Before Him Comes Me

by Sure, Alexandria

  When she notices that Liliana has not made any movement in the direction requested, she sighs and says, “Seriously, Lil the faster you give in, the faster we can wrap this up and move on to the next adventure of the day.”

  Crawling on hands and knees into position, Liliana lays down with the top of her head resting against the top of Zara’s head. “Our freshman is ready to experience all that MSU has to offer.”

  Ella stands directly over the top of them and begins snapping away. “Okay, I think I got what I need there. You both can sit up now. What’s this about Z experiencing college life to its fullest?”

  Zara sits up and takes a deep breath, “Coming to college is a big opportunity for me and I need to take advantage of everything it has to offer.”

  “You are clutching that pendant awfully hard, Freshman. Ready to tell us about that yet?” Ella queries in a soft voice.

  Zara shakes her head no, feeling tears begin to collect in her eyes while she stares down at the grass. What could she tell them? Missing Garrett was confusing and scary. The idea of explaining all the facets of the relationship is overwhelming.

  Standing up and brushing herself off, Liliana pats Zara on the shoulder. “Hey, when you are ready, we are both here to listen. Until then, we’ll help you experience State. That journey begins tonight… FOOTBALL! We should go get you a ticket for the game tonight.”

  “I have season tickets,” Zara quietly replies, then brightens at the possibility of seeing Garrett in a few hours.

  Chapter 16

  Ensconced back in the student section and dressed in another new football tee shirt, Zara pays little attention to the game. For the fourth game in a row, Zara finds herself scanning the faces around her for a glimpse of the man who has captured her thoughts. Her eyes stop their progress when they fall upon Christine staring back at her. Blushing, she slowly draws her eyes away and continues her wayward search.When the scoreboards flash 70,401 in attendance, Zara knows spotting him in this week’s crowd is again impossible.

  “GO GREEN! GO WHITE!” Zara chants along with the crowd.

  “Freshman, we are ‘GO GREEN!’ this time,” Ella reminds over the continuing back and forth cheer.

  A timeout is called and the crowd settles back into their seats. Zara pulls out her phone to text Garrett but when Ella notices the phone in her hand, she offers to take her picture. Holding her phone out to Ella, she spins Liliana for a cheek-to-cheek shot. Ella hands the phone back and returns to cheering with the crowd as the quarterback makes a successful pass for thirty yards.

  Zara looks at the screen, admiring the picture Ella has taken.

  “You should send it to him. You aren’t going to find him in the stands. Too many people. Text him.” Zara stares at Ella frozen. “Come on, Freshman. You know you want to.”

  Zara pulls up the text and attaches the picture, then adds a message.

  Because we have not seen each other in a few weeks.

  Feeling the vibration of an alert, Zara sees the message is from Garrett and does a little happy dance.

  Bring your friends over to The Club entrance.

  Puzzled, Zara asks, “What is The Club?

  Liliana squeals and shrieks reading the text pushing Zara and Ella back down the aisle before she has an opportunity to explain their hasty departure.

  Liliana leans in and says, “The Club is an exclusive viewing area where people who have way too much money watch the game.”

  Passing a guy from her Art History class, Zara says, “Hello, Dan.”

  “Hi! Likin’ the game?” he asks as she pushes past.

  “Absolutely! I am still confused about what is going on, but it is fun,” Zara replies. Liliana clears her throat.

  “Hey, my frat is having a party tonight. You and your girls should come. It will be fun. Very casual. It’s the Theta House. Any time after 9pm.”

  “Thanks. We will try to make it. We gotta run,” Ella says, chuckling. She pulls Zara in the direction away from the moment of awkwardness.

  “I just… I…”

  “It’s fine, Zara. Some guys have that effect on us girls. It was just super fun seeing it happen. Come on. The Club awaits us.” Liliana is still giggling as she rushes them around the stadium to the exit closest to The Club.

  “Text him! Tell him we are here. Tell him.” Liliana hops up and down in place. Having never seen her so animated about anything, Zara laughs, and quickly texts Garrett that they are outside the door of The Club.

  The security guard opens the door and asks for ‘Zara Faith.’ Liliana pushes her forward into the man’s arms. “Hi, I am Zara. These are friends of mine, Liliana and Ella.”

  Gesturing them inside, the guard guides them to the elevator. The door opens immediately when the button is pushed. Liliana steps inside and happy dances again pointing at the button with a Spartan helmet and the words THE CLUB next to it.

  “El… if you don’t get your camera out and take pictures of the first picture-worthy event that we have had this year, I am going to kick your ass.”

  Without further encouragement, Ella begins snapping picture after picture. The twenty second trip in the elevator yields at least thirty pictures.

  When the doors open, Zara finds Garrett is standing across from the opening leaning against the wall. She steps out of the elevator as Garrett steps to her. She wraps her arms around his neck and feels his arms find their way around her waist. She leans in, whispering in his ear, “I have missed you.”

  Hearing the clearing of a throat, Zara releases Garrett and steps back. Blushing, she looks down to gather herself. Garrett takes her hand and introduces himself to Liliana and Ella then leads them away from the elevator as he continues.

  “I’m very happy to meet you both. Zara speaks about you every time we talk. I owe you an apology for the last time we interacted. I was upset with Zara for not having her phone and I allowed my concern for her safety to overrule my manners. Please accept my apology, but know that Zara’s safety will always be my first concern.”

  Liliana smiles broadly at Garrett and Ella steps closer to extend her hand to him. He shakes it and smiles back. “So, shall we head inside?”

  “Hell yeah!” Liliana squeals.

  Garrett places his hand in the small of Zara’s back and guides her inside, led by Liliana’s and Ella’s oo and ah at the surroundings.

  The Club is very different than the student section where they had watched all the previous games. The carpet is so plush it feels like Zara is wearing sneakers rather than her flat-soled sandals. Sliding glass doors face the football field and open out to a sitting area with comfortable seats, affording its patrons the option of watching the game from the comfort of inside or enjoying it in the elements with all the other fans.

  Opposite the wall of glass are tables upon tables of food, with waiters hovering by in tuxedo shirts and black pants. Two bars ensure fans will not have to travel far for a refill on their cocktail of choice.

  Garrett works Zara and her friends through the crowd to a round table occupied by several people. Two guys stand up as they reach the table, while a woman between them remains seated.

  “Zara, this is Branden Jacobs, Kegan, and Branden’s sister, Vivian. Everyone… this is my Zara Faith.” As Garrett introduces Zara, she feels his hand sliding up and down her back and she leans into him letting him also introduce her friends.

  “Forgive me, ladies. This is Ella and Liliana. They are Zara’s hall mates. They have been kind enough to show Zara the ropes on campus. Kegan, Liliana is an engineering major in her third year. And, if am not mistaken, Ella, you are in your third year and still deciding your major. These are two of my college friends, Branden and Kegan, as well as Vivian, who also graduated from State.”

  Turning to the girls directly, he asks, “Have you eaten? There is plenty of food. The second half is just starting so we can take your plates outside if you wish.”

  Zara gazes up from her spot in his arms with her back against his chest
. Hearing the familiar sound of Ella’s camera clicking, Zara knows she is the object of the picture and smiles into the camera. Oblivious, Garrett leans down to whisper in her ear.

  “I’m glad you texted me. It hasn’t been easy knowing you’re so close sitting in the student section. Plus, I would have missed seeing you in your very cute football shirt and very short shorts.”

  Giggling, Zara tilts her head further to the side to give Garrett access to her neck. To her delight, he plants a lingering kiss just below her ear.

  Please do not stop ever.

  Branden walks around the table and speaks to Zara’s friends loud enough so Garrett and Zara cannot miss a word. “Since Garrett is completely wrapped up with the dear Zara, would you mind if I escort you to the buffet?”

  When Zara pulls away in deep embarrassment, Garrett thanks Branden and slaps him on the back. All five of them head to the buffet, Zara and Garrett following the rest. His hand finds her favorite spot for it at the small of her back.

  The buffet has a lot of choices. Liliana is in seventh heaven. Ella wanders to take pictures.

  “Zara, get a plate. You’ve hardly eaten anything today,” Liliana states as she fixes her plate. Hearing this, Garrett turns Zara around and lifts her chin. Eyes locked on each other, she feels as if he is trying to measure what she has ingested through her eyes.

  “Zara Faith. Are you not eating enough? Don’t like the food at the dorms?”

  Unable to drop her eyes with his hand on her chin, she slowly lifts her eyes from his lips back up to his eyes where she is met with an ‘I know what you are thinking’ smirk.

  All of her attempts to stop from blushing fail. “I eat. I eat a lot.”

  Liliana gives a ‘humph’ from the end of the table. Drawing his eyebrow up, Garrett waits for Zara to finish. “I’ll get a plate.”

  “Perfect.” He reaches for two plates and hands one to Zara. “What do you think the budding photographer would like?”

  As Zara puts a little bit of this and a little bit of that on her plate, Garrett fills a plate for Ella. Back at the table, Zara sits quietly and listens as Garrett and his friends talk about the game and other teams’ successes and failures.

  “So Zara, it’s great to finally meet you. How do you like MSU? How’s your dorm?” Vivian asks across from Zara with a warm smile on her face.

  She is absolutely lovely.

  Smiling, Zara nods. “I love my room. It is so warm and cozy. I have been to a few other rooms and they have an institutional feeling. The best part about my room is the space saving techniques. I cannot begin to explain them but it’s as if someone made a list of everything that I would ever need and created a space for each item.

  “There is this tall corner cabinet that is amazing. It has different sized shelves and they adjust. It is the coolest thing ever. Oh… wait. I have a picture of it on my phone. I was trying to explain it to someone in class and ended up just taking a picture. They have been trying to locate it online…”

  Zara opens the picture section on her phone and starts to flip back past the ones Ella had taken in the stands.

  “May I see your phone please?” Garrett asks. Looking up, Zara sees his hand extended and waiting. She slowly hands it to him.

  “Viv knows what the cabinet looks like. She picked out everything for the room. I thought I told you that already. She also picked out the clothes at all the houses,” he says as if it is common knowledge that she has clothes in other locations.

  “I… I didn’t realize. I am sorry. I should not have gone on so.” Abashed, she looks down at her plate feeling scolded by Garrett.

  Laughing in a way that draws attention from the people around them, Vivian stands up from her chair and walks around the table to Zara. She gives her a big hug from behind. “Never apologize for going on about my work. These two don’t value my efforts very much so it is great to hear some positive feedback. Are those shorts a pair I purchased?”

  Walking up behind them, Ella answers for Zara. “Nope, I made Zara get those when I dragged her out shopping with me a couple days ago. It was my way of not feeling guilty for purchasing the amount that I did. God bless student credit cards.”

  Picking up a fork and taking a melon off Zara’s plate, Ella has not noticed that she has the attention of everyone at the table except Garrett who is looking through Zara’s phone. “These are really good pictures of you. Ella… did you take all these pictures? You have an amazing smile when you don’t think anyone is looking.”

  Shaking her head in response and continuing to pick off Zara’s plate, she gives a happy squeal when Zara slides a full plate in front of her. “Those aren’t even the good ones,” she explains. “Zara is a great subject. She has great bone structure and is a natural. She just allows me to do what I am going to do without becoming rigid in front of the camera like… where is Lil?”

  “She took her plate out to watch the game with Kegan,” Zara replies accepting her phone back from Garrett. Turning to Vivian, she asks, “Where is the restroom located?”

  Vivian gestures for Zara to follow her and as they leave the hearing range of the others, leans in to say, “So, you and Garrett. I’m glad you didn’t go through with the whole collaring thing. That says a lot about you.”

  Zara loses a step hearing a reference to her ties to the Community and rushes into a stall, her heart racing, and her palms sweaty. Shaken anyone here knows about their life within the Community, Zara has no idea how to respond.

  Finishing up, Zara takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders then opens the door to the stall where she is met with Vivian standing at the sinks.

  Careful to avoid eye contact, Zara washes her hands and dries them. She asks Vivian a question about the color on the walls of her dorm room and Vivian gracefully acknowledges the redirection and allows the subject change.

  Rejoining Garrett, he asks if Zara and her friends want to go out after the game. Branden has invited them over to his place.

  Before Zara can think of how to answer the request, Ella drops a bomb she had forgotten existed. “Zara, remember Dan invited you to his frat party tonight? The Theta House… wasn’t it?”

  “Of course. Well, I hope you have fun at the party. Perhaps another time,” Garrett’s voice remains as even as if he is ordering off a menu. There is no indication that he has any opinion of Zara going to a party to meet another man.

  Zara’s shoulders slip a bit. The recording that Zara had packed away comes to the surface on maximum volume.

  Garrett, I need to make a call. I will be right back. Would she be there tonight?

  “Z… Zara! Say goodbye. We need GO!” Ella insists.

  Zara draws her eyes up from her lap to find Ella’s warm protective smile. Before she can say a word, Ella takes her hand and squeezes it. Zara returns the squeezes. Liliana smiles warmly and gives Zara’s shoulder a quick pat.

  “Garrett, it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having us up here. It is amazing.” Liliana continues, “Ella is not feeling well so we are going to head back to the dorm.”

  “Ella, can we get you anything here? Club soda? Vernors?” Garrett inquires.

  “Thanks but I just need to lay down for a bit. This was fun.” Ella stands and gathers her camera. “Z, we’ll be downstairs.”

  Zara nods.

  Garrett stands and waits for Zara to stand. Before getting up to leave, Zara looks around the table and says, “It was very nice to meet all of you. Thank you for allowing us to join you today. And, Vivian, I really do love my room. Thank you.”

  The elevator ride was silent. It was not the comfortable silence they had shared at the beach house. For Zara, it was strained.

  I do not want to say goodbye again. Please, do not say goodbye.

  “Little One, it was good to see you. You look beautiful. College is definitely agreeing with you. Take care of your friend.” Garrett steps back toward the elevator. “Zara, please eat.”

  Zara stands there as he steps back
into the elevator and the doors close.

  He left.

  Chapter 17

  Liliana stops in her tracks seven feet from the exit. “Someone is going to tell me why I just left The Club and Kegan before the end of the game. Seriously, what the fuck just happened? PS, Zara, your boyfriend better get us back in there for another game this season.”

  With head lowered and eyes on the ground in front of her, Zara whispers, “Garrett is not my boyfriend.”

  “Oh, Honey. That man wants you badly. He may not be your boyfriend yet but that is clearly on you.” Ella walks into Zara due to her stopping so abruptly. “Zara… please tell me that you realize that he’s completely hung up on you.”

  Zara stands staring at her with her mouth open.

  “He had no reaction when you told him about Dan’s party tonight. If Garrett is interested, why was he not upset? Why would he allow me to go to the party?” Zara asks as she kicks a pebble off the sidewalk.

  “Oh, yes, Garrett would throw a temper tantrum and stomp his feet. Maybe even tie you up and tell you that the party is off limits… if he was fifteen years old. Zara, he obviously respects you. It seems he is patiently waiting for you to pick him. I gave you an opportunity to do that but you…”

  “When?” Zara asks angrily placing her hands on her hips. There was never a chance to pick Garrett. Ella had even told him about a party another guy had invited her to.

  “The party. I only brought it up so he would know he isn’t the only guy interested in you. I figured you would choose to skip the party and go with them. I thought you wanted to be with him by the way you two were looking at each other. Plus, Lil here was all flirty with Kegan, so I was prepared to take one for the team tonight.”

  At the stunned look on her face, her hall mates start laughing.

  “You didn’t know I was lobbing the ball to you, did you? Well, my bad, Zara. I did try. I got some great photos. Did you get the digits?” Ella asks Liliana. “Number, Zara. Phone number!”