Page 43 of Written In Flesh

Skully

“WELL, SINCE YOU’RE free now tonight, the only option really is for us to find the best party to go to.” Baylee shrugs her shoulders and takes my hand, ushering me back toward my room.

“Bay, I don’t know.” I sigh, feeling a slight headache coming on.

“Skully, you’ve been missing out on the full River Falls University experience.” She stands in my room, her hands on her hips. “Stupid Madden and his games he likes to play.”

I scoff, my feet shuffling over to my bed where I sit and watch as she ransacks my closet. “With the night off, I really should catch up on my paper for my journalism class. It’s rare to have this much free time.”

Baylee turns to me and points her finger. “That’s exactly why we’re going to use this opportunity to have some fun. I admire you, Skully, but you can’t keep living on waiting tables, going to class, and studying. You need some you time to unwind.”

She turns back to the few hangers in my closet, her lips turning down in a frown. I fight the urge to laugh at her almost pouting. Compared to Baylee’s closet, mine is bare bones. Jeans, hoodies, some shirts and t-shirts, and a few leggings and skirts in my dresser. Just my things from home, nothing fancy or worthy of a party here. My dad assured me I had access to my closet at his house, but I refused. After seeing the pictures Baylee showed me of how I dressed when I last was home, I knew nothing there was my actual style.

“How about borrowing something of mine?” She turns to me with a hopeful smile on her lips.

My brow lifts as I take in the outfit she currently has on. A light blue t-shirt dress that flares slightly at her hips. Her legs are bare, and she has a pair of silver heels on her feet. “I can’t pull that off.”

With a small huff, she goes back to rummaging in my closet. “Okay, hear me out…”

Not liking the slightly higher pitch to her voice, I sit up on my bed again. Her hand pops out of the closet, and she holds out a hanger with an all-black, long-sleeve, crop top.

“This and...” She turns back to my dresser and pulls out the only decent skirt I own, that I was actually saving for future job interviews. “...This.”

Baylee lays the outfit on my bed. It starts to form in my mind, imagining the band of skin around my waist that will show with how cropped the top is and the way the skirt sits.

“It might be a little chilly.” I glance at my best friend and see the way her eyes flare with a challenge.

“Give me one second.” Baylee dashes out of my room, and I hear her rummaging around in her own drawers.

I use the time she’s gone to slip into the outfit she’s put together and take the time to admire how it looks. I have to hand it to Baylee, she did a good job. It’s sexy and edgy while also managing to be classy.

“Problem solved!” Baylee shouts, her lips turned in a grin as she waltzes back in my room. She holds out a pair of black stockings.

Taking them from her hand, I sit on the bed and slowly drag the material up my legs. Excitement swirls in my stomach when I realize how thick the material is, enough to keep my legs somewhat warm, and the stockings reach my thigh. With the length of the skirt, there’s only a sliver of skin on my thigh that will play peek-a-boo every time I move.

“You look amazing, Skully!” Baylee gushes and moves to hug me. For the next few minutes, we take a few photos together before heading out the door.

“Where are we going?” I ask, while she locks up behind us.

Baylee glances at her phone, her teeth biting her bottom lip. “Ah, Olympian Row.”

“What is that?” I ask, watching her wince.

“It’s the row of houses where all the sport team houses are,” she explains like she’s breaking bad news. Her arm loops with mine, and it’s clear she’s trying to keep me at her side. “It’s not the swim house, though. I promise.”

“Which house is it then?”

A sly grin plays on her glossy lips. “The football house.”

It takes twenty minutes to get to the other side of the campus, where the housing for athletes is. The buildings are similar in size, color and style. All have a front porch and various cars parked in the driveway or on the street.

“How do they get away with parties where they’re so close to campus?” I turn to Baylee, speaking low enough that only she can hear.

“They’re athletes. They get away with just about anything. Plus, we’re off campus, so the campus security can’t touch them, and as long as the law isn’t being broken, River Falls PD won’t even come this way. I’m also pretty sure the fierce four have the majority of the PD in their pockets.” She laughs, shaking her head.

We follow a few other students making their way to the second largest house on the block. My gaze instantly goes to the largest, the one on the end, almost apart from the rest of the row. “Is that monstrosity the swimmers’ house?”

Baylee snorts. “Gee, what gave it away?”