Chapter 2
August
Jazmine Allen
I f you told me I was standing next to trouble, I would wholeheartedly agree.
Theodore Knight reeks of ego, privilege and sex. His floppy blonde hair doesn’t need to be styled, it falls into place perfectly and his blue eyes will suck you into his vortex and never let you out.
Okay, I’m being slightly dramatic. But I can't deny that he is attractive. When he challenged me to a game of pool, I was in. I tried not to seem too eager, however, I didn’t really care. I just want to take him down a peg or two. Or three.
On my first shot I was able to get a solid into the pocket. I couldn’t hold back my smirk when Theodore realised, I wasn’t an idiot and knew how to play pool.
When I told him my twin brother—Jayden Allen, taught me it wasn’t a lie either. There wasn’t much to do in the small beach town we grew up in, pool being one of the games to pass the time.
At our graduation ceremony, Jayden told me he was moving to Lakewood University on a sporting scholarship, so I decided to come too.
I moved into my apartment today and it really is different moving to a big city for university, but I knew I needed a change. The worst thing about small towns is exactly that: it is too fucking small.
Everyone knows everyone, especially the Allens. Our parents are the stars of the town, with my mum Ashley Allen, Mayor of Meadow Beach while George Allen, my dad is a retired professional surfer who owns a business on the beach.
So, our last name came with expectation. And although my parents have never put any pressure on Jay and me, sometimes I think they didn’t need to.
Once I came home with ninety-six percent on my english essay, yet all they were excited about was Jayden being selected for the under seventeens national ice hockey team.
Everything seemed to be about him. I don’t hold this against my brother, but my brain decided my marks weren’t good enough and I needed to be the best. So, academic validation became the drug I needed to survive. It still is.
The clanking of a pool ball sliding into the pocket brings my attention to Theodore. He moves around the table, a smile clinging to his face. Smugness radiates off him, I stop myself from rolling my eyes. There is no way I’m giving him the satisfaction of winning. Or giving him my number.
I told myself I am swearing off guys for a while after Justin—my high school boyfriend, not only cheated on me, but broke up with me in front of the entire ice hockey team. Fucking asshole.
Theodore reminds me of him, whether it’s the cockiness or his presence, I’m not too sure but for me, that is enough of a sign to stay the fuck away.
“Your turn Princess,”
That stupid nickname. It conjures bad memories from high school. Even though I worked my ass off to earn all my achievements, people always thought I would receive an award because my last name is Allen.
“I told you not to call me that,” I spy the white ball and line my cue up to make a shot. My ball falls short of reaching the pocket. “Argh,”
Our game continues, ball after ball, eventually we both dwindle down to the black ball.
No pressure.
Knight just missed; I have the chance to win. I visualise the blonde-haired boy singing on stage for everyone at the bar. A smile dances across my face as I take my shot. The white ball knocks the eight ball into the end pocket leaving me the winner.
My head is high as I walk over to Theodore. “I hope you like Taylor Swift, Pretty Boy.”
“I knew you thought I was pretty,”
How does someone have an ego this large? I clutch the neck of his shirt; it bunches in my hand as I drag Theodore to the edge of the stage. Losing my grip on his shirt, I step up one stair to gain more height.
Although I’m taller than your average girl, Theodore has at least three inches on me. My pointer finger jabs his chest, making the toned muscles underneath his shirt obvious.
“Stay,”
Theodore’s ocean blue eyes ignite flames in my core. His pupils expand and his tongue brushes along his full lips. I can’t stop staring.
God, this is such a bad idea. Theodore’s fingertips trail down my bare arm, his calluses are rough against my skin. His cologne invades my senses as he moves closer.
“Should I mark my territory before you go?”
Tingles bolt down my spine while my cheeks heat as a blush rushes from my face to my neck. The thought of him marking me—his full lips edging along my upper thigh, the anticipation building as he reaches my—.
Stop. Theodore is a stranger. He is definitely a playboy. The last thing I need is to have casual sex and get attached. I know that is exactly what would happen as I have never had sex outside a relationship, even then it was only once. My insecurities in combination with overthinking every situation, make me the worst candidate for a one-night stand.
“Be a good boy and stay,”
Quickly, I walk onto the stage. My body is alive under Theodore’s lust hooded eyes. I may have my back to him but every inch of my skin is ablaze.
The girl controlling the karaoke laughs as I explain my bet. Knight follows my signal to come onto stage without hesitation.
I place the microphone in his hand as the instrumental for Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift begins in the background. Theodore, however, doesn’t start singing. Instead, he asks for another microphone, passing me the second one.
“I’m not singing with you. That wasn’t part of the bet,”
A pout forms on Knight’s lips, resembling a cute puppy that you are guilt trapped into adopting.
“Please, I was such a good boy,”
I take it back. Theodore Knight isn’t cute; he is a combination of sin and sex. As soon as he laid his eyes on me earlier tonight, something stirred in my stomach. Resisting his flirting is extremely hard and right now, as he continues to hold out the extra microphone, it's impossible.
I grind my teeth before snatching the microphone and bringing it to my lips. Our voices sound terrible, echoing throughout Frankie’s Bar and back into my ears. Theodore and I are strangely in sync, alternating who sings the verses and joining together on the chorus and bridge .
I can’t remember the last time I smiled like this by myself, let alone with a boy. After my last relationship ended in disaster, I promised myself I would guard my heart with multiple layers of brick, that is reinforced by cement.
Enter Theodore Knight.
I also can’t believe he knows the lyrics to this song. He is full of surprises. Knight’s laughter is contagious, infecting me as we make our way back to our friends. It concerns me how easily Theodore has slipped through my defences. It’s only a matter of time before I succumb to his charms.
I have bad luck when it comes to boys and I don't want to spend freshman year nursing a broken heart all while striving for academic perfection.
Theodore’s blonde friend is listening to Athena, his eyes never straying from her, while Sofia is talking the other boy’s ear off.
“Are you two ready to go?” I ask my friends and newly acquired roommates.
The two girls nod their heads, while I turn to face Theodore. “Thanks for tonight, I had a lot of fun.”
“No problem, Princess. Do I still have a chance of getting your number?”
Why do I get the feeling this nickname is going to stick? Chasing after boys goes against my personal motto: chase dreams, not boys. However, from what I've seen of Theodore's pride and ego, he won't give up after being rejected.
I smile and lock eyes with Knight. “We’ll see,”
***
Athena and Sofia don’t stop hounding me with questions, even after we enter our apartment.
I expected it from Sofia, she is outgoing and the life of the party. When we met earlier today, she was more than happy to carry our conversations.
She told us about her dreams of becoming a fashion designer, wanting all her designs to be featured during Fashion Week around the world. Sofia also apologised in advance for the fabrics and sewing equipment that are already taking over our apartment.
Athena; however, is the complete opposite. She is introverted preferring the company of books or her journal. So, her being on Sofia’s team and asking me ridiculous questions is a surprise.
“Just looking at the two of you was melting my panties,” Sofia says.
My laughter bounces off the decorated walls of our living room. “Didn’t you know you had a voyeurism kink?”
Sofia rolls her eyes, while I use Athena to deflect. “You aren’t allowed to say anything because I saw you all cosy with Knight’s friend,”
Athena presses her hands against her face, covering the blush heating her cheeks. “He was flirting with me all night. I didn’t know what to say!”
Sofia and I laugh at her awkwardness.
“Trust me Athena, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. ”
“Why?”
We laughed again. This girl is in for a big surprise this year. When Athena told us she had never been with a guy, I was shocked. I mean the girl is a perfect combination of hot and beautiful—long brown hair and a petite figure.
Every teenage boy’s dream.
“Don’t think you are getting out of this Jazmine. What is the deal with Mr Greek God?” Sofia says, a scowl never leaving her face.
“If you like his muscles so much, maybe you should date him.”
Sofia scoffs. “White boys do nothing for me girl, I have a type.”
I shake my head, denying my attraction to Theodore is the best course of action. He probably uses the same flirting act on every girl, I don’t want to become one of them. Besides, as I said, I am focusing on myself this year.
The past couple months were a relief after my intense final year of high school. I pushed myself to the very brink, overloading myself with classes. But all it did was leave me exhausted and burnt out.
Once graduation was over, I slept for over two days, only waking up to eat. I can’t even remember if I showered. My insomnia has eased slightly, but the first time panic sneaks up on me, is when all my progress will shatter.
“It doesn’t matter, the campus is so big I will probably never see him.”
I mean seriously, what are the chances?