So Typical

by Martha Greenwood

  "Have you ever seen 'Jaws'?" Scarlett asked.

  "Yeah, why?"

  "Well, I don't want to end up like that nameless girl in the beginning," she answered.

  Christian chuckled. "Touché."

  Scarlett could feel her flesh beginning to rise in goosebumps. She tried to hide her coldness and wrapped her arms around her chest to gather body warmth against the chilly wind, but when she shivered, Christian noticed.

  "Here," he said as he shrugged out of his letterman jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, helping her as she shoved her arms through it. Christian led Scarlett near the water where they walked along the edge of the shore; the small waves from the ocean were only centimeters from their feet. Scarlett stuffed her cold hands into his jacket while the cool wind blew her hair about her face.

  "T-Thanks."

  "I guess you're not used to this type of weather," Christian said.

  "Well, I never really went out in the sun when I lived in Jacksonville. I was more of an indoor kind of gal."

  "So, what you're trying to disguise is that you were a total nerd at your old school." Christian smiled.

  "Shut up. That's a very touching subject for me," Scarlett mumbled.

  "Really, why?"

  "People at my old school didn't like students who made good grades. They considered them geeks and losers. Nobody wanted to talk to losers, or other people might consider them losers."

  "That's rough," Christian said.

  "Tell me about it."

  "Well, our school actually praises students who take the time to get good grades. I have to work very hard so that I can stay on the basketball team. I have to maintain a three point seven grade point average to be the captain of the basketball team," Christian said.

  "Captain?"

  "Yeah. I'm just that good," Christian said jokingly.

  "Oh, I'm sure you are."

  "Is that sarcasm?" Christian asked with mock shock.

  "Oh, no. I would never be sarcastic," Scarlett said sarcastically.

  "Stop that. You're hurting my feelings." Christian frowned teasingly.

  "Ah. I'm sorry. I didn't realize that such a strong boy could get hurt so easily by a weak girl, like me."

  "No comeback."

  Scarlett smiled to herself. She liked Christian, even if he did remind her of Tristan.

  * * *

  "Mary, I think I love you," Ginny said as Mary handed her the money they needed to get Scarlett back down to Florida. Only…they hadn't exactly asked Scarlett to come down here yet.

  "It was easy enough. All I had to do was bat my eyes at my father, and he gave me the money. Didn't even ask me what it was for."

  "You're an angel," Kate said to Mary.

  "A devious one, yes. But I would have done this anytime if it's going to help my brother. It will help him, right?" Mary asked.

  "I don't know. We think it might," Meghan said.

  "Well, at least we're trying. That's what I have to say," Mary replied. "Have you contacted Scarlett yet?"

  "Not exactly," Kate replied.

  "Well, what are we waiting for?" Mary asked.

  "What if Scarlett says 'no'?" Meghan worried.

  "She'll say 'yes,'" Ginny said. "She has to. She likes Tristan. More than she's ever liked anyone. He's her first boyfriend. She will want to. And if we have the money, she will have to come."

  "Well, let's call her," Mary said.

  Ginny pulled out her phone and pressed speed dial #1. It rang four times and then went to voicemail. Ginny left her a concise message, telling her to call back as soon as she got it. And then Ginny called her again, only to come up with the same results as the previous time. She called Scarlett again. And again. And again.

  * * *

  The entire theater jumped back, and a few people even screamed in their seats. Scarlett's heart jumped into her throat as the young couple on the huge screen huddled together in the bed as an unknown force toyed with them. Scarlett subconsciously grabbed onto Christian's arm from fright as they both watched 'Paranormal Activity.' Christian smiled down at the gorgeous redhead who was holding onto his arm. His plan was working out just as he had thought it would. Now if only she would join the cheerleading squad, they would make the most perfect couple to ever walk the halls of Humphrey Day. Maybe even better than Melody Harman and her four year boyfriend, Jake Connery.

  But right now was the time for the ultimate test. Christian very carefully, very smoothly, wrapped his arm around Scarlett's shoulders and brought her closer to his chest. At first, his heart pumped loudly in his chest. What if she pushed away and never talked to him again? He had only gotten her to come with him alone to the movies by saying they would go as friends. Maybe he was pushing her buttons a little too much. But then he relaxed when he realized Scarlett wasn't pushing against him. Instead, she snuggled a little bit closer to him. Christian was pleasantly surprised by her response.

  In Scarlett's mind, she was nervous. This was only the third time she had been close to a boy. The first had been Francis, and look how well that relationship turned out. The second, of course, was Tristan. And he was still deep in a coma down in Florida. And now it was Christian. She felt like she was cheating on Tristan, but Christian and she were only friends. Christian had been so nice and kind to her. She didn't know what Tristan meant when he said Christian was a player. Every day at lunch he talked with her and told her jokes, and she did the same thing. If people didn't know that she wasn't interested in dating since she was taken, they would think that Christian and Scarlett were going out, but she had made it abundantly clear that she had a boyfriend.

  It was still nice to have someone hug her in between classes, and buy her lunch when she forgot her wallet, and walk her to and from classes, and study with her when an important test was coming up, and dedicate a basket to her by pointing to her after he made a three-pointer during the game, and give her his jacket whenever she was cold and her own thin sweater wouldn't suffice, and walk her to her car after school, and protect her hair from the rain by letting her join him under his jacket, and open a door for her, and hold her hand, and everything else that Christian did for her.

  Oh, my God, I'm cheating on Tristan with Christian.

  It wasn't cheating though. They had never kissed. He had never advanced on her like that. Sure, he hugged her. But that was it. Sure, he held her hand. But nothing more. He didn't try to make a move on her or anything. They were simply really good friends. Maybe, Scarlett was just looking into it too much because he was her first real guy friend.

  After the movie was over, they left the theater both slightly shaking from how scary it had been, though Scarlett thought that Christian's shivers were fake only to make her feel like she wasn't a scaredy cat. She knew that Christian was aware that she hated when she was more frightened than other people.

  "That was some scary shit," Scarlett commented as they walked to Christian's corvette.

  "No doubt about it," Christian agreed.

  Scarlett's heart suddenly beat and unexpectedly sped up when their eyes met and locked. Scarlett began falling into the light brown chocolate color of his eyes when he looked away. Christian concentrated on the road in front of him as he pulled out of the parking lot of the movie theater. He knew that he wanted her, but he had figured that he could hold out until she broke it off with that boy from her old school. He didn't realize he would fall for her so suddenly. They had only known each other for about three weeks, a month at the most.

  When Scarlett was freed from his gaze, she blinked rapidly trying to clear her mind. She couldn't believe that she felt this way for him. She had only known him for a short time. Then again, Tristan and she had only dated for one week before she moved to Ohio, and he had been in a coma for about a month now. So, technically, their relationship had the lifespan of seven days. But Scarlett had known him since seventh grade. And they had been lab partners for two months before their relationship started. She had known Tristan since she was twelve.
She had only known from Christian for one month in all.

  Tristan! Tristan! Tristan! Not Christian!

  But, what's wrong with Chris? He hasn't done anything wrong.

  Tristan, Dammit! TRISTAN!

  Chris isn't a bad guy.

  He's a liar.

  Is not. You're just saying that to try and make yourself hate him.

  Scarlett fought with herself the whole ride in the car. She didn't even notice when Christian had turned his attention back to her and was searching her face. Scarlett was too busy fighting back and forth in her head to realize that Christian was doing the exact same thing in his own head.

  "I'm really glad you could make it," Christian started.

  "I'm glad I came," Scarlett said a moment too late.

  "What do I have to do to make you happy? If staying away would make you happy, I will. I mean, I know you have a boyfriend and all, and if my being around you is uncomfortable—"

  "No, Christian, it's not you. Really it's me. I just can't let go of him..." Scarlett looked up and stared out the window of the car.

  "I'm sorry," Christian whispered.

  Scarlett bit her bottom lip and looked back down at her feet. She took a deep breath, "Don't be."

  "But, I am."

  Scarlett looked up and found Christian staring at her. Again when their eyes met, she felt dizzy. Scarlett didn't remember when the car stopped moving, but she soon realized that she and Christian were searching the other one's face. Scarlett was pulled deep into those puppy dog-like brown eyes. And Christian was swimming in the warmth of her green orbs.

  "I really wish that you wouldn't feel so unhappy," Christian whispered. He knew he was definitely overstepping his limits. She was taken. She wasn't single. And yet he was propelled to make her his. He wanted her so badly, it hurt.

  "I—I'm not unhappy," Scarlett whispered back.

  Christian looked at her sideways.

  "I mean, I was unhappy. But, now, not so much." She didn't even think about this until now.

  She didn't feel that tearing in her heart when she spoke Tristan's name anymore. Her heart didn't beat so hard that it hurt when she thought his name. She didn't know when this had happened, but it had. Maybe it was due to the large amount of time they had been away from each other. He was becoming fuzzy in her memory. His laughter was fading in her head.

  "Do you think that—never mind." Christian shook his head.

  "What is it, Chris?" It was the first time she had said 'Chris' aloud, and it took Christian by surprise.

  Christian took a deep breath. "Do you think that we could ever...be together?"

  Of course not! "Maybe...in time." Scarlett had meant to say what she thought and think what she said. But when the words came out, they had mixed together.

  Christian searched her face again. A gleam of hope shined in his chocolate eyes.

  The air from the heater inside the car had suddenly blown a ringlet of Scarlett's hair, covering her face. Before she could do anything, Christian lifted his hand and tucked it behind her ear. When he went to return his hand by his side, his fingertips slid lightly across her cheek. The trail his fingertips left felt hot on Scarlett's cheek. It left a tingly sensation. A sensation Scarlett wanted to experience again.

  Scarlett couldn't hear the sound of the background music coming from the radio anymore; she couldn't hear the noise of the traffic outside the parked car; she couldn't hear the sound of anything except the beating of her heart as it drummed loudly in her ears. Her eyelids fluttered, and then next thing she knew she was leaning in towards Christian.

  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

  I feel all giddy inside.

  GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!

  He is so warm, so soft.

  HE'S WRONG, ALL WRONG FOR YOU!

  But, he seems right. He seems nice, kind, sweet. Almost like Tr...

  Scarlett lost her train of thought due to something moving against her lips. She opened her eyes—which she did not remember shutting—and found that what had distracted her were Christian's lips. They were so warm, so soft. Just like she had thought. Her lips parted in response to his kissing, and she felt his tongue slide into her mouth.

  So nice, kind, sweet, sincere...

  YOU'RE SUCH A SLUT!

  Why would someone say that?

  YOU'RE MAKING OUT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND'S COUSIN, DUMB ASS!

  Was it normal to have conversations in your head? Scarlett didn't know, nor did she care. Her eyes shut again, and she heard Christian groan passionately.

  Chapter Eighteen – Go To Guy

  Scarlett entered her mother and future stepfather's apartment to find her mother sitting at the kitchen table drinking from a coffee mug. Wait a second. Scarlett did a double take. Yes, it was a coffee mug, not a beer bottle. When Rosa heard the door close, she looked up with wide, expectant eyes and smiled. Wait another second. She smiled? And then Rosa waved, "Hey, baby."

  Scarlett froze where she stood. What was wrong with her mother? But, wait a third second; it wasn't that her mother was wrong; it was that her mother was right...if that made sense. Rosa's eyes weren't red. She didn't look like she was about to puke. Her hair was washed and styled. She looked fresh. And, most importantly, sober.

  "Um...hi, mom," Scarlett said slowly, still staring at her in disbelief.

  "How was the movie?"

  "Uh...good, I guess."

  "Well, that's wonderful." And her mother turned back to her coffee and the newspaper in front of her. Hold on right there! What? Rosa never read the newspaper, never!

  "Mom?"

  Rosa immediately turned back to her daughter as Scarlett asked, "What's...going on?" She had changed her sentence at the last moment. She had been about to ask "What's wrong with you?" But, like she had thought only a moment ago, it wasn't that Rosa was messed up...well, at least, not right now.

  "Oh, well, Timmy and I have decided to try and stop drinking all together. It will take time, and I know I'll cheat a few times, but I have come to realize that I need to stop for you and for Charles."

  Charles. Charles. Charles! Scarlett couldn't believe she had forgotten! It had been what felt like years since she had last visited Charles. It had only been about a week, but she missed him, nonetheless. Maybe she would go and visit him tomorrow morning.

  This was all too fast. So many good things were happening so quickly. Her mother was sober and not passed out on the couch. Her mother acted as if she cared for her and for Charles. Charles lived here in Ohio, though maybe not with them...but, still; nonetheless, he was here, and Scarlett could visit him frequently.

  All of this almost made Scarlett forget about the event that had taken place in Christian's car after the movie. Almost. But, not quite. Her heart was still beating a little more quickly than usual when Tristan wasn't around. And Scarlett couldn't help but think about the way Christian's eyes had dug deep into hers...STOP IT! Scarlett instructed herself.

  Shaking her head, Scarlett said, "I have homework; I think I'll go do it now."

  "But, it's Saturday. Go have some fun." Rosa perked up. Wow, Rosa had changed dramatically. Back in Florida, Scarlett received a daily speech about grades and scholarships, and now she was given permission to go party with her homework incomplete. Something was definitely wrong...or, maybe, just different. She liked this new Rosa. Her mother had changed, and Scarlett was only now realizing it. Maybe it was because Scarlett had been so depressed; she hadn't paid any attention to her mother's personality changes.

  "I'd rather just do my homework. I want to go see Charles tomorrow, so I want to get my homework out of the way."

  "Okay, darling. Whatever you want to do; it's totally up to you." Rosa smiled and returned to the newspaper in front of her as she sipped on her coffee. Scarlett stared at her new and seemingly happy mother for another minute before she headed upstairs to her room to start on her homework.

  Scarlett plopped down on her bed, stressed and worried about what she had done. She had kissed
her boyfriend's cousin while her boyfriend was in a coma. She was such a slut. She was leading Christian on. She was such an awful person. God, how was she supposed to explain what she had done to anyone?

  Just then Scarlett looked at her phone, which she had put on silent for the movie, and realized that she had six unheard messages. She dialed her voicemail and listened to six different messages, all from Ginny, saying the same thing in different ways. Scarlett's heart started pumping harder. Maybe Ginny had news about Tristan. Had Tristan woken up from the coma? Had his family decided to pull the plug? Didn't someone in a coma have less of a chance of waking up after about a month?

  Scarlett hit speed dial #2, and her phone rang three times before an exasperated Ginny picked up on the other end.

  "Why didn't you answer any of my thousands of phone calls two hours earlier?" she asked.

  "I was at the movies with…some friends," Scarlett replied. "What happened that was so urgent? Is Tristan okay?"

  "Um…he's the same as before."

  "Then what's wrong?" Scarlett asked, confused now.

  "We have money."

  Scarlett waited for Ginny to continue before she commented, "That's wonderful, Ginny."

  "No, you don't get it. We have money for you."

  "For me?"

  "Yeah. For your plane ticket to come home." Ginny sounded excited.

  "Oh, Ginny, I can't come home."

  "And why the hell not? We have the money for you. You can just come home for two weeks during Christmas break and visit everyone, including Tristan. And maybe that will help with the coma. Because sometimes when loved ones are reunited, it helps with any serious injury, like amnesia, comas, and other serious disorders."

  "Have you been looking this up?" Scarlett asked with a hint of a smile.

  "Maybe. But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is trying to convince you to get your ass down here."

  "Ginny, those kinds of things only happens in movies."

  "Well, then let's make this a movie," Ginny said.

  "How much money do you have?" Scarlett asked.