“You ready to start packing?” Reid asked as he came back into the kitchen. I’d been so busy staring out the window that I hadn’t even noticed the cleaning service’s arrival.

“Let’s do it,” I replied. “Do you remember what dorm we’re in?”

“Yeah, McDonald Hall I think.” He wriggled his eyebrows, and grinned. “Co-ed.”

I shook my head, fighting the smile on my face. “And you accuse me of acting like a horny fifteen year old boy.”

Reid shrugged. “What can I say brother, girls can’t get enough.”

“Please,” I snorted. “You’re just waiting until Jade decides to give you the time of day.”

Surprise flashed across Reid face before he asked, “What makes you say that?”

“I’ve seen the way you look at her, and the way you watch out for her when she parties with us. I also know you guys got pretty close last year.”

Reid sighed, and then pulled his fingers through his hair. “I won’t deny that I care about her, but we’re both having fun right now. I don’t think she’s ready for more.”

I slapped him on the back, and started walking towards my bedroom. “It’ll happen if it’s meant to, you know that. Besides it’s a new year, and a fresh start. Who knows what’ll happen.”

I left Reid in the kitchen, and grabbed a few boxes before we hit the road.

I thought about what I’d said to Reid, and realized that a fresh start was exactly what I needed. I just hoped that nothing came along to derail my newfound determination to make a change for the better.

CHAPT ER FOUR

Kennedy

JADE PLUGGED HER phone into her docking station, and started playing music while we unpacked. We’d arrived at the university campus a few hours ago, and had been getting ourselves settled into our dorm all day. Not that it was a dorm, really. It was more like an apartment. It had three bedrooms, an open plan kitchen that connected to the small but spacious living room, and a bathroom that looked like it had come from a catalogue. All three bedrooms were kitted out with double beds, desks, and matching dressers, along with a small closet built into the wall. There was a small window behind the bed that overlooked the sports fields, and part of the main road that had convenience stores, a few bars, clothing stores, and book shops. Being located an hour away from the actual town of Brighton, it could have easily passed for a small town on its own.

The buildings had that old Southern charm, having been designed that way when they were built, but they still reeked of wealth. It was all elitism at its best, and only the wealthy could afford to attend.

Our building was one of the smaller ones, with only eight floors, and six double rooms on each floor. It was the newest, and the nicest. We’d definitely struck gold.

Jade started humming along to Meghan Trainors’ ‘All About That Base’, and after a while we were both singing along at the top of our lungs. It was all horribly off key, but that didn’t stop us in the slightest.

We stopped unpacking, and started dancing around our dorm as if we hadn’t a care in the world. For those few minutes, it felt like I had nothing to worry about, that my life outside of school wasn’t in complete shambles.

Jade started twerking, and I laughed at the way her face morphed into a duck face. I followed suit, and it wasn’t long before I felt eyes on us. It was then that we realized our front door had been open the entire time, and we’d attracted an audience. Until now, our floor had been quiet, but more and more students had started arriving.

The song changed, and we tried catching our breaths after our little performance.

Someone started clapping, and Jade and I whipped our heads in the direction of the sound. Reid stood at our door, and walked in with an idiotic grin on his face.

I froze, while Jade looked happy that he’d caught our little show.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said, smiling at Jade. “I’d like to see that again.”

Jade shrugged. “Too bad, Cole. It was a one time performance.” Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks flushed. I doubted it had anything to do with dancing though. She had a thing for Reid, but neither of them had ever acted on it because they’d been best friends since Kindergarten. Seeing the way they were together made it impossible to miss that they were perfect for each other, but they were too unwilling to cross that line.

“That’s too bad,” he said. “You girls are pretty good.”

“Jade will have to give you a private show,” I quipped, winking at Jade when she gave me her what-the-fuck look. I considered it payback for last night. “I don’t think I’m the one you want to see.”

Reid turned his smile my way. “Yeah, sorry Kennedy. You’re not my type. But you know I love you.” He winked, and I chuckled. He was an incorrigible flirt who made most women swoon. Including my dear friend who looked ready to strip him naked and take him right here in the living room. Awkward much?

“Reid, where the hell are you?”

Another figure filled the doorway, and as soon as I saw who it was my happy mood left the room like a herd of stampeding elephants. My mouth twisted in a scowl.

Reid turned to face him, ignoring the sudden shift in atmosphere. “I was just getting reacquainted with our neighbors.”

“Neighbors?” Dane and I sputtered in unison.

“Wait, you guys are next door?” Jade asked. Her eyes darted between Dane and me before she looked back up at Reid.

“It would appear that way,” he replied. He was the only one grinning, while Jade looked worried. Dane was staring holes into my face while I was imagining how much sexier he’d look without his head.

“That can’t be right,” I said. “McDonald Hall is a girls’ dorm.”

“Actually,” Dane said, stepping into our place. “It’s co-ed.”

Why hadn’t I seen that in the brochure? Not that it really mattered. It wasn’t the co-ed part that bothered me. It was the fact that Dane was going to be living right next door.

“And you’re next door?” Jade asked again.

Reid nodded, oblivious to the tension brewing between Dane and me. Or perhaps he was just ignoring it.

“I’m sure if you ask nicely, the Housing Department can move you to some dump off campus,” remarked Dane. “Maybe they can find an animal shelter willing to take you in. They’re good with stray dogs.”

My scowl deepened, and my jaw ticked. My face warmed as my blood boiled beneath the surface of my skin.

“And I’m sure if you asked nicely, they’d be happy to relocate you to the nearest brothel. That is where you’d feel more at home right? Between a pair of spread legs,” I replied.

Reid whistled, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Jade’s mouth drop open.

“You’ll be thinking about me between someone else’s legs when my ‘activities’ keep you up at night, Kennedy. God knows I can make ‘em scream.”

I glared, unable to find an appropriate response. When I remained quiet, Dane smirked in victory. God, I hated him. And I hated that he was taunting me. Unwelcomed images of him having sex with some girl flitted into my head, and I shook my head slightly to clear them away.

“Dane, don’t be a dick,” said Jade. She came up to my side, and I was silently grateful. “Unless you want me barging in there and dragging your bed fly out by her hair in nothing but her birthday suit, I suggest you put a muzzle on whatever you bang. I like my beauty sleep.”

I covered my mouth, stifling the sudden burst of laughter that threatened to escape. I loved Jade dearly in that moment, and the fact that she had no brain-to-mouth filter really came in handy.

Dane was about to respond when Reid intercepted. “Okay, enough with the insults. We’ll be leaving now.”