by S. T. Bende
“Did you see what happened back there?”
Brynn shook her head, her big green eyes brimming with concern. “No. I was jogging, and I saw you lying on the ground. You must have passed out while you were running. Has that ever happened to you before?”
“You didn’t see the giant animal? Some kind of mountain lion-wolf thing? Or the huge blond guy with massive muscles and a death wish?”
“I must have missed them.” Brynn trilled. “Wouldn’t have minded seeing massive muscle man, though.”
I scratched the back of my neck. So I was losing my mind. My brother Jason would have a field day with this story.
“Come on,” Brynn bounded ahead, her golden ponytail bouncing high on her head. “Let’s call for pizza. I’m starving, and you need to get your blood sugar up.”
She bobbed her head, and I jogged tentatively after her. Nothing hurt, so I ran faster, matching her pace. Maybe all the fresh air had got to me. Or maybe I shouldn’t have jumped right into a workout after five days in a car. Whatever happened, there most definitely had not been an attack on my arm—it was fit as a fiddle. And pizza and a party would make a much better first-day-at-college story to tell my brother than dwelling on a made-up mountain beast. Although standing around with a bunch of strangers, even if it was only a ‘little gathering’, sounded as appealing as showing up to a test without studying first. Baby steps, Ahlström. You have to start somewhere.
I sucked in a breath and kept running. Looked like that somewhere started now.
****
“You’re going to do what?” My brother’s all-American face formed a mask of shock. I rested my iPhone against my mirror so I could FaceTime with Jason at the same time as I put on my makeup. Multitasking for the win.
“You heard me. I’m going to a party.”
“You hate crowds.” Jason pointed out the obvious.
“Don’t remind me.” I repressed a shudder. “My roommate says it’s just some freshmen down the block, so maybe it won’t be that bad.”
“I don’t even know you anymore. Does the Math Club know you’re going to a party? I thought Friday nights were reserved for Fun With Fractions.” Jason’s violet blue eyes crinkled in a smile. They were the exact same shade as mine.
“Har-dee-har-har. For your information, math can be fun, too.”
Jason snorted. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“Aren’t you in a business fraternity, Mr. High And Mighty?”
“Yes ma’am.” Jason nodded. “And Kappa O throws the best keggers on campus. Though I’m sure the Math Club’s thrown some real ragers in their day.”
I stuck out my tongue and unscrewed my liquid eyeliner. “How’s Mama holding up?”
“She’s better now that you’re safe in Arcata. Letting her seventeen-year-old baby girl drive cross country by herself wasn’t easy for her, you know.”
“I’ll be eighteen in three months,” I reminded him. “And she seemed much calmer about my road trip once I installed that GPS thing on her phone so she could check on me twenty-four seven.” I drew a line above my lashes, flicking it up at the corner of my eye.
“Speaking of, Dad just disabled the app for stalking on our end, so you can live out your college days in relative peace. He says to tell you you’re welcome.”
“Bless him.” I lined my other eye.
Jason adjusted his baseball cap. “So how was the trip?”
“Mostly okay. I blew a tire about halfway through Nebraska and nearly ruined my brand new suede riding boots changing it in the middle of a rainstorm. I was in such a rush to get out of Buckshire, I forgot to weatherproof them.”
“Oh, no. You forgot to weatherproof your boots?” Jason put his hands on his cheeks and dropped his jaw.
“Stop it, it’s a big deal!” I loved my brother, but Jason knew diddly-squat about shoes.
Jason blinked. “You do realize not everything has to be so serious, right? Some things are just supposed to be fun.”
I mulled that over while I curled my lashes. With our chocolate brown hair and athletic builds, Jason and I were obviously cut from the same DNA, but where my brother was playful and outgoing, the quarterback of his prep school football team and consummate life of the party, I preferred a lower profile. My best subjects were math and science—things with concrete, black-and-white answers, since grey didn’t sit right with me. My choices had yielded a life that proceeded in an orderly, straightforward manner, which was exactly the way I liked it. A lifetime of meticulous planning meant things rarely ruffled my feathers… including my all-knowing, charming, loveable brother. He was the one person I could count on to be honest with me, no matter what, and I adored him for it.
“Jason?” I asked, swiping my first coat of mascara.
“Yes?”
“I’m going to like it here, right?”
“Is Mia Ahlström admitting she’s nervous?”
“Don’t tell anyone.” My cheeks tingled. My inability to hide emotions lived on the border of absurd and mortifying.
“You’ll love it.” Jason nodded inside the screen. “An entire university full of math geeks? You’ll fit right in.”
I stuck my tongue out as I swiped on my second coat, then moved to my other eye. “I’m serious. I don’t want to be the loner in the corner at a school full of…”
“Math geeks,” Jason repeated himself. “You’ll be their queen.”
“I will not hesitate to disconnect you.” I pointed one menacing finger at the phone.
“All right!” Jason held up his hands in mock surrender. I turned my attention back to my makeup bag. Blush, blush, blush… ah, there it is. I snatched up the black compact and dusted off my brush. “Seriously, you’ll be fine. You keep the family together, like Meemaw. You won that Junior League award thing for teambuilding last year.” Jason was on a roll now, counting on his fingers. “You were head girl at Tottenham Prep, and kept all those underclassmen from killing each other during pillow fights. If you can keep the peace at one of the snootiest boarding schools in the tri-state area, you won’t have any problem making friends with some California hippies. Though it’d probably be easier if you lived on campus. Why are you renting a house instead of living in the dorms?”
“You know why.” I polished a rosy pink powder on the apples of my cheeks. “I spent forever in a dorm. All those teenage girls breathing down your neck gets a little cloying.”
“I think it sounds perfect.” Jason wiggled his eyebrows.
“You would.”
“So you’ve got your roommates all sorted and everything?” He ran his hand through his hair.
“Yep. The school matched us based on a personality questionnaire. A sort of eHarmony for housemates.”
“They do that even if you’re not living in one of the residence halls?” Jason asked.
“Redwood does.” I shrugged. “It came with the freshman orientation packet. I just checked the box that said ‘off-campus housing’ and filled out the form. A few weeks later they sent Heather and Charlotte’s names and e-mail addresses. A week ago we got another roommate—Brynn.”
“Cool name.” A sly grin spread across Jason’s face. “I’ll bet she’s some super hot athlete chick.”
“She’s really pretty,” I agreed. “She’s from Sweden. She’s the only one I’ve met so far.”
“Swedish? Definitely super hot then. I’ll be sure to come visit.” Jason nodded. “Well, I’m sure you know what you’re doing. Start with your roommates, and branch out from there. You’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, Jase.” I quickly lined my lips, then filled them in with a pinky-nude lipstick.
“Hey, listen. I know you’ve always done things a certain way. You’re my little rule follower, and that’s great. Usually.”
“There’s a but coming, isn’t there?” I smiled. It was impossible to be annoyed with someone who always looked out for you.
Well, not impossible…
“But…” Jason returned my smile.
“Life isn’t always black and white. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation our upbringing didn’t prepare you for. God knows I have. I just want you to promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Break a few of your all-important rules for me. College is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It’s the most freedom with the least responsibility we’re ever going to have. Stay out late, go crazy at parties, maybe even go on a date once in a while. I promise they won’t kick you out of Math Club for having a little fun.”
“I have fun.” My chin jutted upwards. If Jason didn’t think quadratic equations and ski practice were fun, then he didn’t have the sense God gave a goat.
“Just live a little. That’s all I’m saying.”
Since my brother was prone to spouting wisdom worthy of a tiny green Jedi master, I forgave his ignorance surrounding the joy of math. “Okay, Bro-da. Just for you.”
Jason chuckled at the nickname. He looked so pleased with himself that I didn’t have the heart to point out he was dead wrong. Sure, math and “chick sports” might not constitute “living” in his world. But I did know what life held for me: college, a cutting-edge engineering job, and a “happily-evah-aftah” with a real-life Prince Charming, just like our maternal southern belle always promised.
“Well, I’d better go. Wish me luck at this thing.”
“Party on, Mees.” Jason held up his hand in a fist. “You’ve got this.
“Thanks. Try not to break too many hearts this semester, okay?”
“I never make a promise I can’t keep.” Jason shot me a wink, and I laughed.
“Love you, Jase.”
“Love you, Mia.”
I turned off my phone and slid it into my back pocket, then took a deep breath and walked purposefully down the hall.
Here we go.
****
When I was halfway down the staircase, I was accosted by a whirlwind of blond curls and vanilla perfume.
“Are you ready or what, flicka? Charlotte just texted me—she and Heather are already at the party. Let’s go!”
Brynn bounced on her tiptoes, her pale green eyes radiating joy and her ear-splitting smile brimming with energy. If she was going to be this chipper all the time, I’d be sure to hit the coffee before our paths crossed in the mornings.
“How do I look?” I twirled.
Brynn eyed me from top to bottom. “Hair—touchably soft. Makeup—subtly sexy. Outfit—chic yet comfortable. You can’t go wrong with skinny jeans. You’re perfekt. And we’re missing all the fun—come on!” Brynn grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me down the stairs.
“I just have to grab—”
“You’re fine.” The living embodiment of cheer bounded for the front door, dragging me behind her. She skipped down the porch steps so quickly, I practically had to run to keep up. How did anyone have this much energy at nine p.m.? Brynn must have been a night owl.
We made our way across the street and onto the lawn of a three-story Victorian. Brynn navigated the sea of students strewn across the grass, making her way toward two girls on the front porch, holding red cups. As we got closer, I recognized them from the pictures we’d exchanged. Smile on. It’s time to meet the roommates.
“Heather! Charlotte! I got her!” Brynn finally let go of my wrist, and propelled me unceremoniously onto the porch. I stopped myself just before stepping on the shorter girl’s black Converse sneakers.
“Sorry,” I apologized.
“No worries.” The girl waved. She had crimson hair that fell in soft waves around her face. Her boyfriend jeans, graphic tee and green rectangular-framed glasses gave off a hipster vibe. “I’m Heather.”
“And I’m Charlotte. So lovely to meet you after all those e-mails, Mia.” Charlotte held out her hand, and I shook it. She had silky, black hair that fell in an angled bob to the top of her shoulders, with thick bangs that must have needed weekly trims, and she wore suede ankle boots that were to die for.
“It was definitely a long summer. It’s great to meet you both.” I nodded at Charlotte’s feet. “Fabulous boots.”
“I picked them up this afternoon,” she confessed. She spoke with the prim cadence of a librarian, but her brown eyes were crinkled in a friendly expression and her smile radiated warmth. From the way she stood—spine straight, shoulders back, hands folded softly at her waist—I guessed she was either a fellow prep school graduate, or had the ‘pleasure’ of attending cotillion, the South’s equivalent to etiquette boot camp.
“Charlotte’s obsessed with shoes. She picked up four pairs on her Target run, which was supposed to be for laundry detergent.” Heather hooked her thumbs in her belt loops. She had the kind of throaty voice I imagined black-and-white film stars must have had, and her words came at their own pace; leisurely, like a jazz melody on a summer afternoon.
“And I came out with laundry detergent.” Charlotte put her hand on her hip.
“Along with?” Heather pushed her glasses up on her nose with one finger. She’d painted her nails the same shade of green as her frames. Fun.
“Along with a fedora, a new belt and… four pairs of shoes.” Charlotte huffed. “I do not see the problem with sampling the local merchandise.”
“What you sampled was made in China,” Heather pointed out.
“Well, then the sales tax boosted the city’s economy. Or something. And it’s not like I didn’t offer to share them with you. Moi closet is toi closet. That goes for all of you.” Charlotte smiled beatifically.
“I could be in for a clothes swap.” I nodded. Quadrupling my wardrobe without setting foot in a store sounded like a fabulous deal. “If what we’re wearing tonight is a barometer for the rest of our clothes, we’ve got just about every look covered.”
“And speaking of looks…” Brynn tilted her head to the side. “Somebody’s checking you out, Charlotte.”
Our eyes followed Brynn’s gesture. On the other side of the porch, two guys sipped from red plastic cups and stared at our little group. Charlotte’s perfect posture straightened even more.
“The one on the right is Matt. He brought over the flier about the party. He’s from Texas,” Charlotte whispered.
“And the hottie on the left was washing his car shirtless in the front yard this afternoon. He’s got smokin’ arms, and that’s all I need to know.” Heather pulled her shoulders back, thrusting her chest forward in the process.
“Well, it sounds like you two have work to do. I’ll expect a full report back at the house.” I nudged them gently toward their would-be suitors and turned to Brynn with a smile. “What about you? Anyone here catch your eye?”
“Yes.” Brynn giggled as she grabbed my wrist and trotted toward the front door. She must have downed one of those energy drinks while I was in the shower. It wasn’t humanly possible for anyone to be this perky without chemical assistance.
“Oh good. They did come!” Brynn bubbled. She smoothed the front of her sweater as she walked into the house, and turned around, waving for me to follow her. My stomach dropped the minute I entered the room. Brynn smiled at me, oblivious. “How are my teeth?”
“Um, pearly white. How are mine?” I flashed a grin, but my teeth were the least of my concerns. Sixty people must have been packed into the tiny space, with more spilling over into what I assumed was the kitchen. Little gathering my left foot. I shuddered. Jason would have rolled his eyes at my insecurity, but this living room was absolutely packed with flannel-shirted athletes and the co-eds dressed to impress them. RSU students had an awful lot of low-cut tops and generous bosoms. My fingers grazed the top of my V-necked sweater—it stopped a good inch north of my cleavage. Well, shoot. If my Prince Charming was at this party, he’d better find clavicles sexy.
Brynn waved across the room, her long blond curls bouncing against her back. Then she clapped her hands together and squealed. “Yay!”
There was no way not to smile. Brynn’s energy was infectious. “Who are you waving at?”
&nb
sp; “My friends from back home. Come on.” She tugged at my hand and practically dragged me into the mob of inebriated college students. “I’ll introduce you.”
Brynn raced across the living room, expertly dodging red plastic cups and lip-locked lovers. I kept my eyes on the tiny feet skipping in front of me and moved with as much care as possible while being hurtled through what amounted to the ultimate kegger obstacle course.
Since I was staring at the ground, I failed to see the mountain before I plowed into it.
Ouch.
“Whoa. Slow down.” Strong hands gripped my shoulders as I tumbled backward. They set me gently on my feet and held tight. I waited for my ears to stop ringing. “Brynn’s not the greatest navigator. You okay?”
“I’m fine. I think…” I managed to look up and my hand flew to my forehead. Occasionally, I’d fallen hard enough on the slopes to see double, but I’d never imagined an entire person before. The guy holding onto my shoulders obviously wasn’t real; nobody could actually look like that. He was tall; he probably had a foot on my five-feet, seven-inches. He was huge; calling him a mountain hadn’t been much of a stretch. His hands could have circled my waist easily, and biceps the circumference of a baby sequoia strained against his T-shirt. And his eyes… they were a midnight blue I thought I’d seen exactly once before. They held my gaze for an endless moment, sucking me into their bottomless depths. I was completely mesmerized, and at the same time I felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me. It couldn’t be him. Nothing actually happened in the forest.
I ignored the throbbing in my wrist where I’d dreamed the terrifying animal had latched on to my arm, and I tried to pretend Hercules’ voice didn’t match the deep growl of my imaginary savior. The imaginary savior I conjured up in my exhaustion-induced delirium.
My fingers dropped to my cheeks, which tingled in the slightly uncomfortable way they did after a really hard workout. My head swam, whether from the impact of our collision or his touch, I couldn’t be sure.
