Free Twist of Fate by Kelly Mooney

text her to come over. Or, find some reason to just see her, so I finished up in the weight room, quickly changing into my suit.   I let the warm water take my mind off of things for about ten minutes, as I did lap after lap trying to erase Paige, and girls from my mind. But, it didn't help anymore than running on the treadmill had.
    I was getting dressed after showering for our night time festivities when my phone dinged.  
    I glanced over at my bed, reading the message just as I yanked my shirt down. I froze when I saw Paige's name light up. My night just changed with one message and I knew it. I wouldn't be downstairs picking up random girls, drinking with my brothers, I'd be with Paige, pretending we were just friends. She was outside, but afraid to knock on the frat house door to ask for me. I grabbed my phone, tapping in a quick message. I tucked the shirt in, quickly dabbed on some cologne, racing to the front door. I passed a few guys on the way that muttered a few curse words at me since I almost knocked them over. I came to a halt when I got to the door, counted to five then yanked it open. "Hey," I said when I saw her several feet from the house like she was hiding.  
    She gave me her famous knock-me-off-my-feet Paige smile, then said, "Sorry, I was nervous they would think something."
    I jogged up to her. "That's okay. What's up?"
    "You feel like going for a walk?"
    I shrugged. "Sure."
    We walked for quite a while, talking about classes, yoga, frats, guys, girls, you name it. We stopped at Pinkberry because it was Paige's favorite yogurt place.  
    She was licking a bite off her spoon, when she noticed me staring at her mouth. "Did you want some of mine?"
    "No, you eat it. You look like you're enjoying it."
    "I can't believe you didn't get any." She stuck her spoon in, scooping some out then held it out to me. "One taste."
    I gave in when I saw her attempting her best pouting expression. "Fine." I opened my mouth, just as she slipped the spoon inside. "Good, right?" She asked, excitedly.
    I nodded, instantly getting a brain freeze.
    She laughed, while I banged my hand on the table trying to create pain somewhere else. I started to think about our night coming to an end, and how to work around it. "Feel like going back to your place? We could rent a movie?"
    She shook her head. "I can't. Ellie is using it for a few hours."
    I stood up, taking her hand in mine. "My place it is."
    The house was crawling with people, but I didn't feel like hanging out with everyone. Paige came to me earlier, and I kind of wanted to know why. "Let's go upstairs. It's more quiet." I yelled over our theme song, "Welcome to the Jungle," by Guns n Roses as it blasted through the house.
    She stopped at the bottom of the steps, looking up. "I don't know, Ben."
    I spun her around to face me. "What's wrong?"
    "I just...I should have said it earlier. I'm just really sorry about when we were younger. I hate knowing I hurt you." I could tell by her face, and her omission that she was conflicted about what I was expecting once upstairs.
    "P, c'mon. It was years ago. I already told you to forget about it." My hand slid down the length of her arm until I reached her hand. "Stay."
    She rocked back on her heels, staring down at her feet. "I have a paper due. I should really go."
    I grabbed her wrist, and I know she must have seen the desperation in my eyes as I tried to get her to change her mind. "Stay and I'll make it fun for you. I promise."  
    She smiled lightly, as she lifted her face. It felt like forever waiting for her answer. She looked like she was about to cave, so I gestured for her to move up the stairs.   I smiled when she pushed past me, and started her way up.   Jack slipped out of the room, with a bottle of booze, smiling at us. "Oh, hey, Paige."  
    "Hey, Jack." She smiled at Jack who was eyeing the pair of us up, but then turned to me, slapping his hand on my back. "Have fun, Benny," he laughed, practically running out of the