"Really? He's not even a student."
"He's……sponsoring it."
Of course he was. "So, did he ask you?" Beth knew the answer, but it felt good to talk to someone in her right mind for a change.
Jenna licked the dough off her fingers and smiled slyly. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Not really." Beth feigned boredom. "He wouldn't let anyone else take you. And he's not exactly private about his feelings for you."
"Okay, he asked me. Happy?"
"Yup." Beth scooped herself some more dough. She'd always thought baking cookies was wasted effort, since dough was better.
"And you?" Jenna peeked at Beth from the corner of her eye. "Has any dashing chap come to ask you yet?"
"Colton's next visit isn't until Spring," Beth said, without missing a beat.
"I wasn't thinking of Colton." Jenna's assumption hung in the air, and Beth suddenly felt like peeling her coat off.
"Beth?"
Beth faced Jenna and waited for the onslaught. "Jenna?"
Jenna rolled her eyes. It was a most unJenna-ish gesture. "Who was the guy from the Malt Shop?"
"His name is Jaxon Donovan. Remember Denny Larsen from home? Jaxon is his friend and co-squadie."
"Do you like him? Maybe he's going to ask you," Jenna reasoned as she took one cookie sheet out of the oven and replaced it with another.
"I don't think so. I just met him on Friday. Besides, he's not a student. He probably doesn't even know about it." She waved her hand dismissively, trying to dispel her own hopes with the gesture.
"But you do want to go with him." Jenna accused.
"I wouldn't put up a struggle," Beth admitted.
Jenna smiled knowingly, scraping the bowl with her finger and licking the dough off. Then she sobered and asked, "So....what's the deal with Jaxon and William?"
Beth suddenly wondered if Jenna had already gotten the history from William. She decided to play dumb. "I guess they grew up together."
Jenna raised her eyebrows at Beth expectantly.
Beth sighed. "There's some bad blood there, I guess. Something about Jaxon and William's sister, Gianna."
Jenna transferred cookies from the cookie sheet to the cooling rack, as if she were mildly interested, but Beth knew better.
Beth chewed on her lip, debating how much to tell Jenna. The fact that she felt she had to withhold anything from Jenna troubled her more than the communication itself. Maybe it would be liberating to let someone else in on the whole sordid thing.
When she finished, Jenna had put down the spatula and was gaping wide-eyed at Beth. When Jenna finally spoke, her tone subdued and guarded, it reminded Beth of the way her father spoke to Lindy very rarely, before grounding her or taking away privileges.
"Beth…….I'm sure Jaxon's a really nice guy. But how can you be sure that it's true? You said yourself that you just met him."
"I don't know what to make of the whole thing, Jenna," Beth sighed in defeat. "The only thing I really have to go on is my own experience with William. And it validates everything Jaxon said."
"Beth, you've never liked William. It's obvious to anyone else in the room when you're together. But has he ever given you a reason not to trust him?"
Beth laughed humorlessly and looked around the room, as if a response to Jenna's question would jump out and bite her on the nose. When the bare walls offered her no support, she took a deep breath, trying to inject her response with composure. "The fact is William has been unkind in the past and Jaxon hasn't."
"That you know of," Jenna qualified. "You just met Jaxon Beth - you don't know anything about his past."
Beth made a dismissive noise. "William tried to pay me off to get out of the charity thing. You don't think he'd do the same for his own sister?"
Jenna gave Beth an exasperated look that said, seriously?
"Did he say anything to you about it?" Beth asked, trying to curb her anger.
"Who, William?"
"Or Les?"
Jenna shook her head. "William wasn't home when we came back, and Les didn't know what the deal was either."
Beth nodded, disappointed.
Jenna took the cookies out of the oven and placed them on a cooling rack before turning to Beth. "I just want you to be careful. I don't think William is capable of all that. And, as far as Gianna goes, Les and Kara both know her very well. I've never heard anything but praise of her."
"Kara isn't exactly the person I would be taking character references from, Jenna." Beth expected her best friend to start listing Kara's qualities, but she just shrugged and then nodded in a hesitant sort of way, which made Beth grin.
Jenna stepped to Beth and enfolded her in a tight hug. "There doesn't have to be a good guy and bad guy in this scenario, Beth. People aren't always so black and white."
"Sometimes they are, Jenna." Beth smiled indulgently, if a little grudgingly.
Jenna handed Beth a cookie. "Truce?"
Beth eyed her.
"I'll throw in a Dr. Pepper.......?"
"You always hit below the belt, Jenna."
"I'll drive," Jenna laughed, snatching her keys off the counter.
Beth could tell that Jenna was elated to have the conflict over for the moment, at least. On this point, they'd just have to agree to disagree.
INVITATION
"(She) will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or other….."
~Mr. Bennet, Pride & Prejudice
On Wednesday afternoon, Beth was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework when Lindy bustled into the dorm, followed by Denny and Jaxon. Her heart skipped a beat and then picked up double time when Jaxon bestowed a generous smile on her. She was glad that she had taken a little extra time with her hair and makeup today.
"Bethy, we get to go shopping!" Lindy plopped down on the kitchen table, crumpling Beth's homework.
"Shopping?" Beth repeated as she rescued her homework from Lindy's hind quarters. Normally she would be annoyed with her sister's insensitivity and general clueless state, but it was difficult to be in a bad mood with Jaxon sitting on the couch looking at her with his stunning blue eyes, smiling as if he had a secret.
"Come on, Beth. How can you be so boring? The Winter Ball is next week!"
"Has someone asked you?" Beth was pretty sure she already knew the answer, the way Denny watched Lindy. "Never mind." Beth smiled up at Denny, and he winked.
Jaxon made his way over to Beth when Lindy's incessant chatter gave him the chance to slip away unnoticed.
"So, how is training going?"
"I'm sore from the workout, but I hate sitting around anyway. It keeps me busy and hopefully I can get into shape in the meantime."
Beth tried not to look him up and down and failed. It was obvious he took care of himself, even though his muscles weren't jumping out of his shirt the way William's did. His smile and the way he made her feel made up for any deficiency there. And she would trade perfect pectorals for better company any day.
~:~
Beth fastened her eyes to the carpet while she walked, trying to conceal her disappointment. She and Lindy were walking Jaxon and Denny to the double doors of Longbourn Hall. Curfew was in just a few minutes, and even though the conversation had been largely dominated by the upcoming ball, Jaxon had not given any indication that he was going to ask her.
Outside, people clustered here and there across the lawn, and a few stragglers hung out on the vinyl couch on the deck. It seemed that everyone was trying to stretch the time. Lindy and Denny were saying goodbye in their nonverbal way. After a casual "see ya" and a dashing smile, Jaxon began to make his way down the steps. Beth felt a resonating clunk in her midsection as her heart sank. Then Jaxon turned from the bottom step and called out. "Oh, and Beth?"
"Yes?" she answered a little too quickly.
"I almost forgot. I guess there's some big dance coming up?"
Beth swallowed, feeling her veins inflate with rushing blood, constricting her a
irway. She tried to sound casual. "The Winter Ball?"
Jaxon looked down, smiling at the stairs. Then he looked back up to Beth with his piercing blue eyes. "That's the one. So, are you busy that night?"
"Not really, no."
Jaxon climbed back up the steps toward her. "Good. Don't make any plans, okay?" He took Beth's hand and brought it slowly to his lips. Then he pulled her down to his step so that they were eye-level. He looked at her earnestly for a moment, and Beth saw his gaze shift over her shoulder. His eyes lost all their emotion and then his face lit with a broad smile, as if someone had flipped a light switch.
"Good luck on your homework." He winked. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure."
Then he jogged back down the stairs and started off across the grass.
Beth felt a faint buzzing in the back of her head. That was weird. She was positive Jaxon had just been about to kiss her. Something had made him change his mind. Maybe she read too much into it. Or, maybe Lindy and Denny were still making out on the steps. She pivoted around to discover them, meeting William's stony form.
He sat on the couch alone. While Jaxon had commanded her attention, the others had gone. Perched on the edge of the couch with elbows resting on his knees and hands folded together, he looked livid.
Beth sighed. This had to be about Jaxon. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her overalls and approached him.
"Hey."
He continued to look at her without speaking. Was she supposed to be reading his mind? "Are you looking for Les?"
William stood, the signature smirk taking over his face. "I'm not looking for Les, Beth. I think I know better than you where to find him. The happy couple practically lives at our place, remember?"
"Then what do you want?" she demanded, losing her patience entirely. She had tried to be nice. It seemed like every time she started out that way, she regretted it in the end.
He ignored her venom. "I need to talk to you."
Beth glanced at her wrist and her missing watch. She still hadn't replaced the battery. "It's past curfew."
"You have ten minutes," he contradicted.
"Fine. Talk."
William's lips parted and then he glanced around uncomfortably. "Could we walk for a minute?"
Beth sighed, put out. "It's freezing out here, William."
William took off his ski jacket and offered it to Beth, who, of course, adamantly refused. He draped it around her anyway, pulling her toward him by the lapels. He wore a long-sleeved knit sweater. Why did Beth have to notice the shape of his arms under that sweater at the moment?
"Don't be difficult, Beth. It's not like I'm proposing." As he spoke he pulled her along by the coat. "Besides, you'll be warmer if you're moving."
"What? You're not going to give me your shirt this time?"
Beth realized too late that her sarcasm could only wound her in this instance. William almost smiled.
She shoved her arms roughly into the sleeves, picking up the pace without giving him a chance to respond.
"Okay, I'm warm. We're walking. Now what is it?"
William took a deep breath, effortlessly matching her brisk strides. "You need to be careful with Jaxon Donovan."
Beth had known it was coming. She stopped abruptly and faced him, almost causing a pile-up. "Why?"
William searched her face for a moment, deliberating.
Beth remembered feeling that way earlier with Jenna, and the thought of empathizing with William on any level bugged her.
"Can you just trust me, please?" he asked slowly.
Beth's anger flared. "Why should I trust you?"
"Have I given you a reason not to?" William's face hardened, and Beth knew she had finally gotten to him on some level. It didn't bring her the pleasure she had anticipated.
She backpedaled. "A little clarification would be nice. Why should I be careful?"
William seemed to be struggling with himself. "You can't trust him," he finally said. "I know he comes across as a nice guy - but it's an act."
"How very brotherly of you," she remarked dryly.
His jaw tightened. "He is NOT a member of my family, no matter what he told you!" He took a calming breath, meeting Beth's eyes while she watched him.
"Maybe you have the facts wrong," Beth began carefully, as though she were approaching a wild animal. After all, if Gianna had spun the tale to her advantage, William had been justified in his behavior.
William eyed her shrewdly. "I was there, Beth. You don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, if I've been misinformed then maybe you should set me straight. Show a little trust on your end."
He considered her in silence, then said quietly, "I do trust you." After another deliberation he said, "He…..took something from me."
"Like, your wallet?"
"No. Something irreplaceable."
"Like a girlfriend, maybe?"
The inferno in his eyes cooled and hardened. "No. Something infinitely more precious." His words were shrouded with melancholy. Suddenly he looked tired, running a hand through his already mussed hair. Sighing deeply, he stepped to Beth and took her face in his hands, dipping his head to look into her eyes.
"Just promise me you'll be careful, Beth."
She blinked. His face and tone were all earnestness, and she couldn't refuse him anything when his eyes captivated her like that. Not to mention, he had her head in a vice grip.
She could only nod.
"Okay?" he clarified. "Promise me." He paused, then gripped her face harder for just an instant. "Please, Beth."
"I'll be careful," Beth repeated, a little freaked out by his unexpected intensity. That must be why she suddenly felt flushed.
His hands fell away from her face and he stepped back. "And watch your sister around him. She doesn't seem very street smart."
Beth still reeled from the last few minutes, and she didn't register the insult. She understood for the first time that William wasn't actually trying to offend her. He just said what he thought without much concern for the consequences. And, as much as she loathed the admittance, he was right. Lindy was downright naive, definitely careless, even stupid on occasion. But how could William know that?
"You've never met Lindy."
"I'm observant." One side of his mouth turned up, just a bit.
Their eyes locked and the contrast between Jaxon and William was forced on Beth again. William's dark eyes were full of mystery and made Beth feel confused and unsure. The transparency of Jaxon's gaze made her feel just that - clear, like there were no secrets and nothing to hide. She blinked out of her thoughts.
William nodded to himself, as if mentally checking things off a list. Tell Beth Jaxon is a jerk, check. Ask Beth to trust me without telling her why, check. Freak her out by caring so much, check. Make sure she knows her sister is clueless, check. As he stretched out his last look at her, Beth thought he looked like someone who had just lost his life savings at a poker game.
Beth didn't realize she still wore his jacket until she was back inside her apartment. She'd have to get Les to return it for her. For now she hung it over the back of her desk chair at the foot of her bed. Later, the fresh, sharp tang of pine scented her dreams.
~:~
Beth woke, startled by the ring of her cell phone. Peering at the clock on her desk, she ascertained that it was just after midnight. She retrieved her phone from the floor next to her bed, confused when she saw Lindy's number. After pushing her way through her bedroom door she flipped the kitchen light on. The couch hadn't been made into a bed, and Lindy was not to be found.
With anger surging inside, Beth answered the call. "Where are you?"
"Hello to you too, Bethy," Lindy pouted. "I'm out front. Can you come let me in?"
"What? Where did you go?"
"Look, can you just come unlock the door? I'm freezing my butt off."
Beth muttered something unintelligible before padding down to the entry and unlocking the double glas
s doors. Once inside, Beth unleashed a verbal torrent on Lindy.
"You can't stay out past curfew, Lind. What if my phone was off? If you're going to stay here with me you have to follow the rules!"
Lindy yawned hugely. "Give it a rest, Beth. It's like having mom here."
"Mom has never lectured you in your life! Maybe she should have. It would do you some good."
Beth preached at Lindy for the next twenty minutes, careful to keep her voice low to avoid waking Jenna. Lindy made the couch into a bed in resentful silence.
"I'm tired, Bethy. Can't we finish this in the morning?" She slid into the sheets and folded a pillow around the back of her head.
Beth ripped it away without sympathy. "NO, WE CAN NOT. I want to know where you were, and I want to know now."
"I just went down to that convenience store on the corner to get a Coke. RE-LAX. Geez."
"And were they out of Coke? Did they have to wait for Coke to come in from the Coke factory, by any chance? Lindy, it's almost one o'clock. Curfew was at ten. It doesn't take three hours to get a Coke." Beth tried to suppress the guilty voice in her own thoughts that told her she should have noticed Lindy was gone. But the Jaxon/William dichotomy had flushed it out of her mind, and she'd climbed into her sheets without even noticing her sister's absence.
"Okay, okay," Lindy relented, sitting up in bed. "I met some guys down there, and we went for a drive. So what?"
"So what?! You got in a car with a bunch of guys you just met at a white-trash magnet, after curfew, and didn't bother letting me know." Beth was livid. She felt like her eyes might pop out of her head any second now.
"If I had called you, you would've been mad and told me to come home."
"You think? I should call mom and dad right now and ship you home! How could you be so stupid, Lindy?"
Jenna emerged, blinking in the bright light of the kitchen.
"You don't see the potential danger of your little joyride tonight, do you?"
"Sure I do. They could have been lunatics or murderers or something. Beth, this is Hartford we're talking about. I think the worst thing that's probably ever happened here is someone shoplifting peanuts or something." Lindy snorted, diverted by her lame attempt at humor.
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