The Rules We Defy

Chapter 2

We go outside and start unpacking the trunk, which holds a few boxes and some garbage bags stuffed with clothes, sheets and towels. As I'm picking up one of the bags, it splits open on the bottom and clothes start seeping out.

"s**t, I knew I should've gotten---"

"Can I help?" The voice seems to be coming from a guy, but I can't really see him because the bag I'm holding is blocking my view. I peered around it to see him picking up clothes off the ground. "Here, you take these and I'll take the bag. It looks heavy."

"I can handle heavy." I snatch the tank tops he's holding, then turn my back to him and maneuver the torn bag a different way, so it doesn't tear even more. I feel the guy watching me. "You can go now. We don't need any help."

Cody clears his throat. "Um, Jessica, why don't you introduce yourself?"

Every part of me wants to kill Cody, right here and now. This make-a-friend kick he's forcing me into is beyond annoying. I turn around, the bag still teetering in my arms and extend my hand. "Hi, I'm Jessica. Nice to meet you." The bag is blocking my face again.

"I think you're in there somewhere. You sure you don't want any help with that bag?" The guy slowly took the bag from me, holding onto the torn end. I gave up and let him have it. He's really tall, like 6'3 or 6'4, and has broad shoulders. The bag looks tiny with him carrying it. He holds it with one arm and extends his hand with the other. "Hi, I'm Dominic."

It's dark out, but the campus lights provide enough illumination for me to check out this Dominic guy. He's not bad. Okay, he's hot. Like extremely hot, which means he's probably a complete ass who uses girls, then tosses them aside. Guys that good looking get what they want, then move on.

"She's right on the first floor, if you want to follow me." Cody motions the guy to the door. I quickly grabbed another bag and slammed the trunk shut, making sure to give Cody the evil eye as I walked past him.

"Are you a freshman?" Cody asks Dominic once we're in my room.

"Yeah, I moved in this morning. I actually live right upstairs."

"Do you know anyone here?"

I give Cody a look to shut up and let the guy leave, but he ignores me.

"I know a ton of people here. Half my prep school ended up here. It's almost like we're just continuing high school."

"Isn't that great, Jessica? He knows a ton of people. He can introduce you around."

"Yeah, great. I'm going back to the car." I start to leave, but Dominic stops me.

"Where are you from?"

I turned around and looked at him. It's hard not to stare. He's that good-looking. "Iowa."

He doesn't say anything. "It's in the middle," I explained. "East of Nebraska. West of Illinois. South of Minnesota. North of---"

"Yeah, I know where it is," he says. “You're the Kensington Scholarship winner, right?”

How did he know that? Did they include my bio in the orientation packet? Or did the garbage bag suitcases give me away?

"Yeah, that's me. Anyway, I need to unpack, so I'll see you around."

"Let me help. I'm not doing anything."

"No, that's not---"

"That'd be great," Cody says. "Thanks!"

I scowl at him once again. He smiles back. With the three of us carrying stuff, it only takes a couple more trips to get everything inside.

"Okay, well thanks for the help," I said to Dominic, praying that Cody would finally let the guy leave.

"Sure. If you need anything else, just come upstairs. My room is about halfway down the hall."

Once he's gone, I slam the door shut. "What the hell was that about?" I whisper-scream to Cody.

"I was helping you make friends. He seemed okay, didn't he?"

"I didn't notice. It's late. I'm exhausted. And look at me!" I pulled on my tank top. "I've been stuck in these sweaty clothes all day. I stink. And you thought now was a good time to introduce me to people?"

"That guy didn't care. And it's like a hundred degrees outside. Everyone is sweating."

"I need to shower and go to bed." I dumped one of the garbage bags out on the floor and begin searching for pajamas.

"I'm sorry I can't stay, but I have to start heading back. It's a long drive and I need to get home to take care of Dad."

"I know. I was just giving you a hard time. Go call your girlfriend. I'll see you tomorrow."

I dig through a box of my shower supplies, then grab my pajama shorts and a t-shirt and head to the communal bathroom.

Halfway through my shower, I heard some girls come into the bathroom.

"Did you see Dominic?" one of the girls says. "He was just on our floor. God, he looks even hotter than when I saw him in Cabo. I told you I saw him there, right?"

"Did you two hook up?" another girl asks.

"No. He said he was dating some girl he met during his internship in DC."

"Are they still going out?" the other girl asks.

“How should I know? I ran into him like five minutes ago. Why don't you ask him tonight? I'm sure he'll be at the party.”

I wait for them to leave, then hurried back to my room. I grab my comforter and wrap myself in it like a sleeping bag. I'm too tired to make the bed and the comforter reminds me of home. As soon as I'm situated, I hear a knock on the door. "Jessica? Are you in there?"

What the hell? Who could possibly be knocking on my door? I don't know anyone here. I ignore it, but the knocking continues.

"Jessica? It's Dominic."

What does he want? I've been here less than two hours and already have some crazy guy stalking me? Those girls in the bathroom were looking for him. He should go bother them instead. I get up to answer the door, my hair sopping wet, the comforter still wrapped around me.

I open the door just a little. "Hi, Dominic. What do you need?"

He looked surprised. "I didn't know you were sleeping. It's kind of early isn't it?"

"It's ten. It's not that early. And I'm tired from the drive." I'm staring at him again. I can't stop myself. He has on a white t-shirt and dark jeans, my favorite combo. His skin has a golden tan and his eyes are this really cool shade of aqua blue. He has a strong jawline that's covered in a light layer of stubble. His dark brown hair is short on the sides but longer on top, spiked up a little in front. His body is lean and muscular, like he might be an athlete. And he smiles good. Really good.

"I just wanted to invite you to this party I'm going to. I was heading over there and thought you might want to come with me and meet some people. Is your boyfriend still here? Because he can come too."

I hear the silence around us and realize that it's my turn to speak. "My what?"

"Your boyfriend. That guy I met earlier."

A short laugh escaped me as I thought of Cody as my boyfriend. "Cody's not my boyfriend. He's more like my older brother. He just drove me here. He's heading back tomorrow."

Dominic smiles, which draws my attention to his mouth. He has a nice smile. Full lips and straight white teeth. "Then what do you say? Want to go?"

He glances down at my comforter-wrapped body and I follow his gaze, noticing that I've let the comforter slip down to my waist, exposing the skimpy t-shirt I'm wearing --- without a bra, of course. I quickly pulled up the comforter to cover myself.

"No, I'm exhausted. But thanks for asking."

"Come on. You can't spend your first night on campus in this crappy dorm room."

"Yeah, actually I can." It sounds rude. I can hear Cody scolding me in my head, telling me to act friendly. "I mean, I'm just really tired from thedriving. Maybe some other time."

"How about tomorrow? There's a party just down the street from here."

"Sure. See you then." I don't like parties, but I agree to go just to get rid of him. I'm sure by tomorrow he'll forget he even asked me.

“Great. Well, goodnight.”

I close the door and locked it. I can't figure out why this guy has declared himself the one-person welcome party for Moorhurst College and why he's zeroed in on me of all people. There's got to be other new students he could harass at this hour. I lie in bed exhausted but unable to sleep. I close my eyes to shut out the noise and the next thing I know, its morning.

Cody arrived at 8 a.m sharp. 'I'm ready. Let's go." I pushed past him and shut the door, locking it. "Where do you want to go? Did you see any restaurants on your way here?" He grabs my arm.

"What's with the crazy rush? Are you trying to hurry and eat, so you can get rid of me?"

“I'm not trying to get rid of you. I'm starving, so let's go.”

We found a restaurant a couple of miles away. My feet started tapping nervously on the floor under the table. Cody doesn't seem to notice the noise. He keeps his eyes down on the plate, then he suddenly sets his fork down. I know that look. And I know I won't like whatever he's about to say.

"I have some bad news. I was going to wait until after breakfast, but I might as well tell you now. My dad---" Cody stops for a moment as the bus boy cleans the table next to us, banging dishes together. When he leaves, Cody continues. "Dad went to the hospital in the middle of the night in an ambulance."

"Why? What happened?" I swallowed hard as my feet continued to anxiously tap the floor.

Before he can answer, I suddenly jump up and say, "Let's just leave. I'll be at the car." I got up and stormed out the door, not waiting for him. I'm doing all I can not to break down into a sobbing mess. I can't handle Nate being this sick. I can't handle something bad happening to him. He's my family. Cody meets me by the car and unlocks the doors.

"My freaking allergies are acting up with all these trees everywhere." I reached down and grabbed a tissue from the box on the floor of the car.

"Do you want to go sit somewhere?" he asks when we're back on campus.

“Yeah, but let's stay outside.”