Sycamore, Stars and the Air Between

Welcome week. The only way to start off a new school year - s**t drunk, skipping class, staying up all night. It's good to be back. I survey the crowd in front of the sorority house. We look like the worlds worst football team, all of us in our matching blue t-shirts. It's only day two and my body already ached. Last night after half a keg we thought football would be a fun activity. Of course, we didn't have flags so we went for full contact. Needless to say, we'd made better choices. I stretch my arms out to my sides. A sharp pain stinging between my shoulder blades. "I told you you'd be sore." Kelsey comes to stand by my side, a light smug smile across her glossed lips. "f**k you. You're the one who tackled me." She studies her nails, not affected by the accusation. "I don't remember any of that." She tilts her head to me and smirks. "You are undoubtedly the worst drunk I know," I tell her, the smirk transforms into a hyenas grin. Both of us watch as the president of our sorority signals for us to group up on the front lawn. Her perfectly manicured hands doing to princess wave with no effort. Taylor Wilkins. Beautiful, together, smark as a whip, she made Kelsey and I look like trash. Her own blue shirt is cut and braided to show off perky breasts and toned arms. I set my beer on the porch handrail and drag Kelsey down the steps to join Taylor. I, like the rest of the non-perfect women, wear my shirt plain and unaltered. A woman's cut, it hugs my curves tightly. With little thought, I tuck it into my black flowing skater shirt. That with my sandals was as much work as I could manage after last night. At the outskirts of the circle of sisters, Kelsey and I exchange a look. We loved sorority life, the sisterhood, the bonding, the in-house chef but some things just seemed stupid. Still, we took the good with the bad so Kelsey and I joined in as Alpha Chi sang our pledge song. We barely make it past the first line when the houses to the left and right start singing their own songs. Competitive as hell, our singing switches to screaming the words. The melody completely butchered. I laugh and throw my arms in the air. Fraternity row, when it isn't plastered with drunks and beer cans, is beautiful. Massive Victorian homes line each side of the street. They're kept in perfect condition, sprawling lawns trimmed weekly, towering sycamore trees lining the sidewalks. Planted when the university started I'd read, they add another dose of grandeur to the old homes. I'd argue though, that our house took the cake. The oldest house for miles, it looked more like a church than a home. Three towers competed for attention with the massive vaulted ceilings. The front was a polished white stone, a show of excess. It was one of the reasons we were the most sought- after sorority on campus. A pang of sadness sparks in my chest. This year I won't be living here. Fortunately, I found a small apartment that would do me right. Situated between frat row and the heart of Wayne University, it would do. Kelsey pants in my ear, hand clutching over her heart. "You okay?" I ask, trying to hide my smile. She shakes her head, breath ragged. After a long moment, she gulps down a bucket of air and says "I am so out of shape. I literally can't sing a song." A laugh, "Scream a song." I correct. "And that's your own fault, I'm always inviting you to come to the gym with me." "The gym is so boring." She whines. "Besides you only go there because of your boyfriend." A blush crosses my cheeks and I smack her in the arm. "Shut up!" "You're so excited to see him tonight, your one true love, I see a midnight kiss in your future." She continues. I smack her again, harder this time. "Shut up." I repeat through gritted teeth. Her voice pitches higher and she puts a hand to her forehead. "Oh, Christian kiss me!" She mocks. I frown, praying no one can hear. "I hate you." I tell her and spin on my heel. The rest of the sorority is already marching down the middle of the street to Delta Rho, our brother fraternity, we are paired for them each night for welcome week. We arrive fashionably late. A custom so ingrained in us, it may be found in our bylaws. With a deep breath, I throw open Delta Rho's doors, the party is in full swing. Men and women dancing, drinking, laughing. Kelsey flashes me a s**t eating grin and dives into the crowd. Off to find her next fling. I wish her good luck. Alone, my hands start to fidget. Drink. I need a drink. The house is familiar to me, the high ceiling waves hello with glittering disco lights. Even blockaded with bodies I know where to go. I make quick work of the crowd to find the kitchen. Caleb, the vice president smiles at me and gives me a red plastic cup as I get in line for the kegs. "How did you get cup duty?" He shrugs lightly, passing another one to the guy behind me. "I like it. It's an excuse to stay close to the keg." I laugh at his good nature. "Well in that case, are you looking for an assistant?" The line shuffles forward. Three kegs sit in a blow-up kiddie pool of ice. I raise my brow at him and thrust my cup back to him. "Show me your ways." I grin. With a smile, he sets the stack of cups onto the counter behind him and pumps the keg, filling my cup with little to no foam. "You seem like a lager lady." "You see right through me." I giggle and turn to rejoin the party, Caleb's hand wraps around my elbow. His eyes aren't on me when I look back at him, but on the nearest wall of the living room. His grip tightens fractionally. "Don't take it personally." He says. Confusion washes over me so I follow his gaze. Pressed tight against the wall is Christian, a leggy blonde wrapped around him. Their mouths locked on each other, his hands braced on her backside. My stomach rolls. "I'm over it." I let Caleb know. He's a good friend, looking out for me. The attempt at comfort does nothing to sooth my jealousy. I release myself from his grip and skirt off into the crowd. Caleb knowing my secret made me uncomfortable. I had never meant to tell him, never meant to tell anyone about my crush on Christian but one night, there was something so sweet, so understanding in Caleb's eyes. It all just spilled out. I don't make it far into the room before a different hand brushes against my arm. It snags me, jerking me to stop. The beer in my cup sloshes over the side, dribbling onto my shirt. "Watch it." I snarl, padding away the liquid on my chest. The hand doesn't move, the strong fingers curl around my forearm. Can't this guy take a hint? I'm about to say as much when I look up and see quite possibly the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. The words fall dead on my tongue and I drop my hand. "I'm Ace." His voice is rugged and low. Rich hazel eyes run over my face, down my chest, locking onto my legs. A tug on his lips forces them into a smirk. "Ashley." I breathe. I mirror his actions, letting myself take him in. Gorgeous. Tall but not uncomfortably so, his muscles ripple through his faded-out flannel button down. A long white scar along his chin stains his otherwise perfect face. The tanned skin complimented with the black of his hair, just long enough to run fingers through it. My hand twitches. "Dance with me, Ashley." It's not a question, it's a command. One I willingly follow. He runs his hand down my arm to find my hand, a trail of scorched skin left in its wake. Without thinking, my eyes jump to Christian. Still oblivious to me, still trapped by the supermodel. I nod dumbly and hold up a finger. Without a breath, I finish my beer, filling my cheeks with the ice-cold lager. I smile to Ace with full cheeks and set the cup on a nearby credenza. His eyes sparkle in the dull light. One last look at Christian and I pull Ace to the middle of the room. The music's easy to dance to, designed for drunken hookups, the beat is steady and roaring. So easy that I slip my arms around Ace's neck and pull myself closer into him. He heaves out a gasp and fixes his hands across my back. We move slowly, holding onto each other. Slower than the music but it feels natural, it's not awkward. I feel hot eyes on us, whispering about the delicious man wrapped around me. A small smirk finds my lips. I push myself further into him, a slab of muscle, it's like pressing into granite. "Just like that." He groans, minty breath brushing across my cheeks. My eyes flutter shut at the closeness. So long. It has been so long since I'd been held, felt wanted. I shut my eyes and breathe in. Fresh pine and soft ocean air, I want to roll around in the scent, his scent. I inhale him again and let a breathy moan fall escape. Ace's hands, strong and insistent, drop to my ass, clutching tightly. I lock onto his eyes. Devastating. Devastatingly beautiful. His jaw ticks and his eyes lose their focus, dropping to my lips. Quickly I spin around. Space. I need space. I've been alone for too long. Throwing myself into a guy I don't know. Ace adjusts to my movement with ease, his hands finding my hips, he digs himself into me, causing an arch in my back. A tickle at my ear. "Move with me." His words are a purr, a caress on my skin. In a trance, I swing my hips, pressed tightly against him, I move. He follows dragging a lazy hand down and down, kissing my bare thigh and then it's back up. Hidden under my skirt, his fingers burn my leg. He makes small idle circles as he moves upwards, gracing my upper thigh. I roll my head back and arch against him again. A chuckle. Deep and guttural. He doesn't have all the power I remind myself and slowly, roughly I grind my ass into the hardness at my back. "Fuck." He groans. Slick hands flip me back around. His eyes break me, sexy, needing and demanding. They free me of my conscience in an instant. "Kiss me," I say. I hardly recognize the voice, sultry and breathless. His eyes widen with surprise. Then his lips are on mine. Not shy, no hint of softness. All want. As if the kiss is his salvation. He crashes into me and I give it right back. So long, I was untouched. Too long.