Chapter 1

"Lacus, are you almost ready?" I yelled to my roommate, down the hall.

"Just give me one second! I am almost done," she shouted back.

I ran my fingers one last time through my blonde short hair, trying in vain to give it the appearance of volume or style. The green strappy top I was wearing really brought out the amber in my eyes.

"Perfect," I muttered to my reflection, admiring the way my low-cut jeans hugged the curves of my butt, while still being comfortable, compare to any dresses.

"If you're so perfect, then let's go!" Lacus said, as she walked around the corner towards me.

"Good god, Lacus. It's not like we're heading to the prom," I replied, as I took noticed of her black halter sparkling dress. "It's just a frat party." I learned into the door frame, scanning my roommate's appearance.

"How else will I catch all the good guys attention," she responded.

"This is a frat party, Lacus. There are no good guys."

"Don't be so negative," she frowned, twirling her long pink hair around her finger.

I smiled. "I'll try"

I tossed my arm around Lacus and headed out the front door, locking it behind us. I had known Lacus since we were little, growing up in the city of Orb. Both our father's were political figures. After high school, Lacus moved to December City, a small city in the Plants, to attend Archangel University, while I was forced to attend Eternity Community college, located in downtown Orb. "You have to take the same courses the first two years anyway. It will help you boost up your GPA and get you into any college afterwards," my dad had insisted. So I stayed closed to home, while Lacus's father happily paid for all her expenses at Archangel University.

After two years of general education, I applied to three universities in the Plants and was accepted at all of them. I knew immediately which one I wanted to transfer to. Not only was my best friend at Archangel, but it also had one of the best photo communications programs in the world. And since my major was photography, the choice was easy.

The night air was warm on my exposed skin as we walked the five blocks toward the fraternity house. "By the way, that top looks fierce on you," Lacus complimented me with a straight smile.

"It's cute, right?" I smiled, looking down at the form fitting top."You look as hot as ever," I winked playfully.

Lacus was truly beautiful. Her long pink hair contrasted with the blue of her eyes, making it hard to look away from her at times. She honestly looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine, with her stunning figure and flawless features. We were total opposites, with my tom boyish looks and short blonde hair. But it worked on me.

The sound of hip-hop music filled the air. "Ohhh I love this song! Let's dance Lacus!" I grabbed Lacus's hand and dragged her along, jogging closer to the source of the music.

"You always want to dance," Lacus replied giggling.

"Well you got the voice to sing and I got the body to dance," I replied, as I started shaking my hips in the crowded driveway of the frat house.

"Hahaha, oh you are so catching people's attention." Lacus laughter brought me back to reality.

I laughed and slowed down my booty-shaking, when I noticed the number of eyes staring at me. I hated being gawked at. I scanned the crowd before suddenly stopping on the most alluring pair of emerald eyes watching me. The fact that the eyes belonged to one of the hottest faced I had ever seen was merely a bonus. He ran his fingers through his dark blue hair and smiled lazily at me.

I felt my stomach flip.

"No. Tell me you are not looking at him, Cagalli." Lacus stepped in front of me, breaking the eye contact.

"Hey, move." But every direction I craned my neck, she blocked me with her annoying face.

"No freaking way. Don't you know who that is?" She threw her hand in front of my eyes before I swatted away.

"Obviously not, or we would be kissing about now," I hopped up to steal a peek over her head.

"Athrun Zala does not date," Lacus's mouth curled with disgust. "He sleeps with girls and all their friends."

"So that is the infamous Athrun Zala, huh?" I was intrigued. This guy's name was all over the school papers and online.

Lacus threw an arm over my shoulder. "The one and only."

"Is he really as good as they say?" I asked quietly. Athrun Zala would be eligible for the Major League Baseball draft after the season ended. Everyone said he would get drafted within the first couple rounds. And apparently that is a pretty big deal.

"His ego certainly thinks so."

"Typical." If there's one thing I know, it's athletes. They're all the same. Superstitious, cocky, insecure egomaniacs. Yes, I realize the words are contradictory, but most are somewhat normal guys. They just hide behind a hundred foot tall brick wall, built entirely on ego. Plus, they don't know any better. For Athrun Zala's case, he has been a baseball player his entire life. He doesn't know how to be anything else.

"What is it with you and assholes, Cagalli? Athrun Zala is a world class jerk and you need to stay away from him."

"Hey!" I stomped my foot and firmly placed my hand against my hip. "The question isn't, what is it with me and assholes. It's more like, what is it with most guys being assholes?"

"Valid point. But still, if you already know up front this guy's a player, so why bother? You will only end up hurt," Lacus warned.

Smirking confidently, I replied under my breath, "Not if I hurt him first."

"Trust me, you won't. Athrun Zala doesn't get hurt by girls. Promise me you'll stay away from him." Lacus pinned me with a glare to let me know she was serious.

"I promise I'll stay away from him." I batted my eyelashes, my tone of voice insincere.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Lacus pushed her way through the crowd and I watched Athrun stopped her before she passed him. He reached an arm out for her and she moved it away. He turned to eye me and she matched his gaze before gesturing wildiy and shaking her head no. A wide smile crossed his face as Lacus threw her arms up in the air before storming inside the front door.

Athrun walked, no, make that sauntered, over to where I stood. His dark jeans and tight fitting polo did a number on his body. The definition of his arm muscles rippled against the fabric, accentuating his well defined shoulders. He tilted his head and narrowed his emerald eyes at me like I was some time, helpless creature who didn't have a clue it was about to get eaten alive by the most beautiful, dangerous, creature in the jungle.
I almost felt violated.

"So you're Lacus's roommate?" The words came out smooth, like butter, his voice deep and sexy.

"You're a genius," I said, going for my most uninterested tone.

"No need to be mean. I just wanted to meet you." He looked me in the eyes with a focused, unbreakable stare. "You have the most beautiful shade of amber eyes."

I said nothing, questioning whether anything that came out of this guy's mouth was genuine or not.

"What? Cat got your tongue? You don't take compliments? Or are you just memorized by my beauty of my emerald eyes?"

Was this guy for real? "What do you want?" My lips pursed together, making my tone harsher than I had intended.

"I told you, I wanted to meet you. I am Athrun Zala." He reached out his hand and I looked at it, my arms firmly crossed against my stomach.

"I know who you are." I pretended not to care. He was beautiful. And he was charming. And a man-whoring pig.

"So you've heard of me, huh Princess?"

My lips suddenly felt like they were filled with lead, as they turned downward in disgust. "You did not just call me Princess. Do I look like a damsel in distress?"

He looked me up and down and then did it again. "Well, now that you mention it..."

"You are an asshole." I pushed past him to walk away, but he grabbed me.

I tore my arm from his grip. "Let me go."

"Make me."

"Oh, so you're not only an asshole, you're assaulter as well," I responded as I stomped away.

"I like you," he shouted at my back.

"So you're dumb, too," I tossed over my shoulder with a glare. "I'll add it to the list of your many redeeming qualities."

I heard him laugh before I entered the house to search for Lacus. I finally found her in the backyard, drinking something out of red plastic cup and talking to a group of people I didn't recognize. I appeared at her side before she realized I was there.

"There you are! What did he say to you?" She pushed me toward an empty clearing in the yard.

I grabbed a drink for myself off a nearby table and rolled my eyes. Nothing. He's a jackass."

"I told you," She smirked and shrugged her shoulder. "Well, he's clearly gotten over you already. Look."

She pointed toward an open window where Athrun was attached at the lips to a scantily clad redhead. One of his hands gripped her backside, while the other pulled at the back of her head. I shook my head in disgust at his public display.

"And then what? He will just never talk to her again?" I asked, trying to figure him out.

Lacus turned to eye me, curiosity lurking behind those baby blues. "No. They will talk. I mean, unless she gets all pissed off at him for...being him. But he won't ever hook up with her again/ He never hooks up with the same girl twice."

"And the girls, they know this?" I was shocked. "Don't these girls have no self-esteem?"

Signing sadly, Lacus replied, "They know."

"Pathetic." I frowned and looked back at Athrun just in time to see him leading the girl away by the hand, a smile plastered all over her perfect little face.

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