Across The Hall (26 page)

felt true fear.

His face held an expression of confused concern. “Sylvia? Are you okay?” I just stared at him. I didn’t know what to say. I had just watched him

beat a guy in front of me. I was scared of that temper and strength. I must have shaken my head a little because he slowly came up to me.

“Sylvia, it’s okay. I wasn’t going to let him get away with talking like that about you.” Was he serious? He thought I was upset about being talked to

like that. I stil trembled a little as he bought his arms around me. “It’s okay, Sylvia.” He cooed it again and patted my hair. I stood stil , paralyzed with

the realization and Beau could be very dangerous. I let him believe that I was just upset about that guy, and he took me home.

A sharp tug on my hair brought me out of the memory. “Oops. Sorry,” Kai apologized as she pul ed another chunk of my hair back into some

intricate braid.

“I’m not complaining, but why are you braiding my hair instead of torturing me with the curling iron like you usual y do?” I wanted to forget about

that night and hoped that getting Kai to talk about our costumes would take my mind off it.

“That way the little ears I got to go with your costume wil stay on easier and not get lost on al this hair you have.”

Kai had decided we were al going with an Alice In Wonderland theme. Kerri was Alice, Sloane and Reed were Twiddle-Dee and Twiddle-Dumb,

I was to be the Cheshire Cat. Kai declared that she was the white rabbit and was leading us al down the hole. I pointed out that actual y, Alice was

the only one to be lead down the hole, and the rest were already there.

I thought about asking to see if Quinn was going, but I figured since it was at Jason’s he probably wasn’t. Jason and Quinn had yet to meet, and

even if they had there was no way Jason would invite him over. Jason had cal ed and checked on me a few times over the past couple weeks. We

met with Colby on campus a couple times for lunch. Jason promised me that he would try harder to be there for me. I thought about tel ing him how

Beau threatened to end Quinn, but then figured that Jason would just offer to help him with that.

Kerri came over and topped us off. “When are the guys coming up?” I looked at Kai, but Kerri answered.

“Anytime now, so you better hurry and finish, Kai.”

Kai fixed a headband with little black and pink ears to my head and dragged me off the bathroom to finish with makeup. “Kerri when they get here

just bring our costumes to Sylvia’s room.” Kai cal ed out to Kerri. I was beginning to suspect that I wasn’t going to like my costume. If it was real y

bad I could just put it on until they left and then change before Beau and I went anywhere.

I looked in the mirror to check the damage and was pleased that Kai kept a light hand with the make up. She made a light, shimmery, pink mask

around my eyes and a light gloss on my lips. I was worried about the eyes when she took so much time working on them but they looked great. My

hair had been pul ed in to a braid with the bottom of it tucked under. I was a bit uncomfortable with al my hair up like that. I felt like my neck was too

exposed.

I heard the door, and Sloane talking to Kerri. It wasn’t long before she brought in our costumes. Kai grabbed hers and put it on the bed before

showing me mine. “Now Sylvia, I know you’re going to think it’s too short. But it’s real y not that bad compared to some I saw.” She held up a cute

little black and pink horizontal striped dress. It looked like a long tank top with a short flared skirt attached below the waist. It real y wasn’t too bad at

al . Then again, that could be the two lemon drinks talking.

I couldn’t let her think I liked it, though. I pursed my lips. “I don’t know Kai. I think maybe I should wear something under it. I think I have a black

turtleneck somewhere.”

Kai acted like I just insulted her grandma. “You can’t wear a turtleneck with this. It’s perfect as it is, Sylvia.” I flashed a smirk at Kerri. She knew

what I was doing but didn’t cal me on it.

“I suppose, Kai, but I’m taking a shirt in case I get cold.” I would too, once I knew where we were going. “I heard Sloane out there. Where’s

Reed?”

“Oh, he had to get something. He’l be here soon,” Kerri answered as she handed me a pair of pink and black stripped leg warmers. I raised my

eyebrow at her and she shrugged. “Kai said they were better than the furry Uggs.” I cringed, at least Kai knew me wel enough to know I wouldn’t

have worn Uggs.

We finished getting dressed. Kai had white knee-length tight shorts on with a little pink satin top with a white cropped tux jacket with tails and pink

trim. She finished off the look with a little cotton tail, a pair of bunny ears, pink eyes and a pocket watch. It was perfect. Sexy without looking like a

playboy bunny.

“I bought you bal et flats too. I didn’t think you could handle heels if you were drunk.” Sometimes I real y loved Kai.

As I was putting the shoes on and scrunching the leg warmers over my calves and shoes the way Kai showed me to, I heard Reed come in. I

thought I heard a third voice and wondered if it was Beau already. I had been hoping for some more time with the rest of them before they headed

out. If Beau was already here, that wouldn’t happen.

Kerri was already out of the room, and Kai was right behind her. I trailed after them turning the lights off. As I walked down the hal I ran smack

dab in to Quinn coming out of my kitchen. I was so taken aback with him being there that I didn’t say anything. I just looked him over. He was clearly

the Mad Hatter. He was wearing a black tux with tails and emerald green lapels. His unbuttoned vest matched the lapels. He wore a black shirt with

the top three buttons undone and an emerald tie hung loosely around his neck. The black top hat with green band completed the look.

He was sexily disheveled looking the part of an absolute rake. I couldn’t pul my eyes away. My breath hitched and I was torn. I wanted to run back

to my room just as much as I wanted to stare into his eyes the rest of the night.

He examined me as intently as I had examined him. My body tingled with the nearness of his. I was already warm from the alcohol but I stil felt the

blush creep up on me from his intense stare. “Sylvia.” As soon as he said it, I snapped back to my senses and backed away from him.

“Hel o Quinn,” I greeted him as I joined the others in the living room. Reed and Sloane were wearing matching blue and red plaid shorts with

short-sleeved white button up shirts and thick black-framed glasses. The best part was the suspenders. Sloane was wearing blue and Reed, red. I

immediately thought of the fun that could be had snapping those later. It was too bad I wouldn’t be out with them.

Kerri had turned on some music. Reed pul ed out a flask and handed it first to Kerri, who then passed it around to al of us. I tried to relax and joke

around with them, but I was always conscious of Quinn nearby. I hoped Beau would cal or text me before he showed up. Maybe I could get them al

to leave before that. As the alcohol did its job and I started losing my inhibitions, I started to include Quinn in when talking to the others. He started to

respond to me too. Soon we were talking to each other.

I knew it was just smal talk. There was so much more both of us needed to say, but we knew that this wasn’t the time or place for that talk. He

asked about classes and I asked about his parents and how he was feeling. We danced around what we both wanted to say. His eyes questioned

me though. I knew he was looking for answers in my own eyes. I had the answers I knew I should tel him. I needed to tel him that I’d made a

mistake. That I never should have gone to his place. I needed to let him know that I was staying with Beau. Yet the more I looked at him, the less I

wanted to say those things.

There was a lul in the conversation and we exchanged awkward glances. I bit my lip as Quinn started, “Sylvia, we need to talk about it. I know that

something is wrong.” I prayed my eyes weren’t giving anything away. “Sylvia, I know this isn’t the time but you keep avoiding me and I need you to

hear this.” I was somewhat stunned when he reached over and took my hand. When I didn’t pul it away from him he continued. “I need to tel you that

it kil ed me to find you gone that morning. Why did you leave?”

I pul ed my hand away with a resigned sigh. I glanced around at the others. They were wrapped up in whatever story Sloane was tel ing. None of

them even bothered a glance over at us. I had to tel him. I could do this. I could be strong and get this over with. “Quinn, I just wasn’t ready to deal

with it yet. It was too much al at once and I had things to think through.”

“Have you thought it through now?” His voice was so quiet that I barely heard him.

I felt my eyes pool and a lump rise up in my throat. I opened my mouth to tel him but the pain in his eyes stopped me. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t

hurt him. No hurting him would be to let this continue. “Quinn, I think...” I paused as I tried to find the right words. I never had to find them. A knock at

the door interrupted me. There was only one person it could be. I blinked my eyes a couple times to clear them. Everyone stopped talking and

looked over at me standing with Quinn.

“Are you going to get the door, darlin’,” Sloane drawled.

“Yeah, you better go let dick-face in,” Kerri added.

I nodded and went to the door trying to conjure up a smile. As expected, it was Beau. He was stil in the same jeans and faded blue shirt that he

left in that morning. So at least I knew then that he whatever he had planned didn’t involve dressing up. I felt a little sil y standing in front of him in my

little striped dress and leg warmers. I suddenly felt like twelve year old caught playing with Barbies by her older friends. I fidgeted around him as I

asked if he remembered everyone. He nodded and said hey to them. Reed went and grabbed him a beer from the fridge and asked him about his

truck. While it was enough to break the ice, the carefree mood from earlier never quite returned.

It appeared that no one was particularly interested in leaving. I asked Beau if we should get going, if we had to be somewhere. He said that he

had a long day and real y just wanted to stay in. I shrugged; I had been looking forward to going out. I understood that he probably was tired. I

resigned myself to staying and decided that since I was, I was going to enjoy my friends while they were stil here.

I spent the next hour chatting and joking with the others. The drinks flowed freely and I hoped that Kerri was up to the task of taking care of al of

them. She was the DD for the night. Although I suspect that if anyone passed out at Jason’s she would just leave them there. Beau was reserved.

He talked with the others but he mostly watched me. I would feel the hair on the back of my neck prickle and I would turn to see him staring.

Whenever I was anywhere near Quinn he had the same curious look on his face that he had this morning when I opened my eyes. It looked innocent

enough but something about it just bothered me.

Quinn too, was quiet. I could feel the tension between him and Beau. It was constricting, I felt the need for fresh air. I opened the balcony and took

a step out. Beau fol owed me and lit a cigarette. “So how long are they sticking around?” He motioned his head towards the living room. I heard Kai

giggle but the room had grown silent for the most part. I hoped they weren’t trying to hear us.

“I’m not sure. I can ask them to leave if you’d like.” He was leaning over the railing and looked over at his shoulder at me. His eyes were flat and

unreadable.

“You do whatever you want, Sylvia.” He turned to look away as he mumbled, “You care about them more than me anyway.” I felt bad. I wanted to

spend time with them but I knew Beau was tired out and just wanted some peace and quiet.

I turned and went back in the apartment to tel everyone goodnight. I walked into the living room. In the rocking chair, Kai was sitting on Sloane’s

lap per usual. Kerri and Reed were cozied up on the couch and Quinn was pacing behind the couch. He had his top hat in one hand and was

dragging his fingers through his hair with his other.

As I stepped over to the couch, Quinn came around. Before he could say anything, Beau sneered, “She dreams about you, you know.” Al eyes

flashed to him. He stepped from the balcony and walked over to us. “When she’s sleeping she talks about you or to you I guess.” His eyes were

hard.

“Beau,” I tried to sound menacing. This did not to be brought up now.

“What? Don’t you think he should know that you cal his name when you’re in bed with someone else?” His voice was cold and he didn’t take his

eyes off me. I braved a glance at Quinn. His jaw was clenched tight and I could see his hands were clenched into fists as wel .

I turned and put my hand against Beau’s chest. “Beau, please don’t do this. Not here, not now.” I begged him. This could turn real bad. Not only

was he pissing Quinn off, Reed and Sloane were shooting daggers at him as wel .

“But then that’s okay ’cause I’m the one in her bed.” He sent a smug grin Quinn’s way in an attempt to provoke him. I stepped between them

remembering the bloody mess of a man Beau left laying on a dirty bar floor. I couldn’t let him do that to Quinn. I knew that Reed and Sloane were

there and there was no way Beau could take on Reed. Stil I saw firsthand how fast Beau moved and knew that Quinn wouldn’t have a chance. As

far as I was aware, Quinn had never had to defend himself before.

“Beau, stop!” Everyone else was stil watching us but I could see that Kerri was about to let loose. I tried to pul him back towards my room. “Let’s