The party was at his house. Preston's family also owned a house in Gastonburry, but he chose to live in the dorm because he didn't get along with his dad. It was a better choice for his love life too, it would've been disastrous to bring his dates home and meet his parents in the morning.
Kelsey was right, Preston was a slut, he sleeps around with everybody. He had the looks, he got the reputation, and he was a singer in his band which was gradually making a name for itself. Even though he took the Business Major, his musical talent was pulling him in another direction.
His girlfriend for the past couple of years was an on and off relationship because he couldn't keep his pants on. It left Julie feeling like an idiot for letting him in her room that night and fell for the same trick that he probably used with every girl he slept with. Or maybe he didn't need a trick at all, because most girls would open their door to him just because he was Preston Hicks.
She thought their friendship was real, that she knew him more than just what's on the surface. When he came to her that night, with desperation on his face, saying sweet words to her, telling her how special she was, how different it was with her, she fell for it.
It was her first. She thought he was the perfect realization of the fantasy she always had about her first. The rockstar lover she always dreamed of. She always hears people told her how smart she was, but in the morning after that night, she never felt so stupid before in her life. Preston was exactly who he was on the surface, just a foolish boy who thinks he can sleep with anyone he wanted, and with her consent, he did exactly that.
His parents were cool enough to let him used the house for the party, they left just before the first guest arrived. When Julie got there, it was already looking like a frat house filled with drunken college students. Booze was lying around, music blaring, half-naked people swarmed in the pool.
Julie fell behind Kelsey and Nathan who immediately blend in the crowds. She was comfortable snacking on the food that was served on a long table in the backyard. She took a beer from the icebox at the end of that table and drank it. She scanned the whole area and felt a tiny bit of regret for agreeing to come. Nathan and Kelsey seemed to have settled right from the beginning, and she wasn't really in a mood for a party, let alone Preston Hicks party.
Preston's voice can be heard from the front yard, he was already up and singing on the small stage they set up by the swimming pool. He was in his usual party attire, something funky, something colorful, something no one would wear and he wore it like he was born wearing them. His long messy waves were partly tied on top, and by the sound of his voice, he's had more than a few drinks himself. He sounds better after a few drinks.
Girls were sitting around in the pool right under the stage and he was entertaining them with his swag and sexy charms. Julie took a deep breath, it was exactly why she didn't want to come in the first place. Even though he wasn't a famous singer yet, he already had groupies flocking around him whenever he performs. They loved him, and he craved their attention.
"Wow ... he sounds really good," Nathan commented. They stood in a row by the door to the back yard as they watch the performance. Kelsey bumped her elbow to Julie and gave her a wink. Julie shrugged and shied away, she was looking for an excuse to leave the premises. She didn't want Preston to see her nor the other way around.
"Okay ... hold up ... hold up ..." Preston addressed his audience who were screaming and reaching for his pants. "I have one more song before I go off the stage," he said. The girls were sighing in disappointment. "The birthday boy needs some drinks, girls ... and maybe I'll join you in for a little swim later," he told them followed by giggles and flirty comments from the girls.
Julie rolled her eyes, she was about to walk away to the long table for some more beer. "I was waiting for you to come," Preston said in the microphone. The place fell silent, everyone was looking for the person he was talking to. "I have a song that I've practiced especially for today ... it's a special song because I know a special someone who loves this song very much," he continued.
Kelsey held Julie's hand to stop her from walking away, they both knew Preston was talking about her. "It's not an easy song to sing, but I'll try ... because I want to say I'm sorry, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart," he held his hand in a fist and tapped it on his chest.
When Julie turned to look, their eyes met for a brief second and Julie looked away. She didn't want people to know he was talking about her. The girls were shouting of what a romantic gesture it was, their shrills made Julie winced. "You know who you are and I hope you accept my sincerest apology, and I hope I do Mr. Steven Tyler justice by trying out this song," Preston cued his band to start.
Julie was back to where she stood and looked at the stage. Preston never took his eyes off her. Kelsey had her arm around Nathan's waist and smiled, it was a sweet moment for her bestie, she was happy for her.
Nathan was observing, he can see why those girls were drooling over a guy like Preston. He had a charm that could swoon a girl with just a wink of his eye, and his sex appeal was undeniable. But Julie was a different kind of girl, Nathan thought, and to see the twinkle in her eyes as she watched his performance, and how she hid a smile every time Preston looked at her, Nathan couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
I love to look into your big brown eyes ... they talk to me and seem to hypnotize ... you say the things nobody dares to say ... and I'm not about to let you fly away ...
The song started and Julie's heart was softened in an instant. It was her favorite Aerosmith song that Preston obviously remembered. Preston knew all the words to all her favorite songs. She thought she had her feelings under control, she was about to move on with life and forget about Preston. But she wasn't very sure about it after that.
After the performance, Julie curved a smile on her face just to let Preston know she appreciated the gesture. She told Kelsey she was going to get another beer when she really wanted to avoid meeting the birthday boy. Nathan watched her as she walked away and saw Preston ran after her.
He took her hand and pulled her along. "Preston ... I was going to get a beer."
"We'll get it later," he was smiling wildly, sweats were dripping on his face, his eyes pierced through her.
She couldn't refuse that wicked charm and followed his lead. He held her hand tight and lead her into the house, through a narrow corridor towards a flight of stairs, they went up to the second floor where it was quiet and they were alone.
Preston was breathing heavily from climbing the stairs, he leaned against a door with Julie's hand still clutched in his. His face beamed, "What do you think of the performance?"
Julie lifted her shoulders, "It was okay," she was unimpressed.
"What? Really? Just 'okay'? That's pretty stingy," he didn't want to believe her.
"Sorry ... but I still think no one can do a 'Steven Tyler' like Steven Tyler," she was an ultimate fan, she took her hand away from his grip.
He studied her face for a brief moment, "Fair enough, I'll do a better one next time." He was glad she was even there and talking to him instead of running away as she'd done for the past few months.
Julie tucked her hands inside her pockets and looked around, she didn't feel comfortable being alone with him, not yet. "Jules," he called her. She turned. "I'm sorry," the real apology came. She looked down at her feet not knowing what to reply. "I just want things to be like it was before." She was still quiet. "Do you think you can ever forgive me?" He was still lazily leaning on the door, just the way he stared at her could melt her.
"I just want to go back to the party, Preston, can I just go now?" she didn't want to answer his questions.
"You want me to let you go?" He has a way of saying things that made her question her own clarity. As hard as it was, she nodded.
"Okay ... but one second," he stuck out his index finger. He went into the door he had been leaning on, it was his bedroom. He took off his clothes and pants as she was standing in front of the door. He was butt naked in less than a minute and rummaged through piles of clothes that were scattered around his room.
"Preston?!" she protested.
He took a piece here and there and put them on. "Oh come on Jules, it's not like you never seen me naked before," he teased her. She was covering her eyes, couldn't believe what Preston had just done. "All done!" he said, and he was already looking perfect again in his funky style which he put together from his laundry pile.
"That's not funny," she complained. It was too soon to joke about it.
"Sorry, I just wanted to have a quick change ... come on, let's get you that beer," he was going for her hand again but she budged.
The hardest thing about being friends with Preston was how frisky he was with her. He loves physical contact even though it wasn't sexual, he likes to lean his arm over her shoulders, or looped it around her waist, he held her hand when they walk side by side and he was like that only with her. Julie was the only girl he had a platonic relationship with that he seemed to can't stay away from. And she wasn't ready for him to throw himself on her again like nothing happened, not when she wasn't even sure how she felt about him.
He grabbed two beers and handed her one. "What have you been doing lately anyway?" he wanted to catch up. She told him about the internship program she was working on, he nodded along.
His grades were plummeting fast, Julie used to help him out with his studies but lately, he was busy with his singing career prospect that he almost left school entirely. "Who is that guy with Kelsey? Is it a new boyfriend?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's Nathan, my future employer ... I'll be working with him in Bhorma starting December," she told him.
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows and curved his lips like it was hard to believe.
"Yeah, why?"
"Oh, nothing, I just caught him looking at me a few times, it was weird," he commented.
"Happy birthday, by the way," Julie almost forgot to say it.
A naughty smirk formed on his face, "Thanks, do I get a birthday kiss?" his lips were chasing hers.
She pushed him away, "Jeez ... no! You're such a tease." They laughed about it.
"Does this mean you forgive me?" he blinked his long lashes rapidly.
Julie inhaled deeply, while he was on the topic, she thought to tell him straight. "Promise me it won't ever happen again ... 'cause I've promised myself that, and I need you to promise me that," she looked him straight in the eyes.
His lips were moving but no words came out, his eyes gave away his reluctance, she challenged him with a look.
He offered a pinky, "Pinky promise?"
She slapped his hand, "I'm serious, Preston!"
"Ouch! Alright, I promise ... if that's what it takes, I swear with my pinky it will never happen again!" he offered his pinky again.
It was better than nothing, it was impossible to get him to be serious so she took his pinky and let out a breath of relief.
"Thanks, Jules, I love you, you know that right?" he told her. She nodded loosely like it didn't mean what it really means. "By the way ... I broke up with Naomi," he stared at her to see her reaction.
Before she could say anything, there were a couple of guys that came and swooped him away and threw him in the pool, and then he was running around with wet girls chasing after him, fooling around by the water. He will probably sleep with one of them by the end of the day, if not two of them. And that was how it was with Preston, her boy friend.
'I broke up with Naomi' the girl who he cheated on with her. So? She thought. It couldn't be undone, she slept with someone else's boyfriend. Something she never thought would happen. Especially not when her last boyfriend cheated on her because she wasn't sure about giving up her virginity to him.She shrugged it off. She remembered how hewas when she opened her dorm room that night. He was drunk, he said he couldn't sleep, he was smelling like booze with a tint of Hugo Boss, he hadan unopened bottle of Vodka in his hand.Preston always smelled nice, even under a stale cigarette odor. He took his jacket off, leaving his thin worn out The Doors T-shirt hanging loose above his jeans. He threw himself on the floor next to her, their backs leaned on the bed. He opened the bottle with his teeth and they started drinking.He went on about the thousands of fights he had with Naomi, that night being the peak o
The first time he was introduced to Julie, the most obvious thing about her was her quietness. People would assume she was shy. She doesn't talk much unless it was something that interests her. The next obvious thing was her intellect, she can talk about anything that nourishes her brilliant mind. She knows her music, she knows her books, she knows her artists like they were her friends.She laughs at things most people find offensive, she laughs at herself, her laugh was contagious. She knows how to be focused, she knows when to let loose. She listens like you are the most important person in the room. She'll tell you the nicest things about yourself and the worst things without judging you. By this time, you'll see her as your best friend. And then he sees it, the way she threw her head back when she laughs, the creases in the corners of her eyes, her smart comebacks, the way she tucked her hair behind her ears. She was pretty. Pretty amazing.
Kelsey came back later that day looking exhausted. She threw her arms up and fell on her bed like a log. She let out a long sigh of relief.Julie was on her laptop editing Preston's videos, she glanced at her suspiciously, "Long day?"Sheprobably had spentthewhole afternoonsexingupwith Nathan,thesigh didn'tsoundlikeagood one.Kelsey turned her head lazily, "Hhmm ... he didn't bring his A-game today, and I was wearing my go-to jeans and lucky thong ... I guess it's not so lucky anymore."Julie chuckled, "Why? What happened?"Kelsey rolled on her stomach, "I don't know, something was weighing on his mind, I think it's probably work, he's nervous for next week ... the recruitment and everything ... it's starting to feel like we're married."Julie nodded, "Yeah he does have a lot on his plate, he'll be meeti
Julie closed her laptop and gave a sigh of relief, "I think that's it for now, are you ready to go back and start everything?"Nathan sat back on his chair, "Ready as I'll ever be ... I'm glad you're on board, can't wait for December, it's gonna be exciting.""Me too, I feel like I'm a part of it already, I have so many ideas that I want to share with you for Ardor."Nathan sipped on his coffee, "Please, give me everything you've got, draft them up, send it through email or Skype me, I want to hear all of them, 'cause I got plenty of those too ... just not sure if they're doable, I guess we're gonna have to wait 'till we get all the team ready.""True, at least you know what to look for when you're recruiting, we're setting a pretty high standard for a new business," Julie said."I'm willing to compensate them for their contribution though, I believe that I need them more than th
The last couple of nights in Gastonburry, Kelsey stayed at his place. He indulged her with his best meals, his best wine, put on his go-to music for a quiet romantic night with his girlfriend."Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" he finally asked her.Her eyes flickered as she sipped her wine, "Of course not ... I will miss you terribly."He smiled, "Me too," and then he was quiet.Kelsey went over to him and sat on his lap. She brushed his hair with her fingers, looped her arms around his neck. Something was on his mind, but he couldn't say it. She kissed him. "Are you okay?" she sensed it."Kelsey ..." it was right on the edge of his tongue, she waited for it. "Should I be worried?" he said it."About what?""About us ... I mean, I can't help but feel like ..." he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Neither of us has ever been in a
It started out as a friendly night out, just a couple of beers at a quiet pub in the gallery. The gallery was a row of cafes, pubs, and restaurants about fifteen minutes away from campus where students from all the Universities in Gastonburry blend in like a melting pot. It was the only area for nightlife other than the two clubs they had for more lively entertainment.It often started like that with Kelsey, until she meets her friends who also came to the same place and then the night would grow longer as it progresses. The drinks would come more than they initially planned, then they ended up hopping in the car to go to the club because everyone was drunk enough to invite each other for more drinks with louder music and a dance floor.They were still at the pub when Julie's phone rang. It was close to 10 PM, it was Nathan."Hey." His voice at the other end."Hi! You've landed!" she was half shouting."(Chuckl
She propped up her chin with one hand, spun her pen on the other. She was done with her exam and was waiting for the announcement that time was up. All the other students were still deep in thoughts, you can hear a pin dropped in the classroom. Out from the corner of her eye, she saw a figure outside the window. When she took a glance, Preston was waving at her with both arms up high.His hair was long enough to be tied back in a tiny ponytail. He was wearing a worn-out T-shirt, the collar was loose, his necklace hung out, the top of his chest was visible. He was mouthing something that she couldn't make out. It didn't take long for the other students to notice him, and the girls were starting to murmur, "It's Preston Hicks." There was giggling sound. Preston pointed to the cafeteria, his mouth was moving, "I'll wait for you at the cafeteria."Julie nodded, but then he was mouthing something else that was harder to understand. The classroom
She swept it under the rug. She knew what Kelsey was like, but she thought it was different with Nathan. She was willing to ignore what Preston had told her for the sake of salvaging the only decent relationship Kelsey ever had with a guy, also the fact that Nathan had become someone that might stay in her life as a friend and professionally.She had booked her ticket to Bhorma, Kelsey was tagging along to surprise Nathan. She was definitely keeping the relationship, it was easier for Julie to forget what Preston had told her.She came back early to the dorm that day to start packing. She was in a good mood after receiving her final exam result. As she was entering her dorm room, Zach was getting out from it.Helooked like he just got out of bed, Kelsey was in the background tidying up her dress like she was just getting into them. "Hey," Zach greeted her casually. Julie gave him a half nod. Her gaze immediately mo