| |
––––––––
The four girls arrived when the party was already in full swing; none of them were surprised when Emily elected to stay in the dorm, and it was a close call with Chasity. Sidra practically had to drag her out of Torrence Hall. She wasn’t keen on another confrontation with Jason. He was great to look at, she admitted, but she couldn’t stand his cocky attitude.
“You don’t want him to know he gets under your skin,” Sidra pointed out. The offhand comment sealed the deal, and a reluctant Chasity tagged along.
Malajia looked around, eyes bright with excitement. If there was anything she adored, it was a party, especially one with a bunch of good looking men, music blaring, and plenty of liquor.
“Where is he?” she wondered, assuming a provocative pose. “My soon to be boyfriend?”
“In hell with the other goblins,” Sidra suggested. Malajia’s bravado was wearing thin.
“You’re a goblin, jerk,” Malajia retorted.
“I’m over this,” Chasity said to Sidra. “I’m about to go.”
“Why? You just got here,” Sidra replied, voice laced with surprise.
“Give it a chance,” Alex chimed in. “You might actually have a good time.”
“Just let the witch go,” Malajia urged with a wave of her hand. “She’ll just get in my way anyways.”
“Shut your dumb ass up,” Chasity spat. “Not everyone is desperate for dick anyways.” Alex put her hand over her face to conceal a laugh.
“Ha!” Sidra taunted. She loved the fact that someone was quick witted enough to go toe to toe with Malajia.
“I’m leaving,” Chasity concluded before sauntering away.
“I hate that bitch,” Malajia said, pointing her finger at the retreating figure.
“Oh, Malajia, please. You’re just mad because Jason ignored you,” Alex offered, voice filled with amusement.
“I wasn’t ignored. I was blindsided by the devil,” Malajia retorted, folding her arms.
“No, you were ignored,” Sidra put in. “Just admit it.”
“Whatever. Men love me. I’m their freakin’ dream.”
“Yeah, right,” Sidra slid in, “more like a nightmare.”
A lot of bodies were crammed into the room. Chasity dodged and weaved, making her way to the door. She froze anyone who tried to stop her with a single look. She had made it out of the door and almost escaped down the path when Jason stopped her.
“Where are you going, beautiful?” he asked.
“Home,” she answered abruptly. Did the guy ever stop smiling? she wondered.
“Why do you always have such an attitude?” he asked.
“Because dumb asses like you won’t leave me alone.”
“You have a mouth on you, don’t you?” he observed. “You’re too hostile. You need someone to calm you down.”
“Oh really? And who would that be?” she challenged, already knowing what he was about to say.
“Why me, of course,” he responded as if on cue.
“You think so, huh?”
“Mmm hmm. Why don’t you come up to my room and find out,” he joked. Usually his teasing banter was a hit, but it missed its mark with Chasity. The coldness in her eyes sliced into him.
“Screw you, jackass,” she snapped.
“Hold on a second.” Realizing his mistake, he grabbed Chasity’s arm, halting her hasty departure. He didn’t want her to leave again before he could explain.
“Get your goddamn hands off me,” she hissed. “Now.”
“No, don’t leave yet.” Jason didn’t mean to, but as she tried to yank away, his grip tightened on her arm. After only two brief encounters, he knew enough to expect her to be difficult, but he underestimated exactly how difficult she actually was.
Chasity, realizing that he had no intention of letting her go, yanked him close and kneed him in the groin. He dropped to the floor like a stone and she hurried off.
Jason doubled over. When he finally caught his breath, he rose cautiously to his feet, his mouth twisted in an ironic smile. He thought his usual approach would be enough. He’d have to change tactics. Be a shame to risk our future children.
A couple of minutes later, and Jason was back inside Thompson Hall in search of Sidra.
“Oh, hi Jason,” she said, moving some hair away from her face. “Did you see Chasity?”
“Uh huh. She left, I’m guessing she went back to the dorm. You might want to check on her.”
“And why is that?” Sidra inquired, eying him suspiciously.
“Look, I messed up. She’s upset.” Jason ran a nervous hand over his hair.
Sidra took a good look at him. What the hell did you do? she thought.
“I’ll go find her. I’ll take Alex with me. Malajia will never leave a party early.”
“Thanks.”
––––––––
Alex, feeling a little down, didn’t need any persuading. She wanted to call Paul; she hadn’t spoken to him in two days.
The two hurried up the stairs at Torrence hall, but stopped abruptly in the hall outside Sidra’s room.
“What’s going on?” A loud crash startled Alex. “Should we call security?”
“Not just yet,” Sidra said. Knowing Alex’s penchant for meddling, she’d deliberately kept her in the dark about her conversation with Jason.
Cautiously, Sidra unlocked the door and pushed it open.
They were greeted by a mess on Chasity’s side of the room. Chair toppled over, her desk swept clean, its contents littering the floor.
Temper spent, Chasity sat on the loveseat. “What the hell are you doing back so early?” she demanded.
“Jason sent me,” Sidra stated, carefully stepping over the mess.
“Sent you for what?” Chasity snapped. “Whatever he said, I don’t want to hear it.”
“What happened?” Alex questioned, sensing Chasity’s frustration at the mention of his name.
“He’s a jackass and I kicked him in his dick.”
Alex and Sidra gave a collective gasp. “Um, wow,” Sidra replied calmly. “He neglected to mention that.”
“Not surprised,” Chasity sneered.
“Well Chasity, he seems like he’s a nice guy...at least that’s how he comes across to me,” Sidra put in quietly. “He seemed genuinely concerned about you.”
Chasity looked away. Absently, she rubbed her arm. “Hey,” Alex pounced. The bruise was just beginning to show. “Or, maybe, he got what he deserved. Did he hurt you?”
“No,” Chasity sighed. “He did grab my arm to stop me from walking away, but it didn’t hurt. I just bruise easy.” She didn’t really want to go into any detail with the girls about her confrontation with Jason. She was used to keeping her business to herself. However, she didn’t want them to think that he had intended to physically harm her. She may have been angry at his approach, but she didn’t want a rumor like that to spread.
“He should have kept his damn hands to himself anyway,” Alex concluded. “So in my opinion you were justified in what you did.”
“Alex, I think she may have overreacted. It’s not like he was trying to hurt her,” Sidra debated.
“Sidra, you may have very well done the same thing,” Alex argued turning her attention from Sidra to Chasity, “You agree, right Chaz?”
“I react how I need to,” Chasity admitted, pushing herself up from the couch. Her reaction may have shocked the girls, but it was nothing new to her. She’d dealt with her short temper for a long time, but had yet to learn how to constructively handle it.
“So, what happened to our room?”
“I couldn’t calm myself down, so I fucked up my stuff,” she confessed, examining the mess. “It was either that or punch a wall...or fuck up your stuff,”
“Your temper tantrum do any good?” Sidra asked, curiously as she folded her arms. She’d never been tempted to throw anything.
“A little. Now I’m just tired.”
“Well, sleep it off,” Sidra ordered. “While I hide my breakable things.”
“I agree with her,” Alex added. “It’s been a long night. You can clean up this mess in the morning.”
