[ Author's Note ]

Sentences or paragraphs that start with a dash

-

and end with a dash

-

are inner thoughts of the characters. And sentences that start with

"

and end with

"

are dialogs, for when a character is speaking out loud.

It was a Monday, the last day of a long weekend. The reason Amalia was at this so-called "gathering" was that Naishla, one of her closest friends, dragged her there only, so she didn't have to go alone since the rest of their friends' group will arrive the next morning. They were at something that couldn't count as a party because it wasn't something big, just a few friends having drinks with music.

Luckily for Naishla, Amalia didn't have classes until late in the afternoon the next day because otherwise, she wouldn't have come. She actually arrived that day from her parent's house.

"You know, rumor has it, that Thomas has been asking about you lately," Naishla said to Amalia in a cheeky tone.

Amalia roll her eyes "oh really? I won't even have to get in line to get his attention? No way!" Amalia said sarcastically.

"Is not gonna be easy for him, will it?" Naishla laughed, "look, I was told to put a good word for him; clearly, I suck at this. But even if I was putting in my best effort, which I'm not, I don't see the problem with him," Naishla said matter of factly.

"If he wants anything with me, he should come and talk to me. Not pass a survey along with one of my friends. Or worst, make her do the work for him." Amalia took a sip of her beer.

"I'm glad you have your panties put on so well; I just hope they don't fall easily once he is in front of you," said Naishla laughing.

Two hours after arriving at Sigma Pi frat house, Thomas told Amalia if she wanted to go to a "calmer" place to talk, but she knew he had ulterior motives. It was getting late, but Amalia accepted anyway, not really thinking about the time because she lives a few minutes off-campus. She decided to rent an apartment near the University because it offered more privacy and freedom than the dorms. In full honesty, she accepted going upstairs with him in hopes he would take out a secret stashed blunt from a drawer in his room rather than a condom.

They were sitting on the floor with their back against the footboard of the bed, next to each other. They were having a light casual conversation that suddenly hit a wall, and there was silence in the room. Amalia took a deep breath and placed her head on the footboard. Turning her head to look at Thomas, "you don't happen to have weed around here, do you?" she said wishfully with a pouty expression. He turned to look at her, smiling with what he intended to be a seductive smirk but unconsciously turned into a wide dumbfounded grin the minute he laid eyes on her. For a moment, he was at a loss for words contemplating Amalia. -Boy, she is beautiful!- He thought. "I gave the last I had to Jerry; he claimed it was an emergency. He hasn't returned the favor, though. So that's why I'm dry. Sorry." he said, scanning with his eyes for a clue in Amalia's face of what she could be thinking.

Her eyes sadden, but before she could fully mean it, the corner of her mouth quirked up, "It's ok. I shouldn't be taking advantage of guys that bring me up to their room, anyway. You know, taking their weed and leaving them with nothing," she said, trying to sound innocent but failing when a wolfish smiled peaked in.

"No! Please, take advantage of me, do whatever you want," he said jokingly while raising his hands as if he was surrendering to an all too-powerful adversary.

Amalia laughed while shifting herself, curling her legs in Tom's direction, putting one knee on top of the other in a saddle sitting position. With her left shoulder against the footboard, and her upper body leaning towards Tom, she said "you know, I should. I should take advantage of you. It's rare to have such a willing and eager volunteer." sliding her hand through Tom's chest, slowly going down, reaching the side of his ribs, and began tickling him.

Tom snapped his head back and forward, exploding in a burst of strenuous laughter. At the sight of Tom laughing, Amalia couldn't contain herself and started to laugh as well. He felt on Amalia's lap crying mercy. "I let you off easy. For me, 'taking advantage of someone is testing make-up styles on someone's face. And fyi, I use sharpies to do so." she said playfully.

Tom slowly stood up from Amalia's lap "anytime, baby. Bring it on," he stated with a flirty smirk across his face. His eyes focused on her lips for a moment.

Rolling her eyes playfully, Amalia let out, "well, next time, then!"

"Look, I know that clearly, you came all the way here for a smoke, and I disappointed you. So let me make it up to you," Thomas teased, curving one side of his mouth in a smug smile.

Amalia bit her bottom lip, giving him a light smile. Before she could say anything, Tom started to slide his arm around Amalia's waist, placing his hand on her lower back and pulling her closer. Their gazes fixed on each other. Tom started to close the space between them; their faces were inches from touching. Amalia could feel Tom's light breathing

"So sad there is no weed, though," she let out mockingly, just loud enough for Tom to hear. Their noses begin to touch each other gently, lips almost brushing. Amalia's face was passive, with half-lidded eyes looking at Thomas' lips and back at his eyes.

Just when Tom's eyes closed and their lips were about to touch, the corners of Amalia's mouth twirled up deviously as she turned her head to the side. Leaving Tom's forehead pressed on Amalia's left temple. Before he could say anything, Amalia quickly moved from his side, standing up. Leaving Tom bewildered, he couldn't believe what just happened. Not only was this the first time that it took him this long to make a move on a girl, but it was the first time a girl teased and toyed with him like that. He was so used to girls wanting to throw themselves at him, that Amalia not even giving into kissing him, made him want her more. Thomas let out an incredulous laugh and took a moment to look at Amalia, who stopped to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear before trying to make her way out of the room. - Wow - he thought, biting his upper lip. He quickly got up and walked towards Amalia, positioning himself behind her, and started tracing with the back of his fingers Amalia's exposed shoulder all the way down to her wrist. Amalia took a deep breath while throwing her head backward, resting it on Tom's chest, her lips slightly curled upward. A delicate scent of orchid and black currant started to invade Thomas. She could feel Thomas's nose on her left cheek slowly tracing her skin. Amalia turned her head without breaking away from contact, meeting Thomas' gaze. The corners of her eyes crinkled as a roguish smile appeared on her lips, "I have to go." she whispered.

"You know, you don't have to go; the people downstairs are still at it, the night is young," he said in the best convincing tone he could muster.

Before he could end that sentence, Amalia was already walking to the door. She turned her head at Tom and said."Yeah, I do."

"Let me walk you to your car, at least," He pouted.

Amalia rolled her eyes, smiling playfully. "To the door"

Tom extended his arm and made a theatrical gesture with his hand. "After you"

They made their way downstairs. Amalia stopped on her way to the door in the living room to tell Niashla that she was leaving and said goodbye to the rest of the people there.

"You're already going!? Why? Did Thomas do something to you?! Just say the word, and I'll kill him" Naishla studied Amalia's face with piercing scrutiny.

"No, nothing like that; I wanna get some rest, that's all," said Amalia trying to sound as honest as she could.

"Ok then, text me when you get home." Naishla smiled at Amalia and let her go.

Thomas opened the door, and Amalia stepped out. She turned around to look one last time at him before she left.

He was leaning up against the door, holding it open. "Please don't go," Thomas said, pleading.

Amalia smiled warmly at the boy. "Bye, Tom."

While Amalia was walking to her car with a cheeky smile, she went over in her head what just happened with Tom

- It's not that I don't like him or that he isn't attractive or anything. In fact, I like him. I definitely like him. He is nice, funny, charming, and has a great smile, and an athletic body. And did I mention good-looking? He is very good-looking. I mean, there is a reason why he is popular. He checks all the boxes. But teasing him felt so good.- Her mouth curved into a wider smile, and she bit her bottom lip. -Deep down, it doesn't matter how thrilling is the chase, or even the rush of just casually hooking up with someone. I was terrified when he started to make a move. Fuck, I'm 20 years old, and I have never kissed anyone. It would have been so embarrassing for me to stumble my way into that kiss. I just want to do it for the first time with someone I don't ever have to see again. Clock in those flying hours so that I can do it more confidently next time.-

She may or may not have found herself in a similar situation. Alone with a guy that was into her, attractive, but too nervous or afraid that her inexperience would ruin everything. In fact, she could have taken advantage of her senior year at high school, and kissed as many guys as she wanted; at the end of the year, she would be leaving for college, never to see any of them again. And yet she didn't.

Amalia arrived at a grey pickup. A 2010 Ford Ranger that once belonged to her dad. It was a bit old, but it was intact. It's not like 2010 was a century ago, but 11 years mean something to a car. She absentmindedly searched with her hand inside the side pocket of her backpack to retrieve her keys, unlock her car, and get in. Taking a deep breath, she starts the car – I can go straight to my apartment. But it's only 9:30. - She could feel her stomach rumble I should definitely go for some food. There's an In&Out a couple of miles from here. I'm thinking of a cheeseburger, french fries, and a chocolate milkshake. Then I'll go back to my apartment. - A wide smile spread across her mouth. She stepped on the gas and hit the road.

The streets on that side of town were almost empty. The golden street lights hit her face as she cruised the streets of Sigma Pi's neighborhood. Less than a mile later, when Amalia looked in her rearview mirror, she saw a lump in the back seat of her car. Tightening up her grip on the staring wheel, making her knuckles turn white, she tried to make sense of it. - I don't remember leaving anything back there. It kind of looks like a pile of clothes. Has my dad borrowed the truck on Saturday and left something in the backseat?- She narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look at what that could be. - That's NOT a pile of clothes! That is a person!- Her eyes widened; her mouth opened, but she muffled the scream. She hit the brakes going from 60 to 0 in a matter of seconds. The lump in the back rolled to the ground. "UUUGH!" Amalia heard the lump cry out. Slowly a girl got up from the back. Amalia turned to see the girl.

Rubbing her eyes, as her forehead creased, the girl straights herself, sitting upward "What the fuck?!" the girl muttered under her breath. She took her hands off of her eyes and blinked for a moment. Finally, she looks around, and her eyes meet Amalia's.

The girl's face shifted, her brows raised, eyes wide open.

And they both let out a scream.