Hello, Handsome

by H, Caity

  Ryan nodded his head as we pulled through the gates of Grove. He gave me directions to his house.

  “Can I ask you something?” he turned to look at me. I swallowed hard. That question always made me nervous. There were too many possible questions, too many answers I didn’t want to give.

  “Um, sure.” My mouth spoke for me, not giving my brain enough time to think of a good evasion.

  “Olivia has told me a lot about your guys’ friendship,” he started, and instantly my heart dropped to my stomach. That didn’t sound good. “Plus, I hear some of it from Bethany.”

  “Do you have a point?” I asked. If we were just going to talk about the fact Honeybee spent time with her best friend and occasionally I came up, why did he have to freak me out?

  “The point, is that I’ve heard about some of the things you’ve done in the past year.”

  I swallowed hard. The kisses, probably, was what he was alluding to. “So?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I just think you need to realize how that’s affecting Olivia.”

  Was he being serious? Ryan barely knew me, and he was telling me what I was doing wrong and that I needed to change to fit his views. Why did everyone think they had a say in my life?

  He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, before he continued. “She told me about graduation night, in the tree house.”

  That night in the tree house. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. It was another reminder that I wasn’t her best friend anymore. She’d gone and talked to other people about that night in the treehouse and whatever significance she’d assigned to it. She had other people when I only had her. I’d really only ever had her.

  When my silence dragged on, he kept talking. “Come on, Lex. We can all see it. It’s you and her. She said that night in the tree house felt different, like things were changing. I just don’t get it. You kissed her, you changed so that you could be friends with her again. Then you guys had that night in the tree house. So why didn’t you make your move?”

  Why did everyone think there was a move to be made?

  “Ya know Ryan, this really isn’t your business.”

  “She’s my friend, too. It’s my business.”

  When the car stopped in front of his house, he made no move to get out.

  “No, it’s not.” My eyes narrowed as I turned to glare at him. My knuckles were turning white. “That night in the treehouse felt different because a big part of our lives had just ended. High school was over. Emotions were heavy and there was a lot to process. Of course it wasn’t going to feel like an average night.” I ground my teeth, breathing out through my nose. “I think it would be in both of our best interests if you got out of my car.”

  He sighed, unbuckling. “You’re either ignorant or ignoring the truth. It’s you and her, Lex.”

  “Whatever,” I muttered, nodding my head toward the door. “Just get out.”

  He got out of the car and walked around toward his door. I rolled down the window and called out to him. He stopped and looked back at me.

  “The next time you feel like sharing the things she told you, probably in confidence, don’t.” With a glare, I rolled the window back up and pulled away, heading home.

  He had no right to betray her like that. She’d already seen enough of that treatment from me over the years. She didn’t need more of it. I hoped for her sake he kept those conversations to himself in the future. If he didn’t, and I found out, there would be consequences.

  Five: New Beginnings

  Even days later, when I was hours from driving to my dorm room, I couldn’t get the conversation between me and Ryan out of my head. It kept playing over and over again, like a song stuck on repeat.

  It’s you and her.

  It’s you and her.

  You and her.

  It wasn’t me and her. We had a history, but that didn’t mean anything. And if it did, Ryan Newly wasn’t allowed to make that call. He thought because he’d heard about one night and a few kisses that suddenly he knew me, how I operated, and what I felt. But he didn’t.

  Yes, that night had felt different. I wouldn’t deny the obvious truth. But the emotions that we’d felt that night weren’t real. It was one night, a few moments of uncertainty between us and what we were.

  But that night was over, and so was high school. Tomorrow we started college. Separate schools, different class schedules, and outside activities. Things would be different, different from high school and different from that night in the tree house.

  There were two knocks on the door before Mom poked her head in. “Hey, honey.”

  She had tears in her eyes. Empty nest syndrome had been setting in for several days. So much so, that she’d gone through with the idea to get a pet. There was a kitten wandering around the house now, a small white one. His name was Finch. Honeybee had been over several times to play with him.

  “Are you going to cry all day?” I asked, cringing as Finch used his claws to crawl up my leg. The kitten settled on my thigh and stared back at my mom. Her two babies. Already, she’d started to refer to him as my brother.

  She shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m allowed to cry all day, Lex. My only child is leaving for college.”

  “A college that is like an hour away,” I replied with a roll of my eyes. “Besides, you have Dad and Finch. Debby is right across the street. You guys can bond over how much you miss me and Honeybee.”

  “An hour is a long way when you’re busy with school and life.” Shaking her head, she started to cry again.

  I was never good with tears. I had a general idea of what I was supposed to do with most people, but not my mom. When Cassy cried, I could distract her pretty easily. Honeybee only needed a hug. The guys on the soccer team only cried when the ball hit them between the legs, and they preferred a moment of silence. It was something I could respect. But moms? What did I do when my mom was crying? Nineteen years and I still had no idea how I was supposed to react.

  “We’ll figure it out,” I promised, even though I wasn’t sure we would.

  Dad was downstairs, probably reading the newspaper. He probably didn’t care that I was leaving. It was a chance for him to be free of me for a while, three months at least.

  I had a feeling that once I experienced living on my own, I wouldn’t really care to live under his roof again. If it came down to it, I would get an apartment. Or become a beach bum.

  “I need to load a few more bags.” I deposited Finch in her hands, placing a quick kiss on her cheek before I grabbed my bags from the floor and walked down to my car. I had some stuff loaded into Dad’s car, but most of it was going in mine.

  I wasn’t sure what Honeybee’s plans were for the day. I knew that she was moving into her dorm room as well, but I didn’t know when they were leaving. Maybe our moms had already figured everything out.

  Dad glanced up as I walked through the room and made my way outside. The distinct sound of mews followed me as Finch raced down the front steps.

  “He knows you’re leaving,” Mom said, having followed me downstairs and outside.

  I glanced up, seeing the sun already high in the sky. The heat of the summer was still in full swing, and it was unlikely to change any time soon. Hopefully our dorm rooms had air conditioning. If we had to endure the heat during soccer practice and then return to equally hot dorm rooms I was going to die.

  “Or he just feels like clawing up my legs some more. Once I leave all he’ll have to play with is dad’s slippers.” They were one of Finch’s favorite toys.

  “Are you trying to tell me I need to get another kitten?” Mom asked with only a tone of sarcasm to her voice.

  Chuckling, I shook my head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” If she got another kitten because of what I’d said, Dad would hate me even more. He didn’t like Finch very much.

  I opened the door to my car and chucked the bags inside. Something crunched, but I couldn’t think of anything breakable in my bag
s. I’d find out later when I unpacked.

  “That’s what it sounds like you’re saying,” Mom mused. Finch walked between my feet, his tail tickling my ankles.

  Reaching down, I picked him up. “It’s not. Trust me.”

  I glanced over at Honeybee’s house. She probably had everything in the car already and was going over her packing list for the thousandth time. “I’m gonna go see when they’re heading out.” I said, looking back at Mom.

  “I’ll come with you.” She smiled. “I’ve been meaning to talk to Debby.”

  I was never one for knocking at Honeybee’s house, and she was never one for knocking at my house. But, with Mom at my side, I thought she might think it was inconsiderate or something to just walk into someone’s house unannounced like I lived there, even if I sort of had at times. So, I knocked.

  We waited a few moments before Debby opened the door and smiled. “Hey, what are you guys doing here? I thought you’d be busy packing.”

  “I’m busy stocking up on tissues,” Mom said, stepping inside when Debby pulled the door open further. The two of them laughed. Must’ve been mom code.

  “Olivia is up in her room,” Debby said, smiling over at me.

  I nodded and headed upstairs, Finch in hand. She loved Finch, but she didn’t have to suffer the wrath of his claws as much as I did.

  I knocked on her door, pausing a few seconds before I walked inside.

  Her phone was tucked between her ear and shoulder. She was kneeling on her suitcase, facing away from me. It sounded like she was talking to Bethany, probably about their class schedules. From what I understood they hadn’t managed to be roommates, but they were in the same dormitory.

  Setting Finch on the floor, I walked over and kneeled beside her, my weight bringing the two halves of the suitcase together. She jumped when I appeared next to her, the phone clattering to the ground. Reaching under her, I pulled the zippers together and sealed the suitcase.

  “When did you get here?” she asked, picking the phone back up. “I’ll call you back in a little bit.” Receiving an answer, she hung up and slid the phone into her back pocket.

  “About a minute ago.” I pulled back and stood up, surveying the empty room. “Wow.”

  “I know,” she mumbled, dropping onto her bed. Finch pranced over and Honeybee’s face lit up as she scooped him up. “It took me forever to get it this empty.” I sat down on the bed next to her, our shoulders touching. “I never thought of myself as a hoarder, but after going through my room these past few weeks, I think I might have a problem.”

  I nudged her shoulder and laughed. “I totally called it.”

  “Shut up, you did not.” She smirked, running her fingers over Finch’s back. “When are you heading to your dorm?”

  I shrugged. “Dunno. Whenever Dad decides he’s ready, I guess. I’m pretty much all packed up. You?”

  “Two bags, a comforter and a toothbrush later, Olivia Rayne Martin is ready to start college.” She set Finch back in my lap and stood up, grabbing the suitcase on the floor. “More or less, anyways.”

  “Good enough for me.” I stood as well and followed her downstairs. She left the suitcase by the door and headed toward the kitchen. Finch started to scratch me, so I put him on the ground and let him wander on his own.

  Mom and Debby were talking, but stopped when we walked in. “You all ready to go?” Debby asked, her own eyes watery. Honeybee nodded her head. “Great. I’ll get a few things in order and we can head out.”

  “Okay,” Honeybee said.

  “Lex, we should probably leave soon, too. Your dad said he was ready,” Mom said. I nodded my head, eager to get going. “Go grab Finch and we’ll hit the road.” She sighed, glancing at Debby. “The last time we drive our kids to school.”

  She gave a sad smile and nodded, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “Yep, hard to imagine this day is finally here.” They were going to start crying and reminiscing if I didn’t do something quick. There would be time for that later, when Honeybee and I were both gone. For now we needed to get to school with as few tears as possible.

  “Honeybee, are you gonna need help unpacking?”

  She answered with a shrug.

  “Text me when you get to school, and I’ll head over and help you guys unload.” We were practically family at this point, right? And she didn’t have her dad to help her.

  “Thank you, Lex,” Debby said. “You’re too sweet.”

  “Maybe while you three do that, Steve and I could get us some dinner or something?” Mom suggested.

  “We should get going if we want to get me unpacked before I go to get Honeybee unpacked.” I turned to find Finch. Mom would need him, and I doubted Debby was interested in a kitten that would tear apart the upholstery

  Within ten minutes we were ready to go. Mom and Dad were driving separately and I was in my car. Mom had wanted to come in my car but there wasn’t any room. Plus, there’d be plenty of time to be a family before I left and started my life at college.

  Life at college.

  It wasn’t like I’d never come home again, but there was still that sense of ending when I thought about going to college. My life at high school was ending and I was stepping into a new one. One where no one knew Lex Diamond.

  Six: Jock Meets Nerd

  The campus was crawling with people. Families were dropping kids off for their first year, and returning college students were everywhere, too. Finding a parking spot was nearly impossible. It took me a while to find one in a back lot. Mom and Dad were still looking.

  Picking up my bags, I headed inside. It was hard to avoid running into other people while I was walking. Everyone had luggage and family crying over them it seemed. It was probably a good thing my parents and I had driven separately, that way I could get into my dorm room quickly and keep us from standing around outside in the heat while Mom cried over the fact I was leaving.

  Managing to squeeze my way through the crowd, I got into the dorm building and started toward the second floor where my room was.

  I walked into an empty room and stopped short. I’d kind of expected my roommate to be there already. We hadn’t met yet, but we’d exchanged a text or two. His name was Alastair. He was a sociology major and a sophomore. He hadn’t seemed unhappy at being roommates with a freshman, so that was positive.

  The room wasn’t as small as my mom had warned me it would be. There were two beds, two desks and wardrobes for each of us. There was one window on the wall opposite of the door. It would’ve been a nice view of the sunset if the other dorm buildings hadn’t been in the way.

  I stepped further into the room and dropped my bags on the bed closest to the window. I didn’t need to unpack and put everything away the second I got there. I’d have months to unpack all my things and get them arranged. The only thing I would really need at the end of the day was a bed ready to be slept in. My priority for now was to get all my stuff out of the car.

  I was in the middle of telling Mom where I was when the sound of more bags falling to the floor made me jump. I spun and saw a skinny redhead standing the doorway. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen.

  “Can I help you?”

  She gave a brief smile. “I’m just helping my brother.” About that time a guy, who looked a lot like her, walked in. He was tall and skinny, the same red hair. The girl turned to him. “Your roommate is here.”

  “Lex, right?” he asked, stretching an arm out. I shook his hand and nodded. “Alastair, and this is my sister Tracy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I answered. “Both of you.”

  Two people, who I assumed to be his parents walked in. His dad had red hair, too, but his mom was blonde. “Oh, you must be his roommate,” his mom said, smiling brightly at me. I nodded. “We’re his parents, Jeff and Margo.”

  “Lex Diamond,” I said, giving them a two finger salute. I glanced back at Alastair. “I took that bed. Hope you’re cool with that.” He nodded. “Cool, I’ll be back soon. I go
tta go grab more stuff.”

  I left and met Mom and Dad at the entrance. I grabbed a few bags, nodding toward the elevator. “This way,” I said, leading them back to my room.

  When we walked in, Alastair’s mom was helping him unpack and his sister was sitting on the bed, swinging her legs back and forth. His dad had disappeared, probably for the same reason I had.

  “This is my roommate Alastair and his family,” I announced to my parents as we walked in.

  Mom and Margo quickly acquainted themselves, talking about their shared loss of a child. We all rolled our eyes.

  “Trace, wanna be the greatest sister ever and make my bed for me?” Alastair asked, eyebrows raised hopefully. With a smirk, she stood and took the bedding from his hands.

  “It’s times like these that I wish I had a younger sister,” I said with a shake of my head.

  “They do come in pretty handy,” he agreed, avoiding the pillow his sister chucked at his head. It hit the wall by his mom, who turned and shot them disapproving looks.

  I glanced at my watch, wondering how much longer I would have until Honeybee got to her campus. They’d still been packing the car up when we’d left, and that was over an hour ago. They had to be pretty close at this point.

  “So, Lex, what are you going to school for?” Margo asked. I turned my head back toward her. “I don’t think Alastair mentioned it.”

  “Physical therapist,” I replied, pulling my sheets out. “I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember, so I know a little bit about sports related injuries.” She laughed at that.

  I couldn’t count on how many times I’d managed to injure myself during soccer. Pulled muscles, sprains, broken bones, and fractures; I’d had them all during my time on the field.

  “That’s an understatement,” Mom said, shaking her head in disdain. “You can’t imagine the amount of worrying I did for that boy. I was always afraid he’d end up with a really bad concussion or broken limb.”

  Concussions! I‘d had those, too.

  “I bet,” Margo said, shaking her head. “Alastair’s never really been into sports, but sit him in front of a computer and he’ll play games for hours. Had to bribe him into going outside.”