Ahem.

Hi guys! :) So I decided to repost the story because I've changed the book so much at this point that it's not much like the fic at all! I hope you guys will reread it and enjoy it! I'm sorry about ripping it away, it won't happen again 3

Synopsis:

CollegeAU-Mercedes Jones just became a sorority sister and goes to a sorority party to celebrate. Sam Evans is new on campus, doesn't know a lot of people. He is invited to said party by his roommate Devon and decides to go. At first sight, he is completely taken with Mercedes. And uses the rest of the night to win a chance with her while she tries to fight their chemistry.

I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SORORITIES. You've been warned.

Mercedes stood in the full length mirror of her bedroom, examining the fitting red dress she wore from different angles. She was a confident girl, but even she was nervous about tonight. It would be her first night out with the girls of AKA as a sister and not just a pledge. She couldn't help the creeping fear that she would mess up and do something that would cause her to be kicked out of the sorority after she'd only just been admitted. She knew it was unlikely but she feared it nonetheless. The night could go in a million different directions but she could only hope for the best. She leaned into the mirror to check her make-up, exposing her teeth to make sure her red lipstick hadn't stained them. Everything seemed to be in order so she gave herself a final once-over before stepping out of her bedroom door.

"Alicia!" She called out to her roommate. Mercedes and Alicia had met the year before as freshmen in their English class. They'd instantly clicked and become fast friends. So when the issue of finding a roommate for the two bedroom apartment she planned to rent arose, the solution was simple.

"Coming!" Alicia yelled back. The decision for them to pledge together had been a hasty one. They'd just been walking to the campus café when a representative of AKA had approached them and given them a pamphlet for Rush Week. They'd gone home that day and lightheartedly signed up for it but once it actually started and they met so many amazing people, they wanted nothing more than to be a part of it. Mercedes looked at the time on her cell phone. The party would start in fifteen minutes.

"You're on the clock, Licia!" She shouted. The party was going to be held at the AKA house on campus which was precisely two minutes away, but Mercedes hated even the possibility of being late. She heard her roommate mock her before her door opened and she stepped out in a tight fitting black dress that just barely covered her long legs. Alicia was tall, thin, her skin was light, her features small. She was the opposite of Mercedes. As a kid, Mercedes felt inferior to girls like Alicia. But as she grew up, she learned that she was beautiful—not by comparison to anyone else; she just was.

"Damn, girl!" Alicia exclaimed as she approached Mercedes. Mercedes smiled and posed dramatically before breaking out into laughter. "You look flaw-less," Alicia said.

"You're killin' it yourself," Mercedes retorted as they walked towards the front door.

"Girl, you know I have to." Alicia responded cockily and Mercedes laughed. They walked quickly down the stairs outside and to Alicia's car; stopping to take a quick picture before hopping in and she drove swiftly and safely towards the party.

SAM'S POV

Sam had only been there for a number of weeks that he could count on his fingers. He knew almost no one besides his roommate Devon and a few of his classmates who seemed only to know him within the confines of the classrooms. His old college was small and he was well known mostly because almost everyone from his high school had gone there, too. He hated it most of the time. He was always forced to be the person that they all expected him to be—that same person he had been in high school. He felt like he had no opportunities for growth. He wanted a fresh start. So when he found out that Easton University offered a better Art Program, it was the perfect excuse to transfer. In the spring when he first arrived to EU, he thought immediately that maybe he'd made a mistake leaving his comfort zone for something so unfamiliar. But when he met Devon and realized that there was nothing stopping him from starting over completely—from creating a new Sam Evans, one that he actually liked—he knew he'd made the right choice.

"Bro, just get dressed and come on, it's gonna be fun." His roommate said as he stood at the threshold of Sam's dorm bedroom. Sam had been sitting at his desk for almost twelve hours working on an art project that was due early next week and Devon had been trying to get him to come to a sorority party with him.

"Dude, I'm like, in the zone now, I can't break my concentration." He said.

"You've been in this zone for half of the damn day. This is ridiculous; you got empty bags of chips all over the damn floor—you probably ain't even had real food today. Probably didn't even brush your teeth either. And your room smells 'cause your ass ain't s'pose to sit in it all day." Devon said as Sam laughed, his eyes never leaving his work. Suddenly Sam felt a pillow hit the back of his head and he jumped from his seat.

"Get dressed!" Devon told him.

"Alright, Jesus." Sam groaned and threatened to throw the pillow back.

"Hurry up; the party starts in 30 minutes." Devon said as he flinched.

"Aren't sororities for girls?" Sam asked as he sniffed his shirt. His nose curled up at the odor. A shower was definitely in order.

"Yes, Sam. But the party is for guys like us who are tryin' to get with those girls. Understand?"

"So you're saying—,"

"—I'm sayin', we're going huntin'." Devon interrupted.

"Ok, that's weird." Sam said quietly. He moved quickly to the bathroom for a shower, much to Devon's dismay. He was out within five minutes. Dashing into his room, he threw on a white v-neck, his tan leather jacket, and jeans. Devon was already yelling at the other side of his door as Sam stepped into his boots.

"Fifteen minutes, Sammy!" He heard him shouting. Sam rushed from his bedroom as he snapped on his watch. He moved his hair around in the bathroom mirror quickly and he could hear Devon making a snide comment about white boys and their hair.

"Ready," He announced as he joined Devon in the common room.

"Good, let's go, pretty boy,"

MERCEDES' POV

Mercedes honestly hadn't known what she was nervous about. There was nothing remotely sophisticated about this party. The music was loud and many of the people were drunk. Some of the snobbiest sisters were grinding on the guys from the brother fraternity. She mentally laughed at herself for expecting so much—this was college anyway.

"You wanna dance?" She heard a deep voice say from behind her as she stood by the in-home bar, watching the DJ. She liked the passion in his eye as he worked. At the sound of the voice though, she turned to find a guy who fit the description of tall, dark, and handsome perfectly. He was gorgeous and he had a cocky grin on his face that Mercedes hated.

He was completely her type.

Unfortunately, she'd given up on guys who were her type months ago—if not guys in general. She'd been in a long term relationship for four years before it ended in a mess. When she finally put herself back out there, dating had turned out to be excruciating for her. She eyed Alicia across the room, chatting with a guy who was equally tall, equally dark, and equally handsome as the man who stood before her.

"Actually, my date's over there," she told him and then she was marching towards Alicia, yanking her quickly from the stranger and pulling her out onto the dance floor.

"What the hell, 'Cedes?" Alicia barked.

"Just shut up and dance with me—I'll owe you one." She said. Alicia rolled her eyes but obliged. They danced wildly, bumping hips, and belting out the lyrics to the song playing overhead. The plan had started out as an escape strategy but now Mercedes was just enjoying herself. There weren't many times when she was able to be completely relaxed and at ease but tonight she didn't know if it was her pride showing for accomplishing this or if it was the couple of shots she'd taken when she'd first arrived that was producing the freeness she felt but once she got out onto the dance floor, she didn't want to stop moving. She wanted to feel everything the music had to offer. She could feel it moving through her as she moved her body. She was in her own world, almost even forgetting that Alicia was there.

But then she saw him watching her.

SAM'S POV

The party wasn't anything Sam wasn't used to. He'd been to a fair share of parties at his old school, all kinds of parties. A successful party had three things in Sam's opinion—good music, hot girls, and a bar. This party was a recipe for success.

"Look at that one," he heard Devon say next to him as they leaned on the bar. He followed his gaze to a petite girl on the dance floor, moving raunchily against a guy's crotch.

"She seems to have a bit of baggage attached to her." Sam noted as he took a sip of his beer.

"My father was a trash man, I can handle that." Devon said. Sam's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"What does that even—,"

"Means I know how to deal with baggage and trash and—," Devon sighed and shook his head. "Forget it," he mumbled and Sam shrugged, taking another sip of his beer.

"So is this what you came here for? To watch these girls? Not gonna actually talk to any of 'em?"

"You gotta scope the room first, pretty boy. Can't just go in blind."

"I guess," Sam muttered.

"The girls at EU ain't easy, bro. You can't just run up on them." He explained. "I gotta show you the ropes 'cause you are gonna get out here and make a fool outta yourself—whoa, dude, dude," he interrupted himself, slapping Sam's arm. "Look at that one," he said. Sam followed his gaze quickly back out to the dance floor, finding a leggy girl wrapped in a black dress dancing enthusiastically. But Sam's eyes fell quickly and instinctively on her partner. She was a much shorter girl, even in her heels. But she could move. He was instantly drawn to her, his eyes unable to leave her body as she danced. His gaze roamed every inch of her over and over, taking in the way the red dress she wore hugged every curve on her body—and she had so many beautiful curves. Sam was stunned and admittedly completely turned on, thinking then that if he ever died, he hoped he'd come back as the fabric of her dress, wrapped around her luscious body.

"Dibs on black dress," he heard Devon say and Sam shook his head, his eyes never leaving the girl.

"All yours." He replied dazedly. Devon was saying something about strategy but Sam couldn't be bothered to listen. He couldn't stop looking at her, studying her every inch as if he would miss something if he looked away. He watched as she and her friend slowed down, talking and laughing as they caught their breath. And suddenly the girl was walking in his direction. She moved past them and passed the bar, his eyes on her the entire time. He watched as she entered the restroom around the corner. He tried his best to mentally block the budding fantasy of joining her there and bending her over against the sink. You don't even know her name, Sam. He thought, his gaze still locked on the restroom door she was behind.

"Try to keep your eyes in your head," He heard a voice say. He turned abruptly to find black dress standing tall before them. He chuckled lightly.

"Your friend's gorgeous," he told her. And she smiled mockingly.

"Tell me something I don't know." She said. "You," She began, pausing to gesture to Devon. "Dance with me." She demanded and Devon happily obliged, following her out onto the dance floor. Sam laughed as Devon attempted to remain cool while she pressed her ass against him. Sam gave him a mocking thumbs up as he chuckled. It wasn't until his eyes shifted only a little to the left that he found the girl in the red dress leaning comfortably on the bar. He eyed her for a moment, watching her as she observed her friend dancing. He didn't know what strategy Devon had in mind, but back in Tennessee, talking to girls only required that you do one thing; talk to them. So then he was moving towards her. He stood quietly next to her, closer to her than she was obviously expecting because she immediately responded. She turned quickly to meet his gaze and he smiled softly.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He offered. And she blinked.

"The drinks are free here." She said blankly. Sam faltered, blinking rapidly and pushing off of the bar nervously.

"Well they've gotta cost money somewhere," he replied. Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry, what is thi—are you supposed to be asking me out for drinks right now?"

"Is that what you—did you wanna go out for drinks?" He retorted jokingly. And if he'd blinked, he would have missed the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips for a moment.

"Are you even old enough to buy drinks?"

"Are you?" Sam deflected.

The red dress shrugged.

"No," she said.

"What about dinner, then?"

"They've got food here," She replied.

"They've got snacks here. I'm talkin' pasta and seafood and expensive fountain drinks—the whole nine yards." He said. Sam smiled as she laughed softly.

"Thanks—" she paused, as if waiting for something.

"Sam." He provided.

"—but no thanks." She said and then she was walking away.

"Wait!" He called after her over the music. "What's your name?" He shouted, but to no avail as she quickly became lost in the crowd.

MERCEDES' POV

She'd set her up. It was obvious now. It had been a mistake telling Alicia that there was a guy by the bar watching her dance—she should've known that Alicia would immediately pounce on the opportunity to try and get her laid; it had become one of her short term goals. Alicia loved setting short term goals and reaching them as soon as she could. Not even a minute after Mercedes had very discreetly pointed him out, she'd claimed that Mercedes' lipstick had smudged. Stupidly, she'd believed her and rushed to the bathroom only to find that her make-up was still completely in check. When she returned, it hadn't surprised her in the least that Alicia had taken off with the guy's friend, leaving her alone by the bar only a few feet away from Sam. He had to have had the fullest pink lips she'd ever seen on a white man. Sam, who she could admit smelled amazing and was ridiculously good looking. She knew she was attracted to him the moment she felt him looking at her dancing. An instant pull arose and tugged so hard that when she finally looked his way, it was almost like she knew he'd be standing there even though she'd never seen him. At the bar, he had been standing so close to her that she could feel the static from each of them trying to collide. She could hear a hint of a southern drawl when he spoke and if she'd had any interest in getting to know him, she'd have asked where he was from. But as attractive as he was, she didn't want to be interested. She'd spent a whole four years trying to make a relationship that wasn't meant to last work. For most of it, she'd thought they were meant to be and she'd been so horribly wrong. She wasn't ready to take the chance again—to fall in love and be let down. And she didn't understand the point of casual dating. So she poured all of her into school, her job at Guess, and AKA. Love could wait. And so could one night stands—which is what she figured Sam was looking for anyway. She knew his type—the funny, goofy, good-looking guy. She only half regretted not taking him up on his offer for dinner when her stomach growled as she walked away from him. She chatted with a few of her sorority sisters in the large common area, waiting for Alicia to finally realize that her plan hadn't worked and she could stop using Sam's friend. But after a half hour she walked back to the dance floor to find her but instead found her sitting at a table laughing with-and leaning rather comfortably on—Sam's friend. Mercedes' brows furrowed in confusion as she walked towards them.

"Well this is a surprise." She said. They looked up at her, Alicia still in mid-laugh. This guy must be a damn comedian. She thought.

"Oh, hey girl! I couldn't find you." Alicia said just as Mercedes noticed the guy's hand resting on Alicia's lap. Her eyebrow twitched a bit. Doesn't really seem like you were looking for me either. Mercedes simply nodded. "The music got lame so we decided to sit down and have a few drinks—you wanna join us?" She offered. Mercedes cringed at the thought of being a third wheel.

"I'm Devon." The guy said, reaching his hand out to her.

"Mercedes," she returned as they shook hands shortly. He wasn't incredibly tall—but he had the dark and handsome part going for him.

"Well that's not exactly what I was expecting," she suddenly heard a voice say behind her. She couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach that fluttered at the familiar southern accent. She turned her head to find Sam standing behind her with three glasses in his hands. "But now that I think about it, it suits you." He said as he sat down in the chair nearest where Mercedes was standing. He sat so close to her that if she turned her body even a bit, it would touch him. The static was back. She moved in the opposite direction a few inches and then turned to face him.

"What exactly were you expecting?" She asked him, suddenly curious. He shook his head as he took a long sip of his drink.

"If I tell you now, it won't make sense." He said.

"Tell me, anyway." She replied in a much breathier tone than she'd intended.

He stared at her for a moment as a smile pulled at his large lips. She found it hard not to look at them. Inwardly, she rolled her eyes at herself as she felt her skin suddenly warming beneath his sight. Pull it together, 'Cedes. She thought as she looked down at her feet.

"Okay, well," he shrugged before looking up at her. "I don't know, I was thinkin' somethin' like Chelsie or Ambe—why are you making that face?" He asked through a laugh as he noticed Mercedes' face balling up. "What, you don't like those names?"

"It's not that I don't like them, they're just not mine," she said as she chuckled.

"Well, you wouldn't tell me yours." He replied.

"Didn't think I'd ever see you again." She said honestly and he nodded.

"Disappointed?" He asked. Mercedes was silent—only offering a shrug because truthfully, as she looked down at him, she couldn't feel anything besides the ever-growing tug in the lowest part of her stomach. She couldn't tell if it was warning her or telling her to pounce. Or both.

"Uh, should we leave you two alone?" Alicia's voice sounded, and that's when Mercedes realized that she and Sam had been staring and smiling silently at each other for almost half a minute. She looked quickly at her best friend and rolled her eyes.

"I'm starving," she said, changing the subject and trying her best not to meet the eyes of the man she could feel looking at her.

"Me, too." She heard his voice say and the corners of her lips instinctively twitched.

"Why don't we all go for a bite to eat?" Devon suggested. Alicia nodded.

"You up for it, Mercedes?" She heard his deep voice ask next to her as she continued to avoid his gaze. She nodded in agreement while mentally slapping herself for the visceral reaction she was having to the sound of his voice. This was something she'd never felt so quickly before—an attraction that pulled so hard at her that she felt weak. Mercedes Jones was not a woman of weakness nor did she ever plan to be—which is what she told herself over and over as they filed out of the sorority house and packed into Alicia's car.

I am not weak. She repeated to herself. But the smell of him so close to her in the back seat crept quickly into her thoughts, threatening to sweep them away completely.