Layla
Dear Lisa,
I was forced to go to a party. Cara arrived at my dorm and started shuffling through my clothes.
“You have some nice things in here, why do you never go out?”
“I don’t like parties.”
“A girl who doesn’t like parties doesn’t own these types of dresses.” She held up a short black one, and I shook my head.
“I used to like them. Back home, my best friend Amie and I went out all the time.”
She sat down on the end of my bed. “Well then, what happened?”
“I came here.” I shrugged.
She looked at me and crossed her arms. “Oh, there is definitely more to that story. Who was he, and what did he do?”
“What?”
“The guy who broke your heart.” She stood up and smiled like it was the most exciting thing she’d ever realized.
“It all makes sense now, you coming here when there are perfectly good colleges closer to Rockport. You came to LSC to put distance between you and him, right? After he broke your heart. I’m right, aren’t I? ”
No.
“Sure,” I said. I didn’t want to continue the conversation.
She laughed. “I promise you, college boys are far better than high school boys.” She clapped her hands together. “And Ben Matthews is into you.” She tapped her fingers along her chin and hummed. “Change of plan. We’re going to get you over your broken heart.”
“I don’t want to date anyone, Cara.”
“Who said anything about dating? Everyone knows the best way to get over a guy is to get und—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence.”
She giggled, then threw me a forest green dress. “Wear this. It’s his team color, he’ll like it.” She winked at me as I threw it back to her.
“I don’t care if he likes it.”
She set it down beside me and walked into the bathroom. “Keep telling yourself that, but I’ve heard from reliable sources that Ben can put it down in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. And that is exactly what you need.” She winked.
A few of Cara’s friends decided to meet us at the house the party was being held at, a few blocks from campus.
Cara took my hand and led me to the living room.
There were people everywhere, and I wasn’t feeling good about my dress.
It was tighter than I remembered, and shorter, too.
I tugged down on the hem until Cara slapped my hand away.
“Stop that. You look great. If I had your legs, I’d never stop showing them off.” She reached the table, grabbed a red cup, then passed it to me.
“I don’t drink.”
Her eyes widened. “Layla, this is a college party. You can’t drink soda.” She paused. “Are you religious or something?”
I laughed. “No, I’m not religious.”
She opened her mouth, then slammed it shut before taking a long sip from her cup.
“Hi Clark. Hi Ben,” she said, smirking at me.
He didn’t look at Cara, and that stupid grin of his, spreading wide across his face as his eyes drank me in, had me feeling all types of embarrassed, because damn it, it was working on me.
“Layla.” Ben grinned.
“Layla’s a virgin,” Cara announced, and I spun around to face her. “A college party virgin,” she clarified. “She’s never been to one before. Poor things asking for soda.”
“What?” Clark reached by me and picked up a cup, then stepped closer to Cara.
“Never been to a college party? What have you been doing for the last year?” Ben asked.
“She’s been pinning after some jerk who broke her heart,” Clara injected, and I shot her a glare. Maybe going along with her assumption wasn’t the right move, since now she can’t seem to keep anything from slipping past those lips.
Ben’s smile softened. “Do you want a soda?”
“Don’t encourage it,” Cara rolled her eyes.
“I don’t see the problem. She can drink whatever she wants.” He motioned behind him. “Kitchen’s this way.”
I don’t know what happened to the bubbly, nice Cara I worked with in the bakery, but that version of her clearly doesn’t exist here. I took Ben up on his offer to save myself from any further embarrassment.
“Have fun, Layla!” Cara shouted after us.
The kitchen, although large, was overcrowded. And when Ben walked in, he seemed to know everyone. He opened the fridge, shuffled through it, and pulled out two cans of Mountain Dew.
He walked me out into the backyard, past an inflatable hot tub overflowing with couples. College parties aren’t much different from high school.
We walked until we reached a stone bench toward the bottom of the garden.
“So, no college parties?” He popped the top of his can and took a sip.
“No.”
He nodded, and it looked like he was fighting back a smile.
“Where are you from?”
“‘Rockport.” I shifted uncomfortably. I hated talking about home.
“It’s near the ocean, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t they have colleges out there?”
I nodded.
“How come you decided to come here?”
“I didn’t really have a choice.”
His brows pulled together. “Have you got strict parents or something?”
I shrugged, then felt guilty about my short responses.
“I don’t have the best relationship with my dad.
I haven’t spoken to him properly in a few years.
” I started to fidget with the bracelet on my wrist. I don’t like talking about my life, and I’ve done pretty well up to now avoiding anyone getting close enough to ask.
“My dad still lives in Texas. He has a new girlfriend every week, some are closer to my age than his. He sends me birthday cards with the wrong age and terrible jokes each year and puts a few dollars in them. I can’t remember the last time I saw him,” he said.
It surprised me how honest he was being and by the way his eyes didn’t meet mine as he told me about his dad, I’d wage my bets on it not being something he liked talking about either.
“Do you at least like it here?” he asked.
“It’s okay.” But it’s not Rockport.
He nodded. “Well, I’m glad you broke your no partying rule tonight.” He moved closer to me, and I was surprised that I didn’t hate that he did.
“Do you live here?” I asked.
“Yeah. That’s my room right there.” He pointed to a window on the left side of the house.
When he lowered his hand, he brushed my arm.
Maybe one kiss wouldn’t hurt. I wouldn’t have to date him. I wouldn’t have to fall in love. A kiss is just a kiss. Maybe Cara was right.
He leaned into me like he was reading my mind, and his lips touched mine, soft and gentle.
He held his hand against my cheek. I parted my lips and his tongue tasted like the Mountain Dew he’d been drinking.
His lips moved against mine, and they ignited feelings I wasn’t sure I was capable of anymore.
They drew out life like spring does to the fall and I’m not so sure one kiss with Ben Matthews will be enough.