by Abbi Glines
One was from my mom.
One was from Slate.
I slid my finger over my mom’s text first. Good night, honey. I hope your day was a good one. Love you.
I sent a quick response about making friends and getting coffee and made sure to tell her I loved her.
Then I slid my finger over the other text. Good night was all it said.
I didn’t have a response for that. It was morning now. This text came in the middle of the night. I wondered if Everly had even made it back to the room yet when he’d sent it. I didn’t have time to think about that. It didn’t really matter.
I sat my basket on the closed toilet seat and found my brush. I had a day planned and no thoughts of Slate or dealings with Everly if I was lucky. Neither of them seemed to fit into my life here so far. Everly wasn’t the nicest person around. But I typically got along with everyone, so I’d figure it out. Just not right now.
Drying my hair, putting on makeup, and then getting dressed in the dark took all my concentration. By the time I was out the door, Everly had only cursed at me three times. I thought that was pretty good. Considering.
Since I couldn’t hang out in my room and read or something until it was time to meet Knox, I headed for the coffee shop to grab some morning caffeine. It wasn’t as packed as yesterday, but it was a Sunday so most students were probably still sleeping. Much like Everly.
“You’re up early,” a male voice said, and I turned to see Charlie standing behind me in line. He had his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans and his stance was rather cute.
“It’s after ten,” I pointed out.
He nodded. “True, but it’s Sunday and you should have been living it up last night as your first night on campus. Where’s the exhaustion?”
“I guess I missed that memo. I was in bed by ten thirty.”
He grinned. “You’re a wild one, Vale McKinley.”
“That’s the rumor,” I quipped.
“What can I get you?” the girl behind the counter asked.
I turned back to her and, again, I hadn’t had time to study the menu so I went with a regular coffee. At least I was saving money this way.
“She’ll also have a shot of caramel in that and a cinnamon muffin with icing. Make that two of each, for here,” Charlie said, stepping up beside me and pulling out his wallet. “Breakfast is on me,” he added with a wink.
What was it with these siblings? Now I would owe them both a coffee. I wasn’t going to complain, though. That muffin sounded delicious.
“Thank you. Next time, I treat,” I informed him.
Charlie took the muffins and glanced at me with an amused smirk. “If I ever let a woman buy my coffee, my mother would fly here on her broom and beat me over the head with it.”
The image made me laugh. “We won’t tell her.”
His eyes went wide and he leaned in. “Did you miss the part about the broom? She’ll know. She knows everything. I expect to get a call from her later today asking about the beautiful brunette I shared coffee and a muffin with.”
I felt my cheeks heat from being referred to as “beautiful.” I wasn’t good with compliments. Being with the same boy since you were a kid was easy. Comfortable. This was new.
He handed me the two plates with the muffins and he carried the two coffees as he led me to one of the many empty tables. The one he chose was by a window and the streets were quaint and quiet without all the traffic from yesterday. Oak trees lined the street and flower gardens were everywhere. Even on top of the trash cans.
“I’m going to admit I called my sister last night for details about you. So as much as this seems to be me hitting on you, I’m already aware that you have a guy back home. I won’t lie. I was a little bummed, but seeing you here this morning was fate and I think we might just be good friends after all.”
That made me relax. I hadn’t been sure how to handle things if Charlie asked me out. I didn’t want to make it weird between me and Mae. I liked her and I wanted to keep that new friendship.
“I’d like that,” I told him, then took a sip of my coffee. I’d forgotten he’d added the caramel, and the creamy taste hit my tongue. I was a fan. “The caramel is great.”
He grinned and nodded. “Yep. Only fifty cents more, too. The stuff my sister orders costs almost five bucks.”
“Good to know.”
“Just wait until you taste that muffin,” he added.
I picked up my fork and took a small bite. The warm gooeyness melted on my tongue. “Yum,” I said, going for a larger bite.
“The best muffin in town,” he assured me.
“I bet this place is packed in the mornings during the week,” I said, already sad that I wouldn’t have time most days to get either of these things before class. Unless I got up really early. All my morning classes started at eight. I wasn’t sure what I was thinking when I did my schedule.
“Line is out the door. I have a hook-up, though. I might share on days when I’m close by.”
Smiling at his teasing, I took another bite. Making friends had been easier than I expected. I missed home and I missed Crawford, but I was going to be okay here. When Crawford woke up and was back completely, I’d be able to show him around and we’d experience all this together. He would love these muffins.
“So, tell me about your guy. Is he headed to another college?”
Talking about Crawford was never easy. I had to dance around the actual facts. “He’s staying home this year. There are some personal things he’s handling. We’ll see each other on weekends when I go home, and he’ll join me here as soon as he can.”
Charlie was listening with his fork paused in midair as if he were waiting on more details. “How long you been dating?”
“Since we were six,” I replied, then laughed softly. That answer always got surprised looks.
“Wow, so he’s the only guy you’ve ever dated,” he said, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Jesus, and I thought my three-year relationship in high school was long.”
“I definitely have you beat.”
He shot me a crooked grin. “You have everyone I’ve ever met beat.”
This was nice. Talking about Crawford and enjoying my coffee. When he came here, people would know him and know our story. It would be an easy adjustment. I looked forward to that day. I just hoped it was soon.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MONDAY CAME AND went in a blur. Making it to each class on time, getting all the first-of-the-semester information, not having time for lunch, then finally crashing in my room with a bag of Cheetos and a Diet Coke around five. Then the studying began.
Tuesday was a replica, but instead of Cheetos it was Goldfish crackers and a bottle of water. I decided to try to be healthier. Which was blown out of the water when Mae brought me a large greasy slice of pepperoni pizza around nine while I was making notes on the evening’s reading assignment.
Wednesdays were slower days for me. This morning I had managed to get up early enough to stand in the long line outside the coffee shop. I didn’t get a muffin because once I got my coffee, I only had five minutes to get to class. No time to eat. The good news was my afternoon was free, so I’d actually get to eat and catch up on assignments due next week.
Once I was done with all my classes for the day, I headed for the library. Everly wasn’t one for studying and she listened to Justin Bieber music loudly and sang off-key whenever she was in the room. I’d pretty much decided the library was going to be my best friend. The only good news was that Everly was out most evenings on dates. I didn’t ask if it was Slate, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wondering.
I hadn’t seen even a glimpse of Slate since the first day in the coffee shop. Nor had he texted again. Which was fine. I didn’t think Slate was going to be a good friend anyway. He didn’t seem the type. He had an agenda, and friendship wasn’t on it.
I went to the fourth floor of th
e library and found a table in the back behind shelves of books, so it was nice and secluded. No one seemed to venture beyond the second floor for studying, so this seemed like the best idea.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I heard giggling, then a deep male whisper … then more giggling. I glanced up and looked through the bookshelves in front of me to see the back of a girl pressed up against the other side of the bookshelf.
Slate was the one word I recognized. The girl said his name twice, and then he moaned.
Seriously? Frowning, I tried to block it out and put my focus back on my books.
“That’s it,” he said with a groan. For the love of God! I glared at the shelves as a few books fell to the ground and he made another pleasure sound. Didn’t he have a bedroom at the frat house? I was under the impression that was where this kind of activity took place.
No thank you.
I stood up and took a deep breath before walking around the bookshelves to see exactly what I had imagined. Slate with a girl I didn’t know, several books thoughtlessly scattered around them.
Both heads jerked in my direction and I couldn’t make eye contact with Slate. I’d now seen enough to know that things would never be the same.
“Um, yes, excuse me, but I’m right over there studying,” I said, not looking directly at them. The girl’s boobs were exposed and I didn’t want to see that, either, so I turned my gaze to my table. “I’m studying and I don’t really want to be a voyeur on this whole experience so if you wouldn’t mind taking it to, oh, I don’t know, your bedroom, the frat house, somewhere that’s not a public place…” I paused with my cheeks blazing hot. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what sex was or I hadn’t done it with Crawford. It was just that I’d never seen anyone else do it.
“That’s what this floor is for. You can move.” The girl’s voice grated on me.
“I’m pretty sure the school board would agree with me that this is a place for students to study, not screw,” I replied, then walked back to my table so I didn’t have to continue this conversation with almost-naked people.
“Later,” I heard him say. She argued back and then he repeated, “Later.”
It sounded like she was having a bit of a fit and I wondered if that was as sexy as the blow job she’d been giving him.
“I said, not right now. Not here.” His tone was hard this time.
“You’re a jerk,” she spat out at him loudly.
“You’re the one who begged to come up here and suck my dick,” he replied.
A few more books hit the floor, and although the carpet muffled her steps, I could hear her storming off. God, please let him follow her.
The words on the page I was staring at began to blur as I tried to focus, but my heart was pounding nervously. I didn’t want him to talk to me now.
“She’s right. If you study up here, that won’t be the only live sex show you’ll see.”
Great. He was going to talk.
“This is a library.” I stated the obvious but didn’t look up.
I heard him laugh, and I suddenly wanted to hurl a book at him myself.
“Yeah, it is. Getting sucked off in the shelves isn’t so bad. Kind of hot. Thinking about someone walking up and catching you. Are you a virgin, Vale?”
That got my attention. I lifted my head and stared directly at him. His pants were back up and zipped, which was a relief. “That’s not your business.”
He shrugged. “The shade of red you were when you saw us makes me think you’ve not had sex yourself.”
I was not going to be made fun of by this man-whore. “I’ve slept with Crawford.”
Slate smirked.”I wasn’t talking about sleeping, sweetheart. I was talking about fucking.”
Why was hearing him say that word attractive? It wasn’t a nice word, but when he said it my heart picked up and butterflies went a little crazy in my stomach. What was wrong with me?
“I need to study,” I informed him.
“I texted you. You didn’t respond.”
Why was he bringing that up? “I was asleep.”
“I know. I saw you.”
That got my complete attention. “What?”
He closed the distance between us and pulled out the chair across from me. “I came with Everly up to your room. To see you. And you were in bed asleep. You’re a cute sleeper.”
I hadn’t even heard them. I didn’t like the idea of them being in the room with me asleep. It was an invasion of privacy. “She shouldn’t have let you in the room with me in bed,” I snapped, angry at them both.
“I agree. I told her not to do it again.”
Again … what? “I’m confused.”
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Everly is a selfish bitch. So I warned her if she ever let another guy in that room with you sleeping I’d make sure it never happened again.”
Oh. I didn’t know what to say to that.
“She knows I don’t make threats lightly. I rarely make them. But you’ll be safe. I promise.”
“Why do you care?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He shrugged. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. But I care. That’s all that matters.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I’M NOT SURE what happened that day in the library, but something unspoken was said. Things were not the same. Slate started texting me regularly. Not simple Good night texts, either. We had actual texting conversations. About classes, Everly’s obsessive issues, coffee, the fact I’d had coffee with Charlie again, and even what we were eating.
It was like Slate simply wanted to talk to me. Nothing more. And although it was just texting, we were getting close. Closer than I had ever felt to a guy other than Crawford. Slate was truly becoming my friend.
He invited me to coffee often, met me after classes, and for a week we went to lunch together five times. I liked being around Slate. He made me laugh and he didn’t pressure me for anything more than friendship. Unlike Charlie, who had kept dropping hints that he would like to date. I couldn’t date. There was Crawford.
Slate took my mind off that pain. When I was with him, things felt better. Happier. Like I might actually find joy again. Deep down, I thought at times about a future without Crawford. Even though it made me feel incredibly guilty, I still thought about it.
For the first time since the accident, I truly had something to feel guilty about. I was living the life we had planned together. I didn’t think about Crawford all the time, and my chest wasn’t always tight with the pain of loss. Sometimes I would laugh and not realize until later that day that Crawford hadn’t crossed my mind. I wasn’t proud of it, but I was learning to enjoy life as it was at the moment. Slate was helping me. Mae was too. But Slate was … more.
I just wasn’t sure what kind of more he was. Because although Crawford wasn’t with me, my heart was still with him. It had been since I was six. Could that ever truly change?
* * *
EVERLY WAS GETTING dressed up for a party at Kappa Sigma that I knew nothing about. It hurt when she told me. The slice came out of nowhere. It wasn’t that I was surprised by it. Slate had become my friend. His not inviting me to his fraternity house party made me feel less important to him than he’d become to me. I wasn’t expecting an invite as his date or anything … but as a friend. At least.
“Knock, knock.” Mae stuck her head in the door, glanced around to see the room free of Everly, then smiled at me and came on in.
“She’s in the bathroom,” I told her before she started talking about her. Mae was not an Everly fan. I didn’t know many people who were.
“Who’s the hot date tonight?” she whispered, walking over to Everly’s bed and picking up the tiny piece of fabric I think was supposed to be her top.
“Not sure. Kappa Sigma party.”
Mae turned her gaze to me and frowned. “You’re not going?”
It was common knowledge now that I was Slate Allen’s only female f
riend in the history of the world. I shook my head, hoping the hurt wasn’t shining in my eyes.
“Jerk,” Mae mumbled, then walked over to my closet and began going through my things. I watched her, as she appeared to be on a mission. Until she tossed a pair of black leggings and a strapless silver top that I normally wore under a jacket at me. “Put this on,” she said, then started going through my shoes.
“These are leggings,” I stated. “I need a longer shirt.”
She stood up with a pair of silver strappy heels in her hands and rolled her eyes at me. “No, Rory Gilmore, you do not. Put this on. Get your makeup on and fix that hair. We’re going out tonight, too. Screw Kappa Sigma and their dumb parties. Charlie and three of his friends are headed to Linc. We will join them.”
“Linc?”
She beamed at me as she got to the door. “It’s a college club. Now get ready.”
After the door closed behind her, I stared down at the clothing she had picked out for me. There was no reason not to go out tonight. It would keep me from sitting here with my feelings hurt. It didn’t take much to talk me into it. I changed clothes, put on some minimal makeup, and used my wand on my hair. Everly still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. Luckily my teeth were brushed. It didn’t look like I was getting in there.
I checked myself in the full-length mirror Everly had put on the back of the door and almost went back to my closet to change. I didn’t typically dress like this. I wasn’t completely conservative or anything, but this was tight all over.
The bathroom door would have to open just then, and Everly caught me checking myself out.
“Where are you headed?” she asked, sounding surprised.
“Linc,” I replied as if I knew exactly what that was.
She raised her eyebrows. “With who?”
“Friends.” She was typically nosy.
“Guys?”
“And girls,” I added, then picked up my purse and opened the door. “Enjoy the party,” I told her. “Say hi to Slate for me.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. I didn’t want Slate to think I cared.
