She's All Mine(8)

I don’t think she wants me any way. She stalks forward, without even a glance over her shoulder to see if I’m still behind her. That twists me up inside. What’s worse is that she’s right. Her dorm is just across the street and by the time we’re at the front entrance barely any time has passed.

“Good night, Tank,” she says and slips inside the building.

I watch as she disappears down a hall. My hands fist at my sides and resolve sets in. She might not want me, but I’m still not letting her walk around campus by herself.





6


Erika





Maybe I should have said I could walk myself home. I ponder the error of my ways as my best friend Liv, who kind of shares my dorm room with me, fights with one of her two boyfriends. Saying “boyfriends” has gotten way easier over the last week. It’s pretty much normal now in my head.

Almost as normal as it is for me to not be sure which one she’s fighting with right now. One took off, and if you ask me, it’s impossible to tell them apart. I should have paid better attention to who was wearing what. She never agrees that they look the freaking same, but they do. Identical. I don’t know how she so easily tells them apart. Maybe that’s because she’s been with them since she was fifteen. Going off the conversation, I’m guessing it must be Levi. He’s the one on the football team everyone is always going on and on about.

“Seriously? You think that all the women in the stands are there because they like watching 22 men chase after a leather ball. No! They like seeing the men hit each other wearing their skin-tight leggings. They like seeing those jerseys come off and the tight abs underneath. They think about running onto the field and climbing the players’ sweaty bodies like tree trunks.”

Livvie is all worked up now. I knew she was pissed the moment they said something about the shirts we made. They did show more skin than normal, but we put so much effort into them that I was wearing it either way.

I’ve noticed Livvie only gets worked up when it comes to the twins. Oddly, since I’ve gotten to know her I’ve come more out of my shell, whereas she’s sometimes shyer, especially when it comes to pushing back at someone who isn’t them. It pisses me off when someone tries to give her shit about her relationship. They’re happy. Why can’t people just leave them the hell alone? I’ll never understand why people care so much about what others do. Why can’t they just leave them be and let Liv skip through her field of daisies? Who cares if it’s not normal? Normal is what my parents would be classed as. I’d rather watch five million football games than be stuck in that relationship.

She always goes stock still when she feels like someone is pushing her or being outwardly mean to her. She never reacts in a normal manner to the situation. It shows how much the twins have shielded her from the rest of the world. Levi looks around like he doesn’t know what to do. I step in, trying to save him. I like both of the twins. They make Liv happy beyond belief. Their relationship gives me hope that I can find something like that one day. Tank comes to mind, but I push that thought from my head quickly.

“Um, Liv, that might just be you,” I jump in. I wasn't checking out the guys on the field. At one point I forgot there was a game.

Liv spins to face me. “What do you mean?” She looks completely confused. She doesn’t understand someone not thinking Levi or Zeke is hot. It’s sweet she thinks that and all, but no. They aren’t my type. Again, Tank comes to mind. Damn it. He just keeps creeping in there. Honestly, I haven’t been able to get him off my mind since the night I left his condo. I’m trying my best to forget him, but it isn’t working. Starting now, I’m going to try harder.

“Football players aren’t really my thing.” I shrug. “No offense,” I add, flicking my gaze over to Levi.

“None taken.” He smiles as if he’s won. He hasn’t. I can tell we only tripped another Liv wire. Unsurprisingly, they trip easy. I love her, but she’s always falling over, under or onto something. She’s one of the clumsiest people I’ve ever met. Somehow she makes it adorable. Some girls have all the luck. Even the bad luck.

“I’m offended,” Liv declares. “How can you not like football players? I mean, have you seen Levi’s body? It’s like he’s been chiseled out of marble. Show her, Levi.” She pulls at the bottom of Levi’s T-shirt. He tries to stop her from lifting it, making her laugh.

I stop paying attention to them when I hear a deep growling sound. Is that a bear?

“Did you hear that?” I ask, trying to hear the sound over Liv’s giggling.

Levi pushes Liv behind him at my question. “Hear what?” He’s gone from teasing to serious as quick as a switch.

“I-I thought I heard a-a-a bear. I heard something growl,” I get out. “Over there.” I point to the area the sound came from. There aren’t bears around here. Are there? I try and think. I don’t do the nature thing. I have no idea what kind of animals are roaming around, but surely there are no bears. I think I would have heard about that.

“Erika should come home with us,” Liv announces, as though it’s fact and not a suggestion. I had a feeling she was going to say that. She’s been on high alert since I told her I thought someone was following me. It didn’t help that I’m pretty sure I saw Tank lingering outside where we ate dinner. I pointed him out to Liv to make sure my mind wasn’t dreaming him up. I’m pretty sure I’ve been doing that. At night in bed and when I’m out roaming the campus. I don’t go many places. I’m a creature of habit. You don’t have to stalk me to know where I’ll be.