by Carly White
We got to the movies as the opening credits were going on. There weren’t a lot of young people there for it being a college town, but I figured most of them were at a party. Lianna had tried to drag me to one and she probably would by the end of the night.
I loved the movie, Lianna was not so impressed, but I had a thing for the actor so I would watch anything that he made. On our way out, Lianna mentioned a certain party that Johnson was supposed to be at later.
“I thought you guys were taking a break?”
“We are, but I need to get laid and there is no one else that I want it to be.”
“Love, huh? Must suck.”
“It does when it is bad and we are fighting, but it makes up for it when it’s good.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t agree. She was a mess half the time over him and as much as she tried to hide it from me, I could hear her crying at night some times over him. I wouldn’t mention it because she was someone that wanted to be strong and to put up a front, so all I could do was let her. If she was going to get her heart broken tonight because he was with someone else, I couldn’t stop it from happening, but at least I could be there when it did happen.
“Fine Lianna. I don’t think it is a very good idea, but you know I am with you.”
She thanked me, though we both knew that I was going to go anyways. I was used to getting dragged to things and on occasion I dragged her to some book signing that she didn’t want to be caught dead in, so it worked somehow.
I let her drive there, because I didn’t know the way. The party was at Tommy’s house, the star quarterback and I had a feeling Jimmy was going to be there. The things I do for friends.
***
When we got there, it was already raging, loud music blaring out of the speakers in the house and there were people everywhere. I groaned to myself, wishing that I didn’t have to be there, but I knew that I was going to go. I had to for her.
“Why don’t you take that sweater off at least Chloe. You still got the tank top on right?”
I looked down at what I was wearing. I didn’t think it was that bad, but I did as she suggested. It would make me blend in better with the rest of the people there at least. Pulling the sweater off, I situated my chest so that it wasn’t showing anything else than way too much cleavage. “Better?”
“Yes. If I had tits like that, I would show the world.”
I sighed, knowing that what she said was the truth. “Yeah, yeah, let’s just go and get this over with. If you end up with Johnson tonight, I am taking the car back to the house, deal?”
She nodded. Both knowing that it was what she wanted and I hoped for her sake, it was what happened. I hoped more than anything that Johnson hadn’t brought a girl there or was with a girl when we got there. It would break her heart and wouldn’t be the first time he had done it. Johnson was one of those guys that would break up so that he could find someone else to be with.
Walking into the house, I recognized most of the people there and one of the first people I saw was Nick. Our eyes met for a moment, just a second really, before I seen something else behind him that made me stall. “Lianna, why don’t we just go home? I don’t even think he is here hun.”
“He is, I will find him.”
I tried to stop her from looking where I was looking, taking her hand to steer her away from it. It was going to break her heart or she would be fighting in a minute. I never knew with them two.
“That motherfucker.”
Well, it looks like she seen him. Johnson was pushed up against some blonde chick on a couch, making out. The blonde was one of the cheerleaders that I had tutored before, Candace or something like that. She was cute, petite and now she had her hands on the wrong man. I looked over at Lianna taking it in and then she started towards them. “Let’s not do this in front of all of these people Lianna. It’s not worth it and you are going to regret it in the morning.”
She looked at me like I was a traitor, the hurt was misplaced, but I still hated to see it in her eyes. “Okay, well let’s do this then.”
It ended up being a fight that I stayed out of until someone else tried to jump onto her. By the end of it, there was a small brawl of women and then even some men got involved. It happened so fast, but that is how it was with her. Fast and loud.
The cops were called and I was named and arrested, along with several others, though Lianna somehow got out of it all, the one that had started it. I was put into the back of a cop car and then someone else was put in beside me. None other than Nick. I cursed under my breath and tried to not look at him. I had a crush on him and seeing him like this, ripped bra and marks on my face, in the back of a cop car, was not the way I had seen the night turning out.
“You’re Chloe right?”
I was actually surprised he knew who I was. We were from very different social circles obviously. “Yeah, that’s right. You’re Nick, our hometown hockey champ.”
He nodded. “Yeah, something like that. What the hell happened?”
“Well Johnson should stop messing with my friend is all. He knows she has a temper and that’s what happens. I suppose eventually that the girls on campus will get the hint.”
He kind of chuckled and I snuck a look at his face. Nick didn’t seem too bothered by it all, even with a black eye starting on his face. I was worried about how I was going to get bailed out, figuring in my head how many more hours I had to work to make it up. “That’s kind of harsh isn’t it? I thought you were the voice of reason, like the smart, quiet girl that helps people.”
I had to laugh a little. That is how everyone seen me. “Well I did help someone, my friend.”
“Yet I hate to see that she is not here as well.”
I could see how that would be hard to get through, but I really wasn’t upset. I was glad that she got away. “That’s good. I have to get bailed out some way.”
“I guess that is one way to look at it.”
“So why did you get involved?”
“Some guy pushed me and that was it. I am always down for a fight.”
“That’s because you are a hockey player. I don’t know what it is that they give you. Just tell me Nick, is there kool-aid involved?”
I thought the reference would go over his head, but it didn’t.
“Haha, there is not kool-aid, but a man feels more alive when he is engaged with something that makes his blood boil.”
“Is that so?”
“You two pipe down back there. You have already cost me a mountain of paperwork.”
I hadn’t even noticed the cop sliding into the car until he spoke. “Sorry officer. You know, you could always let me and the lady go. Save us all a whole lot of trouble.”
“That’s enough Zandowski. I’ve seen you too many times to count. You got bail money on you?”
“Of course. So you see Sir, there is no real point to this. Why don’t you just take the bail money and we can save us all some hassle.”
I tried to get him to shut up, nudging him with my shoulder. He couldn’t just try to bribe a cop, it would only make it worse. What I hadn’t expected was for the cop to mull it over and then get out of the car. I figured it was going to be something else, not him walking over to Nick’s side and opening the door. “Five hundred is about how much bail costs for this offence.”
Nick moved his back to him to get the cuffs off and he fished five bills out of the back of his pocket. “Here Trevor, thanks for that.”
“No problem.”
As Nick got out of the car, he looked back at me and then the two talked for a few minutes. I was more surprised when he handed the officer some more money and then he came to my side to let me out. The policeman unlocked my cuffs and told me I was free to go.
“What, why?”
“You’ve made bail miss.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Nick for getting you out.”
I turned to thank him, but he was gone back into the throng of pe
ople and I was left to walk home. I had lost my phone in the scuffle and now there was a ten block walk because Lianna had took off with the car. I swore that she better not be with that damn man or I was going to be pissed. This wasn’t my first fight or arrest because of Lianna and I doubted it would be the last, but just once I wished that it wasn’t because of Johnson. What was it, what hold did he have on her? I really didn’t get it.
There was also the thought of Nick and how I would pay him back. I couldn’t have that hanging on my head and I told myself I would figure out a way tomorrow. I just needed to get home, take a shower and forget about the whole damn day.
Chapter 3
Lianna was home when I got there and at least she was alone. “Where the hell have you been Chloe? I’ve been calling the cop shop for an hour and they said that you never came in. Your phone was answered by some chick that said she found it on the floor.”
I sighed, not answering her as I walked towards the bathroom. There was a mixture of liquids on me, beer and wine, maybe a little vodka by the smell of it.
“I’m getting in the shower. We can talk in a minute.”
Truth was that I really didn’t want to talk to her. It wasn’t because I was really mad, but I was still trying to process what was going on. Nick had surprised me in several ways, but mostly that he had bailed me out. I knew that he gave the cop some money, but I didn’t know how much or why he did it. The fact that he even knew who I was surprised me but that he was so nice and funny was the biggest surprise of all. I always took him for an idiot, like I did most of the jocks. But it seemed that I was wrong about him.
When I got out, Lianna was looking guilty. “I’m sorry Chloe.”
“No you’re not, but I still love you. What happened with Johnson, did you talk to him?”
More guilty looks and then her eyes flicked to the bedroom door. “Don’t tell me he is here.”
I knew he was, she didn’t have to say anything else. I couldn’t believe her sometimes, though I could. “Whatever Lianna, I’m going to bed, you two have fun.
And they did, for several hours while I lied in bed thinking about Nick. He was cuter up close and when I realized that he had a good sense of humour. His dark eyes looked right into me and his brown hair was short and spiky. It was his body that had disarmed my senses though. I had a thing for meatheads, I wasn’t going to deny it, but a smart and funny one was hard to find indeed.
Ignoring the sounds of pleasure in the next room, I ended up going for a walk. It was dark and quiet and I was left to my thoughts. When I got back to the house, it was quiet there as well and I was finally able to get some sleep. Johnson was gone in the morning, but Lianna was glowing.
“So it’s on again huh?”
“I think he is the one Chloe. I know you think I am crazy, but he is the one.”
“I hope you guys figure it out then because you two are a bit ridiculous.”
“Well I didn’t ask you to jump in.”
I just gave her a look. Of course she didn’t have to ask. I wasn’t going to let her get jumped by other girls though, could I?
“Look, I’m sorry Chloe. You know I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“It’s all good Lianna. I know why you did it.”
“So you are not mad at me?”
“Not really. It’s not like it’s the first time or anything. This is not our first rodeo, is it?”
“Guess not. So you didn’t even tell me how you got home last night. I saw them put you in the back of a cop car, so I was waiting for you to call me so I could bail you out. What happened?”
“You will never guess who paid a cop off to let me go.”
Now I had her attention. “Wait, someone paid off a cop, like a bribe?”
I nodded. It was kind of crazy when I actually thought about it. “So, who was it?”
“Nick.”
“Like Nick from the hockey team Nick? Rich guy on campus Nick?”
“Yeah, he is the one.”
“You have got to be kidding me!”
It was strange, I will give her that. Even I wasn’t sure why he had done it or how many times he had paid to get off before. The cop seemed to know him and I would imagine it wasn’t the first time. Nick was the type that always got what he wanted, girls, grades, everything was bought. But he didn’t have to help me, so it made me wonder why. What was it that he wanted from me?
“Nope I’m not. It was like an episode of the Twilight Zone I swear.”
“Man, we haven’t watched that in forever.”
“Well what are you doing tonight?”
“Probably Johnson, but we should totally watch some soon. I miss our movie nights.”
“That was what supposed to be last night.”
“Don’t pout, I hate when you do that. I will get rid of him early and tonight it will be just me and you. Seems I owe you from last night anyways.”
“Alright, but I am going to see if they need any tutors at the Student Union. Maybe I will get lucky and I won’t have to worry about tuition anymore.”
***
I left the house and drove down to the SU to see if there were any postings for tutors. It was where I got most of my jobs since I had started tutoring to pay for college and it was the easiest way to find students that needed it. I signed in when I got there and said hello to Mary. She had been working there since I started school and she was great at finding what I needed.
“Don’t tell me you want more?”
“Just a couple or one really rich idiot, pick one.”
“It’s those damn tuition hikes I bet. It has gone up 12% this year alone.”
“Tell me about it, so tell me you got something Mary.”
She typed in some keys to the database and I waited for the news. There had to be someone or a couple someones that needed some help, there always was.
“I think I got just the one for you. They signed up yesterday, so I haven’t matched him up with anyone yet.”
“Okay what subjects?”
“Looks like they just need help with Business Math.”
I nodded. It was actually an easy class, just a bunch of formulas, but there were still people that had trouble. Since I was not one of them, it sounded like a good match. “Sounds good Mary, who is it?”
“Do you know Nick Zandowski?”
I groaned inwardly. You have got to be kidding me.
“Yeah, I know him. That hockey player.”
“Yep. Handsome young man. I swear if I was younger…”
I had to agree, he was handsome. It seemed like fate had brought us together again and maybe that was the way that I could pay him back for helping me out the night before.
“Okay, he works, give me his number and I will give him a call.”
“Do you want me to go ahead and close him out?”
“Yeah, I will take care of it. Business Math is real easy.”
“Sounds good Chloe. Remember to have some fun in the middle of all that studying.”
“Yes Ma’am.”
I walked out the Student Union feeling weird, but a bit excited. If there was anyone else that I had to be stuck with, I couldn’t think of anyone better. Not only was he nice to look at, but he had a good personality as well. I just worried that it would end up being a Jimmy situations and I had to make sure that that didn’t happen.
I called the number and it went to voicemail after a few rings. “Hey Nick, this is Chloe and I got your number for some tutoring. If you are still interested, just give me a call and we will work out a time to meet.” Hanging up, I wondered if he would call me. I didn’t know if I wanted him to or not though.
Chapter 4
I didn’t recognize the number that called when my phone rang a few minutes later. I was almost back to my house and I just answered it. “Hello?”
“Chloe?”
“Yeah, who is this?”
“This is Nick, you just called?”
“Yeah I was just at the Student Union an
d they said you were on the roster for a tutor?”
“Yes. Are you a tutor?”
“Sometimes. Is it just Business Math or are there other subjects that you need help with?”
“Just math. I’m getting good grades in everything else but coach says if I don’t get that class passing, I am not going to be able to play this year.”
“Well that is not a problem. I am really good at math. What time do you want to meet and we can get started whenever you are ready.”
“How about tonight?”
“I was hoping for day time.”
“Why, do you have plans?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, what are you doing tonight then?”
I wasn’t going to tell him that me and Lianna were going to stay in and watch old reruns of Twilight Zone and eat far too much pizza. It didn’t even sound sexy in my head, but it would be a great time.
“Having a girl’s night in with a friend. How about tomorrow night?”
“No good, got plans.”
“And you can’t do days?”
“Not with practice almost every day.”
“Why do you have to practice so much? I mean, you skate, hit a little round thing and hit people.”
He laughed, God I loved the way it sounded. “It’s a bit more than that and it’s a puck.”
“What?” I couldn’t have heard what I just heard.
“The little round black thing is a puck.”
Oh, totally misheard that. Probably because all I could think about associated with him was sex. He was too hot not to think of anything else.
“Okay, so how about you tell me when you are available and I will meet you somewhere to get some work done.”
“How about your place, tonight?”
I sighed to myself. What could I say? I needed to pay him back and make money for tuition.
“Fine, but you are ruining my plans.”
“Aww come on. I helped you, now you can help me.”
I told him to come by about eight and gave him the address. When I got back in, Lianna didn’t seem to mind the change up. As much as she liked old shows, she liked men a lot more and well it was Johnson.
“So do you want me to make myself scarce?”
