by Blythe Reid
I contemplated her words for a moment, not sure what to say. She seemed so understanding just minutes before, and now, she sounded just like my mom. Warning me about the dangers that lie ahead, making sure I was aware of my surroundings.
I thought Grandmother trusted me, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe she simply wanted me to learn a few things, while remaining safe and protected.
“I promise to be careful,” I said. “I really do.”
“Live your life, Scarlet,” she said firmly. “That’s important. Just be careful while you do it. There’s plenty of good out there, but there’s also bad. Be sure to keep your eyes open so you can tell the difference.”
I nodded and tried to smile, but her gaze was still so intense that I couldn’t quite bring one to my face. Looking away from her, I thought about her warning. It was the same as my mother’s, but also different. Mom would’ve been happy if I never lived my life, but Grandmother insisted I do just that.
As I sat in Grandmother’s kitchen, I wasn’t sure what the city would bring me. Adventure. Experience. Excitement. Danger?
There was no way to know, but I was more than ready to find out.
Chapter 9
Lucien
Wednesday morning marked the first day of classes. I walked across campus slowly, dragging my feet behind me. I wasn’t looking forward to being back in the academic world. After a month-long vacation in France, my brain felt like mush.
My preparation for the year had been limited to planning Delta Pi parties and drinking beer. I didn’t even purchase my textbooks until yesterday afternoon, and I definitely hadn’t cracked them open. As I walked to class, I thought about what the year would hold.
I was ready for the social side. I’d been ready for that for a long time, but classes were something different. I’d never been academically minded, but I managed to keep an acceptable GPA for the sake of Delta Pi. Without a 3.0 GPA, I would be kicked out without hesitation.
As the leading fraternity on campus, we were expected to uphold certain standards. Now that I’d been made President, my responsibilities were even more important. If I failed, everyone would think Delta Pi was losing its luster. They would write us off as dumb frat guys and that would be the end of us. I couldn’t let that happen.
As much as I hated the idea of going to class, I knew I didn’t have a choice. I walked slower than ever until I reached the proper building. I stepped inside, letting the cool air condition blow against my face, before I found my classroom and slipped inside.
Despite my slow pace, I was still early. Class hadn’t begun, and there were several empty seats scattered throughout the room. With a glance, I chose a seat in the middle of the room. I hated being in the front, but I couldn’t always hear from the back. The middle was always preferable.
I took my seat and pulled my notebook from my backpack. Most students used laptops to take notes, but if I had my computer out, I’d just end up dicking around and not paying attention. I wasn’t one to take notes, but I should at least look attentive.
Without trying, I could keep my grades up. I wondered what I could do if I tried for once. I’d probably pull out a 4.0 and make it on the Dean’s List. The thought brought a sly smile to my face. I could do it, but I wouldn’t. My priority was Delta Pi, and nothing, not even my academic career, would stand in the way of that.
I wished I could spend my senior year partying. If I had it my way, seniors would take only easy classes to remain students, and that would be it. No professors would expect anything at all from them. They would be given free passes without a second thought.
Alas, that wasn’t the way it worked in higher education. Seniors, more than anyone else, were expected to perform well academically. Our hardest classes were taken in our final year, and it was torture. Still, I told myself it was just one more year. Just one more year, and then, I would be free. I would never again have to set foot inside a classroom.
Class started with the usual flurry of papers. The professor walked in without enthusiasm and began handing out copies of the syllabus. I took mine with a dramatic flourish, making a couple of girls around me giggle. I grinned at them and winked. They turned beat red and turned to whisper to each other.
I shook my head with amusement. Girls were so easy to please. Just a little bit of attention and boom, they were eating out of my hand. As class progressed, there was bang from the back of the classroom. Everyone turned around to see what caused the commotion.
When my eyes fell on her face, I smiled widely. Scarlet was late. She stood by the door with wide, fearful eyes. She’d just let the door slam behind her, and now, her embarrassment was evident. Her eyes darted from side to side as she tried to find an escape route.
“May we help you?” the professor called.
Scarlet jumped at the sound of his voice and shook her head quickly.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just late.”
“Well, take a seat,” he said with a wave of his hand.
Scarlet nodded and hurried forward, glancing from side to side. She looked desperate and terrified. I was reminded again of her innocence as her eyes finally fell on my face. I smiled at her kindly and waved her over. There was an empty seat beside me. She sighed with relief and ran over, sliding between the row and falling into the empty seat.
“Oh my god,” she muttered. “That was mortifying.”
“You’re fine,” I said quietly. “It’s happened to all of us.”
She winced. “I doubt that. That professor hates me.”
“He doesn’t,” I assured her. “He doesn’t care, he just—”
The professor cleared his throat loudly, making Scarlet and I both jump violently. His eyes were locked on us, and he looked impatient. We both fell silent, and he glared at us for another few seconds before he finally began talking again.
I glanced at Scarlet and saw that she looked more embarrassed than ever. I put my hand on her knee to get her attention. When she looked at me, I smiled to let her know it was fine. No one was going to hate her. She smiled back, but her cheeks remained bright red throughout the rest of the class.
As the professor droned on and on, I barely heard him. I tried to pay attention. I even scribbled a few notes here and there, but nothing he said stuck in my brain. It didn’t matter. This was just the first class and nothing important ever happened in the first class.
Still, I felt ridiculous as I continued to look over at Scarlet. She was entranced, taking notes at lightning speed. I was certain she’d forgotten about me entirely. Her focus was solely on the professor and his lecture. By the time class ended, she’d filled two sheets of paper with her neat, swirly handwriting. I hadn’t filled a single one, but I’d memorized every freckle on her nose.
She was more beautiful than I remembered. Her red hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail, making her face look slimmer than usual. Her nose stood out prominently on her face, but it wasn’t unattractive. If anything, it made her eyes pop even more than they already did. In the classroom light, they were like emeralds sparkling beside me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them. I worried she would notice me staring at her, but she didn’t. She didn’t notice anything outside of the lecture.
When class finally ended, she closed her notebook and glanced over at me. I grinned at her and opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it.
“Thank you for saving me,” she said. “That was so humiliating.”
“It was nothing. Like I said, we’ve all been there.”
“Really?” she asked with doubt in her voice. If I was being honest, I hadn’t ever experienced that before, but I’d seen it happen a dozen times. It wasn’t at all uncommon to be late to class, especially on the first day of the semester.
“Really,” I said firmly. “Don’t let it bother you.”
“I’ll try not to,” she said, laughing nervously.
We packed away our things and stood up. As we followed the crowd out of the room, Scarlet and I stayed close
to each other. I wanted to talk to her some more, but I wasn’t sure what to say. That was unusual for me, finding myself at a loss for words. Especially when it came to a pretty girl.
We’d already covered the embarrassing incident at the beginning of class, and there wasn’t much else to discuss. I knew she was wondering why I hadn’t called her yet, but I didn’t want to bring it up. Not if she didn’t.
Instead, I just walked beside her until we made it outside. The fresh air hit me, and I inhaled the smell of New York. It brought a smile to my face. No matter how long I lived here, I would always love it.
“So, where’s your next class?” I asked.
“Um,” Scarlet said. She reached around to grab her schedule from her backpack. Unfolding it, she frowned at it. “Not sure where the building is.”
I laughed. “Here. Let me see.”
I took it from her and saw that she had a short break coming up. Her next class didn’t start for an hour, and it wasn’t far from here. I smiled to myself, thinking that we could spend the hour together since I didn’t have a class either.
“It’s close by,” I said. “Just over here. I’ll show you.”
“Thanks,” she said.
I led her around a corner and down a few streets. We made it to the classroom building within ten minutes and found a coffee cart right outside. I bought her a cup of coffee, and we sat together on a bench to wait for her class to start.
She seemed more relaxed now. Her movements were less awkward than I remembered. She seemed at ease as we sat together, sipping our drinks.
“So, I’m sorry I haven’t called you yet,” I said suddenly, surprising even myself.
I swore I wouldn’t bring it up if she didn’t, and yet, I did. Immediately, I regretted my decision, but I couldn’t take it back.
“That’s okay,” Scarlet said with a shrug. She seemed to mean it.
“I’ve just been busy getting ready for classes,” I said. “Plus, the fraternity has been insane since I got back. There’s so much planning to do for this year. I just want everything to be perfect.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Scarlet said with a smile.
“You’ll have to come to a few of our parties,” I said brightly. “You’ll love it.”
Her face fell slightly at my invitation. I knew without knowing that she’d heard the reputation of American fraternities. She was nervous about the antics that might ensue at our parties.
“Don’t worry,” I said, putting her mind at ease. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“It’s not?” she asked skeptically.
“No,” I shook my head. “Not at all. We aren’t the date rape kind of frat. I swear.”
She laughed. “Well, that’s good to know.”
“I know there are some like that,” I admitted. “But we aren’t one of them. Ask anyone. Delta Pi is the best frat on campus.”
“If you say so,” she teased. “But I did see a flyer for Omega Psi the other day. I thought I might check out their first party…”
She trailed off, a wicked grin on her face. I shook my head in mock disgust and slid away from her on the bench.
“I don’t associate with Omega Psi sympathizers,” I said seriously.
She laughed and said, “Sounds like a serious rivalry.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
I pretended to be offended for a while longer before we both erupted in laughter and I moved closer to her again. Her class was about to start, and she needed to go, but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I enjoyed talking to her.
“Can I take you to dinner tonight?” I asked.
Again, I surprised myself. I never made myself this available to a woman before. They were usually the ones pursuing me. It felt strange, but also unavoidable. Scarlet was new to the city and the school. She needed more effort than most. She wasn’t yet comfortable enough to put herself out there.
“Sure,” she said.
I could tell she was nervous, but also excited. Her eyes darted between my face and the classroom building.
“I’ll pick you up,” I said. “Can I get your address?”
“Yeah,” she said. She pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled her grandmother’s address on it before she handed it to me with a smile.
“Great,” I grinned. “Well, have fun in class. Don’t be late again.”
“Ha, ha,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I said.
She smiled and turned toward the building. I watched her disappear inside, already looking forward to dinner that night.
Chapter 10
Scarlet
My next class of the day dragged on endlessly. After my coffee with Lucien, everything went downhill. Being late to my first class was nothing compared to the rest of the day. I got lost three times, and no one would help me find my way.
I ended up having to ask a professor for help, and even she looked at me like I was an idiot. By the time I made it to my last class, I was exhausted and beaten down. I didn’t know if I could handle life in New York after all.
I left class with my bag thrown over my shoulder and made my way back home. My grandmother’s house wasn’t far, but I managed to get lost five times on the way. It took me over an hour to make it, and when I did, I’d forgotten all about my date with Lucien.
He asked me to dinner earlier in the day, and I was so excited to say yes. He was my first friend at NYU, and I couldn’t wait to spend more time with him. It didn’t hurt that he was also gorgeous as hell.
When I finally made it to my grandmother’s house, there was a strange car sitting out front. I frowned and wondered if Lucien had already arrived. Checking my phone, I realized it was much later than I thought.
I sighed as I walked up to the front door and let myself inside. My head was aching, and I just wanted to fall into bed, but I knew that wasn’t an option. Lucien was already there, sitting in the kitchen beside my grandmother. It was nice to see him there. After feeling alone and lost all day, seeing a familiar face felt nice. It felt safe.
“Hi there,” I said with a smile. “I see you beat me.”
“I did,” he said. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries,” I said. “I got a little lost on the way home.”
“That can happen,” Grandmother said. “This city is a confusing one.”
“It really is,” Lucien agreed.
“You don’t have to make me feel better,” I said, chuckling. “I basically spent the entire day lost.”
“It was just the first day,” Lucien reassured me.
“How were your classes?” Grandmother asked.
I looked at her, ready to tell her the truth, but I stopped myself. She looked so happy and excited that I didn’t want to ruin her mood. It must have felt good for her to see that I’d already made a friend.
Her only hope for me was that I did well in school and lived my life. So far, she thought I was doing just that. I didn’t need to admit that my day had been absolutely miserable. I couldn’t tell her I was questioning whether moving to New York was a good idea. Instead, I smiled widely and nodded my head with excitement.
“It was great,” I said. “All my classes are really interesting. I think this semester is going to be amazing.”
“See?” Grandmother asked. “There was no reason to be nervous.”
“Not at all,” I said, grinning. “You were right.”
“Well,” Grandmother said, turning to Lucien. “Where are you going tonight?”
“I have a couple ideas,” Lucien said slyly. “We need to introduce Scarlet to the local cuisine.”
“There’s a great sushi place down the road,” Grandmother said.
“Sakura,” Lucien nodded. “I love that place. It was definitely one of my options for tonight.”
“Well, you better get going,” Grandmother said with a meaningful look at me.
I shook my head and smiled at her. She seemed more excited about my date t
han I was.
“I won’t be late,” I promised, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
Lucien laughed and held the front door open for me. We walked silently toward his car. The whole way there, I was acutely aware of his hand swinging just beside mine. I had a sudden urge to grab it and interlock my fingers with his, but I resisted. This was just dinner. It felt like a date, but I couldn’t be sure. He may have just been being polite, welcoming the new girl and all that.
When we reached his car, Lucien held the door open for me, and I slid inside. I was impressed by his chivalry, though I wasn’t surprised. He’d proved himself to be a gentleman when we first met in the Paris airport. Not many people would’ve jumped up to help me the way he did. I knew then that he was one of the good ones.
As we pulled away from Grandmother’s house, I felt certain I was right. He drove quickly through the streets, weaving in and out of traffic like a true New Yorker, but I wasn’t scared. His driving was superb, and I wondered if there was anything he didn’t do well.
“So, where exactly are we going?” I asked. “To that sushi place?”
“Nah,” he shook his head. “I didn’t want to say this in front of your grandma, but that place is for old people.”
“Oh, really?” I laughed.
“Definitely,” he said. “It’s good food, but not really the right atmosphere. We’re going for something a little more fun tonight.”
“Where’s that?” I asked.
“It’s a surprise,” he said, grinning. “But it is in the realm of Asian food. I’m guessing you’ve never been to Chinatown?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Never.”
“Excellent,” he said.
His smile was brilliant and made my stomach flutter nervously. As we drove through the city, I looked out the window to keep from staring at Lucien. I knew I would never look away from him if I could help it.
In class that morning, it took all my strength not to stare at his face during the lecture. I forced myself to stay focused on my notes, but it was impossible. I wasn’t sure I would remember a single thing the professor discussed, but I did know exactly what Lucien’s tattoo looked like.
