Chapter 5: Going Home

Just as I thought, Jessica came home an hour later with a frown on her face. "Where were you?" She said. I sat down on the couch and looked up from my book. Thank god I had an excuse prepared beforehand. "My stomach started hurting," I replied. "It's probably because I drank a lot last night."

Jessica sighed and walked to the door of her dorm. "I hope you're at least feeling better now, because we're having a party at the Fire Pit after we win the game."

"Don't you dare say no! You need to put on something sexy for Justin." With that said, Jessica disappeared into her room - presumably to get ready for the party.

I sent Rolie a quick text. "Where are you? Are you going to that party later?" A few minutes later, Rolie replied, "Yes. I promised Jess," I sighed putting my phone away and closing my book. It was already seven o'clock so the party would start in about an hour or two.

I decided to take a shower and change. For some reason, as I got ready, I realized that I really cared about looking pretty ...... but not to make Justin jealous. I wanted Enzo to be attracted to me.

Jessica, Rolie and I went to the party around nine o'clock. It was located about a mile outside of town in the woods.

It's an old campground from the 70's with a few cabins.

Generations of students here have cleaned and repurposed them.

In the center of this circle of cabins was a large fire pit where a huge campfire had been started. Burning and loud music was playing in the campground. As we approached, I could see some loud boys yelling and screaming as they threw beer cans into the fire and flirted with girls. Around the fire, boys and girls danced and rubbed against each other to the music.

"They're so stupid that they look like a bunch of monkeys," Rolie complains. She has her hands in her pockets.

As soon as we arrive, she pulls out a marijuana cigarette and finds a place to smoke it herself.

Jessica and I were used to this by now and didn't mind our friend's lonely nature.

"You look great, by the way," Jessica said, nudging me with her elbow. I picked out a short black leotard and boots and put on another leather jacket. My hair was still in braids, but I wore delicate makeup. Hopefully I wouldn't cry tonight.

Thanks," I replied. "You too." I walked over to a nearby cooler and grabbed a beer while Jessica stopped to flirt with a drunk guy.

I took a sip of my drink and looked around, trying to decide whether to join the dance or sit alone.

As I stood there, trying to decide what to do, I overheard what sounded like an angry voice coming from one of the cabins.

"Look, I thought I made it clear that we're just fuck buddies!"

I recognized the voice immediately: it was Lisa.With her was none other than Justin ......

"I broke up with my girlfriend for you! You said we'd be together!"

I heard Lisa scoff. "I never said that." "Why did I agree to be with you when I could have chosen any man I wanted?"

"Then what about Enzo, everyone knows you're still mad he broke up with you voluntarily. Why don't you go out and ask him to dance?" Justin said.

I heard stomping on the floor and then the door opened.Lisa looked down at me from the top of the steps and smiled. "If you're going to eavesdrop, at least don't make it so obvious," she said, then tossed her hair and jogged down the steps. My eyes followed her all the way to the campfire.

Enzo was standing there drinking while a group of girls-including Jessica-were gathered around him. "Hey, Enzo," Lisa said, walking toward him easily. Most of the other girls at this college wouldn't dare walk toward Enzo so carelessly.

But Enzo and Lisa used to date. "Hey," Enzo replied. To my surprise, he glances over Lisa's shoulder and briefly winks at me.

I think he's peering into my soul again, but it's over quickly when he looks back at Lisa.

Lisa crossed her arms over her chest-no doubt trying to squeeze her breasts together. "Do you want to dance?" She said. "I don't have a dance partner yet tonight."

Enzo frowned, took a long swig of his beer and looked Lisa up and down. around them, people began to stare. "we broke up a long time ago, Lisa," Enzo said. lisa put her hands on her sides of her body and clenched her fists. "Come on! don't tell you don't want it." She points to her body, which is still covered in her tight cheerleading uniform.

Enzo just shrugged and continued talking to the other girls as if Lisa didn't exist.

Lisa walked away angrily. However, when she was gone, his eyes fixed on me once again. His eyes seemed to glow again and I suddenly felt scared.

Involuntarily, I put down my beer and quickly walked away, finding an unoccupied shack behind a bar. I just needed a few minutes alone.

"Hey Nina," I almost jumped when I heard Enzo's voice behind me. I turned to face him; he blocked the firelight with his huge body, which looked somewhat threatening in the darkness. But something else occurred to me ...... When we met at the bar, we never exchanged names. How did he know my name? Without a word, I tried to walk around him back to the fire, as this whole interaction made me feel uneasy. However Enzo blocked my way, holding his arms, "Why are you avoiding me?" He said. He sounded a little sad.

I stopped biting my lip and looked around to see Jessica and a new boy dancing by the fire. "I'm not avoiding you," I say.

Enzo sighs and opens his arms. "It sure looked like it," he replied. "You left so abruptly last night."

"What do you want me to say?" I whispered.

"You and I had a one-night stand. You've never been on more than one date with a girl. You should be thanking me for not pestering you."

"Is that really what you think of me?" Enzo asks. For some reason, I felt more confident facing him now. "Everyone knows you're a playboy." I said and planned to leave the place, this time he didn't hold me back.

"Well, you're different," he replied.

Was this some kind of prank? The field hockey captain, the school's star and playboy, thinks I'm 'different'?

Enzo approached me, stroked my hair and finally lowered his voice.

"I want to do it again with you."