“IT?”  I question exactly what he is talking about referring to me as it.

“Your ass.”  He deadpans.

“Oh…thanks for the clarification.  Maybe my ASS wouldn’t want to take it up with you or this Cooper.”  I state.  Gabe starts laughing and I hear Rich chuckle behind me.

“Honey, if I put on my charm you would be escorting me back to my dorm before one o’clock.”  Grady scoffs leaning closer to my ear so I can feel his breath at my neck.

“More like running from you come midnight.”  I sarcastically come back at him moving closer to the window away from him.

Gabe full out belly laughs, Rich chuckles and I am stunned to see Grady laughing as well.

“Oh Maddy, we are going to get along just fine.”  He leans back into his seat remaining silent for the rest of the trip.

There are co-eds everywhere when we pull up.  If this is what Gabe calls a get together than I would hate to see a party.  This is three times bigger than any party in Belcrest.  Rich and Grady get out walking into the house.  It might have been my imagination but it was like the people parted from the sidewalk to let them through.  Maybe since they play on the football team with Gabe they had clout or something.

Gabe comes around meeting me by the truck taking my hand following the two.  “Stay by me ok?  Don’t drink anything unless I give it to you.”

“Ok” now I didn’t only feel uneasy I was paranoid.

If I thought the outside was busy enough the inside was jammed full of people.  I rubbed against enough guys and girls chests before Gabe releases my hand in the kitchen.

“Here” he hands me a bottle of beer.  I don’t like beer but I am not about to ask for something else.  He twists the tops off and takes a long pull on his.

“Hey man, new girl already?”  A long leaner guy comes up next to Gabe.  His eyes and hair match a dark brown, almost black.  He has a dimple in his right cheek when he smiles and it looked like he forgot to shave this morning but it just makes him that much sexier.  He isn’t as muscular as Gabe or the other two but you can tell he is strong.

“What’s up Coop?  No, this is my brother’s girl.”  He nods his head towards me while shaking the guy’s hand.

“I’m not your brother’s girl.”  I sneer back at him.

“Sorry, they broke up.  You know one of those couples where they break up and get back together but they will probably get married one day…”  Gabe rambles making me wonder why he is going on like that to a perfect stranger, at least in my eyes.

“Cooper Sears.”  He puts his hand out for me to shake.

“Maddy” I take his hand and he brings it up to his mouth kissing the outside of my hand.

“Hello Maddy.  Welcome to my place.”  He doesn’t let go of my hand.

“Well, I have some people I want to introduce Maddy to, so we’ll see you around Coop.”  Gabe puts his hand on my elbow moving me closer to him.

“You just got here, there’s time for that.  Come on Maddy, let’s go downstairs, its quieter.”  He pulls me by my hand walking to a door off the kitchen.

“Cooper, I am warning you once.  Leave her alone.”  Gabe pulls me back.

“Its fine Gabe, we can all go down to the basement.”  I move my elbow out of his grip.  I wouldn’t mind some alone time with Cooper.

“I have to find someone.  Maddy, this isn’t high school.”  He whispers in my ear.

“I can handle myself but thank you for your concern Gabe.”  I start walking with Cooper.

“Cooper.”  Gabe yells over the crowd.  “I will be down there in five minutes.  And Madgirl?”  I look over to him.  “Remember what I told you.”

I nod my head.  I appreciate his interest in my safety but I am a big girl.  I follow Cooper Sears down the stairs.  His name alone sounds sexy.  There is a tattoo on his forearm and another peeking out from under his shirtsleeve on the other arm.  It intrigues me to find out what they are.  The basement is decked out with a pool table, some arcade games and a poker table in the corner where a girl is sitting in her bra and underwear while a pile of clothes are in the corner.

“Nice Coop.”  A guy looks me up and down as though I am there for his viewing pleasure.

Cooper gives him a high five winking in his direction.  He sits me on the black leather couch holding my hand but I take it away positioning myself to sit towards him instead of alongside.  He asks me about Belcrest, saying he came down with Gabe a few years ago and couldn’t believe the town is so small.  He is from Chicago making it clear to me he lives in the city not the suburbs stating there is a big difference between the two.  I found out he is the kicker of the football team but graduated last year.  I fail to divulge who my brother is since I am sure he would know him only being three years apart and both playing on the football team.  I don’t want to be Little Jennings in his eyes.

He caresses my leg and arm, as we talk never taking it further.  Gabe never returns so I assume he was ok with me staying with Cooper.  I don’t want him to not have a good time because I am here.  I haven’t talked to a guy like this except for Trent.  Where Trent went out to find other girls to hook up with I never did.  I was never interested in other guys so I didn’t see the point.

The poker game becomes heated when a girl has to take off her bra and a guy has to remove his underwear.  I give her props for being so forthcoming. I would never do that.  Everyone in the room starts talking louder and people from upstairs start coming down to watch the people stripping their clothes off.  The guys are gawking at the girl and the girls are drooling at the guy.

“Let’s go into my room. It’s quieter.”  Cooper entwines his fingers in mine leading me through a door at the right.  “So much better.”

I sit on the edge of the bed starting to realize I am out of my league here.  I want to kiss Cooper so bad but I have only really kissed Trent my whole life.  Not to mention what if he wants more, I am inexperienced and I don’t want to come off like some naïve high school girl.

“I think I should find Gabe.”  I stand up walking towards the door.

“He’s fine, probably making out with some chick.  You know him.”  He comes closer putting his arm around my waist kissing my neck.

“Really Cooper, it’s been great talking with you.   Thanks for having me over.”  I say turning myself away from him but he clutches me harder.

“Any of those girls out there would love to be in here with me but I picked you.”  He softly speaks in my ear sucking on my earlobe.

“Please Cooper, I don’t want to do this.”  I start pleading to him.

“You know you want to, just let yourself enjoy this.”  He makes his way down my neck while his hands roam my body.

I freeze, not knowing how to react.  This has never happened to me before.  In Belcrest I am Little Jennings, Jack’s sister or Trent’s girl.  No one ever asks me out or hits on me.  I know I have to get out of this situation fast.

“I am sure Gabe is looking for me.  Let’s go find him and then we can come back down here once he knows I am ok.”  I try to trick him into getting me out of the room.

“No can do.  I told you Gabe is fine.  He’s a big boy.”  His lips are coming dangerously close to mine and I keep scooting back but he put his hand on the back of my neck holding me in place while his face inches closer.  The face I found stunningly gorgeous five minutes ago now resembles a pervert.

Right when his lips brush lightly against mine I hear someone trying to open the door.  It is locked, when did he lock it?

“Cooper, open this fucking door.”  Gabe screams from the outside banging with his fists.

“Go away Basso, we are having a killer time in here.”  He never takes his hands off me but thankfully his mouth moves so he could yell through the door.

“I am giving you one warning Sears, open this door or I am busting it open.”  Gabe keeps pounding against the door.