Claimed For Christmas

Chapter 2-Surprise

Brooklyn

Pulling up to the Campus entrance, my headlights flashed across a huge sign with the words “Bridgeview University” written across it.

I can’t believe I’m really here. The only other time I’ve been to Bridgeview was when Tyler first moved in. We drove down together and I stayed with him for a couple of days before he got settled in.

When it came to seeing one another in person, he would always come to me. Between working two jobs and attending classes, I didn’t have a lot of free time, so it meant so much to me that he made that effort.

Not that I didn’t offer to come visit him…he just didn’t want me to make that drive all by myself because of how dangerous it could be.

So the fact that I drove here in a storm might not go over well. At least I made it without any issues despite the bumper to bumper traffic that ended up adding an hour to my trip.

Driving towards the campus housing area, I slowed the car down, making sure I didn’t pass the road they lived on. Tyler and three other guys from the team all shared a house together. I haven’t personally met them, but they seem to get along really well from what Tyler says.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. The nerves of seeing Tyler were finally starting to catch up to me. It’s been about a month since I last saw him, so I’m hoping I’m not awkward or anything…I tend to get like that sometimes when a long time has passed. He’s great obviously, but I feel like I get so nervous the first few days of him coming back.

Today I’m not going to be like that. I’m going to go in there, show him just how much I missed him, and have the best Christmas ever.

Pulling up to Tyler’s road, the more cars seemed to show up the closer I got. There were dozens lined up on either side of the street. The snow was coming down like crazy and I could see people walking towards where a party must be.

Glancing down at my gps, I saw the little dot was coming up on the left and looked back out the window.

Tyler’s house. I recognized the tan and white two story building but immediately froze when I realized something else…that’s exactly where the party was.

Driving past, I found a parking spot a little down the road and parked my car.

My stomach twisted into knots. I didn't expect there to be a party tonight…

Oh god, what do I do now?

I chewed on the inside of my lip nervously before grabbing my phone. Pulling up Tyler’s texts, I started to read through them, trying to see if he mentioned anything about a party but there was nothing.

My head fell back against the seat and I let out a long sigh. Stuff like this always makes me nervous. I’ve only ever been to two parties before. One was with Tyler when he still went to Pennbrook, and the other was Jilllian’s birthday. Both times I just stood there awkwardly, and felt totally out of place.

This wasn’t going how I planned…

Sitting up a little, I pulled down my visor and looked in the mirror. My long black hair was up in a loose bun, and I didn’t have an ounce of makeup on. I was hoping to go in there, surprise him and then take a shower…but now that there are a whole bunch of people here, I feel completely underdressed. Plus I probably smell horrible from being in the car all day. I let out a groan before pulling my hair down and running my fingers through it.

I just need to go in there, find Tyler, and hopefully we go to his room and hideout for the rest of the night. It’s going to be fine…

You can do this, Brooklyn.

Taking a deep breath, I flipped the visor back up and turned off the car. I’ll just wait to bring everything in after finding Tyler. Grabbing my sweater, I slipped it on and opened the door. The snow was coming down in huge flakes now, making it hard to see past a few feet.

After getting out of the car, I shut the door and locked it. Then I started to make my way towards the party. I could already hear the loud music from here. The sound of people laughing, and yelling came echoing down the street. Keeping my head down, I trekked my way through the snow and tried my hardest to stay confident.

But the closer I got to the house, the more nervous I felt. It was like my stomach was in my throat at this point. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my sweater and locked my gaze on the door, determined to get there first.

Just as I made my way up the front porch, the door came swinging open, before a group of giggling girls came piling out. After letting them pass by, I slipped into the house and shut the door behind me. The moment I turned around, the smell of alcohol and what I could only assume was sweat came slamming into me.

My eyes drifted across the dimly lit room, examining the group of people carefully as I tried to find that familiar face I came here for.

I took a timid step forward, only just to stop again when a group of guys passed in front of me.

“Dude! What the f**k!” One of them yelled before shoving another guy away from him.

I stiffened, wondering if I should just go back to the car and call Tyler from there. That might be the smartest thing to do right now. I don’t know a single person here… Before I could fully commit to going back, someone stepped in front of me, surprising me.

“You look lost.” A blonde guy with a Santa hat said. He was shirtless, and appeared to be covered in lipstick marks all over his chest, face, and arms. I was trying not to stare, but it was kind of hard when he was almost a foot taller than me. I had to crank my head back just to look up at his face.

“Um.”

“You look like you need a drink.” He stated before lifting his hand, and offering his drink.

“No thanks. I’m actually looking for someone.” I yelled above the music, feeling way out of my element here.

“Ah, maybe I can help.” He said with a wide grin. “Got a name for me, sweetheart?”

“Tyler Scott.”

“I meant your name, but I guess that works too.” He laughed, swaying slightly.

“Should’ve known you were here for Tyler. Right through there. Just follow the line of girls.”

I frowned, looking to where he was pointing, and felt my stomach drop. There was a literal line of girls waiting by the wall. Maybe they were just waiting for the bathroom or something…

The feeling of dread rose deep in my stomach as I slowly made my way through the room. I felt like the room around me was shrinking by the second, and once I reached the end of the line, I was now standing in the kitchen.

My eyes drifted across the room, noting a group of guys standing in a row smack dab in the middle. Everyone’s attention seemed to be focused on them. They were all shirtless, and wearing Santa hats just like the guy I had talked to earlier. I watched as a girl who had been leaning against the wall walked towards them. Her eyes scanned the group of guys before landing on someone towards the end.

I followed her gaze, and the second I saw who it was she had been looking at, my body froze.

Tyler.

He was just standing there with his hands behind his back, and the biggest grin spread across his face. Not only was his shirt off, but he too had dozens of lipstick marks spread across his chest, neck, face, and arms.

I watched in horror as the girl sauntered up to him. Reaching out, she slowly ran her fingertips up and down his torso. “Where should I put it?” She asked him playfully.

“Wherever you want, babe.” My heart dropped. Did he just call her babe? This couldn’t be real. Tyler wouldn’t do something like this to me.

Before I could even process what was fully going on, the girl dragged her fingers up to his lips before tapping them gently. “Here.” She stated, and leaned in, kissing Tyler like she was trying to eat his freaking face off…and that’s when I felt like I was going to be sick.

I’m not sure how long the kiss lasted exactly, but it felt like an eternity to me.

I went stumbling back, bumping into some guy who was trying to get by. “Woah, watch where you’re going!” He yelled, catching Tyler’s attention. Our eyes met. The look of confusion crossed his face when he suddenly shoved the girl away from him.

“Brooklyn?” He rushed.

I shook my head no, the pain of what I had just witnessed tore at my chest as I felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. I needed to get out of here.

I turned on my heel, and ran out of the kitchen, making my way towards the front of the house. “Brooklyn, wait!” Tyler yelled above the music. But I didn’t turn back, I just kept my head down, and got the hell out of there.

How could he do this to me?