by Emma Cole
“I opened that message as I was going to bed last night and figured I would call it in when I got up. Obviously, you woke me up. I haven’t even had a chance to report it and you’re here up my ass trying to drag me in for an interview. Guess what lady? I’m not going to any interview, I’m not talking to you period. Contact my attorney if you would like to speak to me and you’ll have to arrest me to get me to go with you. As I haven’t exactly done anything other than take the temporary housing the university arranged after my dorm flooded and I didn’t try to contact the agency at almost midnight last night, I think I will be safe in saying, get the fuck out. This is harassment and my attorney will be filing a grievance against you directly. Norman, I know you just follow Bricker around as your head is too far up her ass to do anything for yourself. If that changes let me know, as far as I’m concerned, you’re both done here, and Bricker that’s permanently for you.” I’ve walked to the door as I’ve been talking and now I’m standing with the door open waiting on them to leave. I follow them out and go downstairs to make sure the doors lock behind them. I hold the sides of my head and let out a frustrated shriek when they’re gone. I need an outlet before I chase her down and do something to get arrested. I am so sick of this shit following me around and fucking with my life. I’m also worried about Eli’s reaction now that it’s invaded his home.
As if thinking about him conjures him up he comes running down the hall. He’s sporting worried expression until he sees me then he starts laughing. I scowl at him. “Oh my god, Remi. I thought you were going to punch her. I’m sorry if I would have known what they were up to I wouldn’t have let them in. I’m going to do a full scan of the building in case they left any monitoring devices then I’ll take care of your phone and check your car too just to be safe. Don’t worry I won’t let them spy on you anymore. Or me. If I’d known sooner I would have already taken care of it, I should have at least checked though and would have if the boarder we had gotten was anyone else. The guys would kill me if I let us get spied on again.” With that he breezily without an outward care walks back upstairs to get to the fourth floor. I shake my head at his back in a little bit of disbelief that he didn’t freak out over all that. I head back in and go take a shower to calm down and get dressed for the day. When I come back out Eli has a little pile of plastic and metal pieces in a glass of water. “I got these off your car and from everywhere they were while they were in here. That’s a little overkill in my opinion and if they don’t have a warrant for it our legal team is going to make their lives mighty uncomfortable.” Holding out his hand he gestures towards my pocket, “Here let me see your phone.” I pull it out and hand it over. Before I can protest he pulls the SIM card out of it breaks it in half and tosses the pieces into the water with the other broken bits. He picks out a new card from a little case and pops it in the slot before powering it back up. “Should be fine now. Just don’t let anyone near it. If you even think anyone has too much interest in it let me know and I’ll check it again.” With that he stands up collecting his gear and the glass of water. “I gotta get ready for school.” I hurry to speak before he leaves the room.
“Thank you, Eli I should have known we were still being watched, my mom and me I mean. I shouldn’t have brought this here to you, I wasn’t thinking.” I feel a little ashamed at not telling him about the possibility and avoid meeting his eyes. He’s been nice about it, but would I have been okay with it if the situation were reversed? I can’t say for sure.
“Not a problem Remi. I told you I work the security team here too. If I can’t handle a few bugs I’m in the wrong business.” He leans over reaching out and tilting my face up to meet his eyes, he kisses my forehead and then releases me to go to his room. “I’m going to get ready. I have class and a game to prepare for.” While he seemed reassuring I still have a niggle of doubt that he’s alright with everything.
He walks out without looking back while I stand and stare after him.
Eleven
I hurried home from my last class and had a can of soup for dinner since Eli sent me a text earlier saying he would be out when I got in. After showering as quickly and thoroughly as I can I put my bag together with my costume and sundries in it. I was going to get ready with Alex at her place. After showering I put on some black leggings, a lacy plum colored cami top and a charcoal cable knit sweater that hits me mid-thigh. With some slouch boots and a scarf I was almost ready to go, finishing up by pulling my hair up and putting on some mascara. It wasn’t getting too cold out yet and with all the lights and other people in the stadium it should stay warm enough so I only grab a light jacket on the way out just in case.
When I get to the stadium, I park on the outer edge of the designated lot to hopefully not get stuck in the traffic jam that usually ensues at the end of sporting events at this college. I find Alex waiting near the entrance. We both show our student ID’s and the stamp that let’s us into events without being charged, the attendant scans them and we head into the venue. We stopped by concessions to grab drinks and nachos and some other snacks to hold us over during the game. As we made our way to our seats I told Alex about my morning visitors. To say she was outraged was an understatement. I think she may have been angrier than I was and had several inventive things that Bricker could do involving her head and rear end. I laughed so hard at her descriptions that I got a few strange looks from other people. Hearing Alex so outrageously defend me cheers me up immensely.
“I cannot believe the audacity of that woman. Have you and your mom not cooperated enough yet? You postponed college for fucks sake over the crap they pulled with your savings. Even though part of that money you contributed yourself. They’re only doing this in the hopes that your father is monitoring you and sees what they’re doing and tries to help so they can catch him. What they don’t realize is your father loves you and your mom. He wouldn’t just take off on you both unless he had no choice or was taken by force.” Alex’s cheeks are flushed from her ire and subsequent rant. I know she’s right, it still upsets me though that my mom and I are being treated like criminals. As I think of Bricker some of my anger flares up, I’ll figure out a way to make that woman’s life hell one way or another after the crap this morning.
We make it to our seats in the stands and I fess up about being worried about Eli and that I told him last night just to have it bombard him this morning. Alex just rolls her eyes at me and tells me not to be stupid that the guy is nuts about me. I consider that and decided to wait and see what he has to say. We’re sitting fairly close to where the team benches are and I’m hoping Eli will hear us cheering for him or at least see us more easily if he happens to look. He’s really grown on me so much the last few weeks. I was surprised he didn’t try to take advantage of my proximity while I’ve been staying with him. I fingered my necklace thinking of one person who would have taken what he wanted, not that I would have minded. Alex notices what I’m doing. “Still missing them, huh?”, Alex mimes zipping her lips when I shoot her a look. We’ve had this discussion many times, it doesn’t change anything and never will. One day we’ll both accept that. Turning back to the field I see the pep squad is riling up the crowd. The team is getting ready to come out. The stomping and the chants start. You can feel the energy in the air from the excitement. Football is a major draw for the university, people from all over come to the games. A cheer goes up as the players start to run out. They jog out and do their warm up some of the guys posing for the journalists and media majors. Finishing up with the routine they line up and return to their area right below us. The other team is coming out next. They don’t get quite the reception, but as they’re a close school and major rival they have a decent amount of support here tonight. I look for Eli’s number. I locate him and see him huddled with a group of players around a coach.
“What position does Eli play?”, I ask Alex. She turns to me with an incredulous look on her face. It mirrors a couple others sitting around us as they overheard my question. Yeah I
should probably know that I think with a wince and a shrug.
“Oh my god, Remi how do you not know that? You live with guy!” Yep thanks for that Alex, I look around hoping she wasn’t overheard and of course no such luck. Now a good majority of the girls within earshot have turned slightly murderous or at least maiming looks my way. I feel I may need some body armor to get out of here intact. I kick Alex and when she notices a few of the looks as well she gets a devious smile on her face. “He’s a wide receiver. A very good one at that, he’ll probably get drafted. But I can see how you might have been too busy with your own receiving to bother remembering that.” Alex is now openly laughing. I’m gonna kill her. Dead. Very, very dead.
“Alex, shut up. I cannot believe you just said that.” I hiss to her beyond mortified, “You know very well I’m not sleeping with him, what are you doing?” My best friend has a serious lack of boundaries but she’s usually not this terrible.
“Staking your claim for you, since you won’t,” she whispers back completely unrepentant. I give up.
“Just watch the game, it’s starting.” Right then Eli’s group breaks up, and he looks up at the stands quickly finding me, and blows me a kiss. My mortification tries to return with a vengeance, I think between him and Alex having teamed up on me tonight I might be in trouble. I decide just to go with it. Not like I don’t want his attention. I give a big smile and wave back, I can’t quite bring myself to blow a kiss back.
The game starts and immediately our schools team gets the ball. The first half passes quickly with Eli catching the ball multiple times and he even scores two of the touchdowns. At halftime Alex and I go to the bathroom and wait in line with the dozen other like minded students. As we finally get into stalls I hear other girls start a conversation at the sink. “Did you hear Elliot McAdams has a girlfriend? And she’s not even on the pep squad. I can’t imagine Brittany is going to take kindly to that. She’s had a thing for him for the last two years, even I thought she was getting somewhere when I saw them talking in the parking lot after practice the other night.” The sound of the hand dryers cut out whatever was said next and by the time it’s off and I come out the girls are gone. My chest hurts and my throat feels heavy. If what those girls said is true I need to put a stop to what is going on with between us. I don’t want to jump to conclusions and I can’t exactly ask Eli at the moment, but I’m pissed all the same.
“They’re just jealous you know. I’m sure they knew you were in here, they probably saw you in line.” Alex consoles me as soon as I come out, verifying she overheard as well. She rubs my shoulder and we head out back to our seats. “Don’t let them see they bothered you. I don’t think Eli would do that and especially with Brittany. He was probably trying to scrape the nasty off if she touched him. She’s been with half the team and that’s not an exaggeration. Not that that would be a problem, but it’s only because she wants to be popular. One of her teammates is best friends with my roommate and I overheard them talking about her looking to land anyone with enough talent to go pro. She’s barely keeping her grades good enough to stay on the squad.”
I feel a little better, but I still wonder. We watch the last part of the game. Eli gets hit right as he catches a pass, he quickly gets up and shows that he still has the ball. The crowd is going wild. With a few minutes left in the game he’s almost close enough to score again. The final result is in favor of Easton 52-38 and Alex and I head out to the parking lot with the rest of the crowd to our cars. Alex is parked somewhat close to me so we make our way to our vehicles and go to her place to get ready for the party. Normally, I would have gone to wait on Eli and congratulate him, but I’m a little nervous to see him and I want to get started on my costume.
After we’re both finally ready and drunk half a bottle of wine each we walk to the party. It’s only a few blocks away as Alex’s apartment is close to that side of the campus. We carry our disposable travel coffee cups with lids, the remainder of the wine divided between them. I’m not drinking anything without opening it myself tonight, definitely learned my lesson last time.
When we get to the house the music is loud, there are decorations everywhere, and the costumes are a mix of classic and outlandish. Everything from a werewolf to a guy dressed as jailbird Paris Hilton in a blond wig, big square sunglasses, an orange jumpsuit with sparkly pink high heels. I think that one may be my favorite of the night. The guy stuffed a neon pink bra and his chest hair was poking out of the partially unbuttoned top. As I laugh I snort a little causing Alex to roll her eyes at me. Alex and I make our way over to a group of people she knows that are beckoning to her. I really need to be more social. I have no idea who the majority of the partiers are. As I was standing there an arm curled around my waist and a mouth with points in it latches onto my neck. “Well hello there pretty girl.”, was whispered in my ear after I elbowed the body behind me to get released. As I turn around I see it was a sparkling, fanged Edward, complete with red contacts. “Sorry Remi, couldn’t resist.” I realized it was Adam. I smile at him so he knows I’m not upset. I see he’s noticed my outfit now. “Hot damn, Remi that is one insanely sexy costume. Did you pick it for me? Please say it was for me. Please, please!” Now Adam is fangirling it up trying to get a laugh. He’s such a goof.
“Keep it up Adam and I’m going to question what your actual gender is”, I say with a straight face. That is until he immediately stops jumping and his face blanks, then I bust up laughing catching the attention of the group Alex had stopped to talk to.
“She’s got your number Trent!”, another guy from the group yells.
“Trent?”, I question Adam.
“My last name. Geez girl, just how oblivious are you to me? I’m wounded.” He puts a hand to his chest and one to his forehead acting like he’s going into a swoon. I turn pink in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry Adam. I was just thinking I need to be more social I don’t really know anyone here besides you and Alex.” As I was talking to Adam a girl with black pixie cut hair dressed as a cat in leather bustier, fishnets, boy shorts, above the knee boots with stilettos, sporting ears, tail, and whiskers on her face all in black comes up and pushes her way in between me and Adam.
“Remi, right?”, she says. She points her finger at me with the other hand on her hip. It’s Brittany if I were to take a guess from the girls with her that I do actually recognize from the dancers on the field. What luck. I see that her entourage behind her are all dressed similarly, each done up as different animals. I see a bunny, a cat in a different color, a fox, and I’m not sure what the last girl is supposed to be. Maybe a skunk or a raccoon. Poor choice of costume.
“Yes, can I help you?” I ask as I arch an eyebrow. Too bad I didn’t complete my Harley Quinn costume with the bat and a wad of bubble gum. If I was going to star in my own mean girls scene, I could use something to prop on my shoulder and pop in my mouth while standing there looking badass right about now. So glad I didn’t wear the fishnets for the costume though and went with some two-toned pink and blue tights that were slightly sheer instead.
“I just wanted to let you know I’m going out with Eli. I heard you thought you were dating and told some girls in the bathroom at the game. Before you made a fool of yourself I thought I’d let you know I’ve been with him every night this week.” She’s obviously looking for a reaction or a capitulation.
I stand there for a few long seconds trying to get my mirth under control so I don’t laugh in her face. I don’t see that that would help the situation and I also don’t really feel like getting into a fight over a guy. I hear Alex snort behind me and say, “Now that’s catty.” And…I totally lose it. Bent over laughing til tears come down I rub at them forgetting my makeup. Well shouldn’t matter too much Harley isn’t really known for being put together. As I’m pulling my composure back together I see a guy coming towards with his arms open.
“Toots, cupcake, darlin’…” The voice booms out garnering more attention.
“No. Freaki
ng. Way.” This from Alex and Adam simultaneously. I feel the urge to reciprocate, cuz I’m pretty sure I know who this white faced, tattooed, killer is. Throwing caution on its ass I span my arms wide and launch myself at him with my own declaration.
“Puddin!!” The Joker catches me mid air and swings my legs around his waist dipping me and laying the hottest kiss ever square on my mouth. Tongue and teeth with a full ass grab. His hands so completely engulfed my cheeks that his fingertips were touching the sensitive place in the bend of my thighs. Millimeters from being pornographic in this crowd. With a giggle I tap his shoulders and he lifts me upright.
“Now our costumes are complete. Had to smear the lipstick on the both of us you know?” His face is so close to mine I can see his familiar green eyes and the greasepaint in his hair turning it dark and green. He continues to hold me as he turns to the group of girls behind me. Totally ignoring the rabid animals, because really that just sums up the vibe coming off those girls, he greets Alex and Adam.
“So, Eli,” I start out all innocence and curiosity. “Brittany here tells me you’re dating, and she’s been shagging you every night this week at your place. Should I be worried about where my lips just were?” I ask Eli this with a devilish grin on my face, but Brittany and crew can’t see my face from this angle. I know she wasn’t at the apartment, but she must not know that I’m staying there. I’ve not exactly broadcast the news and I don’t think anyone else that knows has either. I get my facial expression under control and give Eli a proper scowl.
“I would try to put this nicely and do it in private, but I don’t imagine that would get my message across clearly. Brittany I think you may have me confused with another team member, I know you like to jump from bed to bed to find your future meal ticket, but mine hasn’t been one of them. The only other bedroom I’ve been in besides my own, alone mind you, is Remi’s here. I heard costumes being discussed last night and waited until she was asleep last night to peek in her closet so I could match. If that doesn’t spell it out enough for you ask one of your friends. I can tell they understand.”
