Surprise

                                    

                                          
             
                          
The next few days passed in a blur. Between running from class to class and trying to avoid Brady, I didn't see the guys except for at night. I slept in Jax's bed the first night while he was staying at his bands house. Then I slept with Cole again with old football games playing on mute all night. He said it was a little like night light, but if he woke up he could just watch tv until he fell back asleep. On Thursday night I ended up in Tyler's bed again, only to wake up in the tangle of limbs once more. 
                          
Friday morning was met with much trepidation from me. I had decided that today I would go back to my semi normal day routine and risk seeing Brady again just to see if he was going to Kamille's party that night. I needed to know if going to the party was going to be worth it. I headed off to class after riding to campus with Tyler and Hunter. I was looking for Braedon so we could sit together when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
                          
"Tasha!" I almost cringed at hearing the high-pitched shrill coming from across the hall.
                          
"Come and sit with us!" Kamille's smile looked so fake I wanted to cringe back from the sticky sweetness of it. I trudged over to where her and Sadie were sitting already dreading the next hour. Braedon walked through the door about 30 seconds after I had sat down and shot me a concerned glance. I pleaded with my eyes that he come sit at least near to me so that I would have some semblance of safety. He sauntered over, a blank look on his face that looked out of place compared to his usual smile.
                          
Kamille's face lit up when she noticed Braedon walking over towards us and straightened in her seat, effectively upping her visible cup size. He walked up to me, the strange blank look still in place and asked, "Is this seat taken?" pointing to the one beside me. Kamille leaned forward trying to catch his eye.
                          
"Not for you sexy." I nearly gagged at the sound of her calling MY bear sexy. He stared blankly at her for a second before sitting beside me. I knew he was trying to keep up appearances, but I desperately need some for of reassurance from him. As he was settling in, he spread his legs a little wider than necessary and pressed against my knee. I let out a relieved sigh, some of the stress lifting from my shoulders. Kamille leaned on my desk pressing her breasts out trying to get Braedon's attention.
                          
"You're the Kappa vice president right?" I looked over at Braedon with her question, not realizing that he was so important in his fraternity.
                          
"Yeah." His voice mimicked his face, giving no inflection whatsoever.
                          
"Well, I'm throwing a party tonight and you and your brothers should definitely come." He shrugged in response to her invitation. I was amazed at how good of an actor he was. If I didn't know him I would assume he was just another jacka** frat boy. He looked down at me and gave me a little smirk.
                          
"I might make an appearance if you are going." He had a smooth tone to his voice now, like you would expect to hear from the bad boy in a movie. I tried to suppress my giggles at his obvious flirting and opened my mouth to respond when Kamille interrupted me.
                          
"She will definitely be there." I shut my mouth and cringed smiled at my bear. I took out my phone for something to do until class started. When Kamille sat back in her seat, I opened my messages and sent a simple kiss face emoji to Braedon. When his phone vibrated and he opened my message, I watched his face looking for his reaction. The change was tiny and no normal person would be able to tell, but his mouth turned up ever so slightly and his nose twitched a little bit.
                          
The professor walked in and started the lecture, so I peeled my eyes away from Braedon's handsome face.
                          
* * ** ** ** * * * 
                          
After class, I tried to escape as fast as possible to avoid talking to Kamille, but a large male body right outside the classroom blocked me.
                          
"Where are you going!?" I heard Kamille come up behind me and she grabbed my arm effectively ending my escape.
                          
"Yeah babydoll, where are you going?" I immediately tensed up at hearing Brady's voice. This was the reason I was out today. I had to reassure myself that the boys would rescue me if I needed it. I wrapped an arm around my shoulders and drew me into his side. One of my arms was trapped against his side and the other was trapped by Kamille's vice like grip.. I felt Brady's body shake once like he had been hit or something, and hen suddenly his arm was gone from around me. 
                          
I peeked around his side to see if there was going to be trouble when I saw Braedon lazily smiling at him.
                          
"Hey man!" Brady exclaimed and gave him that awkward handshake hug combo guys seemed to prefer.
                          
"What's up?" Breadon seemed tense, at least from what I could see of im, but he kept up the charade of being friends with Brady.
                          
"Just checking on my girl man. What are you and the boys up to tonight?" Brady had leaned against the wal probably trying to make himself seem less threatening to me and everyone else that was looking on.
                          
"I don't know bro. I think we are pre-gaming at the house and then we'll end up where we end up." Braedon matched his relaxed looking stance but didn't lean up against the wall.
                          
"Well, look man, I'll be at this house party tonight andyou guys should definitely roll through." He threw a thumb behind him, gesturing to Kamille I assume, who was still attached to my arm. Braedon nodded in response and then held out his hand for another "bro" hug.
                          
"Alright man, I'll probably see you later then." He shot me a look over Brady's shoulder that told me that he wouldn't leave me all alone with him. When they separated, Braedon turned around and walked down the hall and Brady turned toward me with that predatory look in his eye.
                          
"So babydoll, where you been?" I tensed again not sure what kind of answer he would accept. For some reason, Kamille was still next to me and decided to answer for me.
                          
"Ugh, leave her alone, she was with me helping me figure out stuff for the party." I almost reeled back at Kamille's words, surprised that she would help me, but held back and tried to seem innocent. I smiled shyly at Brady, trying to get into character and not make him angry again. He studied me for a second and then seemed to accept Kamille's explanation. He took a step towards me and leaned forward to bring our faces closer together like I was a little kid.
                          
"I'll see you tonight then babydoll. Wear something sexy for me." He smiled a gross sleazy grin and then planted a wet sloppy kiss on my mouth. I held back the tears and disgust as he straightened and walked away from us. As soon as he turned the corner at the end of the hall I felt a small tear slip down my cheek. It took me a second to realize that Kamille had let go of my arm and was oddly quiet. I wiped at my face to compose myself and looked up at her. Her face was solemn and serious for once and I regarded her with cautious curiosity. 
                          
"Are you ok?" She asked quietly, which was also a first for her. I simply nodded at her question and stared at her some more. She sighed and rubbed her face with both hands, looking tired and friendlier all of a sudden.
                          
"I'm sorry that you caught his eye." I guess I looked a little surprised because she continued, "I dated him in high school, and it ruined my life." All of a sudden I felt like a terrible person for thinking badly of her.
                          
"Why?" That was the only thing I could get out at the moment. I wasn't sure what I meant to ask. Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden? Why did you date that poor excuse for a human being? Why? She looked at me for a long time and then hung her head.
                          
"I'll see you later tonight?" She peeked up at me her face hopeful. I nodded, not knowing what to say to her anymore. She turned and went down the same hall that Brady and Braedon had gone down. I stayed rooted in the hallway for several minutes, my head reeling. Kamille had dated Brady? Is that why she was so rude to me? But then why would she be nice now? I was extremely confused and so lost in my own head that I didn't notice Cole come up beside me until he slipped his hand in mine.
                          
"You ok babe?" My heart skipped like it did every time he called me babe.
                          
"I'm just not quite sure what just happened." He looked concerned until I smiled at him and said, "Let's go to my dorm and get clothes for tonight." He smiled at me and started pulling me down the hall the way he had come.
                          
* * * * * * * *

                          
A/N: This has been a LONG time coming, and I'm super sorry for disappearing for so long. But! I graduated (yay me) which means I will have more time to write! And I plan on making up the past two months to you. So, merry early Christmas! I hope you have a great holiday!
                          
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