Dark Light (The Dark Light Series)(27)

“Gabs! Come join us!” she calls over to us. The guys are holding up their drinks as if to air-toast with me. I hold up my glass of water in return and shake my head. Time to sober up. No need to have a repeat of last year. Morgan shrugs and goes back to mesmerizing the guys with her charms.

“Sure you don’t want to go over there and help her out?” Jared smiles and pops a curly fry into his mouth.

“Oh, she needs no help from me. Besides, frat boys aren’t my thing,” I say, slowly swirling my fry into the ketchup.

“Well, what is your thing?” Jared says in a low, raspy voice that causes me to meet his eyes. There’s desire in them, and it instantly makes me look back down at my now soggy fry with flushed cheeks.

“Ummm, I can’t really say,” I say thoughtfully. “I like athletes. Physically fit guys. Nice eyes.” I say, gazing into his glittering greens. It’s the truth but I know I could be opening up a can of worms that I’m not prepared to deal with right now. Or am I?

Before Jared can address my remark, a very drunk, very scantily clad girl falls into his lap. The term slore, comes to mind.

“Heeeyyyyy, Jared! Remember me?” she slurs. She’s thin, tan and blonde, wearing a UCCS t-shirt that she’s fashioned into a mid-drift top, too short cut off jean shorts and cowboy boots. She’s beautiful and indicative of the type of girls Jared usually dates.

“Uh, yeah. Summer, right?” Jared stammers. A blush of crimson bathes his cheeks.

“Yup! How are you?” She squeezes him hard, letting her hands roam his boulder-like shoulders. I feel my blood boil.

“I’m good. Hey, this is my friend Gabriella,” he motions towards me, stealthily trying to wriggle from her grasp. Summer glances in my direction, and flashes an insincere smile. I reciprocate with a fake grin and a roll of my eyes when she returns her attention to Jared.

“So hey, how about you buy me a drink? And then maybe me and you can get outta here.” She tries to whisper that last sentence but fails miserably. Jared’s eyes grow wide with horror and he looks to me for aide. I nearly spit out my mouthful of water and try to stifle my laughter. The poor girl is oblivious to our humorous exchange at her expense.

“Actually I’m here with my friends. I’m the DD tonight so I can’t leave them,” he replies, speaking slowly so his gentle rejection sinks into her dim-lit brain. If there’s one thing I can’t stand it is a loose girl who can’t control her liquor. Or her morals, for that matter.

“Oh, I’m sure they can manage without you. Gail here looks nice and sturdy,” she chuckles at her tasteless joke.

“It’s Gabriella,” I state loud and clear, giving her a stern glare. “Dumb ass,” I mutter under my breath.

“Oh, whatever,” she waves me off. “Anyway, let them catch a cab. My roommate won’t be back tonight and I was hoping we could finish what we started,” she says, fingering her blonde locks and biting her bottom lip in an attempt to appear seductive.

I look away before I gag and catch Morgan’s eyes on us, shaking her head as if to tell me to let it go. Her frat boys have followed her stare so I plaster on a grin and shrug to indicate that there’s no worry. I start to get up and walk away, noting that Jared is whispering something to her that he obviously doesn’t want me to hear, but before I can get up, all hell breaks loose.

“Fine then! You must be fucking gay! No wonder you’d rather hang with this ugly bitch!” she screams, attempting to slap Jared before he catches her arm.

Okay, now this chick has pissed me off. Before she can spew another vile word, I palm her face and shove her backwards onto the floor. Her flailing arms take out another table’s beer and it lands all over her, drenching her bleach blonde hair. The bar erupts in laughter and cheers but I know I better get out of here before I’m thrown out. Wouldn’t be the first time.

“Hey, Gabs wait up!” Jared calls from behind me. The chilly air instantly cools my hot temper.

“You didn’t have to come out here. I can wait ‘til you guys are ready to leave.” Alone. In the pitch black night. With someone from the Dark after me.

“No, I’ll wait with you. I just told the guys and Morgan we’d be in the car.” He grabs my hand and we stroll quietly to his old Nissan. Once inside, Jared flicks on the heat and puts in a CD. It’s one I know well, John Mayer’s Continuum. I close my eyes and let John soothe my troubles.

“What am I gonna do when I can’t see you every day? Sure you don’t want to transfer to UCCS with me in the fall?” he smiles his boyish grin, leaning on the arm rest separating us.