t a brooding, silent type. He was just average. Just Brent. He tousled his pale blond hair and moved it out of his eyes as he looked up to Jai.
Jai easily belonged to the alternative crowd. In high school, there were rumors of drugs, drinking, and delinquency. Jai was notorious for not backing down from any fight. His physique gave him the edge he needed to hold his own against the various assholes who targeted him.
I personally respected him for it, but being the one still standing every time meant he’d been a social pariah. Even now, out of high school, people were still more than happy to alienate him from their comfy, boring social circles. The good ol’ boys had expectations when it came to proper dress code. Jai treated their expectations like suggestions and adhered to his own standards.
Black was the foundation for everything: T-shirts, jeans, sweats. From the black hole of his closet emerged the occasional punk band tee and graphic illustrations from some show that I wasn’t familiar with. He had piercings in so many places, it was hard to keep track of anything new. From his ears to his nose, there were at least twelve, and that was just what I could see.
Are there more intimate ones?
Jai’s hair was thick and nearly black, contrasting with his bright green eyes. I wondered if he knew that his brooding features kept people at a distance. Jai had the body mass to match, which made every move and action intimidating, whether he meant for that to be the intention or not.
My favorite of his piercings was the chain that hung from the top of his ear, secured near the bottom with a black diamond stud.
My favorite piercing? Wait, when did I start having a fucking favorite anything of his?
His acknowledgment of us was limited to a head nod as he set his notebook and hoodie on the table’s surface.
That wasn’t unusual. He hadn’t been outwardly friendly to others in high school, so I wasn’t sure why people thought he would change in college.
Jai didn’t usually stay long. His classes didn’t overlap with our schedules, so I assumed he preferred our company to the other groups’. Today was a brief day for him, as I was almost certain he had been here a while before I arrived, given his first class of the day ended hours ago.When did I start caring enough to learn his schedule?
I expected his typical acknowledgment and dismissal, but he moved closer to the table and looked down at the party flyer Mari had in her notebook. His eyes lingered on me when he finished reading it. A chill licked down my spine in response to his piercing green stare. He looked away before I could decipher his thoughts.
“Did you guys take advanced psych or philosophy this semester?” Brent asked.
I blinked, belatedly realizing I’d been gazing at Jai’s backside as he leaned against the table’s edge.
I responded tightly, “We’re in psych this time around, but I think Kelly has philosophy. I’m just not sure what time she’s scheduled. Do you need her to give you some midterm help? I heard one of the philosophy teachers is similar to Dr. Caste and rides their students into the ground.” I was happy I wasn’t scheduled with both psychology and philosophy in the same semester. That would’ve been criminal and inhumane, borderline torture.
Jai shifted slightly.
Brent replied, his brown eyes locked on my face, “Actually, it'spsychologythat I’m having an issue with. I can’t really grasp the temporal lobe and the parietal lobe aspects. I keep switching parts of their functions. It’s been a pain.” Brent put the books he had collected onto our table and lowered himself into the seat on my right. His cologne had a musky vanilla scent to it and wasn’t one I particularly cared for.
I fought the urge to scrunch my nose and slide my chair farther across the carpet. Instead, I gave a tired smile and released a full exhale of patience.
Mariana interjected, “Oh, that’s what Bex and I were discussing, actually. I’m sure we could exchange notes and do some exercises together.” Mari looked to me for confirmation, and I had to work to keep my eyes from popping out.
I wasn’t too interested in adding another study partner to our duet.
Brent turned his attention to me. The hopeful look in his eyes dismantled my ability to think of an excuse.
