Romance: Close Encounters Boxed Set Books 1 thru 6 ( New Adult and College Series Books 1 thru 6) (11 page)

six

~JASON~

When Clarissa dances, she is so damn sexy, the way she moves her hips, she must be a wildcat in bed. You can tell by the sultry way she gets into the rhythm of the music. She’s attracted my friend John, the biggest womanizer in the fraternity tonight and why wouldn’t she? She is by far the hottest and sexiest girl here tonight. I don’t like it one bit, he’s practically rubbing up against her and she’s letting him.

This Nicole is an aggressive one, ready and willing like they usually are. I try and move closer to dance with Clarissa and at first she lets me press up against her and now I’m rock hard. But then she gives me the old snub and moves away from me towards John.

I’m pissed. That’s it. I’m out of here. I take Nicole’s hand and lead her up to my room. She can ease the case of blue-balls that Clarissa leaves me with. I’m sorry to be so crass, but that’s what’s been going on here. I need to forget about Clarissa as anything more than a friend. Nicole is what most guys would call gorgeous, with long, beautiful, blonde hair that I can wrap my hands in when she’s got me in her mouth. We walk through the kitchen to my room and I get a few approving glances from the frat bros I pass along the way. She’s great arm candy.

As we ascend the stairs I feel a pang of guilt wash over me. Why should I feel guilty? Needless to say I let Nicole have her way with me, all night long. Wish she would have left before dawn, but I couldn’t just kick her out of bed.

After Nicole leaves, I jump in the shower to make it to English class in time.

“Hey Jason, she was a beauty.” I see John on my way out the door.

“Yeah, Nicole is gorgeous,” I say in agreement.

“I walked Clarissa home last night. She’s a sexy one, but I got shot down. I crashed and burned,” John admits.

“Why did you make a move on her?” I say with a clenched jaw as I anxiously await his reply.

“No man, but I asked her to go out with me this weekend.”

“What did she say?”

“She said she was kind of seeing someone.”

“Yeah I know, some mystery guy.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind, I need to get to class.”

It will be awkward seeing Clarissa in the light of day after what happened last night, with me hooking up with her Sorority sister. Hope she’s cool with it, she should be, we’re just friends. She has made it perfectly clear to me time and time again.  

When I walk into class I don’t see her at first. As class starts there’s still no sign of her. Hmm, not like her to miss a class. Now as for me, I usually end up not making it to my classes on Fridays after a late Thursday night of partying, but I made the effort this morning because I want to make sure Clarissa and I are cool. It doesn’t sit right with me that she’s not here this morning. Could she be mad or upset about last night? Not possible, she has no good reason to be. She has had numerous chances to express her feelings for me, but I know she is devoted to this mystery lover of hers. Heck she even shot down my man John, who definitely has a way with the ladies. This guy of hers must be a stud or something, he is one lucky son of a B****.  Professor Montgomery dismisses us and Clarissa never showed today.

Jason: Where are you?

Clarissa: Who wants to know?

Jason: Are you ok?

Clarissa: Why wouldn’t I be?

Jason: Where are you?

Five minutes go by and still no reply from her. Where the hell is she? She is acting strange and it concerns me, could she be upset about last night? Why did I hook up with Nicole? It was a bad idea and I knew it. She has already texted me this morning. Something tells me to go and check the library and that’s exactly where I find her, in our usual spot.

“Hey,” I say when I walk up to her and she has her nose buried in a book.

“Hey yourself,” she says, looking up at me wearily.

“You hungover, why didn’t you make it to English today?”

“No, I didn’t drink that much last night,” she replies.

“What’s up with you then, you’re acting strangely? Is this because I hooked up with Nicole?” I come right out and ask her.

“Look, what and who you do is your business. All I know is it bothered me and I don’t know why. Are you happy now, I admitted it? Let’s drop this now, end of conversation,” Clarissa admits and start packing up her things. I’m so exasperated with her. Why does she keep fighting me and her feelings for me? If me being with Nicole bothered her then she does feel something for me beyond friends, but I won’t dare press it now. I’m in the dog house and I hope I get let out soon. We walk out of the library together without a single word to each other. I watch her as she unlocks her bike and rides off to her Bio class. She’s annoyed with me to say the least, so I don’t even ask her about having lunch today. I need to give her some space to cool off.

seven

~CLARISSA~

Even knowing Jason slept with Nicole, I am still so tempted by him. His looks, his charm and that body of his don’t go unnoticed. I don’t know how much longer I can deny this attraction. Judging by how upset I let it get me when he got together with Nicole, I must admit the truth, I have feelings for him. I was jealous, plain and simple.

“Please don’t be mad at me anymore, ok? I had a lapse in judgment the other night and I regret it for a number of reasons. One of which, it upset you and I’m sorry,” Jason pleads softly. We’re sitting at our usual table at lunch today.

“Hey, you don’t need to make any apologies to me, you’re a free agent,” I offer.

“Well, then why were you acting so strange, like you were mad at me or something?”

“I don’t know what got into me. Let’s just forget about it and move past it,” I reply.

“Sounds good to me. It’s like we had a fight and we aren’t even together,” Jason says with a deep laugh. I offer him a faint smile, not sure what’s going on between us.

“Maroon 5 is playing at the Forum in a couple of weeks. I know how much you love their music, do you want to go? I can score us some awesome seats,” Jason asks. I suppose this is some kind of peace offering.

“Oh my God, Yes! I love Maroon 5! But shouldn’t you be asking Nicole, I’m sure she would love to go,” I tell Jason.

“God no,” Jason mutters.

“Why not?”

“I’m actually trying to get rid of her,” he says.

“I actually feel sorry for her, I knew she liked you. She asked me to introduce you two. She had a bead on Jason Bancroft,” I laugh.

“Why didn’t you warn me?”

“You’re a big boy who can take of himself, figured she might be your type.”

“I want to take you because I know how much you love Maroon 5,” he smiles teasing me.

“Of course I will go, I wouldn’t pass up a chance to see Adam Levine up close and personal,” I swoon.

“What is it about that skinny guy that girls go nuts for?”

“He’s so sexy when he sings, that voice. He was voted sexiest man in People Magazine,” I gush.

“I will suffer through his concert just for you my dear.”

“Awww, that’s so sweet of you,” I reply.

“Does this get me out of the dog house?” Jason asks.

“I think so,” I say, offering him a faint smile.

“Good.”

eight

~KARA~

My roomies and I are sitting around the table finishing our fast food dinner from Taco Bell. Fast food row is surrounding USC and getting junk food is never a problem. I need to be careful not to gain the freshman ten.

“What do you think about giving us an extension, Deena?”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s make it a 60 day challenge, I know I for one need the extension. I know Deena doesn’t, but what about you two,” I admit looking between Clarissa and Lexi.

“You have my vote,” Lexi says.

“I’m in, three to one Deena, we get an extension,” Clarissa states firmly, like it’s a done deal.

“Alright, I guess we can extend it another 30 days. Just clean up after yourselves until then,” Deena acquiesces to our demand. After dinner I walk into the bathroom and see Deena putting on some perfume.

“Are you going somewhere tonight?” I ask.

“I’m headed up to Apartment 72. Do you care to join me, the boys are looking for dessert?” Deena says with a twinkle in her eye.

“No, not tonight, I have to study,” I tell Deena. After Deena leaves and Lexi goes into our room to study, just Clarissa and I are left alone in the living room.

“Kara what’s going on with you and Jake, he’s quite the bad boy hottie isn’t he?” Clarissa asks.

“We’re hanging out together.”

“And other things,” Clarissa teases me wiggling her eyebrows at me.

“Maybe.”

“Come on, a bad boy like him, surely you’ve had a
Close Encounter
with him right?” she presses.

“Maybe.”

“Why be so coy, Kara?”

“I’ll let you know at the end of the 60 days that we now have. What about you, what’s your
Close Encounter
tally at?” I ask curiously.

“My lips are sealed as well.”

“Where have you been spending your all-nighters?”

“Haven’t you heard from Deena, I have a secret lover,” Clarissa quips.

“Is he hot and hunk worthy?”

“Most definitely, he’s my secret addiction, let me just say that,” I laugh wickedly.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Before this challenge, was your High School boyfriend the only guy you had ever slept with?”

“Yes.”

“Were you in love with him?”

“Yes, madly in love,” Clarissa says wistfully.

“The first time should be with someone you love, don’t you think?”

“I do, but that’s just me. Not everyone feels the same. I had some friends who were just anxious to lose their virginity and gave it away easily, even if they weren’t in love. I feel a little sad for girls who think that way. It should be special, you know what I mean? Why do you ask?” Clarissa questions me.

“No reason,” I reply.

“Kara, you’re not a virgin are you,” she asks eyeing me curiously.

“Maybe.”

“Then why on earth would you agree to this crazy challenge of Deena’s?” Clarissa says in astonishment.

“I believe it’s called peer pressure. I’m determined to lose it with Jake. If he would only cooperate. He actually wanted to wait until I was ready,” I laugh out.

“You’re kidding right?”

“No, I wish I was. I wonder if there’s something wrong with me, am I undesirable?”

“That’s a shocker, he looks like such the bad boy. And you are stunning girl, and very sexy. You just need to show off your assets more.”

“He surprises me too. Beneath that bad boy exterior is a sweet guy.”

“He sure is attractive in a tough way and he has quite the body on him.”

“I agree, but I think Jason Bancroft has it all going on.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely, you have become pretty close friends haven’t you?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“He likes you.”

“So he claims, but it’s only because I’m not fawning over him like all the other girls do.”

“Do you think he sleeps around?”

“Well he hooked up with a pledge sister and then cast her aside.”

“Typical frat boy behavior.”

“Yeah, pretty much. All the more reason to keep him in the friend zone. But Kara, seriously, you should drop out of this challenge. I honestly don’t think I will be having four
Close Encounters
myself. My heart isn’t in it, or should I say my heart is in it with my secret lover. He’s the reason I’m unable to be with someone else right now. I fight every day to keep in casual with him, but it’s becoming more than that for both of us.”

“You sound less than thrilled about it.”

“It’s all very complicated. Sometimes I don’t know what I want. This whole college experience, I never planned on being tied down right off the bat like this, but he intimates that he wants us to be exclusive. A couple of guys have asked me out lately and I had to turn them down. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thrilled to be with him. He is extremely satisfying in so many ways,” Clarissa gushes and her eyes light up over her secret lover.

“You sound pretty smitten.”

“I suppose I am,” Clarissa beams. I see her glance at her cell phone as it bings.

“Hey I gotta get going. Lover boy is looking for me,” she says, walking into her room to get ready.

I feel a little better after confiding in Clarissa. I was surprised to find out she has her own doubts about meeting the challenge. I know Lexi feels the same way I do. We should make Deena clean for putting us all up to this ridiculous challenge.