The bottle had quickly made its round and Danny took a long pull before passing it back to me. I took another sip, a small one this time, before handing it off. With my low alcohol tolerance, I already felt the buzz.
Danny took my elbow and escorted me into the party, already in full swing, wall-to-wall with freshmen.
“Do you mind?” I groused, “I’m not your date,” and I pulled my arm free.
“Aha! So you do want to meet someone,“ he teased.
“I don’t know. Maybe. It could be nice. I know I don’t want you.”
Thankfully Cam appeared. “Is my roommate bothering you?”
“Yes,” I answered, and I flashed Danny a victorious smile.
“Then let’s have that dance you promised me.” I stuck my tongue out at Danny as Cam led me to the dance floor. So mature.
Cam was an excellent dancer, and we enjoyed dancing to several songs before breaking for a cold drink. While I waited for Cam’s return, I observed Danny through the corner of my eye. He danced with several different girls, none of whom kept his interest. I sighed. Danny was an excellent dancer, effortless in his movements.
After Cam and I finished our drinks we danced a few more dances. Then a slow song played. Out of nowhere Danny approached.
“May I cut in?” He asked, all polite good manners.
Cam had no choice. He handed me to Danny as though I was chattel.
Danny reached for my hand and held me close. Our feet went gliding across the floor as he masterfully led. The hand Danny had positioned on the small of my back sent unwanted shivers up my spine. I hoped he didn’t notice.
When the music ended I smugly curtseyed. Before I could take my leave, a skinny blonde preppy approached us. There was something about him. I couldn’t put a finger on it, but my reaction was visceral. The little hairs on my neck prickled. We’d never met, but intuitively I knew this guy was bad news.
He must have had a similar affect on Danny, for he instinctively wrapped his arm across my shoulders. Did Danny want him to think I was his date?
“Hey, Newman,” he said, lasciviously eyeing every inch of me. I cringed. “Who’s your babe?” His voice was soft, a muted southern drawl. Usually I found this somewhat sexy, but not this time.
“Duncan, meet Elizabeth,” Danny responded stiffly.
Danny calling me Elizabeth confirmed that for me, Duncan was to be avoided.
“Elizabeth. Lovely,” he said with sarcastic bite. “I’m Duncan Lebeau.”
“Charmed, I’m sure,” I replied tersely, but with a sweet forced smile.
A barely visible tattoo on Duncan’s collarbone appeared to be a dark-hued snake. A goth preppy. That was interesting. Or was it a warning?
“The after party’s at my suite. Be there.” Duncan said.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Danny answered.
“And bring your babe.” Duncan aimed his devious smile at me. “Pretty girls are always welcomed.”
“Elizabeth won’t be coming,” Danny responded definitively.
Duncan shrugged indifferently and left us. I deliberately removed Danny’s arm from my shoulder and indignantly turned to face him.
“Why won’t I be going?“
“You wouldn’t have a good time,” he answered flatly.
“I make my own decisions. I’m not a kid, Daniel.” How dare he.
Danny put his hands square on my shoulders and met my gaze with an intensity I had previously not experienced.
“You will not be going to Duncan’s. I will not permit it.”
“Permit!” Who was Danny to give me orders?
“Danny, why are you all over my date?” Cam’s laughter interrupted us.
Danny quickly dropped his hands. His usual laid-back demeanor replaced the intensity of a moment earlier.
“Your date? Eli your Cam’s date?” Danny was surprised.
“I guess I am now,” I answered. “Cam, let’s dance.” I sarcastically blew Danny a kiss as I walked away with Cam. Let Danny stew.
Midnight found me cozy in pajamas, attempting to read for political science. Distracted, I kept replaying the exchange between Danny and Duncan. There was something off-putting about Duncan. Recalling his tattoo made me shiver. I clutched my pillow.
Chloe staggered in with Rachel in tow. I wasn’t sleeping anyway.
“How was the party?” I asked.
“Be glad you didn’t go,” a sober Rachel answered. Chloe was grasping the walls to stay upright. “I got her out just in time.”
Chloe stumbled toward my bed. One whiff and I understood. She reeked.
“I thought Chloe didn’t smoke,” I said to Rachel. Chloe giggled. Rachel glared.
“Everyone was wasted,” Rachel explained. “I would have left as soon as I arrived but Chloe wanted to stay and I thought I might be needed.”
“Looks like you were.”
“Danny’s so hot. And he’s such a good guitarist,” Chloe sighed. “And his voice… Can he play for us?” Chloe giggled.
“Sure. I’ll call his agent tomorrow and book him,” I said sarcastically.
“Would you?” She sighed again. “Then he can kiss me again.”
I sat bolt upright. “What! Rachel, what went on there!?”
“Let’s get Chloe to bed and we’ll talk.”
We dragged Chloe to her bed, removed her shoes, and covered her with a blanket. She fell right to sleep. Now Rachel could fill me in.
“Everyone at Duncan’s was getting wasted, including Chloe. Then she jumped on Danny and started kissing him.” Rachel rolled her eyes in disgust.
How awkward! Danny didn’t like Chloe that way. And I didn’t want to feel self-conscious if Danny showed me attention like at the dance. Had Chloe noticed? Is that why she had gloated about kissing Danny? What a mess! Why couldn’t she like Shane?
CHAPTER 5 - ELIZABETH
The next evening I met Danny, and we headed to the library. What an incredible week it had been. The trepidations I’d felt before arriving at Donnelly were laid to rest. I was enjoying my classes, dorm life was fun, and I had made several good friends.
Then there was Danny. What an amazing reunion. We had picked up right where we had left off five years earlier including the comfort we felt with each other.
When Danny and I arrived, we found the library was relatively empty. It was early in the term and we were able to snag a soundproofed study room that by next month would require a reservation.
Danny and I settled in to review political science. We both had extensive outlines. While I impressed Danny with my mastery of the material, he overwhelmed me with his.
“How do you know all this?” I asked. “You spent half the weekend wasted.”
“It’s the other half that matters,” Danny shot back arrogantly. “Where were you at ten o’clock this morning? This is what I was doing.” Danny held up his book.
To say that I was shocked was an understatement.
“How were you up at ten? I know what went on at Duncan’s.”
Danny smirked. “Well, after Chloe was forcibly removed from me… It could have been sweet except she’s your roommate.”
“I’m so glad there’s a code,” I replied sarcastically which he ignored.
“I stayed a while longer and was snug in my bed asleep by two. I got my eight hours and hit the books. No way was I showing up tonight with less than my A game.”
“You’re so competitive.”
“Same as you. Admit it, Eli. You want to show me up just as much as I want to show you up.” I flushed, deep red. Danny laughed. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
I launched the rubber band I’d been wearing on my wrist at Danny’s head. As it bounced off his shoulder, Danny laughed. I sneered and returned to my book.
After a time I caught Danny stifling a yawn, and I raised an eyebrow. Aha!
Caught, he glared at me. “Let’s see how the coffee is.”
Danny guided me out of the room. After several wrong turns we found
the lounge where vending machines sold coffee, cold drinks and snacks. Danny grabbed a cup of coffee and bought me a bottle of water.
Pressed against the side of one tall machine, I tilted my chin toward Danny, maintaining eye-contract while we chatted. Towering over me, his height apparent, Danny leaned, supporting his hand against the metal machine.
An average looking blonde passed by, glancing at Danny, offering a plastic smile. She failed to get his attention that was riveted to me. How could Danny not notice her? The girl was boring into me with a deathly stare.
After she paused on her return, I whispered to Danny, “What’s with the blonde giving me the death stare?”
Danny brushed it off. “She’s nobody.”
“Let’s get back to our books. ’Nobody’ is giving me the creeps.”
In our study room, I gave Danny my own version of death stare.
“Who is that blonde, Daniel?” I asked sternly.
“I don’t know,” he answered uncomfortably.
“You don’t? Why would someone I don’t know, if you don’t know them either, be giving me death stare?”
“I met her at Duncan’s,” he replied sheepishly. “I didn’t catch her name.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes.
“She’s an upperclassman, and they have singles.”
“Do I really care?”
“You asked,” he shrugged shamelessly.
“A simple she’s a girl I met at Duncan’s would have sufficed. No need to get graphic,” I said indignantly.
“I didn’t get graphic. I could if you really want me to, but you wouldn’t understand.” I rolled my eyes again. Danny was infuriating.
“The girl is stalking us! It must have been quite memorable evening.”
“I guess so. For her,” Danny laughed.
“What a cad!”
“No, I’m just having fun, Eli. A girl that wasted understands things can happen that do not mean anything. She has to deal with it.”
“That’s why you wouldn’t let me attend that party.”
“I wanted to protect you from a room of wasted people behaving badly.”
“Yourself included?”
“Yes. Especially myself. Despite where you grew up you’re still naïve. I want to keep you that way. It looks right on you. It’s charming. I don’t want you to change.”
CHAPTER 6 - ELIZABETH
After a busy morning, my ire softened. It was difficult to reconcile Danny’s reckless behavior with the deference and kindness he bestowed upon me. Then again, they often said that about gangsters and their treatment of female relatives. The Godfather’s Don Vito Corleone was a wonderful husband, once you got past the fact that he murdered for a living.
Like it or not, I was more or less Danny’s female relative, and I didn’t like it.
Cam waited for me after French class. “Le dejeuner, mademoiselle?” he asked.
“Oui, monsieur,” I replied. So this was to be the new routine; lunch with the guys after French class. Works for me!
Danny approached as I was deciding what to eat and he planted a yogurt cup on my plate. He flashed that boyish grin, the one that most women, okay I, found irresistible. The accompanying twinkly sapphire eyes were what really killed.
“What’s up buttercup?” he smiled at me.
“Is this a peace offering?”
“Are you still angry?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “I can never stay angry for long.”
Danny followed me to the salad/sandwich bar line. “I’m glad. I would hate if you stayed angry.”
Danny lingered, watching me assemble turkey with lettuce and tomato, a dollop of mayo on whole wheat. I gave him a questioning look that surprisingly puzzled him. Sandwich making was really not that interesting. Why was he so intent on watching me?
Later, Danny and I strode triumphantly out of Political Science. Proud of having tackled several complicated questions posed by the professor, we were giddy with success.
“Let’s hang out. We’ve earned it,” Danny suggested. “I’ll buy you ice cream.”
When Danny and I arrived at the Café in the Student Center, we found an unoccupied round table on the patio. Despite being designed for five, Danny sat as close to me as possible, while we enjoyed our snacks and spent the afternoon talking.
Later, Danny opened his iPad to Notes, a serious expression on his face. What the?
“I’m making a list. Eli. You need a boyfriend and if you tell me what qualities are important I can find him.”
“Are you serious?” I asked angrily. “I don’t need your assistance. I’ll find my own boyfriend when I want one!” Should I be embarrassed, humiliated or just plain furious? How dare he!
Danny looked at me with concern. “I doubt it. You haven’t had any success to date, Eli.”
I felt as though I’d been slapped in the face.
“What do you suggest I do? Place an ad? Eligible bachelors please respond to P.O. Box Danny Newman,” I blasted him. “Why do you even care?”
“I’m your friend. I want you happy.”
“I am happy. I have friends. And I’d rather hang out with them than date anyone you’d fix me up with. Do you know how bizarre this is?”
“He’s got to be from a prominent family so you can trust him,” Danny continued while ignoring me. “That’s the big one, trust. Intelligence – no problem if he’s a Donnelly student. What else? Looks? Does he need rock star glam, or do you like to be the one who shines? Help me here, Eli.”
“You really are nuts.”
“Blonde or brunet?”
“You’ve lost it, Daniel.” I scolded while trying to keep my voice from carrying.
“You’re eighteen years old, Eli.”
“That’s what this is about. You’re hung up on me being a virgin. My sex life is none of your concern, Daniel.”
“It is my concern. I’m your big brother.”
“You are not my brother,” I snapped.
“I’ve got a better idea. Remember our agreement? If you haven’t found someone by winter break I’ll take you out to Malibu. Nobody’s ever at the house.”
My blood was boiling. White heat. I couldn’t believe Danny remembered, nonetheless intended to hold me to a deal made when I was thirteen.
“Go die in a hole, Newman!” I jumped up from the table, picked up my books, and turned to leave. Danny grabbed my wrist.
“Don’t go, Eli. Stay.” He looked at me with sad, sapphire eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t ever bring it up again.
Those damned eyes were impossible to resist, and he knew it.
Exasperated with myself for giving in, I sat down. Danny grinned triumphantly. Some things never changed.
CHAPTER 7 - ELIZABETH
Danny’s interest in my love life became apparent the following evening at dinner. Danny was absent. This bothered me more than I wanted to admit. I was distracted. An uncomfortable emptiness filled me.
As I toyed with my salad, every new male voice garnered my hopeful attention. My eyes darted around the dining hall seeking Danny’s. Where was he?
“Hey, guys!” Danny breezed in and greeted us, startling me as I was glancing in the other direction. “This is Juliette.”
My eyes popped open. My stomach sank. The loud metal clank of my fork hitting the floor as it slipped through my fingers brought unwanted attention from my tablemates. I forced composure. They shouldn’t see my queasiness.
Beside Danny stood a tall, waif-like girl with waist-long, stick-straight hair the color of ice and her face had the palest complexion. Coal black eyes were all that kept her from looking albino. I couldn’t decide if she was attractive. Maybe I didn’t want to.
There was something ethereal about her. Juliette wore a long gauzy dress of pale yellow and flat tan sandals. A lack of makeup and nail polish only accentuated her blandness. She seemed frail while she had the overall appearance of a sixties’ hippy. I was certain if I bumped into her she would fall over.
Who was this Juliette? Why was Danny bringing her to dinner? There could be only one reason and that conclusion made me ill.
“If Rachel moves down there’s room for you by Elizabeth,” Cam volunteered.
“Thank you, Cameron,” Juliette answered. She had a soft, almost musical southern accent. Ethereal.
She had met Cam! Danny had previously introduced her to his roommates while I was blind-sided? Why?
Rachel complied and moved. Juliette took the now vacant seat beside me. Great! Just what I wanted; this strange girl sitting next to me.
I did not want this girl joining our table. I was perfectly happy with my friends as they were. Thank you very much.
“Juliette,” Danny said, bubbling with enthusiasm, “This is Eli, my oldest and dearest friend.”
Oh, joy! So I’m the ‘oldest and dearest friend’ tonight.
My heart sank. It was too obvious to ignore. Somehow, Danny had acquired a girlfriend. When had this happened? He always spent his time with me!
Danny could do so much better than Juliette the washed-out waif. He could have a tanned, auburn-haired girl. I silently brooded. I needed a Tony Award quality performance to make it through this meal, my pride intact.
I pasted on my brightest smile and vowed to be as charming as possible.
What claim did she think she had on Danny? Juliette had to be supremely confident not to be bothered by seeing that his ‘oldest and dearest friend’ was me.
“Eli,” she purred, “So pleased to meet you.”
“My name is Elizabeth,” I answered with emphasis.
“My mistake. I thought Dan called you…” her voice tailed off. Dan?
“Eli. He did. Only Daniel calls me Eli,” I answered in a voice as icy as Juliette’s coloring.
Danny squeezed Juliette’s bony shoulders. “Once you and Eli get better acquainted, you’re going to be great friends,” he said with confidence.
Chloe shot me a sideward’s glance of support. I felt Rachel’s eyes rolling. No way on earth was I ever going to be “great friends” with Juliette.
“Dan, don’t eat that,” Juliette gently admonished Danny as he stuck his knife into Chicken Parmesan.
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