Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(10)
She paused giving enough time to make it seem like she was considering her schedule. "I don't have any plans," she finally said fighting the uncontrollable silly grin contorting her face.
"Did you want to hang out?"
She nodded. "I'd like that."
Friday night Lexi found herself pacing her tiny dorm room twining her dark curls around her fingers. Two beds were lofted on opposite sides of the room. A black futon rested under Lexi's bed; two mini fridges and a tiny tube television sat under her roommate's bed. A red and black print rug covered the tile floor and red curtains blocked out the view of the other high-rise dorms surrounding them. Lexi's side of the wrap-around metal desk held her black laptop and a selection of her favorite books and textbooks. The wall adjacent her desk held a collage of photographs neatly arranged, showcasing her college career thus far. Her roommate's desk was a mess of multi-colored papers clips, geometrically shaped Post-It notes, and furry-topped pens. The walls were lined with sorority initiation paraphernalia including a water bottle, five pictures frames with her letters scribbled all over them, and of most importantly, her Big Sis paddle.
"Jen, do you think I look okay?" she asked of her roommate.
Jennifer gave her a once-over. Lexi wore black slightly-worn skinny jeans, a pale green camisole with lace-trim and black thong sandals that strapped around her ankle. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with the dark bouncing curls streaming out of the rubber band. A light coat of black mascara brushed her eyelashes and a hint of shimmer lip gloss adorned her lips. "Mmm," Jennifer said tilting her head to the side briefly before turning back to her Latin homework spread out across the futon.
Lexi rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her hip. "What does that mean?"
"You should probably pull your hair down and run a straightener through it and put on a cute dress," she said as a matter-of-fact. She hadn't even glanced up from her five-subject notebook to say this. "I have this perfect purple ensemble that will do wonders to detract from your brown eyes."
Lexi was starting to get used to this behavior. Jennifer was remarkably honest which was generally valued in a person. But on someone as incredibly judgmental as Jennifer, not as flattering. "I think we're going to be outside though," Lexi told her, turning to face the full-length mirror hanging on the back of their door.
"It's like seventy degrees outside," Jennifer said. Her gum smacked against the roof of her mouth as she spoke. "You can still wear a dress."
Jennifer was one of those girls who thought everyone should wear a dress...for every occasion possible. Lexi was pretty certain that the only time Jennifer went without a dress was when she showered. Both her parents came from old southern money dating back farther than the Civil War. The Atlanta Country Club where they resided played host to stars such as Usher and half of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, among numerous others. She had once complained about missing Halloween away from home, because that year Usher had actually answered the door to pass out candy.
"Well it could be colder tonight," Lexi snapped snatching her new cell phone off her desk and cramming it into her plum Coach purse. "I'm going to see Olivia. Good luck studying." Lexi twisted the doorknob to pull it open.
"Oh, Lexi," Jennifer called, stopping her exit. "I probably won't be in tonight. There's a Da-Dee-Da fraternity party tonight, which you are more than welcome to come to if you get done with your little thing in time. I'm sure I'll end up passing out there," she confided in Lexi, smiling as her loose curling-iron curls swished around her face.
Lexi nodded scarcely able to contain her disbelief. How skanky can you get? Wasn't there some rule about having some semblance of class and didn't spending the night at a fraternity house destroy that? "Call me if you need a ride. I don't want you to get gang raped or anything tonight, okay?"
Jennifer giggled convulsively. "Those guys aren't like that Lexi. That would never happen."
"Riiiiiight," Lexi said letting the word drag. "Either way."
"Suit yourself," Jennifer murmured dismissing her with a wave of her acrylic French manicured hand.
Lexi darted down the hall just as her phone trilled from her purse. Opening the cold metal clasp, she retrieved the cell and answered. "Hey, do you want me to come up?" Jack asked from the other line.
"Nah. No point in making you try to get past the hand scanner," Lexi replied commenting on the dorm security. "I'll be right down." Lexi scrambled down the four flights of stairs as fast as she could, making it to the landing before the elevator dinged. Racing down the steep hill that led to the street below, Lexi recognized his silver Mazda 3 waiting with the hazard lights blinking. She slipped her hand under the handle to pop the door open and slid smoothly onto the black leather seat. He let off the clutch and slung the car into gear as soon as he heard the latch click. "So, where are we going?" she asked relaxing back into the soft material.
"It's a surprise," he said shifting gear as they picked up speed.
"Hmm...I like surprises."
"I thought you might." He glanced at her briefly before turning left onto the main street.
Lexi hadn't been sure whether or not to treat this as if it were a date. He had asked her out, but when they talked on the phone, he had acted as if it was no big deal. She didn't care to agonize over it though. She didn't know him yet, so as far as she was concerned the status of their relationship, if you could even call it that, was hardly relevant. One step at a time.