Shades of Moonlight

Chapter Four- Of All Girls

Luci held herself over the sink for a moment as she contemplated her current ensemble with the one that was orchestrated for her by Mollie. Although the choice of attire; a bodysuit with a plunging neckline and daisy dukes may have been a go-to for her roommate, Luci was unable to look at them with even a sliver of comfort, but also battled with her own reflection looking back at her. With her dark chestnut locks nearly appearing raven in certain lighting pulled up into a loose bun, she allowed it to cascade down her shoulders and ran her fingers through the strands in place of a brush that she had been absent. She then used water from the faucet to hydrate her neglected lips before moving back into the direction of her dorm, where Mollie was awaiting her. 

“What are you doing?! Are you really going to go talk to him in...that?” Mollie questioned Luci’s outfit as she glared at her before attempting to reach for the handle until finding her wrist apprehended by her friend. 

“You cannot let him see you in that…”

“He saw me in it in class...and besides, I am sure he is probably just going to ask for notes or something…It’s not like I need to dress in something like Scarlet from clue...” Luci managed to return her hand at her side but found Mollie to pout as she looked back towards the bathroom and the outfit that she could see from her stance. “You gave me lingerie to wear...I don’t even wear bikinis!”

“You just have this gorgeous figure and you hide it beneath sweatpants and hipster tees...You’re better than that!”

“I don’t need to dress like a slut to get attention.” Suddenly Mollie’s expression changed as she looked to the ground and moved away in silence, clearly offended by her ‘friends’ choice of wording. But before Luci could chase after her and offer an apology, she had disappeared in the sea of people that had now accumulated within the dormitory hallway. And so, she made her way into the dorm room to find Paxton bent over to take in the details of a photograph she had taken with her mother during one of their many trips as she followed after one of her mother’s lovestruck whims. 

“Sorry-” he quickly apologized before standing upright and shifting nervously in place before finalizing his hands in his pockets. “You look a lot like your mom...You have the same smile…” His words were kind but spoken out of the desire to break the thick ice between them, and due to this, seen as insincere by her. But not wishing to ruin any chance she would have with him, she gave a kind smile before taking a gander at the photograph and recalling that of all the times she had moved with her mother, that had been the happiest she had seen her mother, until her eyes landed back onto Paxton. 

“Thank you.” She finally responded before leaning against the desk and stretching out her arms nervously before biting the inside of her lips and finally breaking the silence as it had become too much for her; all while he seemed to analyze each action she had made and each inhale she had breathed. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Oh...right...I just wanted to say I was sorry…”

“Sorry? For what?”

“The way that everyone acted like we’re still in high school with those photos-” he quickly threw his hands out in defense. “I didn’t see them...I mean...I didn’t see what happened, I was across campus getting breakfast but...I saw them in class and how awful it made you feel and...It just didn’t sit right with me so...I wanted to apologize…”

“Thank you, but it’s not your fault…” He nodded and shrugged it off before taking his hands out of his pockets and now using them as a conduit for his nervousness as he interjected with a proposal. 

“Either way, I thought it was really badass the way that you took it. I mean if I had something like that happen, I think that I probably would have switched schools…” He paused for a moment and switched gears entirely. “So I was curious if you were going to Theta Kai’s mixer tonight.” Luci froze as she could not believe the words as they hit her ears and her consciousness. She had never been invited to even a fundraiser for any of the fraternity houses, and now she was being invited by him. At this moment, she had severely wished that she HAD worn the outfit arranged for her by Mollie and suddenly felt guilty for having spoken the words that caused her friend such harm. 

“Luci?” Paxton questioned her as she was blushing and absentminded within her own thoughts, now brought back to reality as she was unaware that he was aware of her name. “Is that a no?”

“I’m sorry...I think I’m just...What did you ask me?”

“If you wanted to go with me?” His brows raised in uncertainty as he waited for a moment until she nodded, unable to hide her excitement beneath a gleaming smile as he smirked to himself and quietly clasped his hands together. “Great...I’ll see you at eight?”

She nodded as he gave a relaxed smile and moved towards the door before pausing for just a quick second. “And don’t let Isabel get to you...she can be a bit...much...but it’s only because she’s jealous…” These words coming from THE Paxton Kearney had made her ego inflate enough to suffocate herself within the dorm as she thanked him again before being left alone in her thoughts. But now came the fear that she would be expected to appear as though she belonged upon his arm at a function like this; and with only baggy clothes and faded t-shirts, she knew she needed Mollie. 

Crossing campus and lingering outside of the sewing building until the class would cease, Luci played with her nails and the edges of her hair before bouncing on the balls of her feet as Mollie emerged with her new top that she had sewn that day. 

“I am the world’s worst friend, I know that and I am SO sorry, but I REALLY need your help.” She pleaded with Mollie who glared at her before throwing the blouse over her arm and then crossing both arms over her chest in uncertainty and analysis. “You are the most talented person I know and I was ignorant to remember that out of jealousy and my own insecurities.”

“It’s a start…” Mollie teased. 

“Look, Paxton invited me to the fraternity mixer tonight-” Mollie’s eyes widened in surprise before she then joined in on the excitement clearly felt by Luci. 

“Even if I WOULD consider helping you...you wouldn’t like my ideas-”

“I LOVE your ideas...they’re just...so bold for someone like me who is still very very VERY submerged in their shell...I need to be broken into it not...crashed into it…”

“Fine...But you have to keep an open mind and maybe show a little skin...A guy like Paxton doesn’t want some nerd-”

“Hey!”

“I figured it is only fair since you insulted me...Now we are even…” Mollie now made her way back into the direction of their shared dorm before preparing for this party. However, as Luci sat on her bed and looked across the room into Mollie’s closet, she found how it appeared as more of a Victoria's Secret showcase than that of a more reserved store. 

“Do you trust me?” Mollie asked as she rummaged through her clothes before keeping something hidden behind the closet door away from Luci’s gaze. “I can add some straps to it and a bit more fabric in the front-but I think you’ll like it…”

Luci clenched her teeth before slowly nodding as she revealed a skintight black dress with a plunging neckline. “Just go do homework or something and I’ll have it done by six...Maybe seven…Six thirty-” She continued to adjust the time as she pushed Luci away from the room and moved towards her sewing kit directly beside the door. But instead of studying, Luci paced the grounds of the campus and became enamored with things she had not noticed previously. This included the beauty of the flowers planted around the grounds and the sounds of the birds overhead of the warmth of the sunshine and smell of petrichor looming from the day having been riddled with rain. And the smell of pine that she was unaware was even nearby, and yet as strong as the wind carrying her hair behind her shoulders. She was then reminded of August’s words reminding her that she would find her sense heightened-and came to favor this as she had lost track of time and was called by Mollie as she had finished the product. 

Nervous yet excited, Luci returned to the dorm room to find a garment bag hiding her attire from her. Equally anxious, Mollie had her cover her eyes as she unzipped the bag before she let out a sigh and told her to open them. Luci was actually surprised at how reserved yet flirty the garment had been. The dress was still short and skin tight, but there had been a section of beading placed between the breasts to add class to the arguably ‘trashy’ outfit. Along with this, the open back was then given five straps and thicker satin straps with diamonds over the shoulders. 

“One day you will be sought after by even the Kardashians-”

“Please...I am aiming more for the royal family...or maybe even their dogs...a pet clothing line!” Mollie became lost in her vision for a second before Luci stood before the mirror with excitement. 

“But now we HAVE to curl your hair a little bit and put just a little makeup on…” Luci agreed and allowed to be the doll to Mollie’s dreams as she looked at the progress made in the short two hours before she was prepared to leave for the party with a stunning smoky eye and a slight curve to her otherwise thick dark tresses. 

“Just in case you feel a bit bold…” Mollie commented before slipping a condom into Luci’s purse. 

“I really don’t think I am going to have s*x for the first time at a frat party…” But in a second, Luci felt more open to this idea that once appalled her prior to being accompanied by Paxton. Perhaps this had been the fact that she had felt drawn to him since the first day of freshman year of college, or that he was suddenly taken by her. But either way, she held a confidence that only seemed to grow-until it was actually time to leave...and she knew this night had the capability to change everything…But when the door came open to expose what she expected to be an empty hallway, she found August leaning beside the door; his eyes becoming enlarged at the sight of her; yet demanding and intimidating as ever...