Nondescript

by Rose, Ashley

  His hands landed low on her back and hips, pulling her body flush with his. She didn’t know what to do with her hands but he pulled her arms up around his neck before his settled back down on her body. They were surrounded on all sides by people and they would brush against her periodically, but she tried to push that out of her mind. No one was watching her; everyone was focused on their own thing.

  His hands urged her hips into motion while he moved against her.

  “Relax,” he said against her ear.

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The music set an easy beat to match and before she knew it, her body was moving in easy, casual movements in time with the music.

  Shep’s hands encouraged her to take it further, so she did. She held the back of his neck with one hand and let the other slide down to his chest. She let herself get lost in the music. She was surprised to find she wasn’t uncomfortable with the suggestive movement going on between their bodies. Maybe it was because he was gay, or maybe it was because he just had one of those soothing personalities. Whatever the reason, Lorna lost herself in the music, the feel of Shep’s body and all of the other bodies around her. His head dropped down, and his cheek brushed against hers until his lips were on her neck. He was teasing. She could feel the smile against her skin.

  “I suppose Nash is going to do that, hmm?”

  “Yes, actually,” he said against her skin. “More than that.”

  “Shep.” She tried to pull away just a bit but he wasn’t having it. His arms tightened but he did back off of her neck.

  “Just relax,” he said soothingly.

  “I thought you were gay.”

  He laughed and hugged her. “I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the feel of a female body.”

  She gulped.

  “Lorna…” He trailed off her name. “We’re here. We’re dancing. Everyone else is having a good time. So just relax. Don’t think. Just loosen up and dance. If you want to prove everyone wrong, if you want to be a real dancer, you have to do this. I’m not trying to pressure you, really, I’m not. But how are you going to be the center of attention on a stage, if you can’t dance in a dark, crowded club?”

  He knew exactly what to say to her. She grinned and planted a big kiss on his cheek just as a new song started. She threw herself into the new beat and let the music sink into her skin and control her muscles. Shep matched her rhythm expertly, and Lorna wasn’t sure if she’d ever felt more free. She could still feel the pressure of the crowd, but didn’t care. Like Shep had said, it didn’t matter if people were looking at her or judging her. She was a good dancer, and dancing for Nash was going to prove that.

  11

  Jaz

  Jaz straightened her shirt as she left Nash’s apartment. He was stellar in bed and would be one of those guys she wouldn’t mind going back to. He was nice without being a pushover and a gentleman without being annoying, but it was obvious there was something or someone on his mind and he’d just needed a distraction, so she was pretty sure it was a onetime deal.

  When she arrived back at her own room, she got into the shower right away. Her friends were having a barbeque picnic on one of the lawns on campus. Jaz really wanted to get some sketching time in, but she needed to go hang with people, get out of hermit mode. After yelling at Lily a bit for taking off without letting anyone know where she was going after her freak out, she was good to go. Truth be told, she’d been a little worried when she’d gone to check on her last night and she’d been gone.

  She could smell the food before she could see it; they definitely had the grills fired up. Jaz pushed her hands in her pockets and tried to shove the issues of the previous day out of her mind. She was determined to have a good time, maybe meet someone to take her to the party tomorrow.

  “Jaz!” her friend Shelli called and waved her over.

  Jaz smiled brightly and eyed the few boys in the group. “Hey, all.”

  “Nice day, huh?” one of the guys asked her with a creepy smile.

  “Yeah.” She touched Shelli’s arm. “I’m going to mingle.”

  “Oh, with Travis?” the blonde whispered.

  “He’s here?”

  Shelli pointed and sure enough, Travis was over at one of the grills. He was laughing and talking with some other guys while flipping the steaks.

  “I heard you stayed the night at his place.”

  “Nothing new,” Jaz said, hoping it didn’t sound too defensive.

  “If you say so. Go say hi.”

  Jaz rolled her eyes and departed. She’d rather hang out with the group of boys anyway.

  Travis saw her coming. “Hey.”

  She nodded at him and the other boys. “Guys. How’s it hangin’?”

  The boys nodded at her, a few gazes lingering on her chest and legs.

  “Good.” Travis lathered one of the steaks with barbeque sauce. “These will be ready soon.”

  “Not hungry,” she said, hugging her arms.

  A football came flying out of nowhere, and Travis caught it before it hit the grill. “Watch it.” He tossed it back to the guy who’d thrown it.

  “Come on, Trav! Pick up game. We need a running back.”

  “Maybe later.”

  The rest of the guys hanging around the grill joined the game though, leaving them alone.

  Jaz watched them go, whooping and hollering to get the attention of the ladies. She shivered slightly and stepped closer to the warm grill.

  “How’d you get on grill duty?”

  He shrugged. “You know I like to cook.”

  She did. “Going to the party tomorrow?”

  “You know it.”

  A chilly breeze started up again, and she shivered. Glancing back toward her dorm, she contemplated going back for a jacket.

  “Cold?”

  She turned back to Travis. “Nah.”

  “Liar. Here.” He pulled the jacket off and held it out to her.

  “No, thanks though.”

  “Take it.”

  “Travis...”

  He put the barbeque fork down and stepped toward her with a familiar look on his face.

  “Don’t—”

  He grinned and snatched her around the waist with one arm, and used the other to pull her arm toward the jacket. Instead of embarrassing herself by starting a fight that she knew she would lose, she stood still and let him pull the jacket around her torso. She glared at him while he tugged it down and straightened the collar, pulling her hair free.

  “See? Perfect fit.”

  She pushed her hands through the sleeves and found her arms much too short. “Thanks, Travis. Now I look like a little kid.”

  He gave her ass a firm smack and returned to the grill. “Honey, you couldn’t look like a kid if you tried.”

  She pushed the sleeves up, freeing her hands. “My friends already think there’s something going on between us.”

  “There is.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Sex is a thing, Jaz. People are going to think other things, but just ignore them. It’s not a big deal.”

  “I guess. I just don’t want guys thinking I’m off limits or anything.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have that issue.”

  She joined him at the grill, watching him season the meat. “I better not.”

  He laughed. “If you do, you can just come see me every night. I’ve got no qualms with that.”

  She scoffed. “I bet you don’t.”

  “Hey, what’s with that tone? You sure weren’t talking like that the other morning. In fact, if I remember correctly, you were the one begging for it.”

  “Watch it,” she muttered.

  He grinned. “No need to be ashamed. I just feel bad for you.”

  “Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

  “Because no other guys satisfy you like I do.”

  “And how would you know that?”

  “Don’t deny it.”

  “You don’t know wh
at you’re talking about.”

  “I know that’s the reason you come back to me more than anyone else.”

  She pursed her lips. It was true, but whether his interpretation was accurate or not, she didn’t want to admit it. She glared at the grill, telling herself that there was nothing special about Travis.

  She heard him laugh, then felt his lips against the corner of her mouth.

  “Hey!” She leapt back at the public display of affection.

  He was grinning mischievously. “Don’t deny that you love the feel of my mouth.”

  She blushed. She fucking blushed. She never blushed, not for a guy.

  He pressed his lips against hers again.

  “Don’t do that!” She looked around and wiped her mouth, hoping no one had seen.

  “You really are uptight about this.”

  “You’re doing it on purpose!”

  “Duh.” He turned a steak over.

  She kicked his leg.

  “Hey!” He flinched and used his foot to rub his shin. “Jesus Christ, do you play soccer?”

  “Kick-boxing aerobics,” she said smugly.

  He glared. “Don’t do that again unless you really do want people to think there is something between us.”

  “And how would me kicking you make people think we’re together?”

  “It wouldn’t. But if you kick me again, I’m going to kiss you for real.”

  She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut again.

  “Yeah. That’s right. Keep that trap closed unless you’re going to use it for something other than wasting oxygen.”

  Her eyes flared, and she kicked him harder this time.

  “Fuck!” He limped onto his other foot and rubbed his leg. “You...”

  A familiar moment passed between them and she turned and sprinted. She heard the clatter as he dropped the barbeque fork and came after her. Damn him and his long legs. He caught up with her faster than she’d thought he could. He snatched her around the waist and spun her around like a little girl.

  “Travis!” she squealed. She held onto his arms tightly but her legs were flailing and her hair was flying everywhere.

  He stopped twirling her and spun her body around in his arms, planting a demanding kiss on her lips. Her eyes were wide at first, but his arms held her tightly and his tongue demanded entrance. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, arms encircling his waist.

  She heard catcalls and started to pull away, but his hand pushed under her hair to keep her close. She moaned against his lips and pressed her body closer, damning him and his ability to make her melt.

  When he finally pulled away, she was breathless and thoroughly kissed. She pulled in a big breath and stared at him. He looked very satisfied with himself.

  “Fucker!” She shoved him away, and he laughed.

  “She’s just playing hard to get,” he told their spectators.

  She wasn’t sure whether she was happy about the amazing kiss or angry at him for doing it in front of everyone. She looked between Travis, who was returning to the grill, and the group of people still watching her. She couldn’t have this, wasn’t supposed to be the girl swept off her feet and kissed by the big bad boy.

  She marched after him and snapped his name. “Travis.”

  He turned just as she reached him. She grabbed the back of his neck to kiss him and got a handful of his ass with her other hand. She heard the laughs but ignored them and focused on kissing the breath out of him. He didn’t back down, not that she’d expected him to. He wrapped his arms around her again and pulled her hips tightly against his own.

  The kiss lasted longer this time. And instead of the abrupt ending, they parted lips just barely, taking a breath.

  “Are you going to let go of my ass?” he asked, his lips brushing hers.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.”

  “Oh, I’m not. I love it. But fair’s fair.” He slid his hand down to mimic her hand on his ass. “Ohh...nice.”

  A close-range stare down ensued. She smirked when she saw him give up. She recognized the look in his eyes as he closed his lids but then his head tilted again and he pushed his lips against hers, softer this time.

  She took a sharp intake of breath as his lips caressed hers. They were so soft. She hadn’t noticed before.

  “Still playing hard to get?” he asked against her mouth.

  “Shut up.” But she didn’t make a move to deepen the kiss or pull away. “I won’t look like the little girl in this.”

  “I’m not backing down.”

  She was determined though. This was her group of friends more than it was his. “They’re my friends.”

  “I don’t care. Unless...well, there is one thing.”

  “Name it.”

  “Come to the party with me. As my date.”

  As she contemplated this, he licked her lower lip. It was very distracting.

  “Deal.”

  He paused and then pulled away slowly, conceding the win. He nodded to her with a pointed look and then returned to the grill, leaving her the victory.

  * * *

  A couple of hours later, Jaz found herself roaming campus, hoodie and shades on, sketchbook under one arm. She was on the prowl for Snickers. There was no sense in denying it anymore. Did she really have a chance of finding him? The campus wasn’t that big, but still, it was a long shot that he was out and about.

  As she crossed the patio to cut through the student building however, she spotted him. He was seated on the outdoor seating along the edge of the patio. He was alone at the table but there were others around him, eating, chatting and milling around. Perfect cover.

  She sat several tables down just as a couple vacated it. She shot the girls who had been waiting for the table a dirty look through her reflective glasses and they left, muttering. While opening her sketchbook, she eyed Snickers. He had a notebook and textbook out like he was doing homework, but he wasn’t actually doing anything. She peered at him. A Snickers bar lay beside his textbook and his head was down.

  He was asleep.

  Her heart leapt, and she slid out of the table, stealing a table closer to him from the same girls. She smiled sweetly and gestured back to the original table, and they glared, teetering away on their platform heels. He was cuter close up, especially asleep. His chin was propped up in his palm and his other hand was curled around a pencil, though it wasn’t moving.

  His lashes were just as dark as she remembered, a sharp contrast to the fair skin of his cheeks. She got the basic outline of his face and then started in on his lips. Asleep, he looked less sad, but there was still something about him that made it look like he needed a hug. Up close, she could see his more prominent cheek bones and the shape of his square jaw.

  He shifted slightly in his sleep and she froze, preparing to escape in case he woke up. But he didn’t. He stilled after a few seconds, although the sleeve of his light jacket slipped down a bit and his wrist peeked out. She frowned and leaned to the side to get a better view of the underside of his wrist. Markings just a few shades pinker than his skin lined the inside of his wrist, disappearing beneath the sleeve.

  He was a cutter? Moving downwards, she sketched the hand and wrist, pausing when it came to the scars. In the end, she left them out, unsure why.

  Continuing the sketch, she wondered what his life was like. Maybe he was a depressed, homesick college student. This was the second time she’d seen him alone. Maybe he didn’t have any friends. Just as she was putting some of the finishing touches on the shading and writing his name in the corner, a sound went off, making her jump.

  It was his phone. Snickers blinked awake and felt around in his pockets for the phone, eventually finding it in his backpack. Jaz smoothly closed the sketchbook and pulled out her own phone, pretending to text.

  “Hello?” His voice was gravelly, either because that’s how it was or because of sleep, she wasn’t sure.

  “Now? No, as soon as I can, I will.” Snickers rubbed
his eyes and checked his watch. “Okay...I’m sorry. I will.” He paused a moment and then ended the call. Putting the phone down, he glanced around and then put his things into his backpack. The Snickers bar went into his back pocket and he headed off in the direction he’d gone the other two times she’d seen him.

  Knowing that she shouldn’t, she grabbed her sketchbook and followed him for the second time. He took an abrupt right turn and entered an enclosed Japanese garden. She paused between the tall open gates, seeing his back disappear around the trail and then hurried after him. When she rounded the corner though, she couldn’t see him. She couldn’t see anyone.

  She walked through and around the garden, looking for him. Had he known she was following him and ditched her? No way. But where had he gone? With a sigh, she gave up and headed back to her room. Maybe she’d get lucky tomorrow.

  12

  Lily

  Lily left her bedroom, intent on making herself some breakfast. She hadn’t gotten back until very late the night before. Miles had walked her home, so she hadn’t seen any of her roommates. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and emptied some cereal into a bowl. As she turned back for milk, she was met with a very aggravated-looking Jaz and the usual annoyed-looking Rikke.

  They had obviously just woken up as well—Jaz was in a T-shirt and underwear while Rikke was in boxers and a tank top.

  “Good morn—”

  “Save it,” Jaz cut her off.

  Lily snapped her mouth shut and looked at Rikke, noticing the bruise decorating her cheek, but the other girl just pinned her with a glare.

  “Where the fuck were you last night?” Jaz demanded.

  “I—”

  “You weren’t supposed to leave. We knocked on your door to check on you, but guess what?” Rikke chimed in.

  “Wh—”

  “You weren’t in there,” Jaz bellowed.

  “I know, I—”

  “After what happened. After the freakin’ medics and shit and everything, you up and disappear on us? We thought you were passed out in an alley somewhere!” Rikke snapped.

  “Where were you?” Jaz demanded again, stepping closer.