I woke up the next morning with a massive headache.
Dani was sitting on her bed with her back against the wall. "Good morning sleeping beauty."
My head was throbbing, and my mouth was as dry as a desert. "What happened last night?"
Dani grabbed a large coffee cup off her desk and brought it to me. "I think you had too much to drink. Some of the guys started fighting and you passed out. Shawn and I brought you home."
I grimaced in confusion. I couldn't remember much past my second drink. Lightweight Katie at her best. "Remind me never to do that again." I struggled to sit up and take a small sip of my coffee. I knew I looked like the creature from the black lagoon. My hair was wild and crazy, and I still had on last night's makeup.
Dani, on the other hand, looked like she had just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. Her dark, curly hair was pulled up in a high pony tail and she had just the right amount of day time make up on. "How much do you remember about last night?" She tipped her coffee cup and took a long drink.
"I remember us dancing and I remember meeting some people, but everything else is a blur."
Dani nodded. "I think the drinks were too strong. You should steer clear of alcohol for a while."
She tossed her empty coffee cup in the trash and stood up. "Today is our last day before classes start. Let's go into town and do something. Go shower while I get changed." She pulled her t shirt over her head, obviously not shy about changing in front of me.
"Wow, that's beautiful," I noticed an intricate circular tattoo on Dani's right shoulder. "What is it?"
She turned so she could see her back in the mirror. "It's my family crest. Everyone in my family has one. Legend says that it protects us from harm." She paused and ran her finger over the ink, her eyes taking on a far-away look. "It's protected me a time or two, I suppose." She seemed lost in her own reverie.
"That's really cool," I broke the awkward silence. "Okay, I'll go shower and then we'll figure out something to do with our last day of freedom."
Dani snapped out of her fog and continued to change.
One of the worst things about communal living is shared bathrooms. There's nothing fun about getting undressed in front of strangers. My mom had used that as another point to try and scare me out of leaving home, but I pretended not to care. "Never let them see you sweat" was my motto.
I tried to slip in unnoticed, but all the showers were taken, so I sat on one of the benches to wait for an opening. It seemed like all the girls knew each other as they chatted while in various stages of undress. I kept my eyes downcast, hoping to go unnoticed. I would have to get over the embarrassment unless I wanted to be last in the showers all year.
"Did you guys see Dustin last night?" I heard a group of girls behind me. "He almost killed Daemon over some girl. Wonder what that was about."
I tried to appear uninterested as I heard them approaching. "He's so beautiful. He can fight for me anytime." I caught the innuendo in the girl's voice.
"Good luck Annie, he wouldn't even talk to you if you were attached to his ass. He's hot but cold, if you get my drift." The girls passed by me without so much as a glance. I watched them gather their things and head towards the door.
When the showers were empty, I took my shampoo and soap into the stall. While I was lathering up my hair, something inside kept nagging at me, like I was missing something from the night before. Why would Dustin fight someone over a girl? Was it his girlfriend? Was I there when it happened? My memory was so foggy, I reminded myself again to forgo the alcohol at the next party.
After an extra-long shower, I wrapped myself in my robe and headed back to my room. Dani was dressed and ready. "Hurry up!" She pounced on me when I came through the door. "Sun light is a wasting!"
I smiled at her excitement and threw on a pair of jeans and a t shirt. "Dani, exactly what happened last night?"
She stopped preening in front of her mirror and turned towards me. "What do you mean?"
"When I was in the bathroom, I heard some girls talking about the party. They were saying that Dustin got into a fight with some guy over a girl. What happened?"
Dani crossed the room and sat on my bed. "Katie, Dustin got into a fight with Daemon because Daemon was trying to take advantage of you. You don't remember?" Her emerald eyes probed mine.
I shook my head. Dustin got into a fight over me? I couldn't believe it.
"It's probably for the best. It was a lame party anyway. Dustin knows you're my roommate and he was just trying to make sure Daemon didn't take advantage of you in your drunken state. But enough about last night, let's get out of here and do something fun on our last day of freedom."
I grabbed my purse and followed Dani out the door. We weaved our way through the parking lot to where her car was parked. She stopped in front of a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse. "Is this your car?" I asked, surprised. Model looks, hot boyfriend, sexy car. My roommate was perfect.
"Yup. It's a hand me down from my older sister. Dustin has a black one from our older brother." She beeped open the doors and slid into the driver's seat. "Let's get food first. There's a great diner not too far from here." Dani put the car in gear and sped out of the parking lot. I was glad I had my seatbelt on, since she handled the car like a Nascar racer.
With this skill on full display, it only took us five minutes to reach the diner. Dani slid the car into a front row parking space and got out. I noticed a black Eclipse parked two spaces over. "Is that your brother's car?" I gestured to the black car with a grimace.
"Looks like." Dani threaded her arm through mine and led me into the diner.
A group of kids sat in a corner booth of the restaurant. As soon as they saw Dani, they waved. My heart started to beat faster as I recognized Dustin. I wasn't sure I could handle his special brand of welcome wagon while I was this hung over.
"Everybody, this is Katie. She's my roommate and new best friend," Dani introduced me to the group. "Shove down, Cindy." She pushed in next to a gorgeous red-haired girl. Everyone shifted their seats to accommodate us.
I waved to everyone in general as I sat down next to Dani. "Nice to meet you."
"Okay," Dani began. "This is George, Cindy, Jeremy, and Alyssa." She went around the table. "And of course, you know Dustin and Shawn."
I smiled at Dustin and Shawn. "Uh yah, hi again."
Shawn moved over to sit next to Dani. "What are you girls up to on this fine day?"
"Not sure yet." Dani planted a kiss on his dimpled cheek. "Maybe some shopping. What do you want to do Katie?"
I glanced around the circle. "Not sure. I'm up for anything." I felt eyes burning into me and turned to find Dustin staring at me. A warm flush ran through my body as I met his eyes and tried to smile.
He broke the stare and stood up. "I've gotta go. Try to stay out of trouble," he spat.
Dani rolled her eyes and gave him the finger. "Contrary to what you believe, I don't always need you to babysit me."
He gave her a dark look and turned his intense stare on me. "I wasn't talking to you." And with that, he was out the door. Moments later, he sped out of the dirt parking lot, throwing rocks in his wake.
"Wow," I muttered under my breath. "Is he always this friendly?"
Shawn turned towards me with a sympathetic look. "Don't take it personally. He's kind of intense, but once you get to know him, you'll see he's a good guy."
I nodded, hoping he was right.
"Are you hungry?" Dani handed me a menu. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries, and Dani ordered a milkshake.
"Is that all you are having?" I asked her, feeling like a pig with my huge order.
"I'm a light eater. Kinda watching my figure."
I gaped at her. She had a perfect figure. She could have been an artist's muse.
Shawn cuddled her closer. "I would still love you even if you weighed a thousand pounds."
They were so cute together. I hoped in my heart that someday I would have something sweet and real like that.
I had never had a boyfriend. Most guys were intimidated by me. My father had installed a sparring ring in our basement right after my oldest brother was born, and by the time I was ten, I was facing off against my brothers with the speed and precision born from every day practice. Although I stood a mere five feet five inches, I had no problem going up against men twice my size. Yet another reason why my father felt safe sending me away to school. My mother, on the other hand...
I glanced around the table at the rest of Dani's friends and wondered how so many beautiful people ended up in the same place. George and Cindy were polar opposites, she with long red hair and he with dark, smoldering features. Each of them had intense green eyes like Dustin and Dani. Jeremy and Alyssa seemed to be the other couple in the group, and they both shared platinum blond hair and deep green eyes. I was beginning to wonder if any of them were wearing contacts, because I had never seen eyes with such deep green pigment. I felt out of place at the table, knowing that my blond hair and boring blue eyes were mediocre at best.
When my food arrived, I scarfed it down, knowing I probably looked like I hadn't eaten in weeks. My stomach needed to reset after the night of partying I had endured. Dani and Shawn shared her milkshake while she waited for me to finish.
"Ready?" She stood up the moment I ate my last fry.
I gathered my coat and purse. "It was nice to meet you," I waved to the table of GQ models as I followed Dani out to the car.
"Well?" She asked, after we were out of ear shot. "Everyone's really nice, right?"
I nodded. "Everyone except your brother. He does not like me."
She sighed and turned the key in the ignition. "He just takes a while to warm up to new people. We've been through a lot and he's just really cautious."
"He definitely has the angry older brother vibe going." I agreed.
"Yah, seven minute's older brother vibe."
"You guys are twins?" I had thought Dustin was at least a year older than Dani, if not more.
"Yep. There are two sets of twins in our family. Me and Dustin are the youngest. Brandy and Brian are three years older than us."
She pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the center of town. Willow was a pretty little college town, and tree lined streets and small businesses made up most of the town center. Dani pulled up to a small building and parked. "Mani pedi?" She asked, as she climbed out of the car.
I was instantly embarrassed, knowing that my nails probably looked like those of a four-year old. I was famous for nervous nail chewing.
No one noticed though, and we ended our day with matching rainbow nails.
Author's Note- Meeting the crew! What do you think of Dani's squad? Don't forget to vote and leave your comments below! Luvs as always!! AMð