Chapter Eight:Just Around The Time You Stole My Virtue

“Your boyfriend’s dad is the Sheriff, I’m thinking I’ll get be able to get away with murder.”

“I don’t think Providence falls under his jurisdiction Beth but I appreciate the sentiment.” Balancing my cellphone between my ear and shoulder I shove a bunch of book and notebooks into my backpack. My watch tells me that its half past six in the morning which means that I’ll get a solid block of time in the library if I get there now. Finding an available desk on the other end is a power struggle on it’s own, maybe I’ll ask someone nicely or bribe them with my stash of Kit Kats.

Yes, that’s how badly I need a damn desk this time. 

“Listen if they keep their shit up you need to tell Cole. This isn’t fair on you and he needs to tell those skanks to back off.”

“I don’t need his help and the skanks are the least of my worries.” I slipped on my faux fur lined boots  and wound a scarf around my neck. I was in standard mid-term garb, sweatshirt, warm leggings and a warmer coat on top. All the layers made me wobble around like a penguin but I forced myself out the door.

“Oh yeah how goes the Ivy League academic hell, god I don’t miss that shit at all.”

I snort and walk quickly down the abandoned halls. It’s ghost town around here and the thought worries me. I’ve never been Megan smart but I manage, I’m here aren’t I? But every person in this school is smart, and it makes you rethink whether you should be here in the first place.

 I don’t have time to be all mopey and depressed about this though, I’ve got two three finals in the space of a day and a half and not enough prep done to ensure that I pass. 

“It’s hell all right. But I’ve got about a week to make sure I don’t flunk my freshman year of college so that’s a good thing. Maybe I’ll come visit you guys this weekend, get in the zone.”

“Yeah you should, we’ll research voodoo dolls.”

“You’re taking this more seriously than I am.”

“Because you’re not going to do anything about it. I get that you’re all big and brave now after facing Nicole but these girls target something completely different and you’re letting them get to you.”

“I’m not, I just don’t want to play their stupid games. We’re in college for crying out loud.” 

The campus is quiet as I trudge through it, given that it’s early or very late depending on how you see it, people are still asleep. But those are the ones who didn’t have to work very hard to get in the school in the first place, they can afford sleep. I know I’m right when I walk in and find more than half of the individual study desks taken. I hide from the librarian and stay on the phone with Beth as I stash my books on my first choice table. Then I leave to go to the on campus cafe and get myself a much needed large coffee.

“Why are you this early in the first place?” I ask her as I stand in line for my coffee.

She yawns, “I had a late shift at the restaurant so I haven’t actually been to bed yet, drank way too much coffee and I can’t go to sleep now.”

Knowing my brother shares the same genes as me I can confidently say, “And Travis is out like there’s no tomorrow right?”

“Well, in his defence, he was a very good boyfriend who stayed up for me half the night so I’m letting him hibernate.”

It makes me laugh, I’m glad he’s being taken care of. “We’re coming down for Thanksgiving next week remember, can’t wait to catch up with you guys.” There’s a note of wistfulness of my voices that Beth doesn’t miss. 

“You’re supposed to be having the time of your life Tess, don’t let those miserable bitches get you down. You’ve got the guy, he’s not going anywhere. Own it and throw in their faces.”

“So you’d suggest the aggressive approach as opposed my passive aggressive one that I’ve perfected so well?”

“Do I look like I even know what passive means?”

“Good Point,”

We end the call and I get myself a large cappuccino and a bagel, that I stuff my face with before going into the library. I knock a few good hours there, knowing that my intro level History course would be a pain in the butt regardless of how hard I try but this way at least the butt kicking will be less painful. Next I study my Economics and Statistics notes and wonder why I don’t have Cole studying with me right now. He’s good at this stuff, any math related thing and he’s great at it. The thought makes me reach for my phone. It’s about 10 am now so he’s already been up for a couple of hours. I start to text him when I think the better of it and shoot Megan an email instead. We have study session over Skype often where basically she teaches me things that I would’ve known had I taken the same AP classes as her. Because she’s already taken so many college level courses in high school, the girl’s acing her way through college. 

I study as much as I can and cram as much information as my brain can handle. I leave my Introductory English Lit prep till the end because that’s something I know I can do well it without wanting to tear my hair out. Mostly.

I leave the library after six hours with a rumbling stomach. When I pull out my phone to check my emails, I notice that I’ve missed a few texts and one’s from Cole.

Cole: Breakfast?

Cole: I’ll bring those chocolate hazelnut french toast things you like so much

Cole: Shortcake…

Cole: Seriously I’m getting worried now, where are you? You’re not in the dorms.

I call him immediately and he picks up a little out of breath.

“Where’ve you been? I’ve spent the entire morning trying to reach you.” 

I hear someone giggle in the background and ignore it, there’s always someone giggling in the background. 

“I was in the library, I thought I told you I’d be there this morning.”

Shivering in the cold, I walk faster to my dorm. I plan to nap for an hour or so and then go back to studying, Cole won’t be pleased.

“Well, you didn’t, Jesus Shortcake you gave me a heart attack.” 

My insides warm at the concern in his voice, “Where are you right now? I could eat…”

“Hold on a second,”

I hear him talking to someone, a someone with a high pitched girly voice that makes me grit my teeth. The classes where he has to partner up with someone for a project usually ends with the partner being a girl. I’m not a complete psycho, I know that not every woman is out to get him but some just make it so obvious. When he comes back on the phone he sighs, “I’ll catch you in the after babe, apparently the prison warden won’t even allow food breaks.” I hear the high pitched voice yell something and it makes me happy, suck it Yolanda he doesn’t want to be with you. 

“Okay well, I’m going to take a nap. Maybe we can study together later?”

He sounds affronted that I said that, “Why are you even asking? You and I both know you’ll fail your Stats class without me.”

“Because of course you’re the only person in the world who’s capable of teaching me.”

“Maybe not but I do have the best incentives. Get a question right and you’ll get…”

My cheeks heat up which is a miracle and a blessing considering the weather. “Do not finish that sentence in front of other people!”

He chuckles, “I was going to say gummy bears, the red ones too. What’s so wrong about that?”

I roll my eyes and I know he can visualise my reaction. “Of course you were and you know what I’ll hold you onto that. Just the gummy bears Stone.”

He makes an outrage sound on the other side like I’ve seriously offended him, “Don’t mess with my tutoring mojo Shortcake. My methods are very effective.”

I’m about to respond when his partner calls out again and Cole sighs defeatedly, “Yeah I got to go. The sooner I go the sooner we finish this.” He says the last part louder than necessary and I laugh, the poor girl’s going to have to deal with a grumpy Cole.

Too bad.

***

I wake up to soft lips trailing down my neck and strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

“Go back to sleep Tessie, I just want to hold you for a bit.”

I sigh contentedly and close my eyes sinking into my happy place. 

***

We’re at Cafe Rock, the on campus cafe again and pretending to study. Well, I do have my books out and ready to learn but Cole’s distracted. He’s making funny faces and trying to kiss while I want to shove my $200 textbook down his throat. It’s not helping that Cami’s with us and being highly amused by my boyfriend’s antics. 

“You know what we should do?” She thumps her fist on the table like she’s had the best idea ever.

“We should go out, go drinking and clubbing and get a hangover so bad we could die from it.”

“Well, that sounds particularly pleasant but no?”

Leaving campus before and during finals? Crazy talk!

“Oh but you’ll be able to focus on studying so much better once you get the fun out of your system. You won’t be sitting in some abandoned corner of the quad forcing all this gunk into your brain!” She slams her fist down again.

“I take it you want to go out?” Cole raises and eyebrow and stretches his arm over my shoulders.

“Yes! For the love of God, yes take me out of here.” 

“No, absolutely no! We’re not leaving, I have so much work to do and…”

“Shortcake,” He cuts me off with a kiss, “I think we could both use a night out, unwind a little. Afterwards I’ll teach you everything you need to know, without the distracting incentives.”

“You’re bribing me with tutoring me by not tutoring me?”

“If you put it like that…”

“Come on Tessa, “ Cami whines, “Don’t you want to just get off campus and get away from those…”

I stop her mid sentence but it’s too late. Cole looks at us suspiciously, “Get away from whom?” 

I discretely elbow Cami and wave my hand dismissively, “Those massive, massive pile of books.”

He doesn’t seem convinced, “I’ll find out eventually.”

“There’s nothing to find out.”

“That’s what you want me to think don’t you.” 

“I don’t know what you think I want you to think.”

“Well, I think I know what you know what I think you want me to think.”

“Wait, okay hold up guys. I can’t keep up with this conversation and I won’t be able to tweet about it!”

Cole and I stop our staring contest to look at Cami who doesn’t look up from her phone.

“You tweet about us?”

“At least thrice a day. Your fans want to know where your relationship’s at.”

“We have fans?”

“Of course you do. You guys were voted Freshman couple of the semester like last week on the student group page. I made an acceptance speech on your behalf, no worries.”

“You scare us.” Cole moves closer to me

“Don’t be! I make a fantastic fangirl.” 

I turn to my boyfriend, “I’ll go out on one condition. Just make sure to get me really, really drunk okay?”

***

I slam the martini glass on the counter and signal the bartender for one more. Next to me Cami wolf whistles and swallows her own shot. We’re giggling uncontrollably and about nothing at all and it’s the best thing ever. Cole keeps us in his line as he talks to one of his friends. His teammate Parker decided to join us and he can’t take his eyes off Cami.

“Why don’t you give the poor guy a chance.” I ask her once we have our drinks and stop laughing

Her cheeks turn red, “Parker? He’s not…we’re not…”

“Come on, give it up. You guys like each other, why don’t you go out?”

“Because Tessa,” She sighs heavily and looks longingly towards Parker, “honestly I wouldn’t be able to put up with the kind of cattiness that comes from all their groupies without killing someone.”

A twinge of hurt is amplified by the alcohol and rises to the surface. I glance at Cole and then at the empty glass in my hand. 

“You learn to deal with it and move on with your life.”

“Look I support your relationship more than I probably should but doesn’t it drive you insane? To get that amount of negative attention?”

“He’s worth it. I mean it’s not like I never questioned it, especially this past week but I like looking at the bigger picture.”

“And what a damn fine picture it is.”

Cole walks towards us with a predatory gleam in his eyes, he grabs my hand and begins walking me towards the dance floor.

“Did I mention how much I love this dress?”

It’s short, tight, black and laced-there wasn’t a shot in hell he’d dislike it. 

I wrap my arms around his neck, “Just a couple of times.”

We dance for a while, him holding me close. I try and forget about my mental to-do list and the crappy run-ins with Allison and her group of Barbie thugs. They do petty things, say things that they think will make me feel insecure but I’ve thought long and hard about it and decided that I don’t give a flying fudge about them. 

One of Cole’s friends pulls him away again and I spend some time alone on the floor. The dance team at college is great and the more I see them perform, the more I want to be brave enough to join. No one knows the old me here, Fatty Tessie never existed for them so they wont see her and laugh at me when I audition. I’ve thought about it a lot, maybe if I join a club I won’t feel like such an outsider. Whilst I’m having these motivational thoughts, I start hearing the voices.

“Hey! That’s the girl from the flyers isn’t she?”

“Oh yeah, that blonde. Damn she looks hotter in person.”

I ignore them at first but that’s until one of them gets too close for comfort, the hair at the back of my neck stands up.

“You want to test her out and see if she lives up to her promise?” 

Their voices get louder and my heart begins to race. It’s very possible that they aren't talking about me, it’s not plausible.

But then I feel someone place a hand on by butt and then proceed to grope it roughly. It’s all it takes for me to scream loud enough to be overheard above the music. I’ve been in this position before, I’ve hand unwanted hands on me. I still have nightmares about what happened in the bathroom with Hank at the start of my senior year of high school. I know what it feels like to have someone touch you without your consent, the revulsion that creeps into you. The sense of violation and of utter humiliation.

“Hey baby girl don’t scream just yet. The ad said you’d show me a good time for $100, I’ll pay. Why don’t we go somewhere private?”

I raise my elbow and hit in the nose. He drops his hands from me and stumbles away but then his buddy walks towards me swaying a little. I walk backwards, the ravenous look on his face scaring the heck out of me. I look towards the bar area but the crowd is thick, so thick that that people aren’t even noticing what’s happen. I shake my head, this surreal and stupid.

What’s going on?

“You have the wrong girl. I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“It was definitely you on the flyer.” He leers at my chest and I start to shake

I can defend myself, I’m not as helpless as I used to be but…

“Tessie? Where the hell is she?” I hear him shout and a few seconds later he’s tearing through the crowd with a furious look on his face. He sees the guys cornering me and nearly roars at them.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

These guys aren’t any match for Cole, he towers over them and has more muscle. One look at him and they’re scurrying away. But Cole’s expression doesn’t lighten, he grabs my arm and pulls me towards the private room. The man in charge of security gives him a brief nod and lets us pass.

We enter a more private, softly lighted space with a huge beige sofa and thick carpeting. I wanted to sink into the carpet and disappear when Cole points his phone and lo and behold I see my face staring back at me but very cleverly photoshopped onto the body of a scantily clad, very curvy woman who’s only covered by a tiny scrap of cloth over he lady parts. 

“Who the hell did this?” He yells into my face, his face turning red.

“I…” I struggle to make a sound, “I don’t know…”

“Bullshit! Tell me the truth”

He’s making me angry with all the yelling. It’s not my fault! If anything it’s his.

“Why don’t you go ask the same thing from your study buddies? I’m sure they’ll know exactly who did.”

I try to shove past him and leave but he grabs my wrists and pulls me into his chest.

“What do you mean? You think, one of the girls did this?”

“Not just one, all of them you idiot. I’m like a walking target for them and stupidly enough I’ve let them do things like this to me. I didn’t want you to find out…I didn’t want you to think that you had to start protecting poor old Tessie again.”

His chest heaves at my back, he’s furious but I can’t help but push his buttons.

“You should’ve told me.”

“I was handling it.”

“This? This is how you were handling it? Some guy just walks up to me and shows me a picture of my girl’s face on some stripper’s body? Asks me if it’s true that you’re really into…”

His body begins to tremble, “I’m going to kill them.”

I begin struggling in his arms and he lets me go. Turning to him I cup his cheek and pull his face to mine. 

“Stop trying to be my hero Cole, just be my boyfriend. I don’t care about their immature pranks.” 

“This wasn’t some stupid prank Tessie, this was a shitty thing to do to a person. They crossed all kinds of lines here.”

“And I’ll talk to them about it, maybe you should come with and give them something to look at while I threaten their academic careers.”

His face breaks out in a  tentative smile, “I’m still okay with mass murder but damn when did you get so grown up?”

“Just around the time you stole my virtue.” I say pointedly and he laughs, pulling me under his chin.

“I know this is all my fault, I’m so sorry baby.”

“Yeah I really wish you’d been uglier and a recluse, so completely your fault.”

“Don’t be cute,”

“I’m always cute.”

“Why can you just throw a frikkin hair dryer at me like a normal woman.”

“Na if I were to throw any electrical appliance at you I’d go for my Kitchen Aid.” 

His heartbeat slows down just a little, he’s distracted now.Mission accomplished

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Hi guys!

I'm so sorry for the month long wait! I've been extremely busy with school and finals. If you guys didn't know this about me, I do go to law school and it is as painful as it sounds. Woohoo

But in the meantime enjoy this chapter that refused to be written. I'm hoping you all don't hate it too much, I'm sorta out of practice but the difficult part is over and the next few chapters should come easily to me!

Also if I don't get to update before Christmas, I'd just like to wish you all Happy Holiday and hope that you all have an amazing time with your friends and families <3 

Hmm, what else? Book recommendation you say? SURE, so I loved reading The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan. Oh My Gosh guys, it was one hot romance with loads of swoon worthy moments and an absolutely amazing hero, another Drew for me to love! It's non-Watty and you'll have to buy it-just clearing up confusions. My Wattpad faves are all in a reading list on my profile called 'The Brilliant Ones'

-Lastly if you want to chat/talk anything follow me on Twitter @BlairHoldenx and