ONE WEEK BEFORE THE HOMECOMING GAME

Here we are. The week before the homecoming game. The week before all of the shit happened. I'm in my dorm, on a Friday night, like usual. You know you've had a long week when you've been given three essays that have to be due by the end of the week, with a minimum amount of eight paragraphs. Yes, I OFFICIALLY hate the essay writing part of college. It's stressful, but I'm getting sidetracked. As I'm chilling in my dorm, I get a text from the one person who is undoubtedly my new favorite human: Dash.

"Game is over, won by a field goal. Heading back to the room."

I usually go to his game to support him, but I was so drained from this week that I didn't go. However, it isn't uncommon for him to text me a short sentence like that after a game, especially if he's been playing the whole night. I don't get upset about it. No big deal, honestly. I smile and start typing a response.

"Congrats on your win, see you when you get here." Yep, that's right. I share a dorm with this guy. It was a no-brainer to do so considering we're best friends. Why wouldn't we choose to room together?

"Awesome. :)" He sent another message.

A lot of things have transpired since graduation in May. I've cut all contact with both Sam and Tucker, two people who were my once-upon-a-time best friends, Dash and I have kind of made things a little bit spicier between us, but NOTHING TOO SERIOUS. We're only best friends, nothing more and nothing less. Honestly, how much longer am I going to deny this?

"Hmm… I wonder if he's still going to the dance on Saturday." I said to myself, picturing what he would look like in a suit. A nice one, too. Either black or red silk, both accompanied with a very cute open button up shirt. Black, of course. His new gold watch would go perfect with both, also. So would his gold chain and his cop shades. Oh, and he has to have a curled strand on hair hanging down while the rest is nicely done. Damn, he would look really sexy. Would I be able to keep my hands off of him? Probably not. Okay, I definitely wouldn't be able to. I'd probably end up trying to tear him out of that suit the second we get back here in our dorm, intensely make out with him, and—

RING! RING!

FUCK. Why is she calling me? I thought I deleted her number. "Hello?"

"Hiiiii, Danny. I *hic* I miss you." Jesus Christ. She's drunk. That's why she's slurring her words. No doubt she's with Paulina, too.

"Sam, why are you calling me? We're done, okay? I don't want to talk to you." I'm trying my hardest not to be nonchalant, but I don't really care anymore.

"Are you busy tonight? I want to come see you, hehe. I want to have some fun with you."

"Sam, you're drunk. Obviously. White girl wasted drunk, at that. You need to get some rest."

"Come on, babe… I want to have a good time. Don't you?"

I'm too tired for her shit right now. "First off, don't call me that, and second… no, Sam. Go talk to some of the frat guys. I'm sure they'd love to all take a shot at you. After all, you are known around here as the fraternity's slut." With that, I hung up and waited for Dash to arrive. I never slut-shame anyone, but when you're dealing with a drunken ex who you've blocked several times and cut all contact with, some things have to be done, or in this case, said.

Speaking of Dash, he came walking through the door of our dorm, tired and beat up from the game. "Oh, ghost boy…" He called out to me, taking off his shoes and setting his stuff down. "I'm home."

I jumped out of my bed and ran to the door. "Hi, Dashi." I smiled as I hugged him. "How was the game?"

"Look, Danny." He closed the door behind him. "If I have to carry this team on my back anymore, I'll be injured." He laughed. "It was a stressful game, but we got through it."

"That's good. I hope the coach knows that you're his best player."

"I'm sure he does, ghost baby. I'm sure he does." Dash smiled as he held my hand and looked at me. "How is it that every time I see you, you get prettier and prettier?"

At this point, I could start to feel something rising inside of me. My eyes felt heavy, and a smirk—a smirk that could most likely be described as laced with sinful thoughts—was plastered on my face. "I dunno, Dashi. That's like me asking you how every time I see you…" Oh shit, I'm getting in my feelings about him. We're just friends, right? "I lose control."

Dash could see the look on my face and he smiled back at me. "Oh, you lose control, huh?"

We're just friends… right?

"I… I always do. You're intoxicating, Dash. We've been friends for almost three years now, and it's very apparent to the both of us that we have some… intense feelings for each other. But there's something I got to tell you."

"I'm listening, Danny."

We're just… friends… right?

"I don't know if I want to be 'just friends' anymore."

Dash's grip got tighter on my hand. "What?"

WE'RE JUST FRIENDS...

I'm clearly tired and irritated right now because of Sam calling me, but fuck the whole "friendship" shit. It doesn't matter. "I don't want to be friends anymore. We're past the level of friendship. So beyond the level of friends, actually. I want to be yours."

RIGHT?

"Mine?"

"Yours."

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Damn, this isn't my emotions talking. This is me. I want Dash to be my boyfriend now. We already know that we like each other, and we kissed each other multiple times. Not only that, but we've been recently getting a little closer and…

"I want to be yours and yours only." I step closer to Dash, our faces mere centimeters away. He's not smiling, but he looks lost in my eyes.

Then, the realization hits me: I'm in… I'm in love with him.

His mouth slightly hangs open as the space between us gets smaller and smaller. "Dashi… I love you."

Then, as if I said the magic word, his mouth formed into a small smile before his grip loosened on my hand. He proceeded to lift my head up with a finger and kissed me. Every kiss from Dash, who is a smooth criminal in my opinion, is soft and tender. He cares about making sure his partner is comfortable with his loving energy, which I am super comfortable with. He broke the kiss for a moment and looked at me. A smile spread across his face before he picked me up bridal style and carried me to my room. He laid me down and stripped down to his black boxers. As indecisive as I know I can be, I know what I want. I'm sure of what I want. Him.

Just… just not tonight.

No, tonight, he needs to rest. He had a grueling football game earlier.

"Dashi…" I whispered. He was now hovering over me, chuckling calmly.

"Yeah...?"

I couldn't reply. I couldn't speak. Dash chuckled again, obviously feeling very confident with himself. Know what? Fuck it. I pulled him down with effortless speed, planting an intense kiss on him. He wasn't surprised by it at all, which shocked me because I've never initiated anything like this between us. He's usually the one that starts anything like this, and I go with the motions. Maybe it's because we're both sleepy, or maybe it's because I really want to fuck him, but me initiating contact… is insane. I'm not even thinking straight right in this moment, and I don't think he is either, because we're basically fused together. He's got his hands under my shirt and on my back, which pushes me closer to him. I've got my legs wrapped around his waist as if I'm sitting Indian style on the ground. Oh, and I'm practically making the most obscene whining sounds at this point because he's grinding down on me. Hard. I can feel his dick rubbing against mine, and it feels really good. He's essentially fucking me based on his breathing.

"Shit…" He said, his voice barely a whisper. Damn, I love when we're both like this.

"Fuck, I can't… I can't wait anymore." I managed to breathe out. "I need… I need you…"

Dash grins and moves his hands, earning another whine out of me. Physical touch is my love language, so I instantly hate it when his hands aren't on me anymore. "I see you're getting hard, love."

I am too exhausted for this. He is too exhausted for this. Yet, he still finds a way to tease me. "I…" I can't think straight is what I should've said.

He gave a low chuckle and tugged on my shirt, which was already tight and small. "I think we should get you out of these clothes, ghost baby. What do you think?"

"I think…" Oh for fuck's sake, Dash. Just fuck me already! I don't give a damn if I'm tired, drunk, or sober. I want you to make love to me. That's all I want right now! "I think we should…" Oh, for the love of—Dash, please. Pin me down and make me submit. Just make me shut… the hell… UP.

"Can't think, baby? Cat got your tongue?"

"Mhmmmmmm..."

His piercing blue eyes are all I can focus on. I'm stuck on them, lost even. He flashes a smile before lightly grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. "I bet your body feels great, though. I'd love to be inside of you right now."

Then, for the sake of my sex drive being heightened and my sanity, just rip me out of these clothes and pound me into oblivion! I'm just laying there, tired and horny. I have the same shit–eating grin on my face as I did earlier. "I wish you were. I'd love to finally feel that dick going in and out of me as I scream for more."

"Tell you what. After the homecoming game, I'll grant your wish."

YES! I feel great now, but I'm still sleepy. My face lights up again, and I kiss him. "Awesome. One question, Dashi."

"One answer."

"Cuddle with me tonight?"

Dash looked at me as if he was saying "You know my answer." That damn smile is what gave it away. He threw off his shoes and shirt before jumping in the bed next to me, holding his arm up. Of course, when he and I cuddle while we sleep, I'm curled up under him like I'm a cat and he's the protective dog. So, I seductively crawl over to him, nestle myself comfortably under his arm, and yawn. I don't usually get like this unless I've been grinding school work all week, and actually, the same goes for Dash. However, because he's an athlete, he gets everything done before me and has lighter weeks than I do. It's also like that because of his major, but it doesn't matter to me. I get to be with him after a long day, either in my bed or in his, playing video games, watching a movie, or even just cuddling while we talk about life. I mean, that's just what we do.

"Comfortable?"

"Yes, Dashi. Very comfortable."

"Good."

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love being in this spot with him. I yawn and stretch.

"Good night, ghost baby." He whispers, giving me a light kiss on my forehead. His arm is now hooked securely around me.

"Good night, Dashi."

Then, as my eyes drift shut, he whispers something into my ear that makes me smile brighter than ever. "I love you."

He actually said it back to me. He loves me. He really said the three words that I never heard from my ex-girlfriend. Yeah, Dash and I have always said that we had love for each other because we were friends, but now? As partners? It's on an entirely different level. A level that, if handled correctly, will be good for the both of us. That, I'm definitely sure of.