Where You Are

by Alla Kar

  Lucas jabs me in the side and gives me a be nice look. I’m not in the mood to be nice. I want to crawl into my bed and feel fucking sorry for myself.

  I groan. “Okay, one game. Then I’m off to bed. I have the finals tomorrow.”

  Savannah squeals and runs into the kitchen to grab some drinks. Lucas ushers me to their extra room that they use for entertainment. “Look, Lachlan. I know you’re trying to get her back. But,” he scratches his chin, “I was thinking about something. You can bag any girl you want.” I start to protest, but he holds up a finger and cuts me off. “Just listen, okay? What makes a woman angrier than anything?”

  Thinking, I shrug. “I don’t know. Cheating?”

  “Close,” Lucas says, placing his hands on the table in front of us. “Seeing you with another woman. All you would have to do is show up with someone else to the Cook Off and the wedding. Then Laney will be putty in your hands, bro.”

  “I don’t know,” I whisper. “It does suck pretty bad seeing her with another guy, but…” I trail off. I’ve never been conniving but making Laney talk to me seems like the only way to make this ache go away.

  “Don’t think about it too much. Just do it. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to, to get what you truly want.”

  Laughing, I reach and dump the dominoes onto their foldout table. “When did you become Dr. Phil?”

  Lucas sighs and shuffles the dominoes around. “I’ve had to watch so much Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, and Oprah over the last few years, that I could easily trick anyone into thinking I’m a therapist.”

  “But who am I going to get? I mean I know no one since I moved.”

  “You’re serious? You’ve got an amazing, hot girl sitting in the living room with Savannah now. Why do you think Savannah brought her over here? It wasn’t for her entertainment, I can tell you that. You ask her to go with you, and she’ll go.”

  “Time for drinks!” Savannah shouts, bringing me back to reality.

  After our shot glasses are filled to the top, we tap our glasses together and chug. I’ve already had a few drinks tonight, so this just adds to the fire. I don’t even know my score in this damned game.

  We’ve been chatting, drinking, and listening to music. It’s all been a big blur. The girl next to me is cute. Not my normal type, but when I’m single, “girl” is mostly my type. She is starting to get wasted, her speech is slurring, her eyes roaming over me, and she keeps tugging at her clothes, like she wants out of them.

  “Win! Success!” Savannah yells, standing up and slamming her open palms against Lucas’s. When she falls over into his lap, he rolls his eyes and helps her up.

  “Come on, baby. It’s time to get to bed. You’ve had way too much to drink.”

  She laughs, struggling to stand. “No way, I’m just getting started. Who wants to play some strip pool?”

  Strip pool? I snort and shake my head. “I’m all good, luv. Maybe tomorrow night.”

  Savannah pokes her lip out and runs her hands over Lucas’s hair. “I guess we’ll have to find something else to do, huh, Lucas?”

  Way to be conspicuous. He tugs her up over his shoulder and shakes his head. “We’re heading to bed; obviously lightweight can’t take too much liquor. Remind me to never let her go drinking with friends. She’ll come home pregnant.”

  I wave them away and then realize Jamie and I are both sitting at the table. She is swaying back and forth, smiling at me. I raise an eyebrow, the alcohol starting to really pump through me. “So, luv, you planning on going home tonight?”

  Let’s just get to it. No beating around the bush, it’s not really my style.

  She picks up a piece of her hair and runs it across her full lips. She is really hot. Barely said two words tonight, but like I said, she is really hot.

  “Nope.” She pops her lips at the end, making my dick hard.

  “Well then, luv. Follow me.”

  Chapter Nine

  Laney

  “Louder, louder the voices in my head

  Whispers taunting all the things you said” – Kelly Clarkson

  Work study is the last thing on my mind today. But, because I have to, I go over every student’s work that comes in. Most of the time they want me to do it for them. Well, I’m not. I mark all over this guy’s Emily Dickinson essay. It doesn’t make any sense.

  “Here.” I slide it to him.

  Chewing on his gum, he glances down at the essay. “What the fuck, girl? I thought you were supposed to help me with my paper. This is tutoring, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” I say, slamming my novel closed. “Exactly, tutoring. I’m showing you your mistakes, now fix them.”

  He grunts, sliding the paper back to me. “Yes, fix it.”

  Ugh! Narrowing my eyes, I stand up and slide it back. “Do your own work. I’m not doing it, kid.”

  He tugs on his football jersey and stands up, hands on the table. I know it’s stereotypical, the football player always needs help. But, if the shoe fits …

  “You’re going to help me. I have to make an A on this paper. Now, help me.”

  I go through this at least once a day. Sighing, I walk over to my desk and sit back down. I am not doing his work for him.

  “Look, girl. I’m not going to ask nicely again, help me with my essay.”

  “I said—”

  “Hey,” I hear, then a sharp intake of breath. I glance over my shoulder at Aiden. He is standing by my desk, flowers in one hand, and the other twisted into the football player’s shirt. “She said she isn’t doing it for you. Now, fucking beat it before I beat the fuck out of you.”

  The football player jerks away, flips us off, and scurries out the door.

  “Thank you,” I say, dodging the glances everyone in the room is giving me. “What’s up?” I ask. Because, I’m not really sure why he’s here.

  Aiden leans against my desk and hands me my flowers. His blond hair is brushed out of his face, showing his big, brown eyes. “These are for you. Sorry about the asshole. Do you have a lot of boys do that?”

  I take the flowers and press them to my nose. They smell great. I sit them aside and glance up at him. “Yes, almost every day. I’m not here to do their homework, only help. But…” I trail off.

  Aiden presses his lips together and plays with the stapler on my desk. “Well, let me know next time. I’ll beat some ass if I need to.”

  I almost laugh, but I keep my mouth closed instead. “I’ll be sure to let you know. Thanks for the flowers. I’m just getting ready to go to my next class. I guess I’ll see you later.”

  “Wait,” Aiden says, brushing his fingers against my arm. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over and watch a movie at my dorm tonight? My roommate is always at his girlfriend’s house. We’ll be alone.”

  I swear I hear an evil laugh in my head at alone. You know, the Plankton laugh. I almost wither into ash in front of him. “Um, actually Jacks and I have to go to the Cook Off at the YMCA for extra credit tonight. Maybe another night?”

  He frowns. “Well, why don’t I go with you tonight? Then we can watch a movie afterwards?”

  Damn. I have no good excuse to get out of this. “Um, sure. If you want—”

  “Oh, I want to. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

  “Six thirty,” I mumble. “I’ll see you then.” I’m out the door before he can answer.

  ***

  “Um, why are you carrying around those flowers?” Jacks asks.

  I slam my tray down. I’m so glad to be out of class. Some guy picked on me the entire time about having flowers. What grade are we in again?

  “Because I haven’t had a chance to go to my dorm room to drop them off,” I growl.

  Jacks presses his lips together in an attempt not to laugh. “I meant—why do you have the flowers, anyway? Does this have to do with you pretending to be interested in Aiden? Or is it the Australian guy this time?”

  Tossing a fry at his face, I sling my backpack into the em
pty seat to my right. “It’s my pretend boyfriend. He brought them to me at work study.”

  Jacks snorts and then covers his forehead with his hand. “Oh, my. You’re just a regular dream come true. You seem so excited to talk about your boyfriend! I wish you were my girlfriend.”

  Smiling, I gesture toward his food. “Eat. Caveman.”

  Jacks is talking about some girl that had been, deliberately, giving his professor a crotch shot when I hear a cough behind me. Jacks is staring behind me, one eyebrow lifted and a smile crawling up his face.

  I turn. Aiden is staring down at me. His eyes keep shooting back and forth between me and my bag in the chair next to me. “Oh,” I say, grabbing the bag and letting him take a seat.

  Aiden plops down, shoving his bag beneath the table. He glances up and his hand shoots out. “I’m Aiden, Laney’s boyfriend.”

  Boyfriend? I almost yelp. I am not his girlfriend. But, for some reason, I don’t correct him. Oh, that’s right, I’m supposed to be happy about this.

  Jacks smiles. “I’m Jacks, Laney’s partner in crime. It’s nice to meet you, bro. Boyfriend, huh? Well, congratulations, Laney.”

  Evil. Jacks equals evil.

  “Lucky me,” I say, before taking a sip of my Coke.

  “So, Aiden. How did a guy like you end up with my friend here? She is kind of secretive about her love life. So, excuse my surprise.”

  Aiden scoffs under his breath. I guess not shouting it to the world hurts his feelings. “Well, I met her at a party last week. I was getting her a drink and she bailed on me.”

  “How charming,” Jacks says.

  Aiden opens his mouth but stops when someone taps his shoulder. A tall girl with humongous boobs is standing behind him. “Hey, Aiden,” she says slowly, her voice sounding like syrup. It even makes me shiver.

  “Hi, ummm…” he trails off. Obviously he doesn’t know her name. But she stands there anyway, looking back and forth between the three of us.

  “Danielle. My name is Danielle.”

  Aiden snaps his fingers and nods. “Oh, yeah. What’s going on? Do you need something?”

  I feel sorry for her. She keeps looking at me, wanting an answer to why I’m sitting by Aiden. He finally groans and gestures toward me. “Danielle, this is my girlfriend, Laney.”

  God, I wish he would stop calling me that. Her eyes widen at the word “girlfriend.” She doesn’t say another word before she turns and disappears into the craziness of the cafeteria.

  Yes, that wasn’t awkward. Aiden sighs, jabs his fingers over his shoulder, and shakes his head. Like that explains exactly why she was standing there. We all know the real reason. He screwed her.

  “What time are we going to that Cook Off again?” Aiden asks, continuing to eat.

  Jacks drops his fork and glares at me. I give him a small shrug. “Six thirty,” I say. “You don’t have to pick me up. I normally ride with Jacks.”

  Jacks raises his hands in surrender. “Not a problem. I can just meet you guys there. You two can have some alone time.”

  I almost grab my fork and jab him in the eye. “You’re dead,” I mouth to him.

  Aiden reaches out and slaps Jacks’ hand. “Thanks, bro. We’ll see you tonight.”

  Jacks salutes us before he walks out of the cafeteria. A weight presses down on my shoulders as soon as he leaves. Sitting with Aiden alone is different from sitting with him with Jacks.

  I feel an arm wrap around my waist, and I tense. “This is great. We should definitely eat together more often. Your friend Jacks is nice. Is he gay?”

  I snort. “Because he is friends with a girl he has to be gay? No, Jacks isn’t gay.”

  Aiden bites his lower lip and gives me a quick nod. Obviously, he doesn’t like Jacks being around me if he isn’t gay. That’s all the more reason to do it.

  ***

  Bethany slams her hands down onto my bed. “What are you doing? I did some digging today and found out that you sat with Aiden at lunch. Why didn’t you tell us? We could have been watching.”

  I close my econ book, because I’m obviously not getting any more homework done. “Calm down, Bethany. He just came up and sat with Jacks and me. What was I supposed to do, excuse myself to call you guys?”

  Bethany juts her chin out and waves her hand, like that was exactly what I was supposed to do. “Yes! What happened?”

  Scurrying toward my closet, I yell out, “Nothing. He got jealous when he found out Jacks isn’t gay. Then I said I had to go. Which I did, because I’m supposed to have this econ homework finished tomorrow.”

  Bethany sits on Heather’s bed and slips off her shoes. “So what? You have all night. You’re such a grandma, always doing her homework.”

  “I’m pretty sure grandparents don’t have homework, but I catch your drift. And I have to go to the Cook Off finals tonight.”

  “Oh,” Bethany says, wiggling her eyebrows. “Is your Australian lover going to be there?”

  “Hope not,” I say, pointing toward a deep red, low-cut shirt. “You think this is okay?”

  Bethany nods and picks at the end of her hair. “So, you’ve been on two dates with Aiden now? What if he tries to really kiss you? Are you going to let him?”

  Sighing, I slip into my shirt and the tightest pair of jeans I have. “We’re going to his room after the Cook Off. I’m sure he’ll try. It’s not too early to kiss, but I…” I almost laugh, “I’m not too thrilled about making out with him. I mean—ugh, sure he is okay at kissing from the small peck I got. But, you’ve got to know when to stop. Pull away, not go too far.”

  “How?” Bethany sits on her shins. “How do you stop yourself? I mean…he is so sexy.”

  “You have to make yourself stop. Just…stop. Just think the desire you have now will be shattered if you give it all away. He will be finished. That’s his goal. To get laid by as many girls as he can.”

  She nods. “How do you know he isn’t going to try that with you?”

  “Because,” I point toward my jeans, “he isn’t getting any. If he tries, I’ll give him a few right hooks, then scram before he can catch me.”

  Bethany laughs. “So, what would you say is the key? You ignore him most of the time and don’t show him much attention. That seems to be working so far. Is that it?”

  I press my finger to my temple. “Yes and no. You want to make him work for it. It will make him chase you, every single time. But, once he has you, you stay distant, but not too distant. He has to think you’re within fingertip distance at all time. He’ll keep working for it, and that gives him enough time to fall hard for you.”

  Bethany is staring up at me with wide eyes. “Good. Now, let’s break us a heart.”

  Chapter Ten

  Lachlan

  “I keep dreaming you’ll be with me.

  And you’ll never let go.” - Nickleback

  My palms are sweaty. The YMCA is packed and there are only seven finalists here. I have to beat three other people. Probably people that have been doing this way longer than me. Pressing my palm against the counter to steady myself, I glance over to Jamie. She is talking with another cook’s wife and laughing.

  She wasn’t lying when she said she didn’t want to go home last night. She stayed all fucking day today, too. I wanted to fucking kill the bloody girl.

  She gives me a finger wave and winks. I turn my head. I don’t need to distract myself. Not that she is worth distracting myself over. This was Lucas’s dumbass idea anyway. I shouldn’t try and make Laney jealous, it isn’t right. I feel like I’m back in secondary school again.

  I’m watching the door, not sure exactly what I’m looking for, when Laney walks in. She is wearing a fitted red shirt that makes my blood pump. Not just that her tits are hanging out, but that the twit has his arm wrapped around her waist.

  I don’t notice I’m gripping the counter until I feel a tap on my side. I almost growl but bite my tongue. Jamie smiles up at me. “The Cook Off is starting in five minutes. You ready
?” she asks, pushing her tits against my side.

  I wish she would stop talking to me; I can’t concentrate. “Um, yeah. I’m ready.”

  She smiles and tucks her arm around mine. I don’t push her off, because I’m not that big of an arsehole.

  Jamie is talking about something, but I’m searching the room for her. Then I find her. She is sitting in the twit’s lap, eyes focused on Jamie’s arm. Jealousy wraps around me and decides it wants to choke me. My fingers are latched onto the counter as I watch her. Her green eyes flicker up to mine and red flushes across her cheeks.

  She turns and whispers something in Aiden’s ear. He lets out a laugh and taps her thighs. As if it couldn’t get any worse, the guy from the first Cook Off walks up and starts chatting with them.

  Rolling my neck, I place my arms around Jamie’s shoulder. She feels utterly wrong, but I keep my arm there anyway.

  She is yabbing about something, and I pretend to listen. A few minutes pass and I place my meal on the counter in front of me. It’s a Palova, which is an Australian dish. Carefully, I spread the whipped cream onto the cake and then place a kiwi on top.

  I wipe my hands on my apron. Dr. Phillips blows a whistle and the entire room grows quiet. “Hello, fellow chefs. It’s great to be here at the finals. We’re about ready to begin. We’re missing one judge, so I’m going to volunteer one of my students to help.”

  My eyes dart toward Laney. Her face is pale as a bloody ghost. She grabs the guy standing next to her and tries to push him forward. He shakes his head and pushes her off Aiden’s lap. She staggers to a standstill when Dr. Phillips turns around and lifts his glasses. “This is a surprise. Come on, Laney. Get over here and we’ll begin.”

  Laney curses under her breath and stalks off to the group of other judges. I feel a small pinch in my chest, and I realize I’m fucking nervous. I haven’t been this nervous in years. To distract myself, I start cleaning up my dishes and placing them in the sink.

  When the judges reach the station next to me, I take a deep breath and stand completely straight. Laney is mumbling the entire time, glancing at my opponent’s meal. She gives it a thumbs up, and Dr. Phillips rolls his eyes.