"Hey" I said. "I'm Amanda" "Nick" he said sticking out his hand. As I went to shake his hand something happened. It was like en electric current passed between our hands and I swear I saw a spark. He let his hand linger and said "Hi" I just smiled. He took his hand away and wrinkled his nose. Leaned down and sniffed my drink. He looked and smiled widely. "You got any more of that?" he smiled I poured him a cup of cola and handed it to him. "Take this into the bathroom there is a bottle under the sink" he just shook his head and laughed and disappeared. He came back 2 minutes later and I was still alone. No one else had come into my room and I wasn't sure I wanted them to. I sat down on the love seat and grabbed a slice of pizza. "Nice set up you got here" He said. "Thanks" he was so good looking my nerves were shot. "I'm in a single too. 405 right across the hall" he said "I came in here cause it was the first one I saw open. I'm glad I didn't get picked. I don't like people invading my personal space" he said coldly as he continued to look around. "Are these your friends back home?" He said pointing out the picture on my wall. "Yeah" A look of pain shot across his face. " kind of reminds me of my friends" he said nonchalantly. He came down to love seat sat down and had a slice of pizza and we just talked. He said he was from a little town 3 hours away called North Salem. I almost shivered when I heard that but I stopped myself and said nothing. I didn't want to give anything away. Nick was extremely handsome and he didn't look as cold as he had earlier though I could tell for some reason he was trying to keep his walls up. We talked casually and he said "Why Boston when you are from New Mexico?" I sighed "I just needed to get away from everyone and start fresh" "I know the feeling" he sighed. "well there's one pizza done" he laughed as he took the empty box and threw it in the garbage. We talked about our majors. Nick was really into cars and wanted to go into mechanical engineering in hopes of working for Mercedes in Germany. "Wow you may want to get further away from life I want to" I acknowledged. He just shrugged and I wanted to kick myself. I don't know how long we sat there talking. I finished my drink and Nick offered to make me another one as he was out too. He went into the bathroom and came back quickly with both cups in his hand, He handed me mine and it smelled much stronger than what I had made and I knew I should pace myself. Just then 4 more people came in. I introduced myself and Nick though Nick had no interest in mingling. He just sat there sipping his cola. The 4 took some pizza and stood around and I chatted with them. One was tall boy with a crew cut and the bluest eyes I have ever seen. He was muscular and adorable. I notice from the corner of my eye Nick watching as I chatted with this ROTC boy named Tommy. Tommy and the others left and 2 more came in. They were 2 girls and they were really done up and fake. I don't even remember their names but I do remember them trying to talk to Nick and get his attention and it was funny to watch. These girls flipped their hair and giggled a lot. Nick looked at me and rolled his eyes. I tried so hard to suppress a laugh to no avail. The girls left defeated with the last 2 slices of pizza. "Pizza's done. We are supposed to go to the other rooms" I complained "so you always follow the rules?" he asked "have you been in in my bathroom?" I asked he laughed. "good point" "one more" drink he said taking my empty cup and I'll walk with you to see if anyone else has pizza left." I was buzzed and my face felt flushed "ok one more but not too strong" he laughed. He went into the bath room and back pretty quickly. "Should we close the door?" he asked "you can if you want" I answered. "he closed the door with his foot came back over to the couch and handed me my drink. "nice tat" he said taking my wrist and turning it so he can see it and the feeling I got from just his touch has my head spinning. "what does it mean?" he asked. I was flustered. "oh no meaning just something my friends and I decided to do for my 18th birthday" I said matter of factly. He took his fingers and intertwined them with mine "I know this is going to sound weird" he said "but have we met before?" I shook my head trying to get the intensity of the electric current that I was feeling in my fingers out of my head. He looked puzzled "you just seem so familiar to me and I can't put my finger on it" he said letting go of my hand "I know what you mean" I said with an edge to my voice. Just then there was a knock on the door. I opened it and it was Allie and Molly "Amanda are you ok? Why do you have your door closed?" "Come in and close it behind you" "Nick this is Allie and Molly" they all greeted each other and Nick was a little more friendly than he was to the other people. I handed Aliie my drink "taste this" I said smiling. She made a face and it was like something clicked "oh this is why you have your door closed" and nick laughed. She poured her and molly some cola and nick went into the bathroom with their cups and filled them with rum. "The party has moved into the common room. " molly said. "It's actually pretty fun. They got the music going and people are dancing" "I don't dance" nick said from behind me. He handed Molly and Aliie their drinks and I laughed. "Not even after another one of these?" I giggled. He looked me in the eyes and smirked "maybe" he laughed. "You ok for one more?' "Sure" he got us drinks and started talking to Allie about their majors. Molly pulled me to the other side of the room "I'm so sorry did we bother you guys?" "no not all" I lied. He came in here shortly after you guys left and hes been in here the entire time." I smiled. "lucky" she said. I just shrugged "he's probably only hear for the booze" I chuckled. "Oh yeah that's it. It has nothing to do with fact that you adorable and friendly" I gulped the last bit of my drink "You want to check out the party?" I called over to Nick and Allie. "Whatever" nick said not sounding too thrilled. We filed out of my room I closed the door. "Oh wait the candles." I unlocked the door and went in expecting to be alone but felt someone behind me it was Nick and he started blowing some of the candles. I blew out the rest grateful I didn't use magic without checking my surroundings. "ready?" he said "yup" we went out and Allie and Molly were waiting, I locked the door behind me and we walked down the hall. "How are you feeling" nick smiled. He was lightening up and I liked it. "pretty good" I laughed "me too" he smiled. We got into the common room and it was like a dance party. The music was rocking and everyone was dancing. The excitement was contagious. I started bobbing my head and noticed Nick was doing the same. The alcohol was taking over and I pulled nick by the hand and said "come one dance for me?" He just smiled his killer smile and followed me. We started dancing and I was impressed he was a good dancer. I twirled and swing my hips and we were having a great time. After a few songs something slower came on not like a cheesey slow song but a song you couldn't dance all crazy too and he pulled me close to him. I looked up at him and his mahogany eyes were smoldering. The electricity radiating through us was 100 times stronger than it had been in my fingers. When the song ended "I want another drink" Nick said. He took my hand and lead me out of the common area and back to my room. "Do you want another one?" he asked "no thanks I'm good" I needed a clear head and my head was already cloudy I couldn't chance fogging it up more and possibly giving away my secret. Nick was taking a while and I went closer to the bathroom and I could hear nick on the phone "I really think so" he said "no Deb I would never do anything like that not worth the risk" I heard him speaking a little louder "I do" "I am" "no I won't do anything stupid I promise" "alright deb I'll call you in the morning. Bye" he came out of the bathroom as he was hanging up his phone "that was my cousin Deb, well she's more like my sister. We grew up together" I didn't say anything. I was really nervous. It was late and I had this gorgeous guy in my room that made me feel like I can really be myself but I really couldn't risk that without divulging my secret and that could be catastrophic. "Everything ok?" he asked. "Yeah fine just a little tired is all" "Want to watch a movie?" he asked "sure you pick" I said. He popped in Italian Job as I grabbed a throw blanket from my bed. He sat on the couch and I sat next to him curling into the arm of the couch instead of him. The movie started and as much as I didn't want to get to close to him I gave into the magnetic pull that was coming from him. I was still cautious that I just straightened out and when he took my hand I let my fingers intertwine with his. I looked over at him and I couldn't believe it. I was getting what I wanted a fresh start. I was making my new friends and I had the incredibly mysteriously cold yet sweet guy that seemed to be interested in me yet my secret was still looming over me. He looked over at me and gave me a look no guy had ever given me before. He let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side. I leaned my head on his shoulder. I felt like I was going to cry. There was something between us and I knew he felt it too. I knew I was falling for him and that was dangerous ground. "You ok?" he asked. "I'm fine" I half smiled I was just so nervous."Do you want me to leave?" he looked down at me and I just shook my head no. He leaned closer. His dark eyes were burning with some emotion I couldn't pin point. I leaned into him and he kissed me. The kiss was soft and gentle and his mouth was warm and inviting. He pulled back and smiled. I beamed back at him. Trying not to give away how torn I really was. "that was nice" he said softly "it was" and I wiggled myself so I was wrapped in his arms. Ive never felt so warm or safe in my entire life. I started to doze off and jolted myself awake. "What was that?" Nick snorted. "I was dozing off n I must have startled myself" I said as my cheeks turned pink. He glanced over at the clock "its 4:30 am I'm going to go and let you get some sleep" I looked at him and smiled. I really didn't want him to go but I knew he had to "ok" I finally said. He got up and shut the TV and DVD player off and I walked him to the door "it's been nice getting to you know you Amanda I had a really nice time" he said "me too" I smiled "I had a good time too" "good enough to want to go out with me tomorrow?" he asked "what did you have in mind?" I wondered "um we can explore Boston and have dinner?" "I would love to" I whispered as he took me into his arms. He leaned down and kissed me softly. "Good night" he said and he left.