Sophisticated Sophomore (Love 101 #2) Page 8

  Danielle flips back to her bookmarked page and says, “I don’t sell my books back. Never know when I’ll need them again.”

  Jason laughs. “My guess is never. At least that’s what I’m banking on.”

  Tapping my pen on my desk I say, “Okay, let’s focus, Jason.”

  Danielle begins to rattle off sections for us to review and page references to specific topics. We divvy up sections and make sure Jason understands he really has to know his sections. We study a topic for two hours before we decide to call it quits for the night.

  Jason dashes out of the room and Danielle and I are right behind him. Leaving out of the study room, I bump into Kim. “Hey, Kim.” She looks up and smiles. Her face appears much brighter than the day of my interview with her.

  "Hey, Laila. Happy to see you."

  “You too. How have you been?”

  “To be honest, it may sound cruel but now that the other girls have come out I feel much better.” She looks at Danielle.

  “Kim this is Danielle.” I linger and hope that Kim fills in the blank. She doesn’t.

  "Nice to meet you, Danielle."

  “You as well, Kim.” Danielle observes Kim for a second then looks away.

  “I’m glad you are feeling better. Any news on the investigation?”

  “Nothing other than they are still investigating.” Kim smirks and hunches her shoulders.

  “From what I’ve been told, one of the other girls may have had a witness. I know for sure he is off campus, just not sure where he is or if he plans on coming back.”

  “I don’t think he can come back here.” Her shoulders drop and she looks down. “At least I hope L.U. won’t let him back.”

  “Right. Well it was nice seeing you. I need to get out of here.”

  Kim waves, and Danielle and I continue walking out of the library. Danielle looks back to Kim before she is out of sight. “I read the articles you wrote.”

  “Horrible situation. I had the utmost respect for Dr. Douglas.” Opening the door for us to exit I say, “And I never once felt uncomfortable around him.”

  “It’s a shame. You just never know what people are capable of.”

  In the parking lot we go our separate ways. Although I should go home and cram for this test I dig my phone out of my purse and text Chris.

  Laila: Busy?

  I open the door to my car and sit. Staring at my phone, I contemplate starting the car and driving home or waiting for Chris’ response. Putting the key in the ignition I crank up the car and listen to the radio. Beyoncé’s Partition comes on and I sing along with the radio. If I don’t hear from Chris by the end of this song I’ll go home.

  My phone dings. Perfect timing! I grab my phone and I’m surprised that it’s not Chris.

  Josh: Hey Laila. How are you?

  Before I can respond another text comes through.

  Josh: Can I call you?

  I take a long breath before responding.

  Laila: Sure.

  My phone rings, but I let it ring a few more times before answering. “Hey Josh.”

  “Laila. I haven’t talked to you in a while. How are you?”

  “I’m good, Josh. How are you?”

  “Good. Tanya was telling me how excited she is about coming to L.U.’s homecoming.”

  The thought of my best friend being here for homecoming makes a smile spread wide across my face. “I’m excited too. I know we are going to have tons of fun.”

  “I’m sure.” There is an awkward pause. I look at my phone to make sure I haven’t been disconnected. Time is still ticking.

  “Josh, you still there?”

  “Yeah. Sorry. Laila, I haven’t stopped thinking about you but I’ve been trying to keep my distance. Tanya told me about homecoming the other day and I couldn’t resist the urge to talk to you.”

  “Josh.”

  “Wait. I just want to ask one question.”

  I whisper, “Okay.” My phone dings with a message. But I wait to hear what Josh has to say before I look at the message.

  “If you were single, would you be interested?”

  I laugh. “Josh, I had the hugest crush on you in high school. When Travis got arrested I wish I had a guy like you instead. But…”

  “Laila. I get it. I won’t say anything else about it.” Josh’s voice trails off. “I just needed to know. I’ll talk to you later. Be careful at homecoming.”

  My heart cringes and I lean back against the headrest. “Later, Josh.”

  Looking at my phone, it's just a message from Nicole. I put the car in reverse and back out of my parking spot. As I drive through the parking lot I decided to make a right to the frat house instead of a left to the apartment. There's a parking spot right in front and I pull in, but before I can get out of the car I see a chick leaving out the front door.

  I sit and wait for the guy she is with to appear in the doorway. I probably look like a creeper. I pull down the mirror and act like I’m checking my make-up.

  The chick turns to the door, leaning in, and I see Sean peek out and give her a kiss on the cheek. Rolling my eyes, I wait for her to get out of the driveway before I hop out of the car.

  I check my phone one last time before walking up the path. Nothing. I knock on the door a few times. Before turning to leave, the door opens and Sean appears. "Hey what's up?"

  “Hey Sean. Is Chris here?”

  “Naw, he’s not here.” With a smug look on his face he says, “You should try calling him.”

  “Bye Sean.” As I walk away, my phone dings.

  Chris: Just finished a paper. Finished studying?

  Instead of texting, I call him. "I am actually walking to my car from your place."

  “Oh, trying to surprise me?”

  “Tried and failed. Maybe we can catch up tomorrow?”

  "I'm almost there if you wait for just a few I can at least steal a kiss."

  With my cheeks burning I say, “Sure.” But instead of walking back to encounter Sean again I wait in the car.

  Chris is pulling up to the house and he isn’t alone. I stretch my neck to try to see the person in the passenger’s seat. They park behind me and I watch through my rearview mirror as they get out. Who the fuck is that chick?

  Chris approaches my door and opens it. “Hey babe. Let’s go.” He turns and waves to the girl. “See you later.”

  I give him an inconspicuous look. Standing beside him, I wait for an explanation before moving. Chris looks down at me and says, “Oh sorry.” He looks up to the girl who is a few feet away. “Hey Mary, let me introduce you to my girlfriend.”

  The girl turns around and when she gets close she reaches out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  I shake her hand and say, “Nice to meet you as well.” I linger, as I expect Chris or Mary to give me an explanation. Looking between the two of them, Mary finally smiles.

  “Guess Chris never told you he had a cousin on campus?”

  My head swings around and I look at Chris with my eyebrows arched. “No, he has never mentioned it.”

  Chris places his hand on my back. “Mary just transferred this semester but didn’t really tell me she was coming.” He looks me in the eye. “Sorry I forgot to mention it. I caught up with her around the time your grandmother passed away.”

  I nod my head knowingly. That’s the girl Nicole saw in his car. Chris grabs my hand, “Alright Mary talk to you later.”

  She laughs. “See you later.”

  Chris looks down at me with a smirk. “You didn’t think she was a random chick, did you?”

  I blush as I pout my lips. "I'm not going to lie. For a quick second I thought your cousin was a random chick. But I should have known you were better than that."

  “You should know you don’t have to worry.” He pulls me into a hug, lifting me off the ground. “Now let’s go inside so you can tell me why you surprised me with a visit.” He places me down and grabs my hand, leading me back up the driveway.

  A few gu
ys are sitting in the living room, and Chris nods, acknowledging them, but continues to his room. He nudges my back, scooting me into his room. Without closing the door he sits on the bed and says, "What's on your mind, Laila?"

  Turning to look at the door before I sit beside him I say, "I just wanted a kiss." Watching the door, I smile at him shyly. "But it's a bit busy here."

  Chris pulls me into him and wraps his arms around me. With his nose nuzzled in my neck he says, “Get your kiss.” He pulls away and stares at me while he licks his lips.

  I laugh and lean over, just giving him a quick peck.

  “You can do better than that.” He cocks his head and looks at me.

  Looking back at the door, then to him again, I hesitate.

  He says, “I kept the door open so we wouldn’t get too wild. Don’t want everyone knowing how hard I put it down.”

  My eyes bulge and I hold in my laugh. "Oh okay." Leaning over, I grab his chin and kiss him, sliding my tongue through his slightly open lips. Chris places his hand on my thigh and thrusts his tongue deep into my mouth. My heart begins to beat fast while my clit throbs. Chris' hand creeps up my leg and is resting between my thighs. I close my mouth around his tongue and end our kiss with a couple of pecks on his lips.

  My eyes open to find Chris staring at me. "I should have closed the door." His hand slides from between my legs, and he pats my knee before standing. "Let me walk you out." He waits in the door. "Hell, I may need to follow you home." He winks.

  “If only I didn’t need to study for this exam.”

  “Guess that’s your way of shutting me down?”

  I smile and brush past him as I walk out the door. From behind, I can hear Chris mumbling under his breath. We walk past the guys crowding the living room and out the front door.

  Chris grabs my car door and helps me in. Leaning into the car, he grabs the back of my head pulling it into him aggressively. He ravishes my mouth hungrily as I moan in response. Fuck studying. I pull away and say, “Get in your car. Let’s go.”

  Going forty-five in a thirty-five, and running through yellow lights and stop signs my apartment seems farther and farther away. The music vibrating in the car has my pussy throbbing on beat. I reach over to change the radio to something less passion-filled and my arm rubs against my swollen nipple. Instead of changing the station I push my hand between my legs and begin to rub my clit. The oncoming light turns yellow, but instead of running through, I stop and enjoy a moment of pleasure.

  A honking horn shocks me and I push the gas, hoping there will be no delays within these last few blocks. I pull into a parking spot and jump out of the car, leaving my bags and books on the passenger seat.

  Chris rushes to my side and we walk up the stairs to the apartment. When I finally get the key to cooperate, I fling the door open and I pull Chris into my room before anyone can see us.

  Locking the door behind me, I rip off my pants and lie on the bed. Chris doesn't hesitate, pulling a condom out of his pocket then pulling his pants off. When the hell did he grab a condom?

  Noticing the look on my face Chris says, “I’m always prepared.”

  I shake my head and tug at Chris’ shirt. He rolls on the condom and then lies on top of me. Skipping all foreplay Chris opens my legs. With a slight inspection of my lady parts, to check my moisture levels, he slips right in.

  Already at my peak, I can hardly resist the oncoming orgasm. Within a few seconds I’m clawing my comforter. My body relaxes but Chris is still grinding his hips. I don’t want to be a tease so I gyrate my hips until I feel his body jerk.

  Chris lies beside me and sighs. "I better leave so you can study." He sits up and says, "With sex like that I could stay here forever."

  "Yeah, you better get out of here. My study group will be pissed if I'm not ready."

  I sit up and grab my pants off the ground slipping them on before I stand up. Chris gives me a hug before we walk out of my room. Monica is sitting on the couch looking at us with her eyes wide open. I'm not sure if she was sitting there when we rushed through the door or not. "Hey, Monica."

  "Oh, now you see me." Guess she was.

  Chris looks at me, then to her, and says, “Sorry about that.”

  Monica laughs then looks back down to her book. Chris and I walk hand in hand back to his car. Before he leaves, he whispers in my ear, “You can surprise me with a visit whenever you like.”

  Chapter Eleven

  "L…U. L…U. L…U, say what, say what! L.U." Cheerleaders have the freshmen out on the hill, yelling chants while L.U. supporters, young and old, are rallying around. The chants get my blood pumping as I walk to the economics building. As soon as I finish this exam I'll probably be ready to lead a cheer myself.

  My usual desk has a bouquet of flowers sitting on it. I look from the flowers to Jason and Danielle, before sitting at a desk a few rows over. Jason shakes his head and says, "Get in your seat, girl. Can't mess up our mojo."

  "Looks like someone's already claimed that desk." I look around to the people sitting nearby. Everyone's heads are down in their notebooks for last minute studying.

  “Like I said. Sit in your seat." I squint my eyes and move slowly to the seat. Just as I get settled the professor walks in, ordering us to clear our desks.

  I swipe the card from the flowers as I move them to the floor.

  This time last year we started something special. I love you more each day. - Chris

  The smile on my face fades as the professor bellows, “Clear your desk, Ms. Jackson. No notes.” I slide the card in my purse and grab a pencil. I look back to Jason and Danielle while the professor hands out exams. Jason has a cheesy smile on his face. I shake my head and look forward. When we leave, I’ll have to ask him if he had anything to do with these flowers finding their way to my seat.

  “Campus is live. Is it just because it’s homecoming?” Tanya stares at the crowd.

  “Mostly because it’s homecoming, but the campus does stay live.” As if on cue, the cheerleaders begin a chant.

  “Sometimes I wish things would have been different.” Tanya loses her smile and she hops off the stoop where she’d been sitting. “Better get to the apartment so we can get ready for tonight.”

  “Yes, between the five of us it may take a while.”

  Tanya looks at me with a strange stare. “Wait, please don’t tell me you all are still sharing a bathroom like you did in the dorms.”

  I laugh. “No, thank God. We each have our own bathroom, but we still manage to take forever to leave the apartment.”

  "Good, I need time to get right." Tanya smooths her hands over her thighs. "Maybe I'll find a decent guy for the weekend."

  Just before we reach the car, a guy approaches. “Hey ladies, where are y’all headed tonight?” Tanya looks at me with a nervous grin.

  I give the guy a once-over and then smirk at Tanya. “We aren’t sure yet.” Tanya squints her eyes at me.

  The guy hands us a flyer then tells us to check out their party, and walks away.

  Tanya slaps my arm. “That was rude as hell.”

  “You’ll quickly learn. Everyone on campus is not in school. Some of these dudes are just hustlin’.”

  “And what about that young man made you come to that conclusion?”

  “His hair was a mess, his eyes were glazed, and he smelled like weed.”

  “Damn. You got all that in five seconds?”

  “Yes, as he stared down your hips. I evaluated the situation.”

  Tanya looks at me, laughing. “You know you sound like a lunatic, right?”

  I put my hand on the door, “Get in. I’ll drop you off at your car.”

  “Thanks, that walk is ridiculous.”

  I place my flowers in the back seat while Tanya climbs in the car.

  While we look for Tanya’s car, she looks back at my flowers. “Chris seems like a good guy. My brother doesn’t have a chance.” She shakes her head.

  “How did you find an open parking lot?”r />
  “Nice change of subject.”

  I smile coyly.

  “It didn’t have any signs posted. I just assumed I could park.” She points out the window. “There’s my car.”

  “Alright, follow me to the apartment.”

  I watch Tanya get in her car before I dial Chris’ number.

  "Hey, babe."

  “The flowers are beautiful. Thank you!”

  “I’m glad you like them, but I was hoping you’d say thank you in person.”

  “Sorry about that. Tanya surprised me on campus. Now I have to get her to the apartment.”

  “Right, I almost forgot she was coming. Guess that means I can’t sneak into your bed tonight.”

  Just the thought of him in my bed makes my panties wet. “That sounds very enticing.”

  “Just don’t go the whole weekend without seeing me. Alright?”

  “Promise. I love you.”

  “I love you. Be safe tonight.”

  We are creeping through traffic. Turning to my right, I catch a glance of someone who looks familiar. I strain my neck to get a better look, but the girl turns slightly and I can’t see her completely. Keeping the same pace, I stare through her window, trying to catch a better look. I hear a horn beeping. I look ahead just as I pass under the red light. Checking my rearview mirror, I see Tanya stopped.

  My phone rings and I’m sure it’s Tanya. “I know. I know.”

  “What the hell?”

  “I was trying to figure out who that was beside me.”

  “You mean the car with the Tennessee tags?”

  “Let’s pull over at the Zaxby’s ahead.”

  Might as well get some food in our stomachs before tonight. At the most, we probably have crackers and maybe a few pieces of chocolate at the apartment. Tanya pulls into the parking spot beside me and we walk into the restaurant together.

  Tanya shakes my arm. “So who was this person beside you?”

  With my eyes rolled back, as if I can recall her face from my eyelids I say, “Courtney?”