2,479Michelle played volleyball. She had the perfect build for it. She was tall (almost 5'10) with strong, muscular legs. Needless to say, Avery found herself at a jock party that weekend. And it was a drinking party. Most of the students there were around 20 years old. They did not give alcohol a second thought. But Avery was only eighteen, and while she had been to drinking parties, she did not enjoy them. Michelle assured her this was only part of college life. She poured herself a coca-cola and sat down on the couch. Labeling each jock as they walked by, she propped her feet up on the table and stared at their build.
"Tall, lean, and muscular…soccer player," she thought. "Big, broad, and strong…football player. Average height, nice physique…wait, that doesn't fit a stereotype."
Avery looked up to see the person's face, only to find him staring back at her.
"You're definitely not a jock," he said, looking her over. Avery looked down to see what he was looking at. It was only her, simply clad in a pair of jeans and a lacy black top (which she had borrowed from Michelle).
"How astute," she said. She always seemed to use a sarcastic tone around him. Jack Shanahan strode forward and took a seat next to her on the raggedy blue couch. It must have seen many college parties judging by its appearance. "I was thinking the same of you," she said.
"My, my, quick to jump to conclusions are we?" he said, taking sip of his beer.
"Really, like you weren't doing the same?"
"You caught me," he said with a smirk, "I did jump to a conclusion."
"What kind of conclusion," she said taking a sip of her coca-cola.
"I concluded that you were the chess-club type of person. One of those geeky kids who always wins scholarships."
Avery leered at him, but did not give him the satisfaction of an answer. So, he had found out about his father's scholarship? Instead, she dignified it with one of her personal comebacks.
"Well at least I'm not wearing sunglasses in a dark room," she retorted. Afterward, she gave herself a mental slap. What kind of insult was that? Regardless to say, Jack had himself a good laugh. It was true though, he did look silly wearing sunglasses and a ball cap at a party.
"It's a fashion statement," he said haughtily. "Not only does it look good, but it keeps away the paparazzi."
"Paparazzi?" Avery said unbelievably. "Any special reason that they'd be at a college party?"
"Because I'm here," Jack drawled.
"Why are you here?" Avery asked. She was about to ask why he wasn't out partying with Paris Hilton, but thought better of it. She didn't want him thinking she read those gossip magazines.
"Contrary to popular belief," Jack said, "I do not live at nightclubs. I am here because my roommate asked me to come."
"He must be a jock then," Avery said.
"You are a quick one," Jack said, taking another sip of his beer. "He's the star quarterback."
Avery smiled and nodded, despite the fact she had no idea what a quarterback was. Lacrosse maybe? No, it had to be football. Football was her least favorite sport. She picked up her drink and took a sip.
"Wait a minute," Jack said while trying to suppress a knowing smile, "Are you drinking…soda?"
Avery looked down at her drink. "No it's coke," she said flustered, "With…with rum."
"Oh, this is classic," he snickered. "You are drinking soda at a frat party."
"It's with rum!" she protested. Avery was saved from more embarrassment with the approach of Michelle.
"Look Avery," she said raising her glass, "I knew you'd have fun."
"She is the life of the party," Jack nodded as if it was a known fact. Michelle looked at him queerly, racking her brain to place his face. Avery could see that she was intoxicated. The brunette, who had arrived with perfectly wavy locks and perfectly applied makeup, was now disoriented from nearly an hour out on the dance floor.
"Who are you?" she asked, stumbling over to them. The floor was trashed with empty cups, bottles, and…was that a bra? Avery grimaced at the thought.
"Michelle, I really don't think you'd like to meet him…now at least."
"Now really, why would you say a think like that," she said, putting a hand on her hip. This change in balance caused her to stumble and erupt in a fit of giggles.
"Yeah, why would you say that?" Jack said in mock accusation.
"Fine," Avery said throwing her hands up in the air, "Michelle, this is Jack Shanahan. Jack, this is Michelle Wright."
"Jack Shanahan?" Michelle said wrinkling her nose. "I know you! Avery and I were reading about you the other day." Avery looked to Michelle horrified. She began to get up, ready to escort the volleyball player out of the room.
"Really?" Jack said stopping her.
"No, no we weren't," Avery said shaking her head vigorously. Michelle was being very stubborn, though. With a swipe of her long arm, she pushed Avery back onto the couch
"Yes we were. Remember Ave? The thing about Paris Hilton?"
Jack saved Avery from any more embarrassment though. "Nice to meet you Michelle," he said rather sweetly. He scooted over on the couch to make room for her. Avery was shoved onto the arm of the couch, where an empty bottle pressed into her side.
"Great," she grunted, throwing the bottle onto the floor. Jack tore his eyes away from Michelle at the sound of the bottle.
"Oh," he said as if the realization just hit him, "We've left Avery out."
"Poor Avery," Michelle giggled, falling onto Jack's lap. Avery forced a disgruntled smile and grabbed her purse.
"I'm heading back to the dorm," she told Michelle, "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" She knew Michelle would regret this in the morning. She was positive that Jack did not want to meet her this way.
"No," she said, still lying in Jack's lap. She laid her head back to look at Avery and sighed. "Poor Avery," she told Jack, "I'm trying to introduce her to the college life. She was home-schooled last year."
"Well," Jack said picking up Michelle's head and laying it back on the couch, "if I am going to steal your friend away, I feel that it is only proper to introduce you to someone else. Colin!"
Avery looked to see a brawny, muscular man walking their way. According to her stereotypes, he was definitely a football player.
"Avery, this is my roommate Colin. Colin, this is Avery. She's just transferred here."
"Yeah," Colin said, "You're in my Lit and Comp class, right?"
"Yeah, I think so," Avery said. She looked over to Michelle, who was now being led away by Jack.
"Do you really know Paris Hilton?" Michelle asked as they merged into the crowd. Avery rolled her eyes.
"So where'd you transfer from?" Colin asked as he rubbed the back of his blond hair. It was a nervous gesture, causing Avery to feel nervous as well. She could feel the heat creep into her cheeks at his question.
"Er, well I was actually home schooled," she said timidly.
"So you haven't been to a real school all your life?" he asked.
"No," Avery said quickly, "I went to school up until my senior year. My aunt just decided to try home schooling me my freshman year."
Colin looked impressed (or at least pretended to be). He chugged the last of his beer and looked expectantly at Avery. "I'm gonna get some beer. Want one?"
"No, I really have to get going. I have work tomorrow."
"Yeah that's cool," Colin said taking his hand to the back of his head again. Avery wrinkled her nose and peered at him, afraid that she was doing something wrong. To her surprise, a smile crossed his face. "Where do you work?"
"Berry's Steakhouse," she shrugged, "I'm a waitress."
Colin nodded, "Jack's been bugging me to try that place out. Maybe we'll stop by some time this week."
Avery was amused at the thought of Jack wanting to go to a middle-class restaurant. Nevertheless, she flashed Colin her most genuine smile and turned around to leave, walking with the most confident air she could muster. Well, it least the party wasn't a total disappointment.
Michelle woke up with a complete hangover (no surprise there).
"God, promise me you'll never let me drink again," she said holding her head. It was nearly 11 a.m., and Avery needed to be at Berry's by noon.
"Even if I promise," Avery said, slipping into her waitress attire, "I don't think it'll make a difference."
"You're right," Michelle said groggily as she sat up in bed. All of the sudden, her eyes popped out as if the most mind-boggling thought had entered her head.
"Oh my God," she said, "I met Jack Shanahan last night…and I was drunk."
"At least you remember it?" Avery offered, surveying herself in the mirror. She piled her black, curly hair on top of her hair and applied an extra layer of Brazilian Coco lipstick. She slipped on her old worn-out shoes. They may have been raggedy, but they provided a comfortable support for an eight hour shift on her feet
Michelle's eyes popped again as another thought entered her head. "Oh God, Avery," she said mortified, "I think I made out with him."
"It wouldn't surprise me if he took advantage of you. He's a scum bag if you ask me."
"Geeze, I never said he took advantage of me….At least I don't think he did."
"So do you regret it?" Avery said.
"No, I just don't get why I had to meet him when I was completely pissed. Life's so unfair," she said, falling back onto the bed with a moan.
"I gave you plenty of opportunities to walk away," Avery said all-knowingly. "But you insisted on being introduced. I probably could have gotten you out of the situation, too, if Jack hadn't been completely sober."
"He was sober? Oh God, then he probably remembers it all," Michelle wailed. "I repeat – never let me drink again."
"Got it," Avery said as she grabbed her purse on her way out. "I'll be back around nine."
Avery made her way across campus and to the bus stop at the east wing. The stop was conveniently located next to the student parking lot. Avery was mid-way through her second week working with Berry's. And every day she passed by the student parking lot, trying to keep herself from gaping. BMWs, Mercedes, and…was that a hummer?
Avery shook off the thought and took her seat at the bench, rummaging through her taupe colored handbag for change. She needed to buy a bus pass, if she could ever get around to it. Time management was not one of her strong suits.
Suddenly, Avery was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of a pounding bass approaching. She looked up to see sleek, silver limousine coming her way, bouncing up and down to the beat of a new rap song.
That had to be Jack, Avery reasoned. She looked down intently at her handbag, trying to cover her face with it. To her luck, Avery saw the limo pass by as the bus approached. She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped on the bus, depositing her fee in the box.
The vehicle was nearly empty, and Avery chose to take a seat near the back. Here, she could get lost in her own thoughts without interruptions. Consequently, her thoughts drifted to Colin. She felt like such an idiot. He had seemed so uncomfortable around her. If she was confident, like Michelle, she could have put him at ease. He was the star quarterback for God's sakes (whatever that meant…it was beyond Avery).
He was gorgeous, though. For starters, he was big. Not fat, just strongly built; it offered a sense of protection and stability. Next, he had the cutest bleach blond hair she had ever seen, not to mention how it looked coupled with those hazel eyes. His skin was smooth, tan, and rather perfect.
Avery silently chastised herself. She would definitely not fall for the handsome jock, especially if she barely knew him. She was not the type of person to judge people by their looks, anyway. He was probably rich, she told herself. And dumb. He probably was rather daft. That made her feel better.
The bus came to a screeching halt, signaling Avery's stop. She got off and prepared herself for the long work day that lay ahead.
A/N: So what do you think? Reviews are always welcome. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. And trust me, I don't plan on making this story stereotypical. If you think it is heading that way, please tell me.