Goth Sunshine

C O R A

Standing before a frat house, Alpha Zappa something or other–whatever–I felt out of place. It looked like my own personal version of hell. However, no dark pillars were erected from lava pits, and no inky cavernous walls for the wails of the tormented to bounce around closed in on me. There were no sharp teeth or slithering things, but there were worse things: college students. The sight was almost enough to darken my sunny disposition. Almost.

Through the windows, I could see bodies gyrating against each other, a few girls dancing on top of a table, and dozens of red Solo cups in the hands of my soon-to-be classmates. A girl twerked in front of a window on the first floor, and a guy jumped out of one on the second. He covered his dick with his crumpled-up jeans and made his way to another window. As I watched his ass shine in the moonlight, I was struck with so many questions.

My phone vibrated in the pocket of my leather jacket, and it was probably my well-meaning brother wondering where I was. I regretted telling him I would go to the party. After years of seeing people, his friends included, make fun of me, he still didn’t get it. He didn’t understand that they didn’t see me like he did and never would. The people who tolerated me in his presence only did because he was my “hot” older brother.

Are you on your way? -Lincoln

Knowing I had to bite the bullet, I told him I was outside and would find him. Sighing, I resigned myself to my fate. Not only did I accept a room in my brother’s apartment, where he lived with another man from the university’s football team, but I also agreed to go to a frat party before unpacking my things.

You’ve lost your damn mind, girl.

It was too late to change it, so I was going to head inside and try to get along with people. When it didn’t work out, I would return home, continue watching Vampire Diaries for the fifth time, and unpack. At least Lincoln wouldn’t be able to say I didn’t try.

When I pushed the door to the house open, my nose was assaulted by a heady mixture of perfumes, colognes, and–sweat? Nice. There were barely dressed women, men in polo shirts, and someone in a bunny suit rubbing their ass against a woman who was laughing so hard she was snorting.

Wading through the crowd, I had to step carefully since I already kicked a few empty cups and almost stepped on something that looked suspiciously like semen.

“Nice outfit!” A bleach blonde-haired, pretty woman said as she bumped into me.

“Thanks?” I wasn’t sure if she was being serious as she nudged her friend, pointed at me, and said something I couldn’t hear.

Her friend’s jaw dropped before she said, “How freaking cute!”

“Oh. Thank you…” Smiling, I continued through the room, feeling better already.

“Bobby!” A woman dressed to the nines in pink stomped her foot, and the contents of her cup spilled onto her leg. “I told you not to slap my ass in public!”

Bobby, I assumed, reached around her and pinched her ass instead of answering. The woman’s brows soared upward as she reached for him. Though I didn’t witness what she did, since I continued to walk through the room, I knew Bobby’s days were numbered.

After I checked the living room and kitchen, assuming Lincoln wouldn’t be upstairs with someone since he was waiting for me, I went to the backyard. Though there were fewer people outside, it was still a madhouse. Most of them were either in the pool, which I assumed was heated since it was a chilly summer night, or in the hot tub. Beyond the deck was a firepit. Several people were sitting around it, and some were wearing football jerseys. Figuring they were my best bet, I headed there.

As I walked down the path, my Mary Jane heels clacked against the stones, drawing attention I ignored. As I neared the group, I observed their faces and mannerisms and wondered if they would be as nice as the women I encountered inside.

Please don’t be judgmental assholes.

There was a space to the right of the fire pit without chairs, so I decided to stop there and address them. Once I inserted myself into their circle, I looked at the guy I could only see from behind when I approached. My stomach dropped unexpectedly at the sight of a man who made me think of jagged ice pillars and flowers that bloom in winter.

Pale blue eyes slowly met mine from beneath heavy lids and dark lashes. Above those mesmerizing eyes were softly arched dark brows hidden in parts by the brush of his shockingly white-blond hair. He looked like a winter elf masquerading as a college student. I would’ve been superficially infatuated if he didn’t look like he could freeze all of Earth.

Looking away from his piercing, frosty gaze, I asked the group, “Has anyone seen Lincoln?”

In response, I received several blank stares, which didn’t surprise me. I didn’t look like the kind of woman who would be looking for him. Rather than stare, they could’ve asked who I was or why I was looking for him. Not that it was their business, but it would’ve been preferable for them not to look at me like I belonged in the circus or did body suspension as a hobby.

Having counted to five without anyone saying a word, I figured it was better to leave and ask someone else. As I began to turn, the Scandinavian god stopped me with a look I knew meant he was about to say something that would shatter his icy finish, revealing the dirt beneath the surface.

“Lincoln doesn’t fuck goths.” His voice was deep and silky, and his words were clipped and spoken with a faint Swedish accent. He eyed my mini, black pleated skirt and bare, pale legs below it. “You can leave.”

Before I could snap back and let him know I wasn’t one to be bullied, someone came up from behind me whistling. “What do we have here?” A tall, well-muscled guy with dark hair checked me out. “You all have no idea how long I’ve wanted to meet a goth baddie in person.”

Frowning, I took a step back since he was too close.

“Baddie suggests she’s something to look at,” the Scandinavian god said, looking away, dismissing me as if I were a peasant and he a king. He leaned back, rested his hands on his flat, likely ripped stomach, and linked his hands.

Prick.

“Damn, Viktor.” The newcomer, who had appreciated my appearance, strung his arm around my shoulders. “Who pissed in your protein shake this morning?”

Wait…Viktor?

Oh, no…

“Whatever, man. If you want to dip your cock in black magic, go ahead, but do it elsewhere. She’s an eyesore, and she’s darkening the vibe.” Viktor shot me a dark look that made my chest feel weighed down.

When I was about to fire back, Lincoln showed up and prevented me from doing so again. My anger was bubbling up quickly, and if I didn’t get a chance to take a shot at the guy, I was going to burst. Then again, given the impression everyone already had of me, it might’ve been better that I was forced to hold back. I needed a minute for my anger to subside so I could respond calmly.

“Sorry, there was a line outside of all three bathrooms.” Lincoln gave the arm around me a look, reminding me that some strange guy was touching me.

“You’re here just in time.” I slipped out from beneath the guy’s arm. “I was about to turn this fire pit into a sacrificial altar and offer up blondie.” I gestured at Viktor with my thumb. “Did you remember to bring goat’s blood and my hacksaw?”

The touchy-feely guy chuckled, and I was thankful that at least one of them, besides Lincoln, could tell I was joking. The fact that at least three pairs of eyes looked at me like I wasn’t was ridiculous. It was hard to believe they lived as long as they had and still believed silly stereotypes.

“Ah, come on, spare him, sis.” Lincoln sat across from Viktor on the other side of the fire pit and smirked at him. “He knows not what he does.”

As I watched their silent exchange, I relished when Viktor realized who I was. In a satisfying turn of events, I anticipated watching him squirm as he made an apology.

“Fuck. I forgot.” Viktor looked between us. “Your sister moved in this afternoon, didn’t she?”

Still smiling, Lincoln nodded.

“Now would be a great time to apologize, roomie.” I sat beside Lincoln and bit back a smile. “Unless you’re down to be the sacrifice, in which case, I’ll count it as an apology of sorts.”

Whether from the fire or his stare, I didn’t know, but I began to thaw. So maybe he was capable of making me feel something other than chilled, but I wasn’t sure I liked it any better. As I waited for his answer, I grew more nervous with every passing second, but I refused to let it show.

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.” His eyes ran the length of my body again, making my stomach twist into knots. “You’ll get no apology from me, and I won’t burn for you, either.”

When a few women snickered, I rolled my eyes.

“Why are you always such an asshole, man?” Touchy-feely asked Viktor.

“The better question is: why are you always such a simp?” Viktor looked at him like he was serious, and I wondered if they were about to fight.

“A simp?” Smiling, touchy-feely shoved Viktor, tipping his chair over. “I’m out here fighting off women left and right, and you know it. I don’t have to simp to get what I want from them.”

“Sure, bud.” Viktor put a hand to the ground, pushing himself back up as he chuckled.

“So…these are the guys,” Lincoln said in a girly tone.

“Dude bros.” I wondered what I got myself into. “I’ll be surrounded by dude bros.”

“You looked so offended by my comments, but you’re judging us according to stereotypes, too.” Viktor looked like he’d caught me in a trap he laid himself.

“What, did you expect me to take it lying down while holding back my judgments of you?”

“It’d be easier that way,” he said, not missing a beat.

We were talking about insults, but images of a different nature flashed through my mind unbidden. “Humbling you appeals to me much more than pleasing you.”

Unimpressed with my words, or maybe me, he didn’t respond. Instead, he watched me like I was an active threat.

“I knew it would be like this.” Lincoln laughed, looking satisfied with himself.

“Real nice, Linc,” I said, giving him a look that promised retribution. Considering he knew I was nervous about the social aspect of college, it wasn’t right of him not to tell me his roommate was an ass. “It doesn’t have to be like this.” I looked back at Viktor. “Wave your white flag, and we can start over.”

Ignoring me, he tipped his beer back and, emptying the can, crushed it. “I’m out of here.” He flicked his head toward the house and looked at one of the women who had snickered at my expense.

“Sorry for not telling you about his attitude,” Lincoln said over the rim of a cup. “I didn’t want you to get a room elsewhere because of him.”

A few other people got up to leave, leaving Lincoln, me, touchy-feely, and one woman who had yet to speak.

“A warning would’ve been nice since I wasn’t prepared for that level of judgment from my roommate, but I wouldn’t have gotten a room elsewhere.” Though I had been made fun of and judged by others for years, I hadn’t experienced a grown-ass, gorgeous man treating me like I was a stain on society for no reason other than how I looked. For some reason, it hit differently. “At least I can handle him now that I know what to expect.”

The woman said, “Sometimes I don’t know why we put up with him.” She wore a tie-dye sweatshirt and short white shorts, and her blonde hair was in a messy bun at the top of her head. She had a softly rounded face, dark blue eyes, and pouty lips. She looked like Tinker Bell on a lazy day.

“We put up with him because underneath that asshole exterior is–” Lincoln paused, looking thoughtful. “–one of this country’s greatest college quarterbacks.”

“That’s true.” Touchy-feely sat down where Viktor had been sitting.

“You guys love him, and you know it.” Tink took a sip of her drink and looked at me. “I’m Lucy, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled warmly. “I’m Cora.”

“I forgot to introduce myself.” Touchy-feely sprang to his feet again and extended a hand to shake mine. “I’m Tianyu.” His skin was tan, his hair was as dark as the night sky, like mine and Lincoln’s, and his eyes were hooded and mischievous. Unlike Viktor, he was warm, charming, and a bit silly.

“Nice to meet you,” I said.

“He’s our best wide receiver”–Lincoln nodded at Tianyu–“but he plays most positions pretty damn well.”

“Oh, a jack of all trades, huh?” I asked. “You’re the one with a mean kick, too, right?”

Because of Lincoln, I attended countless football games growing up and knew a decent amount about the sport, but I was neutral about watching it. Supporting my brother was one thing; fighting for chicken wings while keeping my eyes pinned to the TV on gameday was another.

“Yeah.” Tianyu put his feet up on the rocks surrounding the fire. “I can’t outrun your brother, and no one can throw like Vik, though.”

“Something about a guy like Viktor being the best at something infuriates me,” I said, uncaring if I sounded petty. “Please tell me he barely passes his classes.”

“Sorry, no can do. The dude is ridiculously smart,” Lincoln said. “His future is so bright, all of ours combined pale in comparison.”

“How annoying,” I sighed dramatically.

“It’ll get better once he warms up to you.” Lincoln pinched his lips while staring at the fire. “Man, you guys are fire and ice, though.”

“More like sunshine and rain clouds,” Lucy said.

“Who’s the sunshine?” I asked, assuming she was making a dig at me.

“You.” She tipped her head to the side cutely.

Shit. Maybe I’m too defensive.

“Just ignore him when he’s being a dick,” Tianyu said. “We do…mostly.”

“I’ll try.” Looking at the house, I wondered if Viktor was inside screwing that woman or if he brought her back to our apartment. I hadn’t thought of how awkward it would be with them bringing home women, but it was the least of my worries.

“No, you won’t,” Lincoln said, and he was probably right. “You’ll fight back, and you’ll probably take it a step further by pissing him off on purpose.”

“It’s about to get interesting around here.” Tianyu grinned from ear to ear. “There are only a few things I enjoy more than seeing Viktor’s feathers ruffled.”

“I promise to ruffle them.” Looking around, I wondered where I could get a beer. “Now, who wants to show me where the drinks are?”

“I will!” Lucy sprang out of her seat, grabbed my hand, and tugged me toward the house. Her warmth was unexpected and relieving, and so was Tianyu’s. We didn’t have to be friends, but anything was better than having enemies, especially after I found one in Viktor.