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Post by Free on Sept 17, 2020 15:50:22 GMT -5
”Guess what?!” Brooklyn flung herself onto James’s bed, narrowly missing his laptop. He’d slid something off the bed and out of sight the second she opened the door.
“Oh no,” he said, shaking his head and laughing. “What poor guy are you torturing this time?”
Brooklyn stuck her tongue out at him and dropped her head in his lap.
“You know I was working…” he said, “On homework.”
“Oh please, like you do homework,” she said.
“I do homework…when it suits me.” He shoved his laptop onto his nightstand and something dropped onto the floor on the other side.
She giggled. “Have you seen Westley? This is news that begs to be shared!”
“No.” James shook his head and stroked her hair. “Shhh…little Brookie. It’s nap time.”
“Guess I’ll have to settle for you then!” She moved to sit cross-legged in front of him. “I met a guy!”
“No sh*t.” James laughed. “I got that from the goofy grin when you walked in. What’s the name of your latest victim?”
Brooklyn froze, lips parted. “Um…actually, I don’t know…”
“Did you meet him at the party the other night night?”
“No.” Brooklyn proceeded to give James her version of the guy she’d met running that morning, with lots of gestures, laughter and a complete rundown on how attractive he was.
James laughed. “I bet you made quite the impression on him in the cafeteria. I wonder what I have to do to get a girl to do that to me.”
Brooklyn grabbed James’s pillow and smacked him with it. He grabbed it and hit her back.
“Hey!” she yelled, giggling.
Movement caught her eye and she turned her head to see Westley walking toward them. She jumped up, wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed.
"GUESS WHAT?!" she asked, looking up at him.
“Can you guys do that out there? I’ve already heard this story and I’ve got homework,” James said as he grabbed his laptop.
“Yeah, James is working on a song and he doesn’t want us to know. So, shhh!” Brooklyn winked at James as he threw his pillow at her.
She dragged Westley out into the hall, closing the door behind her. She then launched into the story with the same level of enthusiasm she’d had the first time around.
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Post by Free on Oct 9, 2020 20:44:50 GMT -5
Brooklyn ran, watching the sunrise off to her left. It felt glorious. It was another new day, just brimming with possibilities. Her feet pounded rhythmically on the concrete.
She could hear another runner coming up behind her. She glanced back. It was the guy! She smiled broadly.
“You looking for me?” she asked, giggling.
“You wish,” he said.
His tone was so even, she couldn’t tell if he was flirting with her or not. She didn’t care. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, so the scenery had definitely improved.
They ran side by side in silence for a while. She beamed when he followed her as she turned toward the center of campus. She wanted to see the trees, and it seemed like maybe he wanted to see her.
“So are you going to tell me your name?” she asked, unable to stand the silence a moment longer.
“Nope.” He glanced at her. “Thought you knew everyone. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Okay weirdo,” she said.
“Isn’t it more fun this way?” He laughed.
Their run ended at Starbucks.
“Ladies first,” he said.
She placed her order and was reaching was for the card in her sports bra when he added his order to hers and swiped his phone over the card reader. Her smile grew. A real gentleman!
They sat outside. The sun was starting to heat up. Brooklyn was regretting not bringing sunglasses.
“What year are you?” she asked.
“What makes you think I’m a student?” He was studying her.
“I dunno, maybe how I keep seeing you around campus?” She laughed.
“What about you, Beautiful?” He took a sip of his drink and set it back down on the circular table. There was something so intense in gaze, like she was the only person in the world.
“I’m a junior, which means I’ve finally gotten to the good part!”
“Which is?”
“Fashion design! I love creating unique looks and showing them off! There’s something about wearing your own clothes that’s...on another level. Totally indescribable!”
“I bet you’re good at it.” He leaned toward her. She held her breath. “I like what you’re wearing now.”
Is he going to kiss me? There was a long moment of silence. Well, he’d missed his chance.
“Your turn!”
“But I’m having way more fun getting to know you.” He winked at her.
They chatted for a while. He asked far more questions than he answered, but Brooklyn was never at a loss for something to say. Given time, she knew she could wear him down. He’d open up.Desiree was awake before Logan, a first. Her head rested on his chest and she had one of her legs draped over him. Something was off. Their private time together last night hadn’t felt the same as it usually did. It was…emptier somehow.
She knew the best way to handle it was probably talk to him about it, but she had the sneaking suspicion that the problem in their relationship was not one she wanted to deal with right now.
She slipped out of bed without waking him. She showered, dressed and left their suite. She ignored the breakfast drink their chef tried to hand her and she walked out the front door.
Her phone pinged and she smiled.
Derek: Good morning, Gorgeous!
Desiree: Good morning.
The problem was probably the person texting her right now. Why was she still hiding this? Why didn’t she just tell him? Was she scared? Nothing scared her. So why couldn’t she just say it?
…Because she didn’t want it to end. And every time they were together, she got closer and closer to breaking the rules. Logan wouldn't understand that.
She stopped at the stop sign about a block from their house and covered her face with her hands. Everything was moving out of control. The more time she spent with Derek, the more time she wanted to spend with Derek, but the more she did, the greater the distance between her and Logan. She could feel it like this awful, tangible thing. And now her worlds were colliding no matter what she did.
She sighed. Maybe she should just introduce him and all of this awfulness will just melt away. Everything would be back how it was. They'd both "dated" people before, right? She stopped at Starbucks. If she was going to fix this, she would need coffee.
She said goodbye. He walked off. She started toward her first class. She’d stayed too long. No time to shower! Desiree appeared in her periphery, exiting Starbucks with two cups in hand.
“Hey Dez! What are you doing up so early?” She walked over to where Desiree was getting into her car. She couldn’t be sure, but was something wrong? And where was Logan?
“Same as you. Class,” Desiree said, “What are you doing with Jase?”
So that’s his name! Brooklyn climbed into Desiree’s passenger seat and they took off toward the fashion building.
“We went for a run, then coffee. You know him?”
“I’d stay away from him, if I were you,” Desiree said. She kept her eyes on the road.
“Hey, what do you mean? He seems really cool.”
Apparently, the conversation was over because Desiree didn’t say anything after that. She grabbed the two coffee cups and used her signature long strides to reach the building’s front door.
Brooklyn followed Desiree. Where was she going? They had the same first class!
“So, can I ask you something?” Brooklyn asked.
“Is it going to matter if I say no?” Desiree dropped into her usual seat at their table for four.
“No.”
“Then fire away.” Desiree’s gaze meandered around the room, but kept darting back to the door. Something was definitely up.
Brooklyn looked around. Since when was Desiree early to class?
“What’s up with you and Logan?” It was bold move. Desiree was so private.
Desiree faced her. “Why do you care?”
“You’re both my friends and it’s hard for me to see…whatever’s going on, I’m sure you guys can work through it.”
I hope so.
Desiree sighed. She didn’t want to talk about it and she did. Brooklyn or Westley were probably the safest people in their group. They wouldn’t judge her. Not that they had any reason to. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Do you think people…” Desiree didn’t know how to finish that thought. “There’s this…”
It was taking a considerable amount of willpower to sit quietly while Desiree failed to finish a single thought. Brooklyn desperately wanted to jump in and help her out, but she knew from experience that wasn’t going to work with Desiree.
The silence had stretched on though for longer than she could handle, “You know it’s okay to have feelings, right?” There was about a 40-60 shot Desiree would tell her whatever it was. Logan was a lot more open.
Wait…was Desiree blushing? No way! Now Brooklyn had to know what was going.
“There’s someone I might–”
Unfortunately, Logan walked in at moment and Desiree cut herself off. There’s someone you might WHAT?! Brooklyn could have exploded into a million pieces.
Logan hesitated when his gaze landed on Desiree before striding over and taking the seat next to her. She slid one of her coffees over to him.
“Hey, Sexy,” Desiree said, forcing a smile to her lips. He didn’t exactly return it. That was fair. She’d disappeared. Again. “Let’s talk after?”
She wasn’t sure she was ready. She wasn’t ready, but it was time. Things had almost completely unraveled at their party. It was only a matter of time. She wasn’t about to fear decide this for her. She was Desiree f***ing Myst.
~
Head Over Feet Brooklyn looped her arm through Desiree’s, as she, Desiree and Logan walked out class.
“I need to borrow Desiree,” Brooklyn said to Logan as she pulled Desiree down the hall in the direction of Desiree’s car.
Desiree looked back at Logan and shrugged, like “nothing I can do here.” She was grateful for the out. She didn’t like the look she saw on his face, hated the distance growing between them. But there were a million things she’d rather do than have that inevitable conversation.
“So what’s up with Logan?” Brooklyn asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Is that why you dragged me over here? Why don’t you just ask him?”
“You don’t need get defens—“
“I’m not.” Desiree pulled her arm away from Brooklyn.
“Desiree, how long have we known each other? You really think I don’t know whatever’s bothering him is about you?”
Desiree focused her attention on the doors straight ahead, the ones between her and freedom from this awkward conversation. Why had she thought this was a good idea?
“Fine. Don’t answer. That’s not what I wanted to ask you anyway.”
Thank god.
Brooklyn’s face lit up and Desiree instantly regretted following her out here. Whatever was coming next wasn’t going to be good. And Brooklyn probably would take no for answer.
Desiree pulled the door open on DBS Superlaggera in satin concours blue. She briefly considered not letting Brooklyn in and driving away.
Brooklyn climbed in next to her and Desiree shifted into first and pulled out of the parking lot.
“I could barely make it through class! You have to finish what you were saying before Logan walked in-also? Is this something he doesn’t know? I thought you guys told each other everything...”
“Unlike you, we don’t feel the need to keep each other posted on every visit to the bathroom.” It wasn’t a total lie. Where Brooklyn gave a play-by-play for seemingly every encounter, she and Logan focused on broad strokes, the important stuff. But they did tell each other everything. At least they had, up until a few months ago. She hated to admit it, but the secret was killing her.
Desiree kept her gaze fixed on the road. She had no idea where she was going. They had class in ten minutes back at the same building they’d just left. What she wanted right now was to drive far away and leave Brooklyn on that corner.
“So...there’s someone you might...” Brooklyn said.
Desiree could feel the intensity of Brooklyn’s gaze without glancing over. Everything with Brooklyn was intense. Desiree considered not answering. She pulled into the Starbucks parking lot and faced Brooklyn.
“There’s someone I might like.”
“Oh my god really?” Brooklyn gasped. “Wait! Is that why you wouldn’t talk about it with Logan there? Is it him?”
Desiree considered telling her it was. It would be easier in some ways if it was, way more complicated in others.
“No.”
“What?!” Brooklyn’s mouth dropped open. “Who is it?”
“You remember that waiter from the party?”
“Oh my god! That’s why you didn’t want me talking to him! I thought that was weird.” Brooklyn squirmed in her seat. “Why haven’t you told Logan?”
“I never said Logan doesn’t know.” Desiree gritted her teeth. Brooklyn had a way of reading way too much into things.
“I’m not stupid, Desiree.”
“I know.” Desiree sighed. “We met over the summer. I didn’t know he was a waiter.” Desiree found the rest of the story of how they’d met and their trip to his lake spilling out of her. “...but...when we’re together? I just...I find myself forgetting all the things that make life miserable. Things are just simple and easy. He’s smart and driven and he’s earned everything he has. It’s...different.”
“Wow. Sounds like you really like him.”
“I do.” Desiree looked away from Brooklyn. It was more than she’d intended to say.
Desiree pulled back toward the fashion building as Brooklyn launched into the story of how she’d met Jase. Desiree laughed. Only Jase could meet a girl like that.
As Desiree pulled into a space by the doors, she gripped the steering wheel until her fingers turned white. She’d blown Logan off again. How was she ever going to fix this?
“You didn’t really answer me,” Brooklyn said.
“What?” Desiree turned back toward Brooklyn. She’d almost forgotten Brooklyn was still in the car.
“Why doesn’t Logan know?”
Desiree held Brooklyn’s gaze. She had to admit, telling Brooklyn the secret she’d been holding onto for months felt good. Like this part of the enormous weight that had been threatening to crush her had lifted. Would answering that question make a difference too?
“You don’t have to tell me.” Brooklyn smiled warmly at Desiree. “I just…I hate seeing you guys like this. Logan without Desiree is like me sleeping alone.”
Desiree forced a laugh. Could she tell Brooklyn that Logan wouldn’t understand this? Not the whole truth anyway. Would telling him part of it be enough? She shook her head and climbed out of the car.
“Come on, we’re going to be late for class,” Desiree said.
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Post by Free on Oct 9, 2020 23:20:05 GMT -5
James opened the door to see a guy he didn’t recognize standing outside.
“Hi, you’re either James or Westley.”
The guy was smiling, but James did not return his smile.
“And you are?” James asked. He knew the guy was probably Jase. Brooklyn couldn’t shut up about him. He gave Jase a long look. Brooklyn didn’t listen to him when it came to guys, but he didn’t like this one. Jase seemed to have a level of confidence that was bordering on arrogant.
“Jase,” the guy said, crossing his arms. There was still that smug smile. “Is Brooklyn here?”
James very seriously considered telling him she wasn’t. If there wasn’t a solid chance that she was eavesdropping right now, that’s exactly what he would have said.
“BROOKLYN! Someone’s here for you!” he called, then closed the door as Jase took a step forward to walk inside. Not on my watch.
Brooklyn appeared from inside her bedroom. She glanced around the room.
“Where he is?”
“I never said who it was.”
Brooklyn shoved James’s arm. “I know who it is, James! Why didn’t you let him in?”
“The flu is going around. I was looking out for you,” he said, walking back to his bedroom.
“I bet you were!” she called after him.
“Wait! James! How do I look?” she asked, spinning.
He rolled his eyes and watched her spin.
“You look...gorgeous, Brooklyn. You always do.”
“Thanks! Love you!” She beamed, then headed for the front door.
“Love you too,” he grumbled. He slammed his door.
Brooklyn bounced outside. “Jase!”
Jase was standing there, his smile brightened when he saw her.
“I don’t remember telling you where I lived,” she said, giggling.
“I don’t remember telling you my name.”
They stood staring at each other for a moment. She loved the way his dark hair spiked up away from his face, the curve of the muscles under his t-shirt.
“I don’t think your guard dog likes me,” he said.
“James takes time to warm up to people,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll win him over.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She hugged him back. He smelled amazing! Over Jase’s shoulder, she distinctly saw the curtain move. She rolled her eyes. James could be so weird sometimes.
“You sure he’s not jealous?”
Brooklyn blushed.
“Jealous of what?” Was there something to be jealous of? She hoped so. Not that James would be jealous. At least not the way Jase might be thinking. “He’s just very protective. They both are.”
An amused smile played across his lips.
“Let’s go. I’m sure he’s got his stop watch going and I’ve got a lot planned for tonight.”
“You planned?” she asked, barely able to contain her excitement. No one had ever done that before.
“Of course.” He extended his arm to her and she took it.
[Changes and additions to my posts on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:10pm and Sep 17, 2020 at 10:11am and Oct 9, 2020 at 8:44 pm.]
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