by Lee Strauss
Their plan promised to boost Crystal’s popularity and her ratings. Through the frickin’ roof.
“I’m going to beat the pants off of Violet Vee,” she said. “Imagine when I appear out of thin air at the bush party and then disappear before their eyes? Everyone will wonder what happened, if they took bad drugs, or if they’re crazy, but they’ll all know it happened because they will have all seen it. And everyone will be talking about me. Everyone. I have to make sure people have their cameras on me first. I’ll just flirt until some guy starts to video. They always do.”
The look in her bright blue eyes was almost crazed. She was so excited. He was excited too, and could hardly wait for Friday night. He wanted to help Crystal, wanted to make her famous. He wanted to give her anything and everything that she wanted.
Life couldn't be better. Had someone told him a few months ago that Crystal Morrisette would be his secret lover and a collaborator in his science experiment, he would've laughed in their face. And yet here he was. Soon they'd be able to come out as a real couple. Everyone would want to know how they’d accomplished this miraculous feat and she'd have to tell them all about him.
Crystal was right. She was a great platform for him to announce to the world what he had accomplished. Buzz before the contest winner was chosen could only help him. And he couldn't have chosen a more beautiful, vivacious woman to be his partner in science and in life. He really couldn't be happier. In fact he hardly could conceal his joy. The few friends he had at Detroit University weren’t used to his new persona. They accused him of being on happy pills. Like he was taking drugs for depression or something. He let them believe what they wanted to. Soon they would know the truth. He would no longer be the side-kick guy, the overlooked guy. No, everyone would know who he was. They'd cross the room to talk to him. He fantasized about being awarded a Nobel Prize for his work with the beautiful Crystal on his arm. Life just could not be better.
Then the blimp popped.
He’d come down with some kind of bug and had dropped into a drugstore for antihistamine. He spotted her when he left the store, waiting at the bus stop. She was hard to miss with her copper red hair piled on the top of her head in a sloppy bun, with loose tendrils cascading against her forest-green fall coat. The crystal earrings he’d given her sparkled from the glow of the streetlight. He was just about to call out to her when suddenly she wrapped her arms around the neck of the man next to her—he hadn’t even registered his existence until then—and kissed him. The guy cupped her face in his hands and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
He wasn’t sure why it stunned him, shocked him, as much as it did. She never claimed exclusivity. Never told him that she wouldn't see anyone else. He just hadn't imagined it. She was with him all the time. Well, except for the times he was in class, or she was out with her friends. He’d been stupid to think that when she said “friends” that she meant girlfriends.
Her betrayal devastated him. Deep down in the bitter recesses of his soul it crushed him. Worse yet, he began to doubt everything that Crystal had ever said about him. All those whispers about how she found him attractive, and sexy, and dynamic. That she liked to be with him, liked to hang out with him.
He was such an idiot. Crystal was just using him. He was her ticket to fame. Once she’d achieved her goal, he had no doubt that she’d toss him to the curb like a sack of garbage.
He was still the plain-faced cast-off he always had been, and now he was a fool too.
People like Crystal Morrisette just heartlessly played with people like him. They were teasers, selfish bitches. They cared for no one but themselves. Crystal was with him because she wanted something from him, even if it meant using sex to get it. Sex and sex appeal was her commodity. Why was he so surprised?
There would be no point in confronting her. Women like Crystal just lied. She'd run her fingernail up his arm, grip the back of his neck and press her body close. She'd whisper in his ear, nibble on his earlobe, thinking that she would get her way again.
But she’d underestimated him. He wasn’t a pushover.
She’d have a tantrum if he suddenly pulled the plug on their plans for Friday night, and he didn't want to deal with that drama. What he needed to do was teach her a lesson. Something that would show her who’s calling the shots. Then she’d crawl back to him and respect him the way he deserved to be respected.
And the best way to do that was to have the experiment not work the way she planned. He might be her doormat now, but he would have the last laugh.
Chapter Fifteen
Sage
“I’m getting a ride with you right?” Nora bent over the bathroom sink, and peered in the mirror with puckered lips as she applied tangerine-colored lipstick. She made a smacking noise then looked at me, waiting for my answer.
“Yeah, it's fine,” I said. “Nothing's changed.”
We were both getting ready for the sophomore bush party. I dressed in layers because the evening would get colder as time went on, but it could get warm too, depending on how close you stood to the bonfire. My old self would have been so excited to go out with friends. My old self would have enjoyed the processes of getting ready to go out with friends. My old self actually had friends—plural. I stared at Nora wistfully, once again wishing it were Teagan on that side of the room instead.
I was tempted to stay back and work on my German language course—I found I had a knack for languages and had registered for French and Mandarin as well—but I knew I wouldn’t hear the last of it from Nora if I bailed. Why I was succumbing to her peer pressure I didn’t know.
Well, I did know. I was inherently a social person. I needed friends, or at least people around me. That fact that Nora currently qualified as my “bestie” was depressing. I let out a sigh.
I wished I were home with my mom and dad to feed me comfort food. A nice long bubble bath and a good book sounded good too.
What was wrong with me? I loved parties. I loved these kind of events. I really needed to snap out of it. I was twenty years old, for Pete’s sake, not fifty. But despite my internal self talk I couldn't keep myself from letting out another sigh.
Nora sat on the edge of her bed as she laced up her new trendy fall boots. “What the hell is wrong with you? I know you’ve had a hard go of it lately, but really, you need to get your act together. You need to get a boyfriend, you know, get busy. That would get you out of this funk. Like I said before, I can set you up with one of Jake's friends.”
“I’m fine!” I snapped back.
She ignored my tone, undaunted in her need to play Cupid. “You’ve met Isaac Cavanaugh, but he isn’t the only one. I know, have you met Rob Hooper? I heard he and Maggie Epstein just broke up. Or,” she winked, “Chet Wiens.”
There was no shutting her off. I was exasperated by the pressure she was putting on me and in normal situations I would've said this with my inside voice, or responded with a witty remark, but instead I blurted, “I already have someone.”
Nora froze mid-lace-up. Her eyes widened and sparkled as her mouth curled up into a slow grin. “This makes so much sense now. Who is it, Sage? You have to tell me!”
Oh, God, what had I done?
“Is it a professor? Is that why you've been so secretive and moody?”
"It's not a professor. And I haven't been secretive and moody.”
Nora scoffed, “Yeah, right.”
“Honestly, it's nothing.”
“Oh, no way, lady, you’re not going to get away with that. ‘Fess up. You gotta tell me, because I’m going to find out some way anyhow. I'm like a hound dog when it comes to digging up dirt.” She laughed.
I hoped she was joking, but her earnestness frightened me. I didn't want her digging around in my life, but I knew what she was capable of if you ended up on her black list.
“It's not a big deal, Nora. I kind of like someone, but he's not available, okay? Can we drop it now?”
Nora gave me her sympathetic puppy dog look. “Oh, Sage
. Unrequited love sucks.” She patted the spot beside her, coaxing me to take a seat. “I know what it's like. But believe me, the best thing you can do is to tell someone and get it off your chest. And then you can move on. Honestly, I won't tell anyone. My lips are sealed.” She pantomimed the locking of her lips together.
I was so exhausted by everything that happened over the last year and all of the burdens I felt like I was carrying alone, not only about Marlow, but now with Ben leaving me too. I really needed a friend. Nora wasn’t that bad, really, and she was the only one offering, so I took the spot beside her and said softly, “It’s Marlow Henry."
Nora couldn't stop herself from looking shocked, and she snorted. “Really? That's the guy?”
I felt defensive. “Not all great guys are athletes, and built, and could be underwear models. You have to look beyond that sometimes. Don't be so shallow.”
Nora reigned in her surprise and now offered sympathy. “No. I get it. There's a reason why they say love is blind.”
It was hard to believe that Nora didn't get how offensive she was being. But she continued on in a consoling tone. “So he's with someone? He has a girlfriend?”
I nodded.
“That's why you want him. It’s always the ones you can't have that you want the most.”
I stood up, feeling frustrated. It had been a mistake to tell her. “Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm just being stupid. Just forget I said anything.”
“Why don't you go after him?” Nora said. “I’m sure his girlfriend has nothing on you. Just steal him away.”
She said it like it was the easiest thing in the world. Just snap your fingers and you've moved the heart of a guy from his current flame to you. But I knew Marlow, and he wasn't like that. He was loyal to a fault.
I wasn’t like that either. I wasn’t the type of girl who would purposely try to break up a good relationship to get the guy.
Nora looked at me with expectation.
“No,” I said. “That’s not my thing.”
“Apparently you don’t want Marlow Henry that badly.” She strapped a sizeable purse over her shoulder. “My offer to set you up with Rob Hooper still stands.”
“Thanks. I’ll think about it.”
My phone buzzed and I frowned.
“Who’s that?” Nora probed. She really was nosy.
“It’s Wyatt.”
“What? Why is he texting you?”
“He’s asking if I’ll be at the party.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“What a bastard. He’s such a player. I mean, he’s got a girlfriend!”
I squinted at her. “You just told me to steal Marlow from his girlfriend. What’s the difference?”
Nora blinked and I wasn’t sure she even comprehended her double standard. She stared at her reflection, again, in the mirror above her dresser. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Internally I added, Let’s get this over with. I grabbed my black winter coat and put it on.
“So, are you going to text him back?” Nora said as we made our way outside.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he has a girlfriend.”
“How do you know? Maybe they broke up.”
“Then it must’ve happened in the last five minutes.”
“Damn, Sage. You’re your own worst enemy.”
I wasn’t interested in Wyatt Banks. He reminded me of my old boyfriend Tristan, the kind of guy who, once he got it in his head that he wanted something, didn’t give up until he got it. What I hadn’t told Nora was that this wasn’t the first time Wyatt had texted me. Not by a long shot. I was beginning to feel stalked. I should’ve just said yes to him the first time, then maybe he’d have tired of me already. These kind of guys just liked the hunt, but I wasn’t going to get sucked into a relationship with another Tristan.
Chapter Sixteen
Marlow
My eyes kept darting to the other side of the bonfire, a monstrous, crackling stack of logs, to where Sage stood alone staring blankly into the flames. Once, she glanced up, catching me watching her. She mimicked surprise at seeing me at this party, like I knew she would, and gave me a thumbs up. I saluted. For an instant her lips pulled up softly and then dropped back into the solemn expression she’d been wearing all night.
I worried about her. She’d changed since our escapade in the summer. I guess we both had.
“Hey!” Dakota poked me in the ribs, and guilt flushed through me. Even though I constantly reassured her that Sage and I were just friends, Dakota was definitely threatened by our relationship, and catching me staring at Sage didn’t help matters.
Truth was, she probably did have something to worry about.
“What?” I said, playing dumb.
She pointed to herself. “Girlfriend. Right here.”
“I know, Dakota. I’m all yours.”
I wrapped my arm around her thin shoulders and pulled her close. Her hair smelled like smoke, which happened to be blowing in our direction. I pulled her out of its path to cleaner air.
She wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her cheek into my chest. “Am I?”
“Yes,” I said, even as I stared over her head across the flames where Sage had once stood. Where’d she go? I glanced around, but couldn’t see her. Gray clouds hid the stars in the night sky, and the air had chilled with the briskness that comes to the Midwest in October. Dakota and I pressed closer to the flames for warmth.
We were surrounded by a lot of familiar faces: Zed, our quirky dorm mates Steve and Paul, Sage’s friends Jake and Nora, and even her brother Ben, who was here with his soon-to-be-ex sophomore girlfriend Janelle. Music blared from someone’s stereo. Ben managed the drinks station and lectured all of us about the dangers of drinking and driving and to make sure we had designated someone to get us back safely. The sophomores remembered him from his athletic popularity from the previous year and his words carried a lot of weight. Janelle’s friends hovered around her, clearly enamored by her boyfriend, and Janelle beamed with pride. Poor girl.
I finally spotted Sage again and scowled. She was talking to that jockjerk Wyatt Banks. I hadn’t even known they knew each other. I gained some gratification from the fact that she looked put off. By her body language I could tell that she wasn't flirting: her arms were folded, and her hip jutted out. Then she turned on her heel and disappeared into the darkness. I couldn't help but wonder where she was going in a huff all alone. I wanted to run after her, but I felt the weight of Dakota on my arm. She was laughing at something that Zed had said that I had completely missed.
“Is that not right?” Zed said.
Dakota giggled again, “Uh, totally.”
An engine started in the parking area and yellow headlights pierced the darkness. I knew the vehicle. It was Sage's new truck. Narrow beams of amber lights flashed down the road as she kicked up dirt, fish-tailing.
Had she had too much to drink? I didn’t remember seeing her with a cup in hand. Or was she just really angry at something Wyatt said? Either way I felt compelled to go after her. She wasn’t my girlfriend, but she was a very important person in my life. We had a connection that I didn't share with any other person on earth.
I tugged on Zed’s arm and pulled him aside. “Hey, there’s something wrong with Sage.”
“Yeah? What?”
“She had words with Wyatt and drove away like a bat out of hell was after her.”
“Wyatt?”
We both looked at where he stood beside his girlfriend, Stella. He finished his beer and opened another.
“I’m going after Sage. I just have this gut feeling something is wrong."
Zed nodded toward Dakota. “What about her?”
“I'll tell her I'm not feeling well. Can you make sure that she gets back to the dorm safely?”
Zed shrugged. “Sure, man, whatever. It's your funeral.”
Dakota narrowed her eyes suspiciously when I t
old her that something I’d eaten earlier wasn’t sitting right with me. She raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. I didn’t know if she’d seen Sage leave or not, but it was clear she wasn’t happy with me.
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. I think I'm going to puke.””
“How are you getting home? I drove here. Do you want me to take you back?”
“No, that's okay. I’ll catch a ride with someone.”
Just then I noticed Ben and Janelle leaving the party. He was my excuse, my way out. I pointed.
“I can ride with Ben. You stay, have fun with your friends.”
Dakota’s friend Kyra came to my rescue and tugged on her arm. She slurred, “Dakota, stay with us, ‘k?”
I gave Dakota a quick kiss on the cheek rubbing my stomach to show I didn't want to give her any germs. It wasn't that I wouldn't have liked to kiss her, I would, but I had to keep my story straight. I nodded at Zed, mouthed “thanks,” and then raced after Ben Farrell.
Chapter Seventeen
Sage
Do I have some kind of jerk magnet on my head? I wanted to kick Wyatt where it hurts. Why was that the only kind of guy that seemed to find me interesting?
I climbed into Boy Toy and turned on the radio, hoping for a distraction, but it was a dumb love song and I snapped it off again. Nora was right when she said that you always want what you can't have. The grass is always greener on the other side. You snooze you lose. All these old adages were piercing my heart, feeling very real to me.
The guy I really wanted was already taken, and a guy I didn't want just wouldn't leave me alone. I patted the steering wheel of my truck and muttered, “It’s just you and me again, Boy. You’re the only one I need.”
I meant it. I was off guys. It was just me and my trusty-rusty steed this year.
I sped along the dirt road. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I was driving too fast, the trees flanking the forest road a blur, but my emotions were blocking reasoning. Wyatt’s continual advances made my skin crawl. Could you report a guy for sexual harassment if he hadn’t actually touched you yet? Maybe I should tell Stella about his wandering eyes, show her his lewd texts.
