by Mary Smith
“Well, genius,” she looked up at me with her stunning brown eyes. “It looks like I’m reading.”
I smirked at her. “I didn’t realize you knew I was a genius.” I could see she was trying to hide her smile.
“What do you want, Dash?”
“There’s a reading of The Raven tonight, put on by the poetry club. You want to go?”
She popped up from her chair. “Hell yes, give me one minute.” She ran into the house. In a flash, she came out with her purse, and we headed back to campus. We walked through the center of campus until we reached Lindley Hall.
Once we found the room, we settled in the back, and listened intently to one of Poe’s most famous works. No matter how many times I heard the words, they still stirred emotions in me.
I glanced over at Garnet, and I saw tears pooling in her eyes. I reached over and took her hand. I wasn’t like Dart, gentle or comforting, but there was something about Garnet.
Twice this girl has been in my bed, and twice nothing has remotely happened. Did I want something to go on between us? Sure. Garnet was stunning, and I’ve seen her shake her hips on the dance floor. She had been drunk, but she’d had rhythm.
When they had finished reading the poem, we all stood up clapping. They announced there would be more soon, and I won’t lie—I was excited about it.
When we walked out of the building, I asked Garnet if she was hungry.
“I could tear up a Fat Patty’s bacon cheeseburger right now,” she moaned, licking her lips.
“Let’s go.” We walked up to Third Avenue to the hottest restaurant in all of Huntington.
Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long before we were seated. Since Garnet and I both knew what we wanted, we ordered right away.
I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the waitress sat down the bacon cheese fries in front of us.
“Dash, I wanted to apologize again for telling Daisy we were together.”
“Garnet, quit it. I think you’ve said sorry to me a hundred times since then.”
“I know,” she dipped her fry in ranch dressing. “I was mad at her, and it just spilled out.”
“Garnet,” my voice was firm. “Let it go. However I do have a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Why the tattoo and that quote?” It was something I’d wanted to ask her since I had seen the magnificent artwork on her body.
Garnet shrugged. “I always wanted a tattoo and The Raven is my favorite, and I like the quote.”
“So, what is it about Poe that you love so much?”
Garnet’s eyes turned sad at my question, and I thought she wasn’t going to answer. “You knew my mom was a teacher, right?”
I nodded.
“Well, she mainly taught literature in high school, and she was the one who turned me onto it. What about you?”
“Kind of the same, actually. I studied him in high school. I sort of connected with his writing.”
We ate for a few moments in silence before she asked me more questions.
“You and Dart grew up in West Virginia, didn’t you?”
“Yes, in Lincoln County. It was our dream to play for Marshall University.”
“Did your parents go here?”
“Nope. Dad was a coal miner all his life, and mom took care of us.” I could hear my own sadness coming through my voice.
“I remember Daisy telling me they died in a car accident.”
“Yes, the police thought he swerved to miss a deer and lost control.” I dropped the fry back into the plate. I didn’t feel like eating at that moment. “Dart and I were freshmen. We hadn’t been at school very long.” I’m not sure why I continued, but I did. “After they died, we sold the house and most everything else.”
We remained quiet when our food had finally arrived. Neither one of us touched our plates.
“Dash, may I ask you a deeply personal question?”
I looked into her sad brown eyes and nodded.
“Do you ever get over it? Does the hurt ever go away?”
I saw a single tear escape and roll down her cheek. I knew what she was asking.
“You never get over it. The pain is always there, but you learn to live with it.” I told her honestly. “But you shouldn’t use your pain as an excuse to be angry at everyone.” She locked her eyes with mine. “Think about your tattoo quote. You’re blessed for the time you have with your loved ones, no matter how much it hurts when they’re gone.”
More tears fell. My heart twisted seeing the agony on her face.
“I think I’m ready to go home.” Garnet’s voice cracked, and she wiped her face.
I nodded, waving the waitress down. We boxed up our food, and I paid the bill, even though Garnet insisted on paying for her own.
We walked home in silence, until we reached our block.
“Dash, is the reason you sleep around and drink so much because you’re dulling the pain?”
“Is that why you do it?” I asked avoiding her question.
Garnet stopped walking. “I want to say no, but that’s not the whole truth. I just,” she paused, looking at the ground. “I just want to stop the pain, forget, and be me again.”
I understood what she meant. There were times I felt the same way. “How long has your mom been dead?”
“Five months.”
“Garnet, the wound is still fresh. Maybe if you give it more time, it’ll all start coming back together. Maybe if you danced—,”
“No,” she cut me off. “I can’t.”
“Dart and I thought the same thing about football, but doing something you love will help you… well… feel like you, again,” I explained, remembering getting dressed for the first game after our parents had died. It killed me to know they would never see us taking the field. However, they were part of our drive to get there and we’d made it; that burned even brighter in us.
“I even heard from Daisy that you were a man whore.”
I scoffed at the comment. “That might be true. I’m apparently having imaginary sex with you. So it requires for me to show my nice side.” I winked at her.
She promptly rolled her eyes. “Oh, how I do love imaginary sex with you.”
We both laughed at her comment and continued to walk home in silence.
When we reached her door, she turned to me. “Thank you, Dash. I mean it.” She stepped up on her tiptoes, kissing my cheek. Her scent of cherries and honey filled me.
“You’re welcome, Garnet.”
When I got back to my house, I tossed the food into the refrigerator, and grabbed a beer. I went up to my room, and scanned my bookshelf to find what I was looking for.
I opened the leather bound photo album, seeing Dart and I as small babies. We had our mother’s blue eyes, and our dad’s dark brown hair. I flipped the pages watching the same pride in our parent’s eyes in every picture. They were our biggest fans and always had been.
“Dash, you okay?”
I turned, seeing my identical twin in the doorway. “Yep, what’s up?”
“You don’t have to play tough guy with me.” He walked farther into the room.
I took a deep breath. If there was anyone who knew me best, it was Dart. He could read me like a book. I didn’t keep secrets from him, ever. Dart had been there for me every single day after our parents died. He’d been there even before then.
“Thinking about Mom and Dad.” I handed the book to him. He sat on the bed, looking through the pages.
“What brought this on?”
“I was talking with Garnet.”
Dart stared at me for a moment before returning to the book. After a moment he set it down.
“You know what,” he stood up. “Let me cancel my plans, we get some beers, and play some Xbox.”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m going to do some homework.”
“Dash—,”
“Dart,” I cut him a mean look. “I’m okay.”
He put his hands up, in a surrendering motio
n. “Okay,” he headed toward the door. Dart stopped and turned. “I love you, Dash.”
I shook my head. “You’re such a girl.”
He chuckled, leaving me alone in my bedroom.
Chapter 11 – Garnet
This has to be the craziest night of my life. First there was the reading and then dinner with Dash. What else could go on?
I opened my eyes looking at my bedroom ceiling. I wasn’t tired; my brain wouldn’t stop replaying Dash’s words. I don’t know why I asked the questions that I had. Maybe it was because Dash seemed sweet, taking me to the reading. Maybe it was because he kept saving me when I was completely trashed at parties. Whatever ‘it’ was, was keeping me up tonight.
But you shouldn’t use your pain as an excuse to be angry with everyone.
I knew he meant my attitude. My anger had other reasons, not just the death of my mother.
Feel like me, again.
Garnet Bowlings.
I shook my head. I don’t remember who I am anymore. Long ago, I was a fun, vibrant, talented dancer. Then Mom got sick, Daisy was in college, and Dad was gone, leaving me alone to take care of her.
I pushed myself so hard to be the best dancer, because it’s where I could be me. I felt at home and gained the most confidence. Now, I needed alcohol to have those feelings anymore.
Right?
Isn’t that why I drink?
Or is it because I don’t dance anymore?
Mom was at every practice, competition, and encouraged me every step of the way. She was my number one fan. When Daisy left home, the focus turned to her. I never understood why my parents went on and on about everything Daisy was doing. Then Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and her health, like it should, became the focus of the house.
I jerked the sheet off me and headed to the fridge. I needed a drink, as I grabbed a bottle of vodka, and mixed it with orange juice. I went outside to our porch and chugged half the drink.
The sky was clear, but the bright streetlights blurred it, and I couldn’t really see any stars. I closed my eyes, listening to the faint sounds of speeding cars from the distant streets.
“Are you sleepwalking?”
I yelped at the question, opening my eyes and seeing Dash.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” He stepped up on the porch, taking a stance across from me, leaning back on the rails.
“It’s fine, and no I’m not sleepwalking.” I sipped my drink.
“Why are you up this late?”
“Shouldn’t I ask you the same thing?”
He smirked. “My excuse is I can’t find my headphones, and Daisy is quite loud.”
“Ew,” I moaned. “Sad to say, I understand that. They were that way when Dart lived with us this past summer.”
“So,” he encouraged.
“I was thinking about Mom,” I truthfully said.
He dropped his gaze. We remained silent for a few seconds, and I chugged the rest of my drink.
“You want a beer?” I stood up, heading into the house, not hearing an answer from him.
I opened the fridge pulling out a bottle, setting it on the breakfast bar for him, and made myself another screwdriver. I heard the front door shut, and Dash strolled into the kitchen, picking up a bottle of beer.
“Dash, I meant what I said today, thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it, but you’re welcome.” He sipped his beer.
After I chugged the second glass, the vodka was relaxing me. It’s probably because there was more alcohol in the glass than actual orange juice.
“You can stay here, Dash, if you want.” I quickly said.
“What?”
“You know, as well as I do, that Daisy and Dart aren’t finishing for a while. So, if you want, you can stay here.”
He shook his head. “Thanks for offering, but I’m going to head back over.” He quickly finished the beer.
I followed him to the door. He hesitated and turned back to me. He searched my face and slightly opened his mouth.
“What is it, Dash?”
His blue eyes hung on my lips before gazing back up to my eyes. Was he going to kiss me?
“Nothing. Get some sleep, Garnet.”
Chapter 12 – Daisy
Garnet picked at her food in front of her. It was Friday night, but the boys had already gone to their away game at UAB in Alabama.
“Do you have plans tonight?” I tried to sound cheerful.
“Not really. You?”
“Well, there are a couple parties, but I was wondering if we could hang out tonight?”
“What did you have in mind?”
I was taken aback that she asked and didn’t jump down my throat. “Oh, well, we could go to the mall. Maybe do a little shopping and catch a movie?”
Garnet shrugged. “Sure, I’ll go change.” She got up from the table without another word.
Even though she’s been acting the way she always had, Garnet seemed worse today. I know Dart kept telling me over again to be there for her, and let her find her own way. It was so hard to do that when I think she’s doing it wrong.
“I need to stop at the drugstore and get more hair dye,” Garnet said, coming back into the kitchen. She had on black Jean shorts and a black T-shirt with a jeweled skull on it.
“Garnet, why don’t you let your hair go back to the beautiful brown?”
“I like it red. Now, may we please go?” She stomped off to the car.
The music was the only sound in the car, as we took the interstate to the Huntington Mall. I gazed at Garnet several times, and she was staring out the window. I needed to figure out how to get her to open up to me, without her yelling at me.
When we reach the mall, I head straight for Macy’s, and started talking about the sorority formal fall dance coming up.
“Dart and I are going to wear blue this year.” I started flipping through racks of evening gowns.
“You match each other’s outfits?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I mean, I know you both love each other, but that just seems like something I would see on awkwardphotos.com in ten years,” she giggled.
“Hey, it’s not that bad,” I exclaimed.
“Maybe not in your eyes,” she continued to laugh. “I’m sure the people on that site thought it was a good idea at the time, too.”
“Fine, enough.” I huffed, now slightly panicked about our previous year photos. “I thought we could have a good sister day, not make fun of me day.”
“I’m not making fun of you, and as a good sister, I’m telling you that’s dumb. Let Dart wear what he wants.”
“What stores do you want to go to?” I changed the subject. “Maybe Victoria’s Secret’s since you and Dash have become so close?” I winked at her.
“I’m sure Dash doesn’t care about my underwear.”
“Well, that may be true because Dash doesn’t seem to care much about anything but sex. However, since you too are sort of dating, he might.”
Garnet stared at me, confused. “We’re not dating.”
“Whatever you two are doing then.” I rolled my eyes, hating the fact that my baby sister was a booty call.
“Daisy, stop.”
“I’m just –”
“No, you’re not doing anything but passing judgment. So, stop right now.”
I shut my mouth. I was actually shocked by her words. I wasn’t doing that, was I? I mean, Dash was like that; he slept around. It was who he was.
“Let’s go to Hot Topic.” Garnet suggested and walked away from me.
I pulled out my phone sending the text to Dart.
Wish you were here.
We barely spoke the rest of our shopping spree. The few times I suggested some outfits for her, she gave me a mean look, and I got the hint that she didn’t like me doing that.
“Do you want to go to the movies or grab a soft pretzel?” Garnet asked me.
“Let’s skip the movie and grab the pretzel.” I answered a lit
tle more enthusiastically than I should have.
I found us a table to sit at as Garnet purchased our food and drinks. I checked my phone again to see if Dart had texted me, but he hadn’t yet. I figured he was busy with Dash and the team. When Garnet put the items in front of me, I instantly took a picture, and posted it on to Instagram.
“Why do you do that?”
I shrugged at Garnet’s question. “Hey, you want to take a picture together?”
“Hell no, and don’t get that song stuck in my head.”
“Do you mean... Let me take the selfie?” I sang out.
“Hashtag you’re a bitch.” Garnet’s small smile appeared and mine followed.
“Now you have to,” I leaned over to her, and she huffed, but did smirk in the photo.
We ate our food and I looked around, people watching. For a Friday night, the mall wasn’t as busy as I thought it would have been.
“Well, is there anywhere else you want to go?” I pulled my attention back to Garnet.
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Are you going to go out?”
“Probably not. I usually stay home when Dart is away.”
Garnet furrowed her eyebrows. “What are you going to do when he goes to the NFL?”
“Dart isn’t going to the NFL,” I informed her. “Dash will; that’s his goal. Dart has already talked to Dad about joining the real estate business.”
“What?”
“Yep,” I confirmed. “Dart and I discussed it this summer with Dad. When we graduate, we’re moving back to North Carolina.”
Garnet look shocked. “How did I not know this?”
“I’m not sure. We talked to Dad and he’s excited for Dart to join the business, and I’ll apply for my RN license and take the exam when we move.” I couldn’t be happier about this. When I suggested it, I wasn’t sure Dart would go for it. I was shocked when he was excited about the idea. Dart knew Dash was going to the NFL. There were too many scouts watching him that he wouldn’t be drafted.
“Wow, you’ve got it all planned out, don’t you?” Garnet leaned back, crossing her arms.
“Garnet, you’ll figure out your plan, too. You’re smart, pretty, and fun. There will be so many opportunities for you when you graduate.” I tried hard for my voice not to crack.
