"Shake Shake Shake Shake-a Shake it"

Song: Shake It
Artist: Metro Station
Album: Metro Station

New Part in the College Story

Paul came around Janay’s truck and glanced over at the nervous girl holding a conversation with her. She looked up at him, and their eyes met for a split second only to simultaneously draw away. That split-second stare sent a chain reaction through his body, triggering key memories of melodic laughter, a genuine smile, small hands, and a warm heart. The reaction took a more devious turn and made a beeline for his stomach, twisting it in dozens of knots that would confuse a prepared boy scout. He snapped out of his daze only to hear the high-pitched giggling of the two hysterical drunk girls in the back seat.

“Hey Paul, how’s it going! Cheated on anybody lately!?” the girls kept their cheerful tone, but were obviously up to no good. He opened his mouth to respond but he was beat to his mark, “Shut up before I leave your asses on this curb and make you walk home.” Vanessa was huffing, and gave them a piercing stare of which Paul silently wished he was on the receiving end. Why did she save him? He had done nothing to gain her trust and friendship back, but she still saved him. He looked back at her, but she was intensely speaking with Janay, she wouldn’t even look at him. “I’d almost like it more, if she’d hate me,” he inwardly thought. Trying to deftly think of a way out of this increasingly awkward situation, he interrupted the two girls. “Thanks for walking with me, but I think I’m gonna pass on the food, I’ll see you guys later.” Paul quickly walked up the street to the gate of his dorm, mentally kicking himself for being so stupid.

…

Vanessa did a double take as he got out of the car and came around next to her. “What the hell is he doing here?” she thought. Trying to remain focused, she intently stared at Janay while she kept talking about nonsense. “Don’t look at him, don’t look at him,” she kept telling herself, but by some involuntary action her eyes scanned upwards and they connected with his. A shooting pain went straight to her heart, and all of her good feelings about the night dissipated completely. All she felt now was pain, grief, lovesickness, resentment, and even though she denied it, a pang of longing.
She unknowingly watched him walk away until Janay’s voice snapped her back into reality. “Okay, I’ll take them, where do you need to go anyways?”