‘’Eww, too strong!’’ she simpered, grimacing. But Jennifer was laughing, ‘’ You’re gonna have to get used to handling your liquor if you want to survive fresher’s week!’’ she teased.
The pair had been best friends in high school and luck dictated that Laurel secure a scholarship at the school her buddy had also been accepted to. It was another of the reasons to go through with her decision even if she wasn’t exactly sure about it. Having Jennifer by her side made her feel better about facing the big bad world of college and leaving the security of her family and home.
They entered the packed house arm in arm. It was full of cheerleaders, wannabe cheerleaders and most of all, guys who wanted to hook up with cheerleaders. The beer was flowing, music was playing, and the atmosphere was charged with adrenaline, excitement and sexual tension. Jennifer spotted some girls they had met previously and pulled Laurel towards them. They chatted excitedly, relaying rumors they’d heard about what other events were lined up for the week ahead.
‘’Hey pom-poms’’ someone shouted. It was a voice she recognized. Oh god, she thought as she turned around, not him again. She faced the arrogant ice hockey ice hockey player and looked at him defiantly, defense on the ready.
‘’You look gorgeous’’ he said earnestly and she raised her eyebrows in surprise, taken aback by his seemingly genuine compliment.
‘’Erm, thanks!’’ she smiled. She looked up at him and realized why she had been so attracted to him in the first place. Before he had ruined everything. He was tall and muscular and dark. His smile was electric and his full lips were just calling out to be bitten and sucked.
He seemed to be able to read her mind as he leaned towards her and those lips of his came into contact with hers. She kissed back for a moment, excitement sweeping through her body. But she quickly remembered what had happened during orientation week, and pushed him away, coming back to her senses.
‘’I thought you said cheerleaders were a dumb waste of space,’’ she challenged him.
‘’And I’m not denying it now,’’ Ben smirked in response. He had been drinking and was slurring his words but the way his muscles flexed through his tight t-shirt gave Laurel a flutter of pleasure that passed through her whole body. His eyes, albeit slightly glazed, were dark and brooding and she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more going on in his head than just ice hockey and girls.
Her musings were not confirmed when he continued speaking, ‘’ You wanna know why I’m at this stupid cheerleader party? Well, you cheerleaders might be dumb-ass bitches. But you sure are hot as hell! Come on baby, dance for me. Kiss me again, you know you liked it!’’ and he winked.
As he was speaking his eyes had hesitated on the tight sweater that emphasized her large breasts, and then wandered down past her tiny waist finally resting on her long legs.
She felt objectified, insulted and taken advantage of and the anger rose inside her, as it occasionally did. ‘’I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me! Leave me alone you sexist pig of a man,’’ she screamed and she threw her red plastic cup of beer all over him.
Everyone around them started laughing at the sight of him and he looked shocked and then started to shout but a couple of guys came up to him and held his shoulders. ‘’Time to leave dude,’’ one of them said, ‘’No more beer for you tonight.’’
‘’I’ll get you back for this’’ he sneered at her as his teammates dragged him out. His eyes were black and Laurel felt a quiver of regret. Had she overreacted? It wasn’t a great start to fresher’s week.
Jennifer quickly appeared at Laurel’s side, ‘’Jeez, what was all that about?’’ she asked, looking concerned.
‘’Oh he’s just some douche I met at orientation’’ she sighed, the anger dissipating from her body slowly. ‘’He’s got a serious chip on his shoulder about cheerleaders and he’s just a typical arrogant ice hockey jerk that needs to be put in his place.’’
‘’Laurel he’s not just any ice hockey player. That’s Ben Jackson. He’s the star of the school. He’s already got a position in the first team which is unheard of for a fresher.’’
‘’So?’’ Laurel snapped back, exasperated, “That means he can insult people however he wants with no repercussions? Not with me!’’
‘’Just be careful ok, sweetie. He’s not someone you want to have as an enemy from what I’ve heard. He beat a kid up real bad at his high school; he almost didn’t get accepted here because of it. But of course his talent and wealth won the school directors round.’’