The Taunting (College Life #1)

I want Elizabeth to myself

Andreas P.O.V-

I stand on the periphery of the room where the Halloween dance is taking place. A red cup with beer is in my hand, while my shoulder leans up against the chipped paint walls. I look at all the people dancing to the loud music, the strobe lights flickering off of their half-naked bodies. 

Usually, I would be down for a party. To get super drunk, hook up with a random girl, or Ollie, and maybe even throw up on the econ building. But tonight, it's different. After that altercation with Jessie, it's thrown me off.

When she came by the house, I felt like that young boy again, who found her riding his best friend since childhood. The feelings, emotions, and memories I don't want back again. We go up against Stanford in two days, it's an important game, I must be on my A-game. It's going to be difficult, knowing that James is going to be my opponent, I'll try my best to keep my composure.

I felt better once I was able to talk to someone about it, and that person happened to be Elizabeth. There's just something about her, the way she laughs, moves, and her sarcastic remarks. I feel content when I'm around her, that I could tell her my deep and dark secrets, and she wouldn't tell a living soul.

My eyes scan the room, looking for my roommates. On the left side of the room towards the Dj booth, I see Daniel. He's wearing a sailor costume while he consults with the Dj, most likely trying to get him to change the music. This fucking guy.

Clear across the room, on the dance floor, are Doug and Carlee. I believe they're dressed as the characters from IT by Stephen King. I know it's Halloween and everyone should dress as obscure characters, but do they have to be creepy? I'm sure Carlee talked him into it, she loves horror films. 

Bridget is dancing up against Kam on the floor, I don't know what she's supposed to be. Kam, on the other hand, is dressed as a pimp, how fitting. Since Teddy knew she was going to be here with Kam, he decided to stay at home and watch Home Alone. This is fitting because he's home alone. 

Jace told me beforehand that he and Monica were going to be dressed as Gwen Stacy and Spiderman, which I thought was fucking sick and original. Growing up I was a big fan of the comic. Even though I love Mj with Peter, he and Gwen just have more chemistry to me. 

The only person I have not spotted is Elizabeth. I bet she came dressed as a fucking pirate or comedian or something weird. I don't see her taking Halloween seriously, or trying to be like these other girls where they try to be sexy. When I  first arrived at the party, I saw a girl dressed as a sexy nun, like what the hell!

I hear the music start to change; the song is Pocket Rocket. Before it was Playboi Carti, whom Daniel hates, I see that he saw to the song being changed. I think this is that song that's all over TikTok, the girls pan the camera down to their ass as they roll their non-existent hips. I swear anybody and anything can be big on that app. 

"Dre!" Ollie screams my name from across the room, I see her tan arms waving at me through the air. She squeezes her body through the crowd of dancers, finally arriving in front of me. Her eyes are glazed over, meaning she's fucking plastered. The party hasn't even been on for an hour and she's already about to tip over. I scan her voluminous body, she has on a yellow crop top, a spiral skirt, and a jean jacket. I can see her hardened nipples through the top, she must not have a bra on. Her short, black hair is tucked under a blonde bob wig. "Where have you been, loca? I've been looking everywhere for you; you better not be hiding from me." 

I shake my head, "I would never hide from you Ollie. Now, what the hell are you supposed to be? A character from a bad 90's movie." 

She hits my arm, "Let me just say a line to jog your memory." She clears her throat, "Oh, please don't kill me Mr. Ghost face, I want to be in the sequel!" She bats her eyelashes. 

"I still don't know who that is Ol." 

She sighs, "I'm Tatum Riley from Scream. The 1996 one, not the lame-ass one that came out last year. God, you're so uncultured, Dre!"

"Got that right, Ollie." I see Juliette come from out of the shadows. She's has a big smile on her face, she is either drunk, taken some pills, or is just extremely happy. I haven't seen her since the whole Dean situation at The Lucky Barn. 

Ollie's eyes brighten, "Ohmigod! Are you dressed as Maddy from Euphoria? Damn it, Jules, I could have dressed up as Cassie!" 

"Sorry babe, it was a last-minute decision." She tosses her long ponytail over her shoulder. The outfit she has on is sexy. Purple bra-like top with purple bellbottoms that has strips on the waist part that shows her ilium bone. "Dre on the other hand, what the hell are you supposed to be? Joe fucking Goldberg?"

"Actually, yes. I didn't want to wear anything elaborate, so I grabbed a hat from Doug's room and put on this button-up top that I wear at professional events and a jean jacket I borrowed from Daniel. Do I look stalkerish?" I pose for the girls, to which they burst out laughing, clutching onto each other. I take a long swig of beer from my cup, trying to numb out their laughing.

"Only you could make a predator psychopath attractive." says a still laughing Juliette. "Hey, Ollie and I are going to dance, you wanna join?"

"Nah, I'll stand here and watch the two of you work." I lift a brow flirtatiously. I watch them saunter off, each of their hands on each other's butt cheeks. Damn, they're freaky friends. I wouldn't be surprised if they've done things with each other.

Looking off in the distance, I spot a beautiful, black girl on the dancefloor. I can't see her face since so many people are around her, but I can make out her body. She has on a light turquoise, swanky dress with a silver choker and silver heels. Two diamond cutouts are in the front, showing off her stomach. 

I look closer at her, something is familiar. I know that stomach, those legs, and hips. The longingness of her neck, and the way her fingers curl around herself.

It's fucking Elizabeth.

And she's swaying her hips against another guy, it's Cross.

Cross is one of my friends, well mostly a friend of a friend. I met him through Jace, who roomed with him his first two years of being here at Berkeley. Once Jace moved out and moved in with Teddy, they became distant. Jace always warned me Cross was a mysterious guy, someone he thought may be wrapped up with the wrong kind of people.

He said one time when he was going to the dorms from practice, he saw a guy leave their room, with a huge bruise on his left cheek. When Jace asked Cross about it, he told him not to worry and started counting 100-dollar bills. After that night, he slept with one eye open.

To see him all over Elizabeth, his hands splayed over her hips as she works that nice ass all over his cock, pisses me the fuck off. My fingers clutch onto my beer cup, crushing it in a matter of seconds. She seems to enjoy it, enjoy him. He whispers something in her ear, she smiles and wraps her arm around his neck, whispering something back.

I want to throw up, or run across this room and slam his head into a wall. She's not my girlfriend or anything, and I would never claim her like she's my property, but in a way, I want her all to myself. I made her come all over my hand, the way she looked, so unbound, I want to be the only one to do that to her, see her so unhinged. And this guy, this fucking guy, all over her like she belongs to him. 

They talk for a few moments, then he leads her off the floor and they both walk down a long, narrow hallway. I could walk out of here right now and sashay on home, or charge down the hall and demand he leaves Elizabeth alone. She's a tough girl, and knows how to fight, she can take care of herself. But what if she can't, and I left her in the hands of a psycho?

I pick option one, sashay on home. She's not my girlfriend, and this is college, she has the right to hook up with guys. Even if it eats me up inside like a parasite.