“I thought that was you. At least I was hoping so I wouldn’t look like an idiot,” she says.

Upon closer inspection, I have no clue who this chick is. “Hey, what’s up?” I adjust the brim on my hat and stuff my hands in my pockets jingling the loose change inside. Hopefully she says something to clue me in.

“How’ve you been? It’s been awhile.”

“Pretty good. How are you?” Okay, so I knew her a while ago. That doesn’t help.

“You have no idea who I am do you?”

Laughing, I put my hand on the back of my neck while looking down at the crack in the pavement. “Honestly, I’m not one hundred percent positive. You look familiar, but this campus is huge. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay, I’ve changed. We had freshman English together.”

“Wait, Emily. Right?”

Playfully punching my arm, she smiles bigger this time, “You do remember.”

Hell yes I remember. I had the biggest crush on her, but she was dating some asshole on the football team already. She’s a local. “We wrote that god awful short story about ghosts and battle fields for our final project. It’s been a few years, come here.” I pull her into a friendly hug and she laughs.

“That was awful! I’m impressed you remember.”

I touch the strands of her hair, flipping up the ends. “I was thrown with the hair color change and well, you um, grew up.” She used to be a blonde and is now sporting a huge rack.

Throwing her head back in laughter, I’m instantly taken back in time to a place when things were fresh and easy. College was beginning and I had my entire four year academic career to look forward to. Being a senior, the pressure of the real world constantly breathing down my neck is a mind fuck. “You’ve grown up too, ya know.” She takes an appraising view of my body and under normal circumstances, I’d invite her into my bed without a second thought. Considering I only left Sophie’s a few minutes ago, that’s not about to happen. Instead, I smile at the compliment. “I have to get back to this sorority meeting with some of the freshmen pledges, but we should hang out sometime. That’s if you’re available and all.”

I like her style. A chick who isn’t afraid to take what she wants, unlike someone else I know. Sophie’s face flashes into my thoughts, but I push her away. The same way she pushed me out the door.

“You and the quarterback didn’t work out?”

“God, no. He’s a certifiable asshole.”

“Let me get your number.” She hands me her phone and I text myself from it, then text her back. “There, numbers are exchanged.” I’m not interested in her sexually, but Emily’s a cool chick and we used to have fun in class. “Maybe we can meet up for lunch sometime for old time’s sake.”

Giggling, she looks at her phone like it’s been encased in diamonds. “Sounds good.” She stops laughing and leans in to hug me again. “You should text me tonight.”

“I just might.” The night’s still young for college life, but my head’s not in the right place to entertain her. Not to mention, I still haven’t given up on Sophie. Not entirely, anyway. Winking at her, I turn and walk away.

“Bye, Kipton.”

I’m not more than a hundred yards away from the dorm when I sense Sophie’s presence. I don’t know what it is or why, but I turn around and see her jogging away from the dorm. She’s not supposed to be running or exercising until next week.

My gut reaction is to go after her, even if only to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself. The anger and fresh defeat encourage me to do the exact opposite, but remembering the way she moaned my name a short time ago, my decision is made for me.

I’ll never catch up to her, but she stays within my sight the entire way. I’m relieved when she slows down before stopping in front of the gym. I hang back a ways, hoping to blend in as I hide under the darkness of the sky. After she goes inside, I wait a few seconds before I follow her.

Dumbstruck, I watch her flip around on the balance beam. Delicate yet powerful, she does each trick with ease and for the first time I see how talented she is. In no rush, she leaps from end to end; her beautiful body making her movements appear effortless. Making sure I stay in the shadows, I’m in complete awe. When she’s finished, she flips off the end. Landing hard, she reaches up and holds her head. Instinctively, I bolt from my hiding place to make sure she’s okay.

Sophie’s leaning against the side of the beam still clutching her temples. I forget she has no idea I’m behind her and when I rest my hand on her waist, her scream echoes off the rafters. Flailing her fist into my face, she lands a solid punch to my left eye. “Holy hell, Sophie. It’s me!”

“Shit! I’m sorry. How was I supposed to know you were in here?”

“Well now you know.” I rub my eye and can already sense a headache brewing. “You have a solid right hook for as small as you are.”

She hops up onto the beam and sits down, bringing her closer to my eye level. I move in and place my hands on either side of her. Her small body is easily encased by mine. “Why are you following me?” she questions.

“Because I saw you running and was worried you’d hurt yourself.”

Releasing her messy pony tail, she blows a few strands of hair out of her eyes. “You didn’t look too worried about me while you were chatting it up with that girl. Got her number and everything.”

She’s jealous and I happen to enjoy every second of it. It reaffirms everything I already knew. “You saw that?”

“I did.”

“It wasn’t what you think, Sophie.”

She uses her pants to wipe some leftover chalk off her hands. “You sure about that? Did you make plans?”

“No.”

“No you aren’t sure, or no you didn’t make plans?”

I love that she needs to ask me for specifics. “No, Sophie. We didn’t make plans. In case you forgot in the half hour since I was inside of you, I want you.”

She sucks in a deep breath, but keeps the questions flowing. “You hugged her.”

She’s so stubborn. “I told you it wasn’t what it looked like.”

She cocks her head to the side trying to play tough. “I’m supposed to believe that?”

I know it’s wrong before I even say it, but I say it anyway. “Like I’m supposed to believe you don’t want me? Or do you only fuck and run?”

She turns her head away, refusing to acknowledge me standing right in front of her. Tossing my words back at me, she says, “it wasn’t what it looked like.”

I reach up and make her look at me so she comprehends every word I’m saying. “Then don’t judge me and I won’t judge you.” I inch closer to her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She has no place to look, but into my eyes until I hug her and rest my head against her stomach. Brushing her fingers through my hair, I’m hopeful she’s ready to acknowledge what’s going on between the two of us. But much like a moment is, it’s over before it has a chance to multiply.

“Kipton, I have to get going.”

Damn it. “Why do you keep running, beautiful?”

She shrugs. “For exercise.”

“You know what I mean. Why do you keep running from me.”

I search her face for any clue about what to do next. Her resolve slowly crumbles right before my eyes, but as fast as it disappears, she’s fighting to regain control again. Before she can come up with any other ideas, I kiss her. It’s not slow, innocent or forgiving. It’s a claiming kiss as my lips tangle with hers so roughly our teeth clash a few times. Sophie has to be mine. Placing my hands under her ass, I’m ready to hoist her off the beam and around my waist until she freezes and pushes me back.

“I can’t do this, Kipton. I’m sorry.”

“Sophie. Don’t run. Stay with me. Be mine.”

She softly whispers, “It’s the only thing I know how to do right now.”

I need to know why. “Let me teach you how to stay.”

She looks pained when she says, “Please, Kipton. Forget about us. It’s easier that way.”