My Deer Girl

Chapter 4: Attraction

                                                                                      Dominick

I perhaps stared at the biggest and the most beautiful dark brown eyes in my entire life. It got me shaken from my d*mnest core that I could ever imagine. Here was a girl that I noticed since I was playing soccer with my buddies. I almost missed the ball back there, in fact, because of her. But Sawyer hollered at me, so I saved it just in time.

I was thirsty after that game, so I came to the cafeteria for a drink. And this girl had trouble with the vending machine. I knew it too well. This vendo was a pain in the butt. The drinks sometimes just won’t come out, and it sucked. Unless the machine was kicked, it wouldn’t give anyone crappy drinks—most of the time. Since she was a fresh face with small nose, coral lips that looked… D*mn! She just looked so breathtaking—everything from her petite form to her long dark hair and mixed Asian and Native American features. She was a beauty beyond comparison at first glance. I could just sigh inwardly.

She was, of course, startled when I kicked the machine with poor condition. Then, she gawped at me with those doe-like eyes of hers that made my heart quiver for some reason. It was the first time I felt like this when I looked at someone, especially a girl.

I gave her a lopsided smile and took her drink, without breaking eye contact. “I believe this is yours,” I muttered, giving the canned cold lychee drink to her.

Her fingers touched mine when she took it from me. Those fingertips did something to me, which I could not basically comprehend or explain. I just felt like something warm traveled up and down my body, as though awakening something deep within me.

What the hell was that? I thought, puzzled. And gracious God! She smelled like a hint of sweet conifer and sandalwood, unlike other girls who usually smelled fruity or floral.

“Thanks. You saved my parching throat,” she said in a honeyed voice. Plus, a small smile.

I thought she was even more beautiful with that smile. D*mn! I could not believe I was already taken by her in just a few minutes of staring at her. And never had I stared a girl longer than three seconds! Well, obviously, my mom was exempted to that.

“Here, let me,” I offered when she had trouble opening the can. It gave a popping and hissing sound. Then, I gave it back to her. Once again, our fingers brushed as she accepted the drink again with a sweet smile. “I’m Dominick, by the way.”

“Oh! Nice meeting you. I’m Aria.” She swallowed. “Brown. That’s my surname.” She smiled again and drank her lychee.

I chuckled. “Mine’s Tremblay. It comes both from my father and stepfather.”

D*mn it! Why did I even tell her that?

She raised an eyebrow, chortling softly. D*mn. I thought I just heard chimes ringing. Her laugh was melodious. And never had I thought such a laugh could sound like that. I mean, with melody that was too good to listen to.

“Oh, of course. I think I get that,” she commented, squinting her eyes a little.

I guess she tried to process what I just said.

“My father died, my mom remarried, and it’s my father’s brother,” I clarified. I did not even want to think that while I drove my sports car, my parents tailed me until I arrived at the campus earlier today.

But again. Why did I tell her that super sensitive info about my family? Now she knew of my weird family setup. I was actually not one to open up about my life to a complete stranger or anyone except to my best buddies.

“Oh, sorry to hear about your father.” Aria sounded genuinely sympathetic.

I shrugged. “You transferee or freshman?” I immediately changed the subject as I took my own drink from the vendo. I kicked it when the canned aloe vera juice wasn’t dropped.

She could not help but tee-hee when I assaulted the machine for the second time today. “Sophomore, and yes, a transferee. You seem to have a good time kicking this machine! Good that it’s not broken yet.”

“It’s already broken, so I guess it’s better to break it for real in order for them to replace it with a new one that works better!” I grinned, picking up my drink and popping the can open. I drank from it like a thirsty camel.

She stared at me while I finished my drink. I’d never been too conscious by someone’s stare but hers that I almost choked.

“Hey, Nick! Who’s the pretty chick?”

I did almost spit the drink out of my mouth when Sawyer clapped my shoulder. I shrugged him off almost violently, glaring at me. “How could you do that to someone minding his own drink, man?” I turned to him irritably and elbowed his side.

“Aww!” He massaged his hurt side and shot daggers at me with his sharp green eyes. “How can you even be so violent in front of a pretty chick, dude?” he admonished, which I just answered with a snicker. “Hello there, beautiful! I’m Sawyer, Nick’s best buddy. Nice to meet you!” He sure took the liberty of introducing himself to Aria.

“Aria,” she answered politely to him, barely holding my buddy’s hand and just touched half of his fingers for a handshake.

I could not help but chuckle at that and finished my drink, then threw the can in the nearby garbage bin.

“Do you want to go to the welcome party next Friday with me?” Sawyer invited Aria, which made me still for a moment. My eyes immediately flew to her face and discovered she was actually staring at me.

“Uh… Sorry, I don’t know.” She shook her head at Sawyer, who acted like offended and heartbroken, bringing a hand to his chest and hanging his head.

Good girl, I thought and smirked.

“I-I’m not really into parties, so…” she added with an apologetic smile.

“Come on, get out of here, you freak!” I pushed his backside by my foot that sported a sneaker.

“If you change your mind, you can just see me there at the lake!” The dumb*ss laughed and winked at Aria before going away to catch up with some of our other buddies and chatted up with a loud voice.

I chuckled, facing the petite girl, who was looking up at me with a giggle. Since she finished her own drink, she also tossed the can into the bin. She opened her smiling lips but closed them when someone called out for me.

“Hey, Dom!”

I almost winced when I recognized that familiar slutty voice. There was only one girl who loved to call me by that nickname. She already took hold of my left arm, hugging it to her, and kissed my cheek with all the familiarity in the world while Aria observed us, smile fading.

“Uh… I think I have to go to my class now,” she said to me, excusing herself.

D*mn it! I wasn’t even able to get her number, or better yet, her address. I just watched her exit and sighed, removing my arm from Charlotte with an irritation showing on my face. She did know how to piss me off.

“What the hell, Charlotte?” I demanded. “I was talking with someone! How could you just come over and kiss me like that?”

She tossed her past shoulder-length red hair, dark blue eyes twinkling. “Oh, why are you so grumpy? I just missed you!” She pouted her full red lips, taking out a lollipop from her bag. “You want one?”

I glared at her and left her, very much annoyed and cussing in my head.

What did Aria think of me now?