Romance: The College Bad Boy: A Young Adult Romance

by Veronica Cross

  Lainey plopped her purse down in a booth. “Get me a coke?”

  “You got it.” Liam said as she bounced over to the buffet table. He jerked his head towards the food, “Go grab yourself a plate. What do you want to drink?”

  “Just water with lemon is fine.” Alex walked slowly to the food bar. Lainey was putting another slice of Hawaiian on her plate. Alex looked at the salad portion of the buffet and then back at Lainey’s plate. So much for avoiding the freshman fifteen. Alex sighed as she took a piece of cheese pizza out from under the heat lamp. The girls walked back to their booth while Liam went to grab his own food. A waitress brought their drinks and set them on the table.

  Lainey tried to say thank you with a mouthful of pizza, but the words became garbled and made her laugh.

  “Don’t mention it.” The waitress smiled and walked away.

  “So,” Lainey took a drink and looked across the table at Alex, “How do you like college so far?”

  “It’s good. A little hectic, but I’m adjusting.” Alex sipped her water, “Are you planning on going to college here when you graduate?” Alex took a bite of her pizza. It had been so long since she had eaten any. The cheese burned her tongue a little, but the taste was worth it. She chewed slowly, savoring the greasy goodness.

  “No,” Lainey laughed. “I want to go somewhere with an actual musical program.”

  “You really were great tonight.” Alex smiled at her as he swallowed her food.

  “You’re not just saying that because you’re dating my brother?” Lainey arched her eyebrows. Alex couldn’t help noticing the family resemblance.

  “No. I promise.”

  “Well, then, thanks.” Lainey smiled back and took another bite of pizza as Liam came back to the table.

  The three of them sat and talked while they ate. After dinner, Lainey waved goodbye and got in her car. Liam drove back to campus and parked in front of Alex’s building, “See that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “No, it really wasn’t.” Alex reached over to hold his hand. “I had a really good time tonight.” She let her fingers explore his palm.

  “Me too.” Liam leaned over and let his lips brush lightly up against hers. He tried to pull away, but Alex reached up and grabbed his hair, pulling him back into the kiss. His lips and his smell made her heart race.

  Alex broke away. “You’re a really good kisser.” She rested her forehead on his.

  “You’re sweet.” Liam smirked.

  “Oh, hey!” Alex grabbed her phone, “I don’t have your number yet.”

  “Here,” Liam took her phone and punched in his number. He sent himself a text and the phone in his pocket vibrated. “Problem solved.”

  Alex smiled and bit her bottom lip, “Goodnight.”

  “Night.”

  Alex walked to her dorm and opened the door. “Oh my gosh!” Alex around quickly and covered her eyes. Tish was wearing her Indian feather headdress and only her Indian feather headdress. Alex had seen a glimpse of skin and a guy in Tish’s bed underneath her. The image was seared in her brain.

  “Whoops!” Tish called out, “I thought you would be out later than this. Just a sec.” Alex heard creaking and footsteps. “Ok. We’re decent now.”

  Alex turned around slowly, peeking between her fingers. Tish had put her headdress on the sink counter and was in a loose t-shirt and some gym shorts. Her guy friend was tugging up his pants.

  “Alex, this is Grayson. He’s the one who took our pictures for our I.D.’s.”

  “Hey,” Grayson said as he zipped up his pants.

  Alex was having a hard time looking at either of them, “I’m really sorry,” she stuttered awkwardly, “I didn’t know.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tish shrugged.

  “I’ll see you later?” Grayson said as he pulled on his shirt.

  “Yes,” Tish cocked her head to the side, checking out his butt as he walked out of the room.

  Alex squinted at Tish, “That was so embarrassing! I’m so sorry.” Her cheeks began to blush. “We have to get a system to prevent that from ever happening again! I’m so, so sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing!” Tish shoved her headdress back into her closet, “It was bound to happen sooner or later.” She pulled out her desk chair and sat cross-legged on it. “Come on, tell me about your night.”

  Alex and Tish talked until they were about to fall asleep. Alex lay on top of her bunk, thinking about Liam. Just as she was about to fall asleep, Walter started running on the exercise wheel in his cage.

  “Shut up, Walter!” Alex heard Tish’s pillow thud to the floor as it bounced off of the hamster cage. Walter only ran more furiously despite her disdain.

  “Is he going to do that all night?” Alex looked over at her roommate’s bunk.

  “Apparently, hamsters are nocturnal.” Tish grumbled, “Which, by the way, the guy at the pet store conveniently didn’t mention.”

  Alex struggled to fall asleep as the sporadic clanking of the hamster wheel rattled throughout the night. About the time she would fall asleep, Walter would take a water break and chatter his teeth loudly against the metal spigot of his water bottle. Alex sighed in frustration and pulled her pillow over her head to blot out the sound.

  Chapter 5: Lo Mein and Misery

  Alex rolled over in bed and found her phone dangling precariously on the edge of the mattress. She looked at Walter who was curled up in a nest of cedar chips, sleeping peacefully. She glared at him while she rescued her phone. Her sleep had been restless at best thanks to Walter’s nighttime shenanigans. She punched in her passcode and pulled up her messages: nothing. Alex felt disappointment settle in her stomach as she opened a new text box. Her fingers indecisively hovered over the keys before she started typing. Good morning! Alex chewed the inside of her cheek. She didn’t want to seem clingy, but she wanted to talk to Liam. After a long pause, Alex closed her eyes and hit the send button. Instant regret mixed with impatient hope as she waited for him to text her back. The longer she waited, the more her hope diminished. I’m such an idiot. Alex berated herself for texting him first. She should have waited. Alex climbed out of bed, frustrated with herself, and threw on a pair of jean shorts and a blue tank top. She was already in a foul temperament due to lack of sleep.

  Tish sat up groggily, “Where you going?” She rubbed tiny crusts of sleep from her eyes. Her hair was matted and smashed into a tangle.

  “Breakfast. Wanna come?” Alex looked up at her roommate as she slipped on some shoes.

  “Kay.” Tish slid off of her bed onto her desk. Her feet made a slight smacking noise on the wood. Walter jostled awake and looked around. “Yeah,” Tish scolded him, “see how you like being kept awake.” Tish jammed her feet into her sneakers, not even bothering to pull the shoe up around her heel. She reached for the door knob.

  “Are you not going to get dressed?” Alex brushed the tangles from her own hair roughly as she spoke.

  “It’s before noon on Sunday. Pajamas are perfectly acceptable.” Tish put her hands on her hips defensively.

  Alex shrugged, “Ok.” She glanced at her phone again. He still hadn’t texted her back. She silently admonished herself again.

  The girls walked in silence to the cafeteria. Campus was its normal, quiet, Sunday morning self. Alex faintly hoped Liam would be in the dining room. She grabbed half of a grapefruit and looked longingly at a chocolate covered doughnut. Screw it. Alex gave in and grabbed one. The chocolate stuck to her fingers. She licked frosting off of her thumb and index finger and carried her tray to the seating area. The chocolate was comforting.

  “Hey!” Erika waved at her from a far table. Tish was already sitting beside her, picking at a piece of bacon.

  “What are you doing up so early?” Alex’s tray clattered to the table as she took a seat.

  “You mean, what am I doing up so late?” Erika smiled and waved a sausage link in Alex’s direction.

  “You haven’t been to bed yet?” Alex inquired. Sh
e could faintly smell some kind of alcohol coming from Erika’s direction.

  “Nope.” Erika beamed proudly.

  Tish looked at her cousin blearily, “You and Walter would get along great.”

  “What?” Erika looked at Tish trying to make sense of what she was saying.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Tish waved her bacon dismissively.

  “I see you’re starting to abandon the whole healthy eating thing.” Erika gestured at Alex’s plate.

  Alex chewed part of the pastry, “Shut up.” The chocolate and the carbs from the dough made her feel slightly better as she sank further into her self-pity.

  “Uh oh.” Erika looked at her intently.

  “What?” Tish was still half asleep and wasn’t really paying attention.

  “It looks like that doughnut tastes like your feelings.” Erika hadn’t stopped watching Alex, “What happened?”

  Alex chewed slower before swallowing, “It’s probably nothing.” She looked down at her phone which still hadn’t buzzed. Erika looked at her pointedly. Alex sighed in exasperation. “I texted Liam and he hasn’t texted me back yet.” Alex grudgingly took another bite of doughnut, “But to be fair, it hasn’t even been a full hour yet.”

  “Did you bang him?” Erika rested her arms on the table.

  “Erika!” Alex hissed at her. Erika’s voice had been louder than Alex was comfortable with.

  “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’” Erika shook her head. “Look, I know you probably really like him, but he’s Liam. He eats little girls like you for breakfast.” She smiled sarcastically, “Literally and figuratively. But I’m sure you know all about that.” Erika’s tone was harsh, “If he’s already gotten what he wants, why would he text you back?”

  “He’s not like that.” Alex’s appetite was gone. More quietly she whispered, “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Well, I guess we’ll see.” Erika took a sip of orange juice.

  “I think I’m done.” Alex picked up her tray. “I’m going to head back to the room.”

  “Don’t be such a bitch.” Alex overheard Tish reprimanding Erika as she walked away.

  Worry began to bubble up inside of her as she walked back to her room. Erika’s words grated against her. Alex tried to convince herself that Liam really did like her. He honestly seemed like he cared. He was the one who suggested the date, and that was after they had sex. If all he wanted was that, he wouldn’t have taken her out or been so nice afterwards. She hung onto that hope as long as she could. Erika’s words kept swirling around her mind, and as more time passed Alex began to believe her. She kept checking her phone what seemed like every five minutes. The day slowly sifted by, one moment of uncertainty melted into the next. Alex tried to focus on homework, but she wasn’t retaining anything. The clock on her phone said it was nine at night. She was tired of wallowing. The sadness and self-pity swelled up surged in sudden anger. Alex grabbed her keys and stormed out to her car. She drove to Liam’s apartment. Alex got out of her car and pounded on the door. She heard some shuffling inside. The door handle turned slowly.

  All of Alex’s anger melted away. Liam’s eyes were bloodshot. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he hadn’t shaved today. “What happened?” Alex reached up and touched his cheek, “Are you ok?”

  Liam shook his head no and gestured for her to come inside. He rubbed his hands against his eyes, “It’s…it’s hard to say the words. It makes it more real.”

  “Makes what more real?” She closed the door behind her. There weren’t any lights on in the apartment.

  Liam choked on the words as he tried to speak, “Lainey didn’t make it home last night.”

  “What? What happened?” Alex’s heart beat skipped a beat as she waited for his answer.

  “They found her car totaled near the high school football field.” Tears fell slowly down his face as he talked. His knees buckled under him. Alex knelt down next to him. “Jen was driving her car. They found used needles in the floorboard.” His shoulders heaved with grief, “They…they said both of them were dead at the scene.” Liam punched the floor with his fist.

  Alex touched his arm gently. She pulled him into a hug as he fought between anger and despair. Alex stroked his hair as he cried into her shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She whispered next to his ear. “Why did you think you had to go through this on your own?”

  “Didn’t want you to see me this way.” He pulled away from her, ashamed.

  “Hey,” Alex held his head in her hands, “you’re human.” Liam tried to turn away from her, but she wouldn’t let him. “You don’t have to be strong all the time. And you don’t have to go through this alone.”

  Sobs racked his body. Alex held him until he calmed down. “Thank you.” Liam took her hand in his. He looked into her eyes, “Will you stay with me tonight?”

  “Of course.” Alex kissed his cheek softly and squeezed his hand. She had let herself get carried away again without knowing the full story. She let the self-doubt get into her head and make her think such awful things about Liam, when the whole time he had been over here hurting and alone.

  Liam led her into his bedroom, “Do you care if we watch some T.V.? It’s been at least a little bit of a distraction from everything.”

  “That’s fine. Whatever you need.” Alex crawled into his bed as he turned the volume up on the show he was watching. “Have you eaten today?”

  Liam stared into space for a moment, “No, I guess I forgot to.” He let out a sigh.

  “How about I order some Chinese food?” Liam nodded quietly as she looked up the number for the local Chinese place. She ordered a little bit of everything and gave them the address to deliver to.

  Alex stroked his hair while the T.V. cast a mixture of light and shadow across the room. She felt terrible that she had doubted him, again. So far he had given her no reason not to trust him. Everyone thought he was some kind of player, but she was getting to know the real him. He was nothing like what his reputation made him out to be.

  There was a knock on the door. “I’ll be right back.” Alex reassured him as she slid off the edge of the bed and went to get the food. She came back with a bag of Chinese food and handed him a container of noodles. “Eat.”

  Liam smiled weakly, “Thank you.” He twirled the noodles around a pair of chopsticks, “You didn’t have to do this, you know.” He chewed slowly as he looked at her face.

  “You helped me. Now, it’s my turn to help you.” She crawled back into bed and let her knee touch his as she opened up a container of wontons. The physical contact was a comfort for them both.

  “I’m glad you came by.”

  Alex looked over and quoted him from earlier, “Anytime.”

  The two of them ate and watched mind-numbing television. They fell asleep together with the T.V. as background noise. As Alex dozed off, Liam pulled her closer in his sleep. She could feel his breath through her hair. It was warm and comforting. She scooted herself back so that she was closer to him. His arms made her feel safe. Alex drifted to sleep as her breathing synced with his. Her dreams were peaceful as she slept.

  Chapter 6: More Important Things

  Alex’s alarm blared though her dreams and pulled her back to consciousness. She fumbled through Liam’s comforter, trying to find it. Pillows and blankets were lumped together. Liam bolted upright. The noise had startled him back to his reality of grief and loss. Alex finally found her phone in the floor next to a half-eaten container of fried rice. She silenced it and the other two alarms she used as backups. She tossed her phone to the floor again.

  Liam looked at her as she laid back down in his bed. “Are you not going to class?”

  She reached over and pulled him down next to her, “Some things are more important than class.” She stared up the ceiling. The ceiling fan’s constant movement made the glass globes clink softly. “I wouldn’t want to be alone if something like that happened to me.”

  “Thank you.” Liam’s
voice was so soft she barely heard it. He leaned over and rested his lips against hers. His kisses were soft and caring. Alex could feel his desire for closeness and acceptance. She could feel his walls crumbling down.

  Alex felt herself being pulled further down on the bed. Her shirt bunched up underneath her as he eased her down. Her fingers were tangled in his dark, curly hair. Her body moved with his. She felt him slide inside of her. She wanted to be closer to him, even though it seemed impossible. Their bodies pressed together. This time was different than the last. Last time had been about the physical pleasure. This time everything was more spiritual. Every movement, every breath, every kiss was part of some complex rhythm they knew by instinct.

  Liam lost himself inside of her. Her body was an escape from his pain and a reminder that good things did exist, even at the darkest of times. Her warmth flowed into him as he gently pushed and pulled against her like the tide. For once, he felt free. He didn’t have to save face or pretend everything was ok. She had seen him break, and she was here, helping him through it. No one had ever been there for him like that before.

  His pace was slow and kind. Alex felt the pleasure deepen as he continued to move on top of her. She closed her eyes to focus on the sensation. She could feel it building inside of her. She heard herself whispering, “Don’t stop.” She didn’t want it to end. Alex wrapped her legs around him to keep him close to her.

  The pleasure mounted to perfection as they climaxed at the same time. The euphoria of sharing that moment linked them more than any physical connection ever could. Liam kissed her forehead and brushed her hair away from her face. He rested his head against hers. She couldn’t stop smiling. It was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced.

  “I…I think I might be falling in love with you.” Alex’s heart beat against her ribcage. She couldn’t believe she had just said that. She hadn’t planned on it or even consciously thought it until the words were already out of her mouth. She watched his face for any sign of regret or happiness, anything that might give her an insight as to what he was thinking.