Sidelined 2: Intercepted

Chapter 3

DALLAS

"It's a really big deal." I pushed the door open. There were at least a dozen people hanging out in the corridor. I only recognized a couple of them, so I had no idea if they actually lived here. "She went into classes all day making her announcement. Every freshman wants that spot."

It was all anyone was talking about. That and Dean Adams's prediction of how many of us would drop out. Miley said there was already a pool on who wouldn't last. I suspected some were also considering ways to eliminate the competition.

"That's amazing, Cheer." Drayton's voice rumbled against my ear. Even over the phone, the guy gave me the shivers.

I stepped over legs and wound my way around a group playing quarters, careful not to turn over their Solo cup goal posts. I didn't understand why everyone hung out in hallways when they had rooms and there was a common area. This made me sound cranky, like I was about to start shaking my fist in the air complaining about pesky kids, but I didn't understand the need for constant socializing. Most of the time I rolled with it, except when I just wanted to get somewhere private to talk to my boyfriend who I already didn't see enough of and there wasn't a quiet place in the dorm to talk.

"There's a showcase at the end, and she brings in agents and artistic directors," I said. "Almost everyone gets a summer residency out of it."

"Sounds like you have to get into this class. Priority one."

My face flushed at his enthusiastic response. Drayton made me think that anything was possible. That I was capable of doing anything.

"Oh, and I now have a meeting with financial aid tomorrow."

"Why?"

"No idea. The email just said I need to come in to discuss my scholarship distribution." I reached into my bag to pull out my key and, of course, it wasn't in its usual pocket. I put the bag on the floor and knelt down so I could root through it, my phone resting between shoulder and ear. "It's probably some form that I need to fill out again, or they need my maternal grandmother's middle name. Nathan will lose his mind if I have to ask him for more info. Ugh, where's my key?"

My brother was headed for a stroke when I applied for financial aid during the summer. He had to dig up tax returns, death certificates, bank records. Nathan managed to get a lot of things done, and he'd kept a roof over our heads and his kid sister fed and clothed, but he wasn't the best archivist of important documents. The idea that my college experience depended on IRS forms from five years ago that he may or may not have saved did not do wonders for his mental health. But we did it. I got a scholarship for a full ride, and for the first time since I was fifteen, I didn't have to have a part-time job. It was all dance, all the time. Well, dance and Drayton, ideally.

"His head might actually explode." Drayton chuckled, and I felt my cheeks get warmer. Apparently, I didn't need visual stimulus to be turned on.

"Found it." I located my key and unlocked the door. "Anyway, how far away are you?"

"Um, not sure . . ."

I opened the door and there he was. On my bed, stretched out, one arm behind his head on my pillow, wicked grin in place.

"Pretty damn close, Cheer." He jumped up as I shut the door and leaped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.

"Nice catch, quarterback."

It had only been a week, but we were feverish. Desperate for each other. I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed him hard. I squeezed my thighs tighter, my hips pressing against him. God, I wanted him. Drayton had an amazing ability to help me block out the rest of the world. All the stress and the noise outside this room no longer existed. It was just us. Just me and Drayton and the way he made my body feel like molten lava.