Beautiful Collision

by T. G. Ayer

  Sobering thought.

  I make a quick check of where my gun is. Last night, I'd forgotten all about it and gone to bed without taking the weapon with me. Careless. I have to make sure it doesn't happen again.

  I lock up and hurry downstairs, where I pause to slip the envelope under Marcus' door. Then I'm outside walking toward the campus. I'm feeling light and free in my dress and I enjoy the summer sun on my face and shoulders as I make my way across the grass, I begin to search for signs for the Registrations office.

  I'm staring up at a sign when I walk right into someone. This someone has solid, well-defined muscles on his arms as well as his chest and I jump back with shock, almost losing my balance. As I move away he grabs my arm and I'm about to scream. His tattooed forearm grazes my leather cuff and I'm terrified that his actions would move it out of place.

  Then I look up at meet his eyes and electricity jolts through me. It has nothing to do with the touch of his skin to mine. Well maybe it does but it's more his eyes and the way they look at me. At first curious, then shocked as if he recognizes me from somewhere. And beyond that is something else. Something he himself seems to be fighting against. He shakes his head then as if trying to shake a thought from it. Then he shoves his glasses back over his eyes, shuttering his expression.

  "I'm so sorry," he says and his voice ripples over me, giving me goosebumps. Get a freaking grip, Gray. He's speaking again and I force myself to listen. "I should have been watching where I was going. Are you alright?"

  His words filter through my foggy brain and I nod slowly, wondering if I'm getting heatstroke or something. Is this what heartbreak feels like? All hot and bothered, and dizzy. I am sure that hot guys don't have anything to do with heatstroke no matter how hard I try to convince myself. "I'm fine," is all I manage to utter. There are students walking past and I'm sure I now look like a total dork. I just want it over.

  And I want his hands off me. Or do I?

  "You're sure?" he asks again, a teasing smile curving at his lips. He's tall, and muscular though not beefy. His hair is short, almost a military cut and his dark glasses now hide his eyes. My own eyes narrow suspiciously. Is he some sort of weirdo? He still hasn't let go of my arm. I shrug it off and he seems to remember himself, pulling his hand away and giving me a sheepish grin. I can still feel the warmth of his palm on my skin and I feel bereft as the heat of it slowly leaves me.

  But, I remind myself as nice as he looks he could still be a creep, or even one of Nikolai's men. What if they'd found me and he is the one they sent to bring me in? He watches my face and I realize my emotions must have been written all over it.

  He looks strangely saddened for a moment, then he smiles again. "Look, I'm really sorry I bumped you. I was looking at the signs and totally didn't see you."

  I put a smile on my face, partly to make him feel better and partly to force myself to think straight. Whatever my suspicions were about this guy, his smile happens to be magical even when I can't see his darned eyes anymore. I shake my head.

  It's definitely heatstroke.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Gray

  So we are both heading in the same direction. But it's unsettling.

  Oh for god's sake Gray, be honest with yourself at least. It's the guy who is unsettling, not the direction he's going in.

  I blink at him then say, "Okay, then. I'd better be going."

  I slide past and start walking although it feels to me like he is still watching. As I walk I glance at my wrist. The cuff is in place so I feel a little secure now. And when I'm a few paces away and I turn back to look at him I see that he's staring in my direction. His eyes are hidden but his stance is full of awareness as he faces me. Then he begins to stride toward me, long purposeful steps, and I turn and walk faster, my heels clacking against the stone pathway.

  Admissions is just up ahead and I'm relieved there is no line. I'm expecting at least a few enrollment problems, so I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it. I slide in from the hot sunshine and it's an almost heady relief to enter the cool, air-conditioned office.

  The woman at the admissions desk is plump with large square glasses and amber colored eyes that look unusual in her dark face. Unusual in a gorgeous way. She's tall and leans forward, elbows on the counter, an inquisitive look on her face. "How can I help you?"

  "My name's Gray. Gray McAllister. I need . . . admissions forms?" I ask with a sheepish shrug, already feeling bad to inconvenience her.

  "You're way late, honey. I take it you haven't submitted your application within the deadline?" she asks, giving me a stare that could have frozen lava.

  I'm stuck to the spot and my eyes want to look somewhere else besides her sharp gaze so I settle on her name tag. It says 'Alice' and I repeat the name in my mind. I'm growing cold now, not sure if it's the frigid air or her inspection that's bringing goosebumps to my skin. I hesitate. "Does that mean I can't register?"

  She is about to answer when her gaze flicks to my silent companion. He's followed me all the way to the desk, not bothering to stand in line, and is standing beside me as if we were together.

  She stares at him for a moment then snaps, "There is a line, young man. Use it." She points behind me and he backtracks until he's safely in line. I hear him mutter, "Sheesh" and something about the dragon lady. I try to hide my grin.

  She turned her attention back to me and offers a small curve of a smile. "Give me a moment. I'll get you a set of registration papers. It's going to mean a good bit of shillyshallying with your application but I'll see what I can do for you. Just don't go telling anyone I bent over backwards for you, you hear. I have a no-special-treatment policy and I'm about to break it." Then she sighs dramatically and sinks into her seat. She taps away at the keyboard for a while, then somewhere in the office a printer hums, and she slides her chair along the long table to the other end where she retrieves a stack of papers. "Here, fill these in, make sure all the accompanying paperwork is attached and bring it back." Then she stares at me over her glasses. "You have an idea of what courses you'll be choosing?" she asks her eyes watchful.

  I shake my head slowly. "Is there some place I can find out?" I ask feeling like the dumbest fool in the room.

  Her eyebrows wiggle and she huffs, as if I should know better than to register without knowing what courses I want. "It's called the Internet, sweetie," she says and her expression is partly annoyed and partly sympathetic.

  I shrug, wishing the guy behind me hadn't followed so closely. He is now getting an education on how hopeless Gray is. I clear my throat. "Haven't had Internet for a while. Could I use the university library to access the net?" I ask trying to imbue some confidence in my voice considering I have an audience.

  She purses her lips, then shakes her head. "You'll need an access card for that, honey. Why don't you take a seat and fill the forms in, then when you need to check the courses you can use my spare station." She gives me a kind smile then shoos me away.

  She's taken pity on me and I have no idea why. But I don't ask questions. I turn on my heel, head for a small table along the wall and drop my pocketbook on the table. I'd splurged on it while at the grocery store, hadn't been able to walk past it when I spotted it. It was black, fake crocodile skin, totally tacky but I adore it mainly because it was wide enough for a gun and for folded pieces of registrations paperwork.

  I begin filling the forms, aware that my stalker has reached the counter and I'm hanging on to his every word, hoping to hear his name. When did I become so obsessed about a stupid name? Probably about the time when I figured 'stalker guy' wasn't exactly appropriate as a name. Not even at the best of times.

  "Hi," he says leaning close to Alice who gives him a quick up and down and then stares at his face. "Um, so I'd like to register. I did a bunch of registration things on-line but I'm not sure if it was sent through."

  "Name," she says, hands poised over her keyboard as she waits. I notice she isn't smiling.

  "Er. Thane. Blackwe
ll." He speaks hesitantly, his stance wary for a moment. But Alice nods and taps and then walks off without saying a word. She returns and is shaking her head, her eyes that much sharper when looking at him. "Fill them forms in same as she has to, then come back and I'll get you sorted." She heaves a sigh. "I'm assuming you have Internet access?" she asks sharply.

  He nods, puts his head down and scurries to my table.

  He sits directly in front of me and spreads his papers on the table before him. He has long legs, so long his knees touch mine and when they do they send sparks of fire all the way up my thighs. Just fabulous. The day I decide to wear a dress the first guy I meet manages to get me hot under my skirt. I grit my teeth. There must be something wrong with me. I move my leg away slowly, sliding back as far as I can get in my seat, hoping he won't notice.

  But he seems preoccupied as his head turns from me to Alice. He's still wearing those damned glasses and I am dying to grab them off so I can get a glimpse of his eyes. I have to force myself to listen when he speaks. "Wow, she's a tough nut to crack." he says softly.

  "Must be hard for you?" I say kindly, as if I feel terribly sorry for him. His dark gaze snaps to mine and I see he's frowning, clearly confused by my statement. "You probably have all the girls swooning at your feet so it's understandable this is difficult for you." I keep a straight face as I speak.

  His eyes widen and then he grins broadly. And then he's laughing so hard his shoulders are shaking. I stare at him, now confused myself. I hadn't been funny enough to justify this level of amused response.

  Eventually, after a few rabid glares from Alice, he calms himself down and smiles at me. "I am sorry I bumped into you." He states simply then returns his attention to the paper. I watch as he bends his head and scans the forms, his dark glasses unable to hide my view of the top of his face. I see dark eyebrows and long, black eyelashes any girl would kill for. I shake my head then glance at Alice who's been watching me watch him.

  She raises an eyebrow, as if asking what I'm waiting for and I snap my attention back to my forms and concentrate hard to get through them all. I hate filling forms. Anthony always gave them to me to fill no matter what they were. Job applications, IRS forms, loan applications. I hated them all with a writhing passion.

  Writhing passion? Really, Gray. Very appropriate Gray especially when you're seated across from hot-guy.

  No, it's Thane. Not stalker-guy, not hot-guy, just Thane. I glance up at my neighbor who is still scribbling. He sits back for a moment then looks over at Alice who seems to be too busy now to pay him any attention. As he looks over to her, I glance up and get a side view of his eyes behind those dark shades.

  They are green. A bright, beautiful green and I think it's a sin that he hides them behind those anonymous sunglasses. Of course, he's already coming across as too full of himself so he might as well keep his shades on 'cos Gray ain't doin' no swoonin' today.

  At last I reach the part in the form that's asking for course choices and I rise to go to the counter. She's ready for me and waves me around the long desk and points to a PC at the far end beside the printer. "Right, I have it on the university website so just navigate to the school you want and drill down for the course choices. Is there anything specific you were thinking?" She speaks kindly as if she really does care what I chose to study. But, I'm paying attention to Thane Blackwell. Unusual name but it seems to suit him.

  I nod distractedly then I say, "Fine arts. I want to be an art major."

  Alice nods, her face serious. "Good." She leans over me and in three clicks she's got a page open that says School of Fine Arts. "Here's your department, read through and select your courses then put them on the form. You could do this entire process on-line if you prefer."

  I shake my head. "Then I'd just have to come in anyway to drop off the school stuff."

  "Oh, yes," says Alice snapping her fingers together. "Speaking of which I'll be needing a reference from one of your teachers as part of the fine arts application. Preferably your art teacher?" Damn. My reference was from my Deputy Principal, not my art teacher. She's watching me as my body grows cold and I can see she's seen the stricken look on my face.

  She flicks a glance away and it seems like she looks at Thane. Then she leans back and raps her fingers on the counter. "Look, if it will make it easier for you we can bypass the finer details for now. Let's get you registered and moving so you can start your assignments. You can bring the rest of the stuff in later on."

  She nods to herself, then moves back to her desk while I stare at the monitor. She's set me off balance. One minute she's demanding paperwork and the next she's willing to do me a favor. It seems a little surreal and part of me thinks that it shouldn't have been this easy. Then I shake my head and fill in all the course codes for my first year. When I stand to hand the paperwork to her, my hands are no longer shaking.

  She gives it a quick glance and says, "This is your name?" she points at my school records where the name Sara Harper seems to shine like a neon light, frowning.

  "It used to be," I say softly looking away, and my voice gets huskier.

  "Well, as long as you've filled in the section in the form that asks for 'preferred name, we are good to go." There is a strange look on her face that I can't figure out but relief floods me. I've been constantly afraid that registration with my real name may lead them right to me but now I have a way out. "And with those eyes of yours, Gray suits you much better than Sara."

  I nod and smile gratefully at her. "Thank you," I say, now more relieved than ever.

  Alice picks up my application and proceeds to manually enter the information while glaring at the screen over the tops of her glasses. I stand and wait as her fingers fly over the keyboard. She barely looks at the keys as she types and I envy her that skill. I can't type to save my life.

  It takes her less than five minutes and she's done and nodding while the printer hums and another machine clicks and groans. "Okay, Gray McAllister. You can come fetch your university card tomorrow. I still have to run that through the machine. Can you stand still for a moment. I need to take your picture for the student card. I obey and hope I haven't blinked but she nods and then she's paying attention to her machines.

  "All done," she says at last, then hands me a slip of paper "It's a confirmation of registration. Take that to the fine arts department and you'll get a list of textbooks and a timetable. Good luck."

  I grab the paper, turning to leave. By now Thane is done with his application form too and is approaching the counter. I slip away but not before I notice the look she gives him. As if she wants to give him a good smacking.

  I laugh softly. She probably deals with so many students she can tell the ones who think too much of themselves apart from the rest pretty fast. I hurry outside and head for the Fine Arts feeling as if I am floating a few feet off the ground.

  Was it really happening?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Gray

  Six Months Ago

  The noise rose outside my room and I pushed my ear buds deeper in. I ground my teeth until it hurt. Then I snort. As if grinding my teeth was going to make a difference. They were playing their stupid music louder than I could on my iPod. I glared at the door and clenched my fist, wishing again that he had died instead. Then the shouting got louder, so loud I could barely think and it pushed me over the edge.

  I couldn't take it anymore.

  Tugging the buds from my ears, I flung them on the bed before running to the door. I yanked it open to see Anthony and his two buddies weaving around and yelling at the TV. I didn't know the two men now staring at me, hadn't seen them before. And I wondered where Anthony had found these jerk offs.

  "Will you keep it down? I'm trying to study, Anthony. You know I have exams," I yelled, and that finally got his attention. A ripple of alarm runs through me as it dawns on me what I'd done. Anthony's balance was off and even the weight of the beer bottle didn't help to keep him steady.

  His eyes weren't s
teady either as he stared at me, his gaze going left a bit every few seconds as if he had a tic or something. The other two men looked a bit embarrassed, the large tattooed guy setting his beer on the side table and sitting down slowly. "Hey man," he said to Anthony who is still staring at me thinking god knows what. "Let's take the party to my place."

  I nodded at that. At least he had a brain in his thick skull, I thought and then slammed the door shut.

  I was about to put my ear buds in my ears again, the thought of my chemistry mid-term beginning to make my stomach turn when I heard Anthony screaming. I couldn't make much out of it, just the usual, that I was a drain on his finances, that I needed to get a job and bring in some of my own cash, that I was worthless. I'd heard all the same shit before so I stabbed the buds in my ears and bent over my books.

  When the door banged open I jumped, eyes wide, shock flooding my muscles. Anthony stood in the doorway, his eyes large and red-veined, his face red, no, almost purple with fury. He'd slammed the door open so hard the thin wood of the bottom of it had shattered in half.

  "Now look what you made me do, you bitch." He teetered into the room and I knew immediately something was terribly wrong. His friend placed a hand on Anthony's shoulder, tried to stop him but my brother threw him off and took another step inside. I stared at him, pulling the ear buds from my ears, letting them fall on my lap.

  Studying was the least of my worries now.

  Anthony was furious, he stepped toward the bed and leaned over to grab me but I scrambled away, moving further up the bed and onto the soft pillows piled against the headboard.