Bad Boys Break Hearts

by Smeltzer, Micalea

  Underage Mascen Wade spotted at a bar with beer in hand. Is he following in the footsteps of his former alcoholic uncle?

  My uncle Mathias, my dad’s twin brother and lead singer of their band, wasn’t an alcoholic as far as I ever knew. I’m sure from time to time he’s drank too much, who hasn’t, but the media always liked to make things seem so much worse than they were. Besides, who hasn’t had a drink before they’re twenty-one?

  Still, it pisses me off that people care enough to buy this shit. If they didn’t consume it then news outlets wouldn’t bother printing it.

  Banging the heel of my right hand against the wheel, my mind drifts back to the girl I nearly hit. With her brown hair and wide eyes behind a pair of glasses she looked vaguely familiar. She reminded me of a different life, one before I became so jaded.

  Sometimes I really miss those simpler days, the summers spent running through the grassy fields beside my family’s Victorian home in Virginia. I always preferred it to our time spent in L.A.

  With a shake of my head I grab my workout bag off the passenger seat and head inside.

  “Yo, Cole, you home man?” I call out, heading for the stairs.

  I don’t hear a reply as I go up, but when I reach the landing his door opens. “Where the hell did you go?” he asks, taking in my sweaty appearance.

  “Field,” I answer, pausing outside the master bedroom door.

  He raises a brow, his eyes narrowed. “Didn’t know baseball practice began this early. School hasn’t even officially started.”

  “It hasn’t.” I take off my baseball cap, pushing my sweat damp hair back from my eyes. “Needed to blow off some steam.”

  He cracks a grin. “You could’ve used a pussy for that.”

  “Not in the mood.”

  “Suit yourself man, and shower while you’re at it. You smell like shit.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “That was the plan.”

  Ignoring whatever dumb thing will come out of my best friend and roommate’s mouth next, I shoulder my door open and close it quickly behind me. Tossing my bag on the bench in front of my bed, I head straight for the bathroom. He’s right about one thing, I do smell.

  Kicking the door closed behind me I turn the knob of the walk-in shower, letting the water heat up. Shucking off my clothes I toss them in the empty hamper. My boxers miss and out of habit I walk over and pick them up instead of leaving them on the floor. My mom hates when dirty clothes are left lying around, and apparently I picked up that quirk from her. Also a penchant for drinking hot tea, but not many people know that. I have to keep my man card.

  Stepping beneath the spray, I watch the water swirl down the drain. My shoulders sag with exhaustion from a burden I don’t know why I even bother carrying. I know it’s pointless for me to care so much about what certain people think of me, and yet I can’t stop.

  Grabbing my soap, I scrub my body free of dirt and sweat. I wash my hair too and in the end my whole body smells like the Atlantic Ocean, or I assume that’s what I’m supposed to smell like according to the label on the bottle. I don’t pay much attention to this kind of shit, but my mom stocked me up on all the good smelling stuff for Christmas. I don’t know whether she was just being nice or it was her subtle way of telling me I stink.

  Despite the fact I’m in the shower, and soapy, I raise my arm to smell my armpit.

  With a shake of my head, I rinse the bubbles from my body before stepping out on the rug. Learned shit the hard way when I didn’t have one and stepped out and slipped on my ass. Told people I took a baseball to the ass, because it sounded cooler than the fact I slipped on the wet tile floor because I’m stupid.

  Grabbing a towel, I tie it around my waist and grab another smaller one to rub over my hair.

  Padding over to the sink, my phone vibrates with a text. My nose crinkles when I see a text from Jules, one of my regular hookups from last year letting me know she’s back in town and settled in her dorm.

  “Not interested,” I mutter to myself, blacking out the screen and sliding my phone away.

  I’m in too pissed off of a mood to even enjoy getting my dick sucked.

  Today, like most days, I find myself wishing I wasn’t the son of Maddox Wade.

  After putting a small amount of gel in my hair and styling it somewhat, I grab a pair of cotton shorts and tug them on.

  Downstairs Cole is sitting on the large sectional couch in front of the flat screen. I head past him to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water to replenish my liquids.

  He looks over the back of the couch at me. “Some of the guys and I are headed to Harvey’s tonight. You wanna go?”

  I gulp down the last of the entire sixteen-point-nine ounces. “Nah.”

  Cole arches a brow. “Why the hell not man? It’s freshman hunting season. Some beer and pussy will make you feel better.”

  I think back to Jules’ text and scrub a hand over my stubble-free jaw. “Just not in the mood.”

  It’s not that Harvey’s is that bad, but I don’t really have a desire to sit in a dim bar with loud country music and dancing. I wouldn’t mind hanging out with the guys here, but if they’re after girls Harvey’s is the place to go.

  “Fuck you really have had a shitty day.” Cole gets up and joins me in the kitchen, grabbing a beer. He pops the cap and hands it to me. “You don’t want to go out, that’s cool. You can get shit-faced here and maybe you’ll be in a better frame of mind.”

  I crack a half-smile. “That sounds like some bullshit advice.” I lift the bottle to my lips, downing a few gulps. Setting it back down on the counter I cock my head. “What do you know, I already feel better. You’re a real Dr. Phil type, Cole.”

  He shrugs, lifting his palms. “I try. You sure you don’t want to go? I’m going to head over to Teddy’s if you’re not going.”

  “I’m not.”

  Cole knows once my mind is made up on something it isn’t changing, but it doesn’t stop him from trying.

  “Fine. I’ll see you later, man.” He claps me on the back, swipes his keys, and disappears down the stairs to the garage.

  Dumping the rest of the beer out in the sink, I toss the empty bottle in the trash. I make myself a sandwich, grab another water, and head upstairs.

  Getting in bed I stretch my long legs out in front of me and set the plate in my lap. There’s something eerie about being in the three-thousand-plus square foot townhome by myself. I guess I’ve never really liked being on my own all that much, but when you grow up in a large family, with security trailing you everywhere, you’re never alone. Now that I have the freedom of being in an empty home it’s weird, even though this is the beginning of my third year living here during the school year.

  Picking up the remote, I look for something to watch, settling on a rerun of Wizards of Waverly Place.

  Cole would give me hell if he caught me, but fuck it, who doesn’t like some childhood nostalgia?

  Besides, Selena Gomez is hot.

  Chapter Three

  Rory

  A few hours later, I return to the dorm with bags of goods for my room, including things that weren’t a necessity but will make my room more personal. After years of saving and hiding every penny I figure I deserve it. I also picked up some supplies for school, dumb stuff like highlighters, pens, and notebooks. I even swung by the school store and bought a laptop. With the student discount, plus by getting one refurbished, I was able to walk away with a shiny gold Macbook Air. I’m more than a little giddy about it. I’m sure I’ll be caressing the precious later.

  Depositing everything on the bare mattress in my room I get to work.

  Li and Kenna are nowhere to be seen, probably having gone to the dining hall for a bite to eat.

  I make my bed first, the white sheets and gray comforter the plainest ones I could fine. Much better than the teal and hot pink options. It doesn’t reflect my personality much, but if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t really know what that is anymore. My entire
life has centered around survival for so long that along the way I lost who I was.

  A lot of people say college is a chance to discover yourself and this is more than true for me.

  Unpacking the office supplies, I set up my desk with my laptop in the middle.

  Next, I string up lights around the window, similar to Li’s room because I liked the cozy touch it added. Stepping back, I take in the space. The room is still plain, and I forgot a rug, but it’s mine. My mom can’t touch me here. Maybe the memories won’t either.

  The door to our suite opens, the girls’ voices carrying across the small space.

  I poke my head out to find them entering with smoothies in hand.

  “Oh, hey you’re back. This is for you.” Kenna strides across, offering me a cup. “We weren’t sure what you’d like. It’s strawberry and banana with some kind of other healthy shit in it too.”

  “Thanks.” I take the cup from her, my throat closing up. It’s just a drink but I’m touched. No one does anything kind for me ever, except my older sister, but I haven’t seen her in person in years. Four years older than me, Hazel grew up even faster after we left Virginia, and with our mom spiraling out of control she dropped out of school at sixteen and left. I know she felt guilty leaving me, but I understood. I wouldn’t have stayed either.

  We occasionally Facetime and the random card shows up from her with cash shoved into it. Hazel ended up getting her GED after she left, but it didn’t stop her from working at a strip club. I don’t judge her though, and no one else should either, she makes good money and can take care of herself. It’s more than a lot of people can say.

  “Did you get everything you needed?” Li asks, dropping her purse on the coffee table and flipping her long straight black hair over her shoulder in the process.

  “Pretty much.”

  I got the necessities, including the toothpaste and hairbrush I forgot to pack.

  As the three of us stand there in an awkward circle, I realize I’m not good at this. Small talk, trying to make friends, just being social in general. Hazel was all I had until she fled. After, I didn’t see the point.

  “So,” I rock back on my heels, “do you all know what you want to do?” I realize how dumb I sound and wince. Clearing my throat I add, “I mean, degree wise.”

  “Graphic design,” Kenna answers immediately, her face flooded with relief. I have a feeling she’s probably the most outgoing out of all of us, but even then it’s sometimes hard to think of what to say to people you’ve just met and are going to be living with. “I’d love to work with a big company after I graduate designing branding and packaging.”

  “Wow, that’s really cool.” I’m not creative enough to even consider something like that.

  “What about you?” She sits down on the chair, crossing her legs. She tips her chin in the air, waiting for me to respond.

  I swallow, looking away, afraid my eyes might give too much away. “I want to be a child advocate attorney.”

  “Wow, that’ll be a lot of schooling, huh?” Kenna shakes her head. “I don’t think I’d have the patience for that.”

  “Yeah, I have to do four years of undergraduate study before I can apply for law school and then that’s another three.” I pull my hair over my shoulder. “But that’s why I was so happy I could go here. If I get accepted into the law program here I won’t have to transfer.”

  Turning my gaze to Li, desperate to get the topic of conversation off myself, I ask, “What about you?”

  “Oh, I want to go into biology. Not sure yet for what. I could always become a professor, but I’m leaning toward the research end.”

  “Wow, we’re all over the place in what we want to do.” Kenna gives a soft laugh. “Well, if you guys don’t mind, I’m going to get a shower and start getting ready for tonight.”

  “When are we leaving?”

  “Nine,” she replies, already edging toward the bathroom.

  I look at the time. “It’s only five—it takes you that long to get ready?”

  Granted, I’m more of the throw my hair in a messy bun, gloss and mascara only, kind of girl but that seems like an unreasonably long amount of time to take to get ready.

  “Perfection takes time.” She winks, sashaying into the bathroom with a dramatic flourish.

  I glance at Li, giving my head a light shake. “I’m going to finish unpacking.”

  Really, there’s nothing left to unpack, but I can reorganize and study the campus map so when classes start on Monday I’ll know where to go.

  “Me too.” Li gives a shy smile, brushing past me to her room.

  I’ve barely closed the door to mine when the shower starts up.

  A moment later, Kenna’s karaoke show begins courtesy of Britney Spears’s Oops I Did It Again.

  I close my eyes, exhaling a slow measured breath.

  No matter what, I know I did the right thing by coming here.

  * * *

  “I cannot go out in this.”

  I stare at my reflection in the floor length mirror. Kenna forced me into a short jean skirt, some kind of lacy bustier body suit, and an open flannel tied above my waist. Completing the look is a pair of cowboy boots.

  “This is Tennessee. It’s like a religion to dress like this.”

  I arch a brow. “You sure about that?”

  “Uh…” She hesitates, blinking behind me in the mirror. “Definitely.”

  During our chat while getting ready I learned that she moved here from California. She told me about her family, smiling as she spoke of them. Her dad is a tech genius that owns his own company and based on some of the designer things around her room it’s obvious she comes from big money. It’s not a total surprise. Aldridge is built to cater to the upper crust of society. I’m nothing but a charity case, but I’m fine with that as long as it gets me to my end game. A law degree with a steady career. I’m fine building my life from the ground up. Not all of us need a springboard in order to achieve great things. Besides, where’s the reward without a little bloodshed.

  “You look hot,” she continues. “Gorgeous, honestly. I wish I had your boobs.”

  I look down at my B-chest looking much fuller in the push-up bra I only own because Hazel got it for me.

  “Thanks?” It comes out as a question, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

  “What about the glasses, though?” She eyes my tortoise-shell frames. “Can you ditch those?”

  I stare at her, lips parted in disbelief. “Only if I want to be practically blind?”

  She waves a dismissive hand. “I only mean don’t you have like contacts or something?”

  “No,” I bite out, “I happen to like my glasses.”

  “Oh,” pink flushes her face, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to sound rude. I’m really bad about speaking before I think. My dad has tried so hard to break me of the habit. Clearly it hasn’t worked.”

  “It’s fine,” I mutter, trying not to be aggravated. She’s not the first person to make a comment about my glasses and I doubt she’ll be the last. The suckiest time was when some girl at my high school told me I’d be a lot prettier without my glasses. Her comment pissed me off so much that even though I normally didn’t say a word, I came back with, “Yeah, and you’d be prettier without your judgmental attitude.”

  She could never make eye contact with me again after that.

  “Seriously, you look gorgeous. Just go out and … be someone else for a night.” She gives a shrug, reaching for heels.

  Li pops her head in the doorway. “You guys ready?”

  She’s dressed in a pair of ripped jeans with a flannel tied up just like mine. I long for her jeans though. I’m showing way more skin than I’m used to, but Kenna’s words stick with me.

  Be someone else for a night.

  I’m in a new state, at college, where no one knows me and I can finally let go of my past. Being someone else sounds pretty appealing. I don’t have a label attached to me already.

 
; “Yep,” I answer Li, smiling at my reflection this time. I fluff my hair, curled and hanging down past my breasts. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Harvey’s, the bar Kenna drives us to, looks like a total dive. The kind of place you’d see bikers hanging outside of. Despite the appearance of the building it isn’t motorcycles parked out front. Instead luxury vehicles line the lot like sentinels. You can practically smell the money in the air.

  Kenna shuts her car off. You almost can’t tell since it’s so quiet even when it’s on.

  “Show time, girls.” Kenna rubs her hands together, her caramel eyes sparkling with excitement.

  Li leans up from the back as Kenna slips from the car and whispers to me, “She scares me.”

  Laughter bubbles out of me. “She’s something.”

  Kenna waves for us to hurry and get out, so we do, the headlights on her car flashing when she locks it.

  A country song blasts out of the bar as we walk up, Kenna pushing open the doors like a dramatic cop in a western movie. Or maybe it’s the outlaw that does that.

  Inside, the music is even louder, the lights dimmed. There are booths, a massive bar that’s a complete circle in the middle of the room, and a dance floor that’s currently heavily occupied by people doing some kind of step shuffle thing.

  The atmosphere is vibrant, lively and I find myself smiling.

  Kenna grabs my hand and I quickly reach for Li’s, both of us letting the other girl guide us through the bar. I think Kenna has become the silent leader of our group.

  She locates a booth in a back corner facing the dance floor. It’s a little out of the way which she seems disappointed about, but her frown quickly leaves when she announces that drinks are on her tonight and she glides over to the bar with a swish of her hair, leaving the smell of her floral perfume in her wake.

  Li sits down, tapping her fingers against her cheek. “This place isn’t normally my scene,” she says softly, her eyes scanning the building. “I’m not into the whole country vibe thing.”