by S. E. Rose
As if she can read me, she rolls her eyes. “I literally just pumped that from a keg. I hardly doubt someone broke into the keg that everyone is drinking from and dumped a bunch of roofies in it.”
I shrug and take an actual sip. I grimace. It’s horrible. And I should know, my dad sells alcohol for a living. We only have the good stuff at our house.
Stella groans. “Please don’t lecture me on beers. I can see it coming.”
I smirk. “I mean, it’s no Tripel, but…” I trail off as I see Clark enter the room. I try to look away, but his eyes meet mine before I can come up with an exit strategy.
He saunters over to us. “Megan, Stella,” he says.
“Clark. How are you?” Stella asks as she hugs him as though he’s the best guy in the world. I glare at her like she’s a traitor.
“Same old. Just settling in for my last semester,” he states.
“Oh, you’re graduating early too? What’s with you two? You both should stick it out. Next semester is going to be off the chain. We have some sick parties planned,” Stella says.
I glance up at Clark, surprised that he is also graduating a semester early. Mostly I’m surprised because Clark is living his best life here. Why would he want to leave it earlier than he has to?
“You’re graduating in December?” Clark asks.
I shrug. “That’s the plan.”
“Still planning everything, huh?” he states with a smirk.
I glare at him. “Better than flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping for the best.”
Clark grins. “My pants have served me well so far.”
I groan. “I should go mingle. Tell your family I said hello,” I grumble as I brush past him.
I’m nearly free of him when I feel his hand grab my arm. I twist around to meet his intense gaze.
“For what it’s worth, Megs, I’m glad you came tonight. I hope you have fun,” he says. His eyes penetrate mine and I squirm as I step away, not wanting to admit the effect he still has on me after all these years.
“Right. See ya later,” I reply as I head toward the kitchen, needing to put as much space between me and him as possible.
Chapter Three
Clark
I didn’t want to take this class, but I needed to get a recommendation from Professor Swill. He was my key to getting one of the six internships at NASA. Everyone who was anyone in the department knew this. It’s not that I didn’t respect the guy. It was more that I didn’t respect his morning-only philosophy. All his courses were before noon, which meant, I would be getting up at ten thirty on Tuesdays and Thursdays for my last semester. I admit that not waking before eleven for the past three years had been quite the feat. I honestly don’t know how I pulled it off, but I did, until now.
I take the farthest seat from the front and settle myself in for a long hour and a half. The only redeeming thing about this is that the class is located in Tiber Hall which is next door to my favorite coffee shop on campus. I sip my cappuccino and flip through social media while I wait for the class to start.
It’s the sigh that pulls me from my early morning stupor. I look over the rim of my coffee cup to find Megan Lennox taking a seat in the first row. She chats politely with Brynn Garrison who I know from some other courses. Brynn is super smart, and I bet she’s vying for the internship too.
I set my coffee cup down and take stock of the room. It’s filled with the best and brightest in our program, which means, everyone in here is my fucking competition. I groan.
“Damn, Moore, I didn’t think you were capable of waking up in the A.M.,” Clay Killian says.
I look over at my friend. We hit it off freshman year and have been study partners ever since. If I ever need to pull an all-nighter, he’s my man.
I shrug. “I wanted to take this class and Swill only offers it at ungodly hours.”
Clay laughs. “Dude, you should have bought yourself two coffees.”
I’m about to make a comment about an IV drip of caffeine when Professor Swill walks in and tosses a bag on the table at the front of the seminar room.
“Good morning. And welcome to astrophysical dynamics. I hope you were all able to complete the reading for today,” he says. I groan. Homework for the first day? I pull up the reading on my phone and skim it as he begins to take attendance. This class might just kill me.
“Ms. Lennox, good to see you,” Swill says as he continues with roll call.
“Clark Moore?” I pause. My mind is suddenly flooded with memories of being seated in school next to Megan because my last name came after hers.
“Here,” I say, raising my hand.
Megan turns slightly to look at me, but then just as quickly she whips back around to face forward. I wonder if she’s remembering this too or if she’s curious as to how we finally ended up in a class together after sharing the same major for three years.
But all I’ve learned so far today is that I’m pretty sure everyone here wants one of those six internship spots and Megan Lennox is still my biggest rival.
Megan
I try to listen and take notes as Professor Swill speaks, but my attention keeps getting pulled to the man sitting four rows behind me. I can feel his eyes boring into the back of my head and it’s driving me crazy.
The fact that Clark Moore has woken up this early to take this class only means one thing. He wants one of those internship spots. There’s only going to be one of three outcomes and I don’t like two of them. One, he gets the internship and so do I, and I have to spend the rest of the semester working with him. Or two, he gets it and I don’t. Or three, and the one I’m hoping for, I get it and he doesn’t.
It’s bad enough we have to be in this class together. Thank God Brynn sat next to me. She’s one of the few people that I like to hang out with because she takes school seriously. We’ve been study partners since our first week of classes. I tried to talk her into joining a sorority with me, but she flat-out refused. She still pokes fun at me for joining, although secretly, I do like hanging out with Stella and a few other sisters. Although, I’d never admit that to Brynn.
Brynn’s parents work for government contractors. Her dad was an engineer for the Navy, and she’s lived all over the world. I know she wants one of the internship spots because we’ve talked openly about it. I hope we both get one because I would love to work with her.
As soon as the lecture ends, I pop out of my seat to hurry to my next class, but Professor Swill stops me. I’ve taken every class he has to offer. He’s a hard professor, but he’s also fair and he always is willing to take the time to explain things.
“I hope you’re considering one of the NASA internships,” he says to me as students file out of the room.
I nod. “I am. I was hoping I could use you as a reference,” I say quietly as my nerves take over. I was going to wait to ask him, but what the hell?
Smiling he picks up his bag. “Of course. I’ll send one over to Curtis Gilmer tomorrow.”
Holy shit! That’s the main contact for the internship.
“Thank you,” I squeak as I practically sprint out of the room. I need two solid references for the internship. I have one other wild card up my sleeve for references, and it was time to woman up and ask him. Ted Moore.
Chapter Four
Clark
“Who wants good food?” I ask.
“If it means we’re going to your parents’ house and having Momma Kathy feed us till we burst, I’m in,” Grif says from where he’s splayed out on our sofa.
“If I bring my laundry, do you think your mom will wash it for me?” Evan asks.
“Then get your ass up, because we roll out in five minutes. And, Sammicakes, is that even a real question? Of course, she will. That woman loves you.”
Evan smirks. “I just hope she washes it after she bones your dad in there. Those two are seriously freaky.”
I glare at him. “We do not speak of the happenings in the laundry room.”
&
nbsp; My parents have this thing for doing it in the laundry room when people are over. Both Evan and Grif learned the hard way.
Thirty minutes later, we’re pulling into my parents’ driveway. I have no idea why because this tradition started long before my birth, but every Saturday my parents have a party at their house. Neighbors, friends, family, and anyone who mentions they have nothing to do end up at my parents’ home. Everyone brings food and drinks. It’s a thing in our small town of Banneker. And I admit, when I don’t come home, I do miss it. My friends and I try to make it out here at least once a month for the Saturday festivities, and free laundry services. It’s a perk of being the baby in the family. Mom will do anything for me, within reason. I’ve tested this theory and it holds true. I like to tease my siblings that I am the favorite.
And by tease, I mean to point it out every chance I get.
I barely make it through the door before I’m accosted by family members.
“Hey, honey,” my mom says as she hugs me and then proceeds to hug both Evan and Grif. “How are you, boys? Evan, is that laundry? Just put it in the laundry room and I’ll get it washed up for you.”
Evan grins at her as he sets his bag down just inside the laundry room door.
“Let the party begin!” I announce as I walk onto the deck.
My brother, Kent, groans. “Can you lower it like twenty decibels? Vera is asleep,” he says, pointing to a small bundle attached to his chest in some sort of weird holster thing.
I quietly step over and kiss my niece on her head. She stirs but doesn’t wake.
“Your favorite uncle is here,” I whisper. She smiles in her sleep.
“Look at that, even when she’s not conscious I still make her happy.”
“Wow. Do you have that effect on all the girls?” Kylie asks with a smirk. Kylie is my older sister who is closest in age to me, and out of my three older sisters, she and Di vie for the most sarcastic. Lanie, on the other hand, is too motherly to use sarcasm to an extreme.
I flick Kylie off and head over to grab a beer out of the cooler on the deck.
“How are classes?” Di asks as she sits down next to Kylie.
I shrug. “Fine. I’m going to try to get one of the NASA internships.”
Lanie, who’s sitting on a bench along the railing, looks up at me. “How does that work? I mean with Dad working there.”
“It’s not with his division, so I don’t think it matters.” Yeah. So, my dad works for NASA. I probably should ask him if one of his friends can put in a good word for me. I just hate using my connections to get a job. I want to get it because they thought I was the best applicant, not because I’m Ted Moore’s kid.
“You should go talk to Dad,” Lanie presses. Lanie-panie. She’s only the oldest by like three minutes or something, but she’s a pain in my butt sometimes with her advice. I prefer the lesser of the two evil twins, Diana. Probably because Di would never play devil’s advocate with me. Lanie the lawyer always points out all the issues.
Deciding that I need to get out of the way of the firing squad, I head inside. I can just barely see Dad standing in the kitchen loading up a platter of hot dogs and burgers to put on the grill.
I’m about to go talk to him when I hear a familiar voice through the many conversations occurring around me. I take two more steps and see Megan talking to my dad. Now, her parents do live across the street. And Megan and her sister, Connie, do from time to time stop in for our Saturday parties. In fact, as kids, they were regulars over here. Connie isn’t around much anymore since she just finished grad school and is working in D.C. And it’s been a very long while since I’ve seen Megan. Her parents come over regularly because Walter Lennox owns a beer and wine store and supplies most of the alcohol for our Saturday parties.
I take a few more steps toward my grandparents who are all sitting in the breakfast room chatting.
“Clark, how are you?” Gran Tilly asks, patting the seat next to her. I sit in it, but only because I have a perfect view of Dad and Megan.
“Oh, good, thanks,” I say to her as I keep my eyes on Megan.
“Nana Betty was just mentioning that we all need to go get fitted for outfits for Di’s wedding,” she rattles on and then discusses the wedding in detail, none of which I care about. I mean, I’m happy for Di and her fiancé, Garrett. But Di’s obsession with romance has turned this wedding into some sort of epic Banneker event. I’ve told her that I’d get fitted for a tux and show up, but beyond that, I’m busy. Thank God for school. Weddings are not my thing.
I strain to hear Megan over the loud discussion at the table. I only catch a few words. “Excited.” “Nervous.” “Great.” “When.” “Thanks.”
After a few minutes, she gives my dad a hug and wanders toward the dining room. I can see my sister-in-law, Tabby, and her brother, Brixton, who happens to be my brother-in-law. Yeah, Kent and Lanie married siblings. Don’t ask. Our family is like some weird daytime television drama.
“I’m gonna say hi to Dad,” I finally interject before standing and heading toward Dad who’s about to go outside. I grab the slider for him.
“Thanks, Champ. How’s school?” he asks as we walk out to the deck. I join him in the corner. He begins laying the meat on the grill.
“Good. Hey, any chance I can get someone you know to write me a recommendation for the NASA internship program I was telling you about?” I ask.
“Funny you ask. Megan just asked me to write her a recommendation,” he says. I feel my blood begin to boil. Now, to be fair, my parents have no idea how bad things went between Megan and me. But, they definitely by now know that we aren’t friends anymore.
“Dad, seriously?” I blurt out.
Dad gives me a look. “I don’t know why you two aren’t friends anymore, but Megan is a good kid, and she has worked hard. I’m more than happy to recommend her.”
“Can you get someone at work to write me a letter?” I ask.
“You want to apply?”
I nod. “I told you I was interested.”
Dad gives another pointed look. “Clark, you mentioned that it sounded cool like three months ago. That’s hardly telling me that you are applying. I’m sure Mark or Rob or someone will write you one. I’ll ask them on Monday,” he says, rattling off the names of a few of his work friends that I know.
“Thanks,” I mutter. I shouldn’t be annoyed at Dad, but I am. If I’m being honest though, I’m really just pissed off at Megan. Why the fuck would she ask my dad? Part of me wants to march into the dining room and call her out and another part of me wants to sabotage her chances of getting the internship. I decide to go blow off steam by playing kickball with my nephew, Ashton.
Evan and Grif are already out in the side yard playing. We grab a few of my siblings, and after ten minutes, my mind is no longer fixated on Megan or the internship. It isn’t until I see her crossing the street and going back to her house that I begin to stew again. She’s just launched the first canon in our current battle. Game on, Megan. Prepare for war.
Chapter Five
Megan
“You’re having Mr. Moore give you a recommendation?” Connie asks as I pack up my car to head back down to my apartment. She’s stopped by to pick up something and she’s now staring at me like I have two heads.
“Uh, yeah. He works there.”
“But you and Clark are like…mortal enemies.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not mortal enemies with all of the Moores. Just Clark.”
“OK. Whatever. Good luck with that,” she says as she gets in her car. I sigh and finish stuffing a bag of things I’d forgotten into my trunk.
I spend the entire drive back to the sorority house contemplating how I’ll gloat when I get an internship and Clark doesn’t. I know it’s not right to think like that, but I so want to win at this.
I’m loading my things into my room when Stella pokes her head inside my door. “Hey, you made it back. Want to go out tonight?”
“I…”
I look around because I need an excuse, any excuse. I glance at my computer. I could work ahead in a few of my classes.
Stella pushes the door farther open and walks to my bed, sitting down and looking around. “Meg, come on. It’s your last semester. We’ve been over this. Don’t you want to be able to say you had a well-rounded college experience? One party per semester is…well, your social life is seriously lacking. I don’t want to sound mean, but you did join a sorority. We are literally a ‘social club.’”
I hate when Stella makes sense, which happens way more than I expect. “Fine,” I mutter. “I’ll go out. But don’t expect this to be a thing. I really do need to study hard, especially if I get that internship. I’m gonna need my weekends to catch up on reading.”
Stella grins like she always does when she talks me into doing something outside my comfort zone. “Can I give you a makeover?” she asks, clapping her hands with excitement.
I bury my head in my hands. Stella’s a good friend, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m a shitty friend to her. I peek out from between my fingers and nod.
She squeals in delight. “Hold on, I’ll go grab my things.” She runs out of the room like if she doesn’t hurry, I might change my mind.
Sighing, I resign myself to an evening of primping. It’s already eight, which means this is gonna be one of those late nights, which is so not my thing. But I should try to hang out with Stella someplace other than our favorite coffee shop or the sorority house.
Stella’s back within seconds and she’s carrying what looks like a suitcase of makeup and hair products.
“Sit,” she instructs, motioning to my desk chair. I sit down as Stella begins slathering makeup on my face and doing God knows what to my hair.
“You’re so beautiful, Megan. I just don’t get why you don’t wear a little makeup and do your hair in anything other than a ponytail. And if you just wore a cute dress once in a while, you’d have guys flocking to sit by you.”
I roll my eyes because I don’t have the heart to say the words in my head out loud. After the kissing incident in junior high, I tried to reinvent myself in high school. I did wear makeup and do my hair and all of that. Then, sophomore year, I was at an after-party for the musical. Parties were never my thing, but as the lead, I felt obligated to go. This cute senior who everyone liked started flirting with me. He also happened to be Jimmy’s older brother. I was hesitant but he was so popular. I tried to steer our conversation away from his unwanted advances. At some point that night, he cornered me and started trying to get into my underwear which was made easy by the dress. I kept saying that I wasn’t ready to take it that far, but he wouldn’t listen to me. I managed to knee him in the nuts and hurried out of the house as fast as I could. A nice girl who I had science with saw me and asked if I was alright. I lied and said I was coming down with a stomach virus and had to leave and to let the hostess know I was sorry. I ran all the way home and vowed never to conform to society’s standards of beauty again. After that, I only wore shorts and pants and on the rare occasion a long skirt. I also stopped doing my hair, opting for a ponytail instead. And my makeup was only lip gloss. I’ve never told anyone about it ever. People just thought I stopped caring about my looks. Boys stopped paying attention to me and I was alright with that. I threw myself into studying and graduated at the top of my class. And now, I want to do it again.
