Sunflower

Chapter 2

Lucy

Annie and I sit down at the table. As soon as she makes eye contact with me, a sob rakes through my body. I grab a napkin from the dispenser at the center of the table and quickly wipe my eyes before I ruin my makeup.

"Don't you dare cry," Annie hisses. "If he chose not to go for himself, that's not on you. You can't feel responsible."

"How?!"

She looks around before looking back at me. "You don't want to do long distance. No matter what, that's your choice. Not his. Not anyone else's. End of discussion. That puts the ball in his court. He can go to Australia or he can stay here with you. His choice. His life. His consequences."

Before she can finish, Andrew, Cole, Chris and Sam join us at the table. Sam takes the seat on the other side of Annie and Cole sits across from me. That only leaves two empty seats at the table and since I'm almost positive Andrew will want to sit next to his boyfriend, that means Chris will have no choice but to sit next to me.

As expected, Chris takes the seat next to me. At first, we converse as a group, catching up on each other's lives over the past week. We're mostly talking about Annie and Sam's wedding plans and Andrew and Cole's apartment hunting. No one knows Chris and I broke up except Annie, so we're really going to deliver a blow when we tell them.

"So Chris, you have to tell us, man...what happened to the internship?" Cole finally asks, making the air in my lungs deflate and my skin go ghostly pale.

Chris clears his throat to buy some time. "Well, I've decided to put it off for a few months. There's still some things I'd like to take care of here and they didn't leave me with a whole lot of time to do that when they made me the offer."

"So you'll still go? Eventually?" Andrew asks.

Chris nods.

"That's great," Annie smiles, glancing over at me.

"Yeah, maybe you and Lucy can get in some more freaky-leaky alone time before you go," Cole smirks.

"Just don't break anymore mirrors," Andrew adds, making everyone laugh.

Chris and I have always had a very healthy s*x life and a few times, we got a little out of hand. While this doesn't seem like the time or place to reminisce, I can't help but let my mind wander back to the days when our relationship wasn't so complicated. We just enjoyed each other; physically and emotionally. He was my best friend, my partner in crime, my most comfortable pillow, my personal therapist.

"You remember that time you two got locked out of the library because you were getting it on in the alley out back?" Andrew laughs.

Cole nearly spits his drink across the table. "What?!"

"I remember that! It was pouring rain and Lucy showed up to our apartment all wet and satisfied," Annie smirks, nudging me with her shoulder.

My heart is about to beat right out of my chest. Normally, this kind of playful banter from my friends wouldn't bother me. But Annie knows this isn't the time to bring this up. Like, at all.

"Mrs. Stephenson was so mad at you," Andrew chuckles. "All the lights were left on, the computers. I think you were mid-way through check-ins when you decided to check out for the night."

"Ah, good one babe," Cole laughs, giving Andrew a pat on the back.

Wow, thinking about the start of our relationship has me feeling all sorts of things. I haven't thought about those days in such a long time.

Chris and I met in college, at Penn State. That's where all of us met, actually. Well, other than Annie, Andrew and me, who met back in high school when we lived in Staten Island. We befriended Cole not long after moving into our co-ed dorms and then just a few weeks later, Chris and Sam entered our little group.

Now here we are, five years later, still close friends. Actually, we're more like family. Which is why Chris and I ending our relationship is going to be such a huge deal to them.

"Remember that, Lucy?" Andrew asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Remember what?" I ask.

"The frat party you and Chris met at," he answers.

Chris and I share a look. He smiles, only slightly, but it's enough to get the emotions really flowing. I finally smile too. "Yeah, I remember."

How could I forget?

5 years ago

Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania

"Our first college frat party! Look at all the people! Can you believe it?!" Annie jerks the car into park and hops out like her ass is on fire.

She's way too excited about this.

As for me, I'm just hoping I make it home without getting puked on. I don't drink much and I'm not as social as Annie is. I'm just here to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.

"I am so glad you guys made it. I'm definitely a fish out of water here," Andrew says, walking up to us.

He's dressed like a true college frat boy; light pink collared shirt, khaki shorts and boat shoes. It's not at all his style, but he's been obsessed with fitting in here for some reason. He's tall, pretty well built, since he used to be a cheerleader along with Annie and me, and he's handsome. Really handsome. Like a young Robert Downey, Jr.

"Look at you, you try hard," Annie jokes, playfully punching Andrew in the stomach.

He doubles over as if her tiny fists of fury could actually do any real damage. "Damn you."

"Hey! It's my lab buddies!"

We all grin when we see our new friend Cole coming down the steps of the two story, old Victorian frat house, with a big goofy grin plastered across his face. His golden blonde tasseled hair is already drenched with sweat. Or at least, I hope that's what it is. He's dressed almost identical to Andrew, only his shirt is blue.

"Hey Cole," Annie smiles.

"Hey," he replies, high fiving her. "I'm glad you guys could make it!"

"Cole, this is our friend, Andrew. He's a film major," I say.

Cole smiles, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you, Andrew. I'm Cole. The coolest person here."

Andrew practically glows. Cole is very attractive and Andrew is very gay. Cole is his type all day long- beautiful, tall, handsome and hilarious. Too bad he's straight. "Nice to meet you, Cole."

"Cole! What's up!" another guy says, coming to stand with us.

Immediately, I watch him lock eyes with Annie. He stares at her like she's the eighth wonder of the world. "Hey there, beautiful," he smiles like a true f**k boy. "My name is Sam."

"Annie," she replies, smiling like an i***t.

I wouldn't call Sam Annie's type, but that's mostly because she doesn't have one. He's not much taller than her, but his man bun gives him an extra inch or so. It looks stupid, in my opinion, but to each his own. He's got a stereotypical hipster vibe going on- the man bun, skinny jeans, thick, black framed glasses and Vans. I would almost dare to say he's not attractive, but he has a beautiful smile.

"Annie, are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?" Cole smirks, looking between her and Sam when they just continue to stare at each other like it's love at first sight.

Andrew doubles over in laughter while I find his 90's pop-culture reference annoyingly outdated.

I scoff and roll my eyes. "Where's the keg?"

I'm obviously going to need beer and a lot of it to make it through this night.

"Follow me," Cole smirks, offering me his arm.

Andrew and I follow Cole into the house while Annie hangs back to flirt with her new friend. I look back at her over my shoulder, just to make sure she's okay.

"This Sam guy...I don't need to worry about him him, do I?" I ask Cole.

"Oh no. He's just a big nerd. Nothing to worry about," he assures me.

Once we make it inside, I'm overwhelmed by the smell of weed, sweat and cheap beer. There's hundreds of people crammed into the living room and foyer, making it impossible to move around without touching people. Sweaty, disgusting, gross, drunk people.

Cole leads us over to the keg and pours a cup for me and then for Andrew.

"Thank you," I reply, gulping my beer down quickly.

Cole and Andrew laugh. "Want a refill?" Cole asks.

I nod, handing him my empty cup and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand like a true lady. He refills it and hands it back to me.

For a while, I listen to Cole and Andrew carry on a conversation. I watch the people around me dancing, drinking, making out, yelling obscenities- just living their best lives in the peak of their youth.

And I keep drinking. A lot more than I usually do.

"Hey there, hot stuff," a drunken sloth asks me, slinging an arm over my shoulder. "I'm Doug."

His fiery red hair is a mess and his green eyes are heavy and dull, thanks to the alcohol, which is the only thing I can smell now that he's here.

"And I'm not interested," I say, pushing him away from me.

"Ah, sure you are. I just need to show you what my tongue can do," he says, wrapping his arms around me from behind and burying his face in the crook of my neck.

I'm just about to freak out when he's suddenly pushed away from me. "Get the hell off my girl!"

I look up on awe and the beautiful creature before me.

He's so tall...

And so handsome...

Those brown eyes...those long lashes...

"Chris, oh my God! I had no idea she was your girl, man! I'm so sorry!" the guy apologizes quickly.

"Just get out of here before I break your face," Chris says, taking a threatening step towards the guy and causing him to scurry away like a frightened mouse.

After he's gone, Chris looks at me and smirks. "You're welcome."

"Ugh, thank you. He was...gross," I reply, adjusting my mid-thigh length black dress that Chris seems to suddenly notice.

I watch as his eyes travel up my body slowly, until they meet mine. I smirk. He turns red.

"So um...I'm Chris Myers," he says, clearing his throat and extending his hand to shake mine.

"Nice to meet you, Chris. I'm Lucy Sunday," I smile, shaking his hand.

He smiles, staring into my eyes much the way Annie's new friend was staring into hers- like he's in love. But I don't have time for that, no matter how handsome this guy us.

"You're the library assistant," he says, making me smile in delightful surprise.

"Yes."

"I see you all the time. I've been...wondering...what your name is..." he says, kind of nervously.

It's such a turn on that this beautiful man seems a little nervous around me. Usually guys who look like him are arrogant jackasses. It's nice to meet someone who isn't jumping to propositioning me for s*x right away. Although as I look at him....I kind of want him to.

"Do you want another drink?" Chris asks, nodding to the keg behind me.

"Sure," I shrug.

I watch him as he fills a new cup to the brim. His biceps are huge, which means he's probably an athlete. "Do you go to school here?" I ask, sounding lame to my own ears.

He smirks at me, taking a sip of his beer before he answers. "No, I just like to hang out in the library from time to time."

I giggle, which isn't even like me. Damn, this guy is making me stupid.

"Yes, I'm a student here. International Business. And let me guess...you're in education?" he asks.

I nod, still grinning. "I am."

"You definitely look like the teacher type."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

"What grade do you want to teach?" he asks.

"Oh, I'm actually majoring in special education, so no specific grade," I reply.

He looks impressed. And that makes me smile even harder. "Wow. That's really cool. What made you want to do that?"

"My little brother has special needs. I've spent the past eight years helping with him and...I don't know, I guess it's just a very rewarding thing to do..."

He smiles. "I'm sure it is."

We go on talking for a while and I'm surprised by how much I already like him. I'm never like this with guys. I'm usually shy and reserved, even when I've been drinking. But with Chris, it seems I can really be myself. He's laughing at the things I say, as if I'm actually funny. I'm not, but appreciate the attention.

"So, sunflower...do you want to dance with me?" he asks after a while.

"Sunflower?" I chuckle.

He shrugs. "It's a fitting nickname, I think."

I smile bashfully, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Okay. Let's dance."