Found by You

by Victoria H. Smith

  Sighing, I gazed around the room of tall players and their pretty dates. I didn’t see Ryan during my first rotation, nor did I see Clare or Destiny. I decided to take an empty table, hoping people I knew would fill it. After placing my purse to the floor, I picked up my menu to look over the specials.

  “Hello.”

  The voice was followed by the last person I thought I’d see choosing to sit next to me.

  Tanya wore a short white dress and matching heels. The whole outfit made her look kind of angelic, but the way she was looking at me made me tense and apprehensive. I could almost say she was sneering.

  She crossed her long legs and tilted her head at me. She stared, not saying a word, like she expected something out of me, and I blinked, forgetting myself and my manners.

  “Hi,” I said, turning back to my menu. I didn’t look at her and hoped my greeting was enough to make me lose her attention, but it wasn’t. I could feel the heat of her stare.

  “You know, until a week ago I never saw you around, but now,” she paused, picking up her own menu under porcelain-like fingers, “all it seems like I’m doing is seeing you.”

  I fought my eyebrows from twitching up at her words, engrossing myself in the menu I couldn’t seem to read now under her shadow. And that was just what she casted off. A weird shadow. I calmly cleared my throat. “Well, we do share a friend circle I guess.”

  I dared to look her way. Thank God she was actually reading her menu. I went back to mine.

  “Right,” she said. “Your, um, friend seems to have taken a liking to Destiny.”

  I didn’t like how she downplayed their relationship like that; like Clare was into Destiny and not so much vice versa. It was probably rude, but I felt the need to correct her. I turned to her, seeing she was still reading her menu. “I’m pretty sure they’re dating, and I’m quite certain it’s not just casually. Destiny is—”

  “Clearly experimenting.” She laughed, her long blonde ponytail tilting back when she did. “I did my freshman year. I just hope she lets your friend go before she does any permanent damage.”

  My brows shot up. What she said couldn’t have been true. I’d seen Destiny with Clare. She looked just as much on cloud nine as Clare did when they were together. I watched Tanya. She said what she had so casually and obviously didn’t care about being rude by gossiping to someone she clearly didn’t know. I had a feeling she was bullshitting, trying to get a reaction out of me. I cursed myself that I let her get to me.

  “I wasn’t talking about her when I meant how much I’ve been seeing you, though,” she said. A waitress came by and Tanya handed the woman her menu. “OJ please. I’ll also take two egg whites and a slice of rye toast.”

  I wasn’t surprised she ate like a bird. What was weird was how easily she turned on the charm. Just a second ago, she’d been so cold. Now she was all shines and smiles to watching eyes. This girl was good. Dangerous even.

  I passed my own menu off to the waitress, ordering a coffee and a pancake breakfast. I wasn’t going to eat like a bird just because she was nearby.

  She adjusted her gold bangles at the table after the waitress left us alone, and I hoped the accessories occupied her until at least another joined our party.

  They didn’t.

  “I meant Griffin,” she said, dropping her wrist to the table.

  My heart sped, but I didn’t let my expression reflect. I had no business allowing myself to go uneasy around her. She was the one in denial about their relationship.

  “You seem to notice him. Stare at him. Well, I’m not surprised. He’s Griffin Chandler. I honestly wouldn’t give another thought about it if it weren’t for the weird fact that attention seems to be shared. I mean, the way he went rushing after you at the Union and then moving away from me at the dance, yet he had no problem slipping you away for over fifteen minutes.”

  She counted? I shouldn’t be surprised, but shit. This girl sent off skivvy signals, and I really didn’t want to share breakfast with her. I was seriously debating switching tables when my cellphone buzzed. I got it out and was surprised to see a text from Griffin. I gave him my number this morning, but I didn’t think I’d hear something from him already.

  Hey, so I was thinking fuck breakfast with the group. I just want to eat with you. You game?

  I fought myself from grinning because of my present company, but his text had my heart leaping. I texted, Sure, and he returned with a, Meet me outside. I called us a cab to get out of here.

  “Look. I’m going to be straight with you.”

  Tanya’s voice threatened to take me out of my high, but I didn’t let it. She was his past, and I was happy to say I was secure in the fact that I was his present. I looked up at her, and she had her hands folded on the table.

  She cocked her head. “I understand your fascination with him. I do. I’ve had to deal with that a lot being his girlfriend over the years, and I am going to tell you what I told the others. Don’t entertain any ideas about him. Griffin is nice. He treats everyone well no matter how obsessed they seem to be with him.”

  My eyes widened and she leaned in.

  “It’s best you stay realistic, hon,” she said, eyeing me over. “We wouldn’t want you to get your feelings hurt now would we?”

  My face blazed at being insulted, and my heart clenched as if it were braced. Her blatant rudeness, her meanness, caused my stomach to twist and turn. I could feel my body battling between a retort in my throat and my legs shaking at the thoughts of fleeing. Either way, I let her affect me. I did. I didn’t know what to do in the situation, but when my cellphone buzzed again, I chose to look down. My mouth parted at what I read.

  By the way, Griffin’s text said. Since that title of girlfriend is currently available, I definitely wouldn’t mind you taking it. Just putting that on the table. No pressure. See you outside.

  “Are we on the same page?” Tanya asked.

  I looked up and I no longer felt the need to exchange insults with this malicious girl. Nor did I have the desire to flee. I did have to do one thing though.

  And that was make sure she knew about herself.

  I pushed my phone into my pocket, standing. “No, we’re not on the same page. And if I were you, I’d refrain from flashing around the delusion that you’re Griffin’s girlfriend in the future.”

  She gave no reaction to my words and simply tilted her head. “Really? Why is that?”

  I bent. Picking up my purse, I put it over my shoulder. “Because you might look kind of silly considering I’m his girlfriend.”

  I only stayed to watch her ruby red lips separate as her mouth dropped open. I turned on my heel with nothing but a grin on my face as I left the table. After canceling my meal order to the waitress, I left the room.

  I never felt more liberated. Not because I stood up to her. She didn’t matter. No, my liberation came from the rush inside. I was about to meet Griffin for breakfast and both of us were on the same page about our relationship. The realization had me on a cloud and charging toward the exit of the country club. I turned a corner, and I had to stop at the sight of a familiar face.

  D.

  Stepping back slowly, I went back the way I came. I knew Griffin said D didn’t realize it was me but seeing me so soon after watching my video could be pressing my luck. I’d have to avoid him for a little bit. Stay under the radar.

  Before I rerouted to the exit, I gazed around the corner again at him. He was with some guy in a suit. The man placed his hand on his shoulder. D nodded once before handing him something. Something rectangular and white. It looked like an envelope. The man didn’t even open it before sliding it into the abyss of his coat.

  After the exchange, the man shook D’s hand.

  Someone touched my shoulder and I jumped. A curse left my lips in surprise, and the guy who touched me laughed. He had dreads and a nice smile. Ryan.

  “Sorry I scared you,” he said, chuckling.

  I put my hand on my chest, waving him
off. “It’s okay. No big.” I probably shouldn’t have been spying anyway. I pointed to the side. “Um, I’d join you for breakfast, but—”

  He raised his hands. “We’re all good. I ran into Griff on the way down. I hear he’s taking you out. Totally cool.”

  For some reason, it had my heart flipping Griffin was already going around and telling people we were hanging out. God, I was just too smitten over this guy. I shook my head, trying to bring myself down from the high. “You aren’t mad are you?” I asked.

  I felt extremely guilty about this weekend. I was his date, but my mind was anywhere else but with him.

  “Nah. It’s fine. I’ll just take an empty seat with the team. You guys have fun and congrats on whatever you guys got going on. Griff’s a great guy. It’s good to see him with someone nice.”

  His compliment caused my cheeks to warm. I couldn’t have been graced with a nicer arranged date for the weekend, no matter how short-lived. He patted my shoulder before walking away, but I stopped him.

  “Hey. Um, do you know who that is around the corner with D?” I asked pointing that way.

  He took a peek around the corner before facing me. “Not really. I do remember him with a few guys at our mock game for the alumni and corporate folks the other day though. Probably just giving D some recognition. He played well like he always does. You take it easy, okay? Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll see you later.”

  He left and my phone buzzed again before I could have a coherent thought. I was on that high again before I even looked at my screen. I knew why once I did. It was Griffin again.

  You coming? My tummy is rumbling.

  Shaking my head, I went to meet him outside.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Roxie

  “Hey, April, can you pass me the Griffin?” I lodged my lip into my mouth immediately but that didn’t matter. The whole library table filled with Venomous Vixens was alerted of my slip. Their heads popped up, and they went on into a round of quiet snickering and snorting in the University’s largest library.

  I let my lip fall from my mouth. “I meant to say eraser.”

  With a grin, the red head tossed the eraser I was now way too embarrassed to accept from the center of the table.

  This still didn’t hold back the chuckles and banter.

  “No, sister girl did not just call that eraser Griffin.” Sheila, a Vixen that had a voluminous set of dark curls, picked up her eraser off her notebook. “Do you want my ‘Griffin’ too, Roxie?”

  When someone whispered, “Everyone hide your Griffin’s” I was finally forced to palm my face, hiding in shame.

  An arm went around my shoulder, shaking me. I lifted my head to see Clare’s smiling face.

  “Don’t give Rox such a hard time, ladies. She simply misses her boy toy,” she said, giving me an exaggerated pouty lip.

  The first thought I had was to deny, deny, deny, but I knew she was right so all I could do was sigh. Griffin Chandler was high in demand. He had practices, away games, and constant meetings with all kinds of people that had to do with his sport, and on top of that, the real reason he was here, school. I didn’t know how he juggled so much. His busy schedule had to stretch him thin and left little time for us. We’d only been dating a couple weeks since that magical weekend at the country club. After breakfast that morning, Griffin got us train tickets home so we could be alone on the way back into town. When we got back to the city, we laid in bed all day at my apartment. Just cuddling… and making out. A lot.

  I wished I could see him more, but I didn’t take the separation personal. I found his commitment to what he did to be a huge turn on. He was so dedicated. Not just to his sport, but to me as well. I had a few of the basketball players suddenly surprise me with notes from him outside of my classes. They wouldn’t say much. Just “hi” or how he was thinking about me. He could of just as easily texted these things, but that wasn’t Griffin’s way. I loved that about him. His latest note said he’d be by my place tonight. I was embarrassed by how excited I was for that. I couldn’t wait to hold him, kiss him, and enjoy how his scent combined with mine.

  God, I was so smitten.

  I shrugged the feeling off so the girls wouldn’t give me a hard time. “It’s not a big deal. He has a life. I get to see him tonight, though.”

  “Well, as long as he doesn’t make our Elbowa go all soft he’s okay by me,” Sheila said with a wink.

  That made me laugh. I was definitely a big part of the manpower on the team. I considered myself a pretty docile person, but on my skates I became a new breed. Derby had a way of making a girl more aggressive, bringing her out of her shell. That and basketball player boyfriends. I had a small laugh at myself at that thought. I told off his ex during that country club weekend. Not a single thought given. She was out of line, and well, he was with me now. She also had the gall to say something about my good friend and the girl she was dating. I wouldn’t let that shit fly, and I didn’t. I hadn’t heard anything about her since, so I assumed she got the hint. It felt nice standing up to her and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

  Sheila’s statement sent a bit of a light ruckus into our small group and that brought me back into the conversation. I raised my hands in protest. They wouldn’t lose this Elbowa to sappiness anytime soon. “No, worries, ladies. I’m good. I swear.”

  My little slip didn’t hinder our little meeting for too long. We were back on track, discussing our plays. Since we didn’t have use of the gyms to practice more than once a week, we met weekly in the library to discuss objectives. We strategized for some of the time, but really our meetings were about being social. Like me, many of our younger girls didn’t go out a lot; they kept their noses in the books and hid amongst campus bodies. It was incredibly easy to let yourself fall into a stride, blend in and not talk to anyone. Our meetings deterred that. We chatted and often snuck in food to the library. Clare brought brownies today. Our group also did fundraising events and various things to help the community. Like our service for the Health Center. Today’s meeting was about our annual bake sale. All proceeds went to the local Humane Society. We partnered with the campus’ film club for this event. They showed indie films while we sold baked goods and sodas for refreshments. The turnout was always pretty good. The films were free and everyone loved the sweets.

  “I think prices will remain the same this year,” Clare said, jotting something down on her notebook. “April’s Puppy Chow was huge last year, though. All in favor of raising the price by a dollar?”

  All hands shot up and that settled the motion. I took the minutes for today and finished up by marking that last motion down. A once over of my work let me know I didn’t accidentally doodle Griffin’s name within the sheet of paper. I shook my head at myself.

  The meeting adjourned with the girls all agreeing to meet at the Union for the bake sale. The film club worked it out so we could have it there near the bowling alley. We’d get some great traffic in that location and hopefully get some more people to show up to our bouts.

  The girls scattered after the meeting adjourned, some to their various destinations while others stuck around the table to chat. Clare stood by my chair as I put my notebook away. We both had one last class later today.

  “Check out that guy over by the checkout,” I heard her say.

  I lifted my head and my eyes flashed. My heart hammered, its race on constant increase inside my chest. I gripped onto my notebook, moving it to my chest so I wouldn’t drop it, but with the way my hands were sweating, I might just lose it anyway. The man she referred to was middle-aged with salt and pepper short hair and dark skin. He was checking out books at the counter Clare mentioned, but he wasn’t paying attention to the student scanning his items since he was staring in the direction of our table.

  I stood up slowly beside Clare like that would matter. My presence was known. I couldn’t hide even if I tried.

  Clare chuckled, nudging me. “He’s not being shy about staring at us, is he?”
>
  The remainder of the Vixen’s went around to us. April pushed her tongue out. “Gross. What’s with old guys?”

  Sheila cocked a hand on her hip. “You know what’s worse? I think he’s the University’s Chancellor.”

  That really got everyone’s attention now. I stepped back as if the bodies would hide me. He still stared, but when the student at the desk waved her hand at him, he blinked and gazed her way. He gave a wide smile, one I unfortunately knew to be genuine, and handed her a card. I assumed it was his library card.

  April cringed. “Nice to know the administration around here is full of perverts. Maybe he should take a picture of us. It’d last longer.”

  He wasn’t staring at us. He was staring at me… I pushed my hair behind my ear and sweat beaded my fingertips from my hairline. The girls went on about the guy, and I pulled Clare’s arm, using the pack to guard us.

  “Hey,” I told her. “You can go ahead and go. I forgot I have to go to the registrar’s office. They’ve been bugging me about a final payment I need to make before graduation.”

  This was partially true. They did still need my cap and gown payment. Though I didn’t intend on paying that right this minute. The registrar’s office just happened to be near his office.

  Clare frowned. “You sure you’ll have time before class?” She checked her sports watch as if verifying.

  I waved her off, backing behind the group. “I’ll be okay. See you later.”

  I didn’t give her a chance to question me. I left her and the rest of the group without thought. I had no idea if I’d been watched while I left. I didn’t look over to the checkout desk before leaving. I decided to take my chances that I wouldn’t be followed and felt relief that I didn’t see him as I headed out to the quad.

  The time it took me to get to the general area of the registrar’s office should have taken a few minutes more than it had, but I knew time was against me. I had class and I also couldn’t risk being caught.

  I scaled the steps of Dirksen Hall and when I got inside I rushed right past the door labeled registrar and went to a stairwell I never thought I’d venture on. I had a mission, so I was going to bite the bullet. What happened at the library was not okay. Not okay at all. That thought made me open the first door to the right on the second level. I charged inside unannounced, and the poor woman sitting there nearly leaped from her desk.