A Real Disaster (16 page)

“I’ll help you study for them and we can
hang out. Come on.”

It sounded great. Actually, it sounded
more than great; it sounded perfect.

“But my midterms.
If I fail…
My father will kill me and bring me back home on
the first plane they can book me a seat on.”

“They can’t control you.”

“Yeah they can, I’d lose my scholarship
and have nowhere to go but home.”

I looked at Nash, who was frowning.

“Well we can just stay here and study. I
can help...”

He was actually serious about helping?

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“After my midterms,” I promised. “We can
go somewhere. Okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

He kissed the top of my head and I felt
my face warming. I let my eyes close once again. Sabrina was right; talking to
Nash had been the best thing that I could have ever do.

Chapter
Fifteen

When I opened my eyes, Nash was gone.
Where he was once lying beside me was now cold and I was alone in the whole
room. Panic seized me.

Where did he go?

Was I just a booty call to him?

Was I tricked?

I sat straight up, my heart pounding in
my ears, and looked around. My eyes fell on a ripped piece of paper taped to my
phone. Curious, I pulled the paper off and stuck it in front of my face,
willing my eyes to focus on the words.

Dear
Lily,

Before
you go start thinking things that you shouldn’t be thinking, I didn’t run out
on you. This wasn’t a one night stand and I’m not going to find another girl to
lay tonight. My band called and they said they had some sort of emergency. They
needed me right away and you looked so peaceful that I didn’t have the heart to
wake you. I’m sorry.

I’ll
call you later today since I know we have a lot to still talk about. And I’ll
come by to help you study, like I promised. Let me know if you want to study at
my place or your dorm. I’ll make us dinner.

Nash

As my heart fell back into its original
rhythm, I settled back down and smiled. Nash and I were together. Who would
have thought that would happen? I sure as hell didn’t but I wasn’t going to lie
and say I didn’t like it or that I wasn’t excited. Tucking the note under my
pillow, I pulled the blanket off of me and stood up.

Every step I took my muscles cried in
protest. If I was going to get through the day I would need to start with a hot
shower and some Advil. Oh and I couldn’t forget the coffee.

I wrapped my robe around me just as the
door to the dorm opened and Sabrina came strolling in.

“Good morning there, sleepyhead,”
Sabrina said. “Have a good night?”

“It was okay,” I said, keeping my face
blank. “I’m surprised that you didn’t come back. How was your night?”

Sabrina shrugged and her eyes darted
down. I knew that morning wasn’t a good time to be asking Sabrina any
questions. If she wanted to tell me what was wrong she would.

“Did you sort everything out with Nash?”

Just his name sent shivers down my spine
and blood to my cheeks. I couldn’t help but wonder if Sabrina could tell
exactly what Nash and I did last night. I definitely hoped she couldn’t.

“Yeah, he thinks that everything will be
okay.”

“And?”

“And I agreed,” I told her. “I told him
that I would be willing to see what happened but that I wasn’t making any
promises. I also told him that I was scared. He got that.”

“I knew he would. He’s that type of guy.
He’s sweet and really cares. He’s also a bit full of himself but that’s only
because there’s no one else around to compliment him or support him. Deep down,
though, if you needed him he’s going to be there.”

Again I wondered how Sabrina knew Nash
so well and I was itching to ask her.

But did I want to know the answer?

“I think I’m going to hang at his place
tonight. He’s going to help me study for midterms and everything.”

“Sounds fun.”

 
“Yeah...
Well, I’m going to take a shower,” I announced. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

Bringing my clothes with me, I crossed
the room and down the hall into the shower. Thankfully it was still too early
for anyone else to be awake and the bathrooms were empty. Tucking my clothes
into the cubby, I hung my robe and towel on the peg and slipped into a shower
stall. Turning the water on as hot as I could handle it, I let the drops pierce
my skin like little knives, cutting me open and smoothing out all my aching
muscles. Water fell on my hair, soaking it, and droplets trickled down my
spine, hugging all my curves and crevices. After I lathered my hair with
shampoo, I began to wash, closing my eyes, and as I washed, I thought about all
the places Nash’s hands touched. My collar bone, my ribs, my breasts.

Suddenly the main door opened and I
heard footsteps walking towards the locked stall that I was in. My eyes
widened.

“Lily?” Sabrina knocked on the door. “Lily,
are you okay? It’s been, like, an hour since you got into the shower. Did you
pass out?”

“I’m fine,” I said, hating the quiver in
my voice. “I’ll be out in a little bit.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“Do I need to go get someone?”

 
“No. I’m coming out now.”

Quickly rinsing my hair, I pulled all my
toiletries into my carry-all and wrapped a towel around my body. I stepped out
of the shower and bumped into Sabrina, nearly falling back. Thankfully Sabrina
grabbed my arm, pulling me up and steadying me.

“Thanks.”

“You don’t look okay.”

I shook my head.

“I was just taking a long shower is
all.
”

“Good, thought something happened to you.
Come on and get dressed, then the two of us can go get breakfast.”

“Sounds like a great plan,” I said and
followed Sabrina back to the room.

*
         
*
         
*

If someone asked me what I learned the
day after I had sex with Nash I wouldn’t be able to tell them. I wasn’t paying
attention in any of my classes; my mind was drifting off to the gorgeous guy
waiting for me to get back to my dorm. If I didn’t take notes, on autopilot
none the less, I would have nothing to study from.

Finals week went by in a blur. Nash
helped me study and I shuffled from class test to class test, every second
wishing that I could be with Nash. Every text message he sent, sent a jolt of
excitement through my body. Thankfully it was over and I could just be with
Nash on my break.

As Nash I sat on the couch in my dorm’s
common area, I thought about how my life had changed so quickly. I went from no
friends to two really good friends in Sabrina and Elizabeth. I went from no
guys wanting me to two. It was unbelievable.

“Hey Lily,” I heard someone say.

Before I could say something in response,
a shadow loomed over us. I looked up and the heat in my body turned to ice as I
saw Turner standing there, staring at the two of us.

“Turner, hey,” I said breathlessly.
“What’s up?”

“Not much,” he said.

His words were slipped and dripped with
cynicism.

“So what’s going on here? Rumor has it
that you two are the new
it
couple...”

“It’s not-”

“Yeah we are,” Nash said, cutting me
off.

“Cool, I just came to I’m cool with it.”

Turner turned to me and I could see the
ice in his eyes.

“At least I know why you didn’t want to
go out with me now. You know, you could have just been honest and told me. You
didn’t have to lie.”

“I didn’t lie,” I said and glanced at
Nash.

He had an amused expression on his face
but I knew that he was listening to each and every word that came out of my
mouth.

“I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. I
see you as a good friend, Turner. Isn’t that good enough for you?”

“No, but it looks like it’s going to
have to be. You’re not giving me much of a choice, are you?”

“I don’t think she is,” Nash said,
responding for me yet again.

I didn’t mind him speaking for me as
long as he didn’t become over controlling. I still wanted to do things myself.

“Turner, if you
want to talk, we can go talk.
But let’s not make a scene, okay? I
don’t want people staring at us.”

“Yeah, otherwise get the fuck out of
here! Go find another girl!” Nash shouted.

At that moment I figured Nash crossed
the line. Everyone in the common area was now watching, waiting for a fight to
break out. But to my surprise, and the disdain of everyone else, Turner turned
away and stomped out, slamming the door behind him. There was a thick silence
in the room while everyone looked from me to Nash. But finally the room slowly
filled up with mindless chatter.

“Are you okay?” Nash asked.

I knew that he saw my pale face and
shaking fists.

“Lily?”

“I’m fine,” I bit out.

“Just ignore him. He’s just angry
because you don’t want to be with him. Plus, he hates me and that only makes it
worse.”

I wasn’t sure that was the whole story...

“I’m fine,” I said again, this time
softer.
“Rain check?”

“Of course,” Nash said.

Chapter
Sixteen

Clouds rolled in the sky, hovering over
the college and threatening to open up. I hovered near the window, a blanket
wrapped around my body, and watched as the clouds grumbled. Lightning flashed
and I jumped, moving away from the window. I turned to watch Sabrina as she
painted her nails. She blew on the fingers she just painted, her eyes never
leaving my face.

“What’s going on?” she asked, climbing
on top of my thin mattress.

I rested my head against the wall and
yawned.

“Nothing, this weather just sucks.”

“Aw are you missing your little
boyfriend?” she teased. “You didn’t get enough kisses or hugs before he left
you?”

“Oh shut up. You’re just jealous because
Nash is my boyfriend and not yours.”

Sabrina snorted.

“As if I want to
deal with his baggage again.”

Again?
Did she just
say again? Sabrina went back to her nails but I couldn’t stop staring at her.
What did she mean by again?

Did Sabrina date Nash? It seemed like
she did…

“Sabrina,” I said, my voice sounding
louder then I meant in the small room.

She jumped, painting her toe instead of
the nail.

“What?” she said.

She glared at me as she tried to wipe
the nail polish off the toe without smudging the nail.

“Do you mind not having a spastic
moment? Now what are you squawking about?”

“Did you and Nash…” I bit my lip.

This was harder than I ever imagined.

“I mean… Were you and Nash…
”

Sabrina through her head back and
laughed.

“Are you asking me if I was Nash’s
girlfriend?”

“Yeah, basically.
You seem to
know him really well and you said you didn’t want to deal with his baggage
again. That kind of indicates…”

“I was never his girlfriend,” Sabrina
said.

I almost smiled when Sabrina opened her
mouth again and froze me to my spot.

“I made out with him is
it.
”

My heart stopped. .

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it
doesn’t matter.
It was at the beginning the school year.”

“But you didn’t tell me,” I repeated.

And neither did Nash.

Sabrina shrugged.

“I guess it just… Slipped my mind I
guess.”

I wasn’t sure but it looked like Sabrina
had a smile on her face as she finished up her toes.

“I have to go,” I muttered.

Throwing off the blanket, I grabbed a
jacket and left the dorm room. I didn’t remember getting in the car or driving
to Nash’s house. All I remembered was when I got to the front of the door. I
banged against the wood, open palm. The rain splashed down on me, soaking my
clothes and my hair.