by M. R. Polish
I texted back: Yes. How about 8?
My phone vibrated in my hand. I swiped my finger across the screen to unlock it. Gr8. C u then.
I held the phone to my chest like it contained the most precious jewel known to man. Maybe the universe was through torturing me. Maybe it was time that I could let everything go and learn to be happy again.
I took a shower and got ready for bed with a smile still spread on my face. Just as I snuggled under my comforter, my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I unlocked it to see a text from Steve. My smile disintegrated. Not who I wanted to talk to but I decided to read it anyway. Making sur u made it home ok. How was the movie?
I froze. How did he know about the movies? I replied quickly, What do U mean?
I saw U after the game. We had 2 drive by the theater. A small pause before another text came in. U were in parking lot.
It made me feel a little better that he wasn’t following me, but it still felt weird. I tossed my phone on the pillow beside me, not wanting to think too much on it.
My phone vibrated and the backscreen lit up with my screensaver, a picture of me and Celeste. Seriously, can’t Steve just leave me alone? I reached over, picking it up. It was from Vahn. I sighed in relief. Sweet dreams.
Seven
I awoke the next morning to no new texts or phone calls. I was both sad and grateful at the same time. I rushed through my makeup and hair faster than normal, applying enough to make me look presentable but not too over the top. I tied a new bandana in my hair and called it good with a pair of capris and a t-shirt. I sifted through my shoes. I loved my Toms, but today I slipped on a pair of flip-flops because I liked how they showed off my pink toenails that matched my bandana and shirt.
I heard Vahn’s car pull up and took one more look in the mirror before grabbing my keys and phone. I opened the door just as he jogged up to my door. He stopped and gave a small chuckle. He tucked his hands in his front pockets and smiled at me, rocking back on his heels. It was so cute, I couldn’t help but smile back.
“So…” he said.
“So?” I repeated.
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and took one of mine. “Did you sleep well?”
I glanced down. “Yeah, not too bad.” I decided not to tell him about Steve’s texts. It wasn’t like there was anything too creepy about it now that the sun was up. I mean, other than the fact that some druggy had his sights on me, but Vahn already knew that.
We walked to his car hand in hand. I grabbed the handle to open the door before he could. He stopped the door from swinging open and frowned. I gave him a pat on the shoulder. “I know how to open a door. It’s okay, I promise.”
He gave me that half smile of his. “I know, it’s just something my mom would’ve liked to see me do, so I try.”
I let it go, understanding the need to not let someone down. I got in the car and let him close the door. He got in and started it up. The car rumbled through the neighborhood. “So, where to?”
“Well, we can just do the campus cafeteria if you want.”
“IHOP it is,” he said as he took a left turn. I laughed at him.
We sat down at a booth and ordered pancakes. I was a sucker for their cheesecake ones and my mouth watered just thinking about them.
The waitress brought our plates and we both thanked her before she left. He picked up his fork but let it hover over his food before setting it down on his plate. “I’m not good at this.”
I glanced up at him over my forkful of food. “Not good at what?”
“I wanted to ask you something, but I get so nervous. Rejection is hard, ya know?”
I grinned. I didn’t think there was much I would refuse him. “Ask me about what?”
“There’s this luau party thing tonight. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. I know Steve is usually at these things so it might be a little uncomfortable for you, but I can’t put it aside. I need to learn more.”
His persistence was impressive. I didn’t want to know or be around Steve any more, but Vahn had enough determination that he forced himself to be around the creep. “A luau? Like tiki hut and umbrellas in drinks kinda party?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Well, I don’t like the idea of being around any of them right now. I think alerting authorities would be the best thing to do.” I hesitated. Not wanting to make him feel bad for asking, but I just needed to process. “But, I’d love to go with you.” I gave him the best smile I could considering I just agreed to see Steve again.
He smiled. “Pick you up at eight-thirty?”
“Sounds great.”
I took a mouthful of pancakes, not caring if he thought I was unladylike. I wasn’t going to be someone I wasn’t to impress anyone. Besides, I had the feeling he wouldn’t want me to.
Vahn drove me home after breakfast leaving me with high hopes of seeing him soon. I decided to email my mom before she freaked out from not hearing from me. Sunday was usually pretty quiet around the campus and it wasn’t long before my eyelids grew heavy. A nap would definitely make the day go by faster so I happily slid into bed and thought about Vahn until sleep took over.
I didn’t think I was tired enough to sleep all day, but when I awoke it was already late afternoon. I sifted through my closet to find something to wear for the night. After a hot shower, I dressed and worked on my makeup. My phone rang. I lifted it up to see Steve calling. Ugh. I let it go to voicemail and tossed it on the counter as I finished adding more mascara to my eyes. It rang again. I let out a loud groan when I saw it was Steve again. I swiped the screen to answer it.
“Hey, Steve.”
“Hi, Keeley. I was calling because there is this party tonight and I wanted to take you. What do you say? Wanna go with me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m already going to a party with someone else.”
I heard him take a sharp breath. “You’re going with someone else?”
“Well, yeah. I kinda met someone I like and we’re going to this luau thing tonight.” Crap. Why did I tell him where we were going?
“But you’ll be there, right?” He didn’t really ask me anything. It sounded a lot more like a confirmation.
I chewed on my bottom lip, tasting the cherry lip-gloss I just applied as I walked to my bedroom window and peeked out. Was he there watching my apartment like I was afraid of last night? “Yeah,” I said.
“Great, I’ll see you there. Bye, Keeley.”
My hands shook as I hung up. Vahn pulled in when I looked back out the window. I didn’t wait for him to get out before I headed out to meet him.
“You look great,” he said as he got out of the car and dashed around to open my door.
I smiled, but hoped he didn’t notice it was fake. I was too miffed about Steve’s phone call to be thoroughly happy. “Thanks.”
He got in the car and we started driving. “Vahn, did you really want to go to this party?”
He shrugged. “I don’t like going to any of the parties with these guys, but I won’t be able to find out their secrets if I’m not around. Maybe you can help? Steve is already attached to you. It could be the opening I’ve been looking for, but I’d hate to put you in danger.” He let out a grumble. “I don’t know what to do anymore. I can’t ask you to help, that was wrong. I’m sorry.”
I bit the inside of my cheek as I thought about what he asked. He was right. We both needed proof before going to the police. With my dad as the police chief, I grew up watching the other side of the law. Proof was definitely something important to have before spouting off opinions. I knew Steve was dealing drugs, but that wasn’t enough to hold in court. It was the same as how Vahn knew the drugs Steve dealt caused Christie’s death. Words were only words, but proof was essential.
My reluctance faded. “I think maybe you need me more than you’re saying.” I turned to look at him. “Vahn, I know Steve is into drugs. I haven’t seen the drug itself, but I know a drug deal when I see one. I’m not stu
pid. My dad told me about enough about them from his job, told me signs to watch for. We need to get closer, find out what he’s dealing, and why everyone is so tight lipped. I won’t get closer to Steve, but I’ll go with you. Who knows? Maybe I can help.”
He chuckled and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly in his. “I think you’re just stubborn. You need to know that Steve isn’t just into drugs, he’s crazy and obsessive.”
I chuckled. I’d figured that much out on my own. We arrived at the party around nine. It was at another house that I didn’t know, a white two-story building with a large front yard. A two-toned vinyl fence wrapped around the property. We walked around to the backyard, where a bar had been set up with a grass skirt tablecloth. Bamboo torches lined the outside of the yard and there were about fifty people mingling all around. Music wafted in the air, but not nearly as loud as the other party had been—yet.
Vahn took my hand as we drifted through the crowd. I was on cloud nine every time he held my hand. He was like my own personal magnet and any chance I got to touch him I took. We stopped at the self-service bar first. “I’m gonna get a Coke.” He looked at me. “What do you want?”
I looked behind the bar. There was an arrangement of liquor, and my stomach knotted. “The same.” Scanning the yard, I looked at all the faces. I didn’t see Steve yet, and I hoped he decided not to come.
We took our drinks and walked together to the back corner where we saw Caty and Jonah. I hesitated before saying hi. I figured where Jonah was, Steve was bound to show. Caty looked at Vahn, and then at me. She gave me a smile but it seemed forced. “I’m so glad you made it. Steve said you’d be here tonight.” She glanced at Vahn. “He didn’t say anything about you though. When did you get here?”
“That’s rude, Caty,” I said.
She looked down at Vahn’s and my joined hands with wide eyes. “What’s going on?”
“We’re at a party.” I used my free hand to gesture around us. “Is everything okay?” I decided to pretend not to understand her snootiness.
She gave me another fake smile. “Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” I smiled at Vahn. “Be right back.” He nodded at me and I knew he was already snooping for clues.
I walked with Caty to the house, following her into the kitchen where no one else seemed to be.
“What are you doing? Steve’s gonna freak out.”
“Are you serious? Do you hear yourself? Who the hell does Steve think he is that he can claim me like that? I’m not his in any way and he can go to hell if he thinks otherwise.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to tell him yourself. He thinks you guys hit it off. You’re gonna break his heart.”
I threw my arms in the air. “Break his heart? Caty, there’s nothing between us. The guy’s creepy and to be honest a little stalkerish.”
She shrugged. “Jonah told you that Steve gets a little attached to people he likes.”
I rolled my head back and groaned. “A little attached? Caty, we just met and he’s already doing the attached thing. Don’t you think that’s a little strange? I mean, if we were dating it might be different, but we’re not.”
“Keeley,” she touched my arm, “I’m just trying to help you. Just give Steve a chance.”
“I knew I liked you, Caty,” a deep voice said behind me. As if this moment could get any worse.
I spun around to face Steve. Caty grinned at him. “Steve, I’m so glad you made it. We were just talking about you. Great game last night, by the way.”
Steve laughed. “Yeah, we really worked as a team.”
She looked at me and pleaded with her eyes. Why was she so persistent on me being with Steve? “I need to get back to Jonah.” She walked away before I could protest.
“You look beautiful, Keeley. I’m glad you came. Do you need a drink?”
I raised my hand with the Coke can. “I got one already.”
“Well, we should go see what everyone is up to. It sounds like they started some good music. Let’s go dance.” He reached for my arm but I pulled back.
“I’m here with someone, remember? I told you earlier on the phone.” I turned to leave when he caught my elbow.
“Keeley, I’m sure he’s fine. I wanna talk with you.”
I set my drink down and folded my arms. “Talk? What do you want to talk about, Steve?”
“Well, for starters, us. I really thought we hit it off the other day. Then at breakfast, it felt right. I thought we were sorta together after the tug-o-war thing.”
“Together? Steve, you don’t even know me. I told you I just want to be friends.”
“I like you, Keeley, a lot. Something sparked that night at the party and I know you felt it too.”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t feel anything like that.”
He slammed his hand down on the counter, making me jump. “Damnit, Keeley, I want you to be my girl.” He ran his hand over his short hair. “Sorry, I’m just not used to being told no. I mean, I’m the quarterback of the football team. Most girls would jump at this chance so it doesn’t make sense to me that you’re hesitating.”
I raised my brow and smirked. “I’m not hesitating. I have no intention of being your girlfriend, or whatever it is you want.” I didn’t wait for any more responses from Steve; I turned on my heel and strode off, looking for Vahn.
He was in the corner, by himself, watching the partygoers around him. I grabbed his hand. “I’m ready to go.”
He cocked his head and gave a slight frown. “Sure.”
“I know you want to snoop, but there has to be a different way. We aren’t going to learn anything by being here.” I pulled him across the yard with me.
We got in the car and pulled away before he said anything. “So what happened? I saw Caty come outside without you and wondered if I should go in after you.” He let out a small chuckle but it was broken. “What did he say to you?”
I shook my head. “I just want to leave.”
His jaw clenched. “Yeah, okay.”I knew he wanted an answer, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I wanted to be as far away from Steve as possible. More than before, I wanted to help Vahn bring him down. Whatever story-tale life Steve thought he was living, was about to come to an end. He’d messed with the wrong girl this time.
My phone let out a short song, letting me know I got a text. I let out a breath as I swiped the screen. U will B sry U didn’t say yes. Ugh. I shook my head and shoved the phone in my pocket.
“Are you gonna tell me about what’s going on?”
I stared out the window and watched the houses go by in a blur. “Yeah, I just… I don’t know.”
“Well, we have all night.”
I laughed. “You might, but I have class in the morning. That means I need sleep. If I’m late, Professor Priese will be down my throat.”
“Then I guess you’d better start talking.”
I started with the texts I got from Steve the night before. Vahn’s jaw tightened, as did his grip on the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me that this morning?”
“We just met and whatever we have wasn’t something I wanted to ruin with this drama shit.” I played with the tail of my shirt, not wanting to look at him.
“Keeley, you’re something else. You know that I know about Steve. Those texts could be serious. You saved them right?”
I nodded.
“You should’ve told me sooner. Besides, you think that would push me away? Have you not noticed I basically stalked you and you’re still here?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I guess. You still want to try me? I mean, I could be some creepy girl with stalker baggage, you might not want that.”
We both laughed. All I wanted was to ignore Steve. We drove to Vahn’s brick wall, where we laid on the hood of his car and watched the lights of planes flying over us. Being close to Salt Lake City meant the planes were lower, coming in to land at the airport. He took my hand and pulled me closer to him.
We talked like we d
id that night on the phone, but this time the past wasn’t closed. “What about best friends? Who was yours growing up?” he asked.
I knew it was an innocent question but I tensed up anyway. Should I answer honestly? What if he hated me for my mistakes? What if he judged me like every other person back home?
I took a deep swallow. “Her name was Celeste.”
He chuckled. “Was? Did you guys break up or what?”
Here came the hard part. I moved away so no one would know my secret, but I wanted Vahn to know. Something about him made me trust him. I hoped I was right. “She died.” My voice broke.
“I’m sorry. What happened?”
I sat up. “Nothing.”
He sat up and placed his arm around my shoulders. “Keeley, that sounds like more than nothing. She was your best friend, that alone deserves more respect than nothing.”
His words were like a punch to my gut. I tensed up and shrugged him off. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I respect Celeste; it’s just something I don’t want to discuss.”
“I totally get it, but you know the past can only haunt you if you let it, right?”
I tried to keep my anger down. It wasn’t fair to be mad at Vahn, he didn’t know.
“Keeley, I wasn’t trying to upset you. I just know how for the longest time I let my past define how spent my days, and even my thoughts. I wouldn’t want that for you.”
I looked over my shoulder at him. Was I ready to divulge such personal devastation? He leaned back on his elbow and waited. I laid back down beside him and stared at him.
He moved a few strands of loose hair off my face. “You don’t have to say anything. I understand.”
“No, you’re right. I can’t let the past define me. I’m a different person. At least, I’m trying to be.”
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You are. I didn’t know you then, but whatever you’ve gone through can only make you stronger.”
I gave a short nod. His words made perfect sense, but I didn’t feel stronger. If anything, I felt weaker. “We were at this party. Some stupid kid from school threw it because his parents were gone. We were juniors, and it was the last week of school.” I moistened my lips and sucked in a long breath. “We both drank way too much. Neither one of us were thinking clearly. I pulled out my keys to drive us home. We had the music cranked up so loud that I never even heard the other car smash into us.
