Matchplay

by Dakota Madison

  ***

  When I got back to my room, Lucas was helping Olivia with some math problems. I sat on my bed and listened to them for a few minutes. Even though it was obvious that Olivia was completely frustrated with the math, Lucas was being extremely patient with his sister, which impressed me.

  When Olivia finally said the answer Lucas was hoping for, he gave her a small round of applause and Olivia gave a half bow. It was cute. It was times like these that I felt a twinge of jealously and sadness that I didn’t have siblings.

  Then the pair looked over at me almost simultaneously, as if they were just noticing me. A look of concern spread over both of their faces.

  “What’s going on?” Olivia questioned.

  I sighed. “Do you want the bad news or the worst news?”

  “Definitely go with the bad news first and save the worst news for last,” Olivia retorted. She always tried to find the funny in every situation. Lucas just rolled his eyes at her.

  “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can figure something out,” Lucas said calmly.

  The more I got to know him, the more Lucas reminded me of my dad. Always trying to find the positive in every situation and always looking for solutions to every problem.

  “Aaron Donovan is in my Intro to Art History class,” I moaned.

  “Stay away from him,” Olivia said harshly.

  “I wish I could but our professor, Dr. Griffin, assigned us as final project partners.”

  Olivia’s eyes went wide and Lucas chimed in, “Is there any way you can trade partners with someone or be assigned to a different partner? Of perhaps Dr. Griffin would be willing to allow you to work on the project independently.”

  I shook my head. “She was adamant about us not trading partners and no reassignments. I think I’m stuck with him.”

  “This is bad,” Olivia confirmed. “Please tell me that was the worst news.”

  I shook my head again.

  “I had a bad feeling there was more.”

  I pulled the sticker Aaron gave me from out of my text book and handed it to Olivia. Lucas looked over Olivia’s shoulder and they both stared at it.

  “He even had it personalized. Who does that?”

  Lucas grabbed the sticker from his sister’s hand and inspected it more closely. “It’s definitely custom made and he paid to have it done. He didn’t create it on his own computer.”

  He handed the sticker back to me and I carefully placed it back in my text book.

  “You know his father is one of the wealthiest people in the country. He’s one of the founders of Donovan Brothers. They rival companies like Halliburton. Aaron has enough money to buy a print shop just to make you a sticker like that. I wouldn’t take his gesture too seriously. Everything is a game to him. And I think he’d do anything to win.”

  I sighed. Lucas was probably right and I was most likely nothing more than a way to earn points in The Clubhouse tournament.

  “I’m going to have to see him in class every week and work with him on the project,” I complained. “He wants to meet every week after class to work on it.”

  “And to work on you,” Olivia sneered. “You can’t fall for any of his bullshit.”

  “I know,” I admitted. But deep down I knew it was going to be difficult. He had an ability to completely eliminate all of my carefully placed defenses with one smile.

  “Your virginity is something sacred and special,” Olivia affirmed.

  I was suddenly embarrassed to be having this conversation in front of Lucas. When I looked over at him, he looked as uncomfortable as I felt.

  “And I don’t want to see my roommate get hurt. And, truth be told, I don’t want to live with someone in the throes of a bad romance filled with heartache and pain, which is all you’ll get from someone like Aaron. Did that sound like the lyrics of several songs tied together?”

  Lucas and I nodded in unison.

  “Just a coincidence,” Olivia continued. “Anyway, I couldn’t take the constant crying and wailing night and day that would surely be the result of allowing Aaron to seduce you. Not to mention all the extra tissues we’d have to buy.”

  I knew she was right. I had to keep my emotional and physical distance from Aaron. Project partners were all we would ever be.

  “I have some suggestions,” Lucas offered. “First, always meet him in a public place with lots of people around. Second, be sure to set strict boundaries with him and let him know upfront that your only interest in him is getting the final project for class completed. Third, I would recommend not accepting anymore gifts from him, no matter how cute or clever they are.”

  Did Lucas really think the sticker was cute and clever? I thought so, too.

  Wait! What was I thinking? I had to get every potentially positive thing about Aaron out of my head.

  “Boundaries are not a problem for me. I have very strong ones and I’m quite good at setting and sticking to them.”

  “Good,” Lucas said. He gave me a genuine smile that warmed my heart a bit. I really liked Lucas but unfortunately not in any romantic way. Lucas was more like a good friend, or even what I imaged it would feel like to have a brother.

  “Now that that’s settled,” Lucas continued. “Maybe we can think about getting something to eat.”

  Four

  In Contention

  After art history class the following week, I met Aaron at the library. I did just as Olivia and Lucas had strongly recommended and set up our meeting at a very public place. I planned on setting boundaries right away and making sure Aaron realized that nothing romantic would ever happen between us. However, the moment I saw him standing outside the library, my breath caught. Ugh. How did the mere sight of him manage to do that every time? When he noticed me, he smiled and his face immediately brightened. Maybe he wasn’t crazy for calling me sunshine. I did seem to have some kind of effect on him. I tried not to read too much into it. I was there for one reason: to get the art history project completed.

  “I already reserved a meeting room,” he said when I approached. I had envisioned us sitting at a table out in the open not in one of the secluded meeting rooms. The idea of being alone with him both scared and excited me.

  “Follow me,” he continued as we headed into the building.

  I waited to see where he would sit before I selected my seat, as far across the table from him as I could get. He grinned when I sat down. Was he expecting me to throw myself at him like every other girl on campus? If so, he had a long wait. Eternity.

  I removed my art book from my backpack and looked at him. He was staring at me with those beautiful brown eyes. Then I noticed he didn’t have his book with him. He hadn’t even brought a book bag.

  “Where’s your text book?” I asked.

  “I thought we could share yours.” He winked.

  What was it with him and winking? I gulped. “Okay. I have some ideas about our project.”

  He leaned back in his chair and placed his interlaced hands behind his head as if he was getting comfortable. I found the move a bit offensive but I let it slide.

  “I’m all ears.” He still had a bit of a grin on his face. Did he think this was a big joke?

  I glared at him. “I was hoping you’d take this project a bit more seriously. Especially when I told you how important it is to me.”

  He sat in his chair. “You’re right. Tell me your ideas.”

  I searched his eyes and I thought I saw a bit of sincerity behind all of his bravado. I decided to forge ahead. “When I started high school, I already knew I wanted to major in art history in college. So I always tried to talk my parents into planning our family vacations around major art museums I wanted to visit. Because I’m an only child, they indulged me. The summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I begged my parents to take me to St. Petersburg, Florida for vacation. I wanted to visit the Salvador Dali museum. He’s one of my favorite artists. My mother fully supported the idea because she also wanted to go to the
beach.”

  I had to take a breath. I fought back the tears I could feel welling in my eyes. I didn’t think telling the story was going to make me so emotional. I cleared my throat and continued. “It was the last vacation we took as a family,” I said. I couldn’t believe I was sharing the intimate details of the story, with Aaron of all people. I rarely talked with anyone about my mom. I was only planning to tell him about the Dali Museum.

  When I looked at Aaron, his eyes held a tenderness that I wasn’t expecting to see.

  “Why was it your last family vacation?” He asked the question so softly I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly.

  I studied Aaron’s face. I wondered if all the girls who threw themselves at him ever really saw him, the person inside, beyond the good looking package.

  “My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer my junior year of high school. She just passed away in April.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” he said softly. He put his hand out and I thought he might grab mine but at the last second he pulled away. “I have no idea what it’s like to lose a parent. I can only imagine.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. “I didn’t mean to drag you down with all of my baggage.”

  “It’s okay. You can talk to me whenever you want about whatever you want.”

  I nodded.

  Our eyes met and his intense gaze went right through me.

  “I mean it. Whenever. Whatever.”

  I could see that he was serious. “Thanks,” I whispered. Then I held up the book. Back to work. “The reason I brought up the Dali Museum was to use it as an example of a museum as a tribute to a single artist. I think that’s the direction we should take with our project. I think we should design a museum for a single artist.”

  He nodded. “I like it”

  “Of course, the tricky part will be selecting the artist. I think we should both do some research over the next week and come up with two or three possible artists. Then we can make a final decision from that pool. And I think we should stick with American artists.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he agreed.

  “Great. Then I guess we’ll meet again next week.”

  ***

  I was in the midst of some intense research on artist, Mary Cassett, when Olivia and Marney burst through the door, singing and laughing. They were so loud and boisterous, I was fairly certain they had already started drinking, even though it was only five. The Friday night parties wouldn’t start for another few hours.

  “Are you still studying?” Oliva asked, slurring her words slightly.

  I nodded.

  She got very close to my face and whispered. “You have to come out and have fun with us tonight.”

  “It looks like you already started having fun without me.”

  She laughed. “Maybe just a little Happy Hour buzz.”

  My dad’s admonishment for me to have fun and start acting like an 18-year old rang in my ears so I saved my work on the computer and shut off my monitor. “What did you have in mind?” I asked.

  “The kids at The ArtHouse are having a huge bash,” Olivia replied a bit too loudly. “Everyone on the speech team will be there.”

  “Okay, but I’m not on the speech team,” I reminded her.

  “Doesn’t matter.” She got a bit woozy when she leaned over, so she sat down on the bed next to me. “Anyone, who is anyone, will be there,” she assured me.

  “And what if I’m not anyone,” I wondered aloud.

  That made Olivia go hysterical laughing even though I wasn’t trying to be funny. Most of the time I felt completely invisible and like I didn’t really belong. The only one, besides Olivia and Lucas, who even seemed to notice me was Aaron.

  “You’re funny when I’m drunk,” Olivia giggled. “You have to come with us. Please.”

  “Okay,” I sighed. “What should I wear?”

  “Something cute and sexy but not slutty. Just be you.”

  I ended up wearing a pair of low slung jeans and a coral V-neck that accentuated my curves a bit. Both Olivia and Marney nodded their approval at my wardrobe choice. When it got dark, we headed over to The ArtHouse. It was already packed with students. The party was spilling out onto the ample front porch and I could see through the windows that the rooms downstairs were jammed as well.

  I hadn’t gone to many parties when I was in high school. Actually, I only attended a holiday party that the chorus hosted and a graduation party given by the school, which I’m not even sure counted as an actual party. I got a little bit nervous as Olivia and Marney dragged me in the front door.

  The interior of the place was colorful and funky, and it sort of reminded me of a David Hockney painting. I immediately liked it.

  “I’m going to see if I can find Lucas,” Olivia said. “I want him to protect you.”

  I nodded. Having Lucas by my side sounded like a good idea.

  Marney waved to a few other students, who looked like her, dressed in black with dyed black hair. “I’ll be right back,” she said and headed over to join them.

  I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone. I hadn’t met very many people yet and everyone else seemed to be in small groups, drinking and laughing.

  My anxiety spiked when I felt someone approach from behind me.

  When I heard the words, “Hey, Sunshine,” I immediately knew it was Aaron.

  I turned to face him and my heart skipped a few beats. He looked absolutely stunning in tight black jeans and white button down shirt. “What’s a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?”

  “Does that line usually work?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Almost always. But I guess there are exceptions.” He glanced down at my hand. “Do you need a drink?”

  I shook my head.

  “Do you drink?”

  “Not really,” I admitted.

  “Are you here alone?” When I looked up at him, he had a look of concern in his eyes.

  “Oh, no. My roommate is around here somewhere. She went to find her brother.”

  “Is that the guy I saw you dancing with at The Cavern?”

  I nodded. “That’s Lucas.”

  “So you’re not going out with him?”

  I chuckled. “No, he’s a friend. It’s sort of like he’s my brother, too.”

  I thought I saw a faint glimmer in Aaron’s eyes. “Gotta know who my competition is.”

  “Competition for what?”

  He looked deeply into my eyes. “Competition for you, Sunshine.”

  A shiver traveled through my body as he continued to stare at me.

  The intensity between us was broken when Olivia returned with Lucas. Olivia gave Aaron a look of such utter disgust, you would have thought he was the dirt on her shoe. She grabbed me by the elbow. “Lucas and I have someone for you to meet.” Then she turned to Aaron and said the next part for his benefit. “He’s in the kitchen.”

  I could see Aaron was stifling a smile. He had such an ego, I bet he thought anyone they introduced me to would be no competition for him.

  As Olivia dragged me toward the kitchen, I looked back in Aaron’s direction and he was still staring at me. When he gave me his signature wink, I quickly turned away.

  In the kitchen, Lucas introduced me to one of the guys in his social club, The Geek Patrol. “This is Josh.”

  “Hi, I’m Rainy.”

  Josh gave me a look that was typical when I introduced myself for the first time. It was like he wasn’t sure he heard me correctly. “Did you say your name is Rainy?” he asked shyly.

  I nodded.

  He was tall, probably about six feet, but lanky, like he hadn’t filled out yet. He had dirty blond hair and ocean blue eyes. He was attractive in a boy-next-door kind of way, the type of guy my dad would have liked to see me go to prom with, if I had been invited.

  “Let me guess. You’re an engineer.”

  Josh smiled. “Good guess. What gave me away?”

  “You me
an besides the fact that Olivia told me you were in The Geek Patrol?”

  He nodded.

  “My dad’s an engineer.”

  Josh leaned in closer. “Please tell me you get along with your dad.”

  I laughed. “No worries. We get along great.”

  Josh pantomimed whipping his brow. “Phfew!” Now we were both laughing.

  Olivia and Lucas, who had been watching the interchange between us, breathed a small sigh of relief that Josh and I seemed to get along.

  Olivia grabbed her brother’s elbow. “Come with me to find Marney.” He nodded and the two of them headed out of the kitchen.

  Josh gulped. “Can I get you something to drink?’

  “I don’t really drink.”

  “It doesn’t have to be beer,” he responded quickly. “I saw sodas and water.”

  “A water would be great.”

  Josh reached into a cooler on the counter, removed a bottle of water, opened it for me then handed me the bottle and cap.

  “Thanks.” I took a sip from the bottle.

  When I glanced over at the keg in the other corner of the kitchen, I saw Aaron with a petite blonde on either arm. They were all laughing as he was pouring them beers. I immediately stiffened at the sight.

  “Is everything okay,” Josh asked. He had a look of concern on his face.

  I turned my full attention back to him and nodded. “Fine,” I lied. I resisted the urge to look back at Aaron and his little harem.

  “I know it’s a line but I really do want to know what you’re majoring in.”

  “Art History.”

  Josh looked a little surprised by my answer. “What are you planning to do with that?”

  I realized Art History wasn’t the most practical degree but I really didn’t like having to explain myself.

  Josh must have noticed my change in mood, or maybe my expression had given me away, because he quickly started to back-peddle. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. I’m sorry.”

  He looked genuinely pained and I immediately felt sorry for him. I could tell he was doing his best to try to impress me.

  “It’s okay. I actually have a very serious and particular plan for what I want to do. I have a list of several elite graduate programs to which I will be applying and then after I earn a doctorate, I would like to do a museum internship for my post-doc. Then I plan to teach and research at a university.”