Alive (Mended Hearts #1) (3 page)

BOOK: Alive (Mended Hearts #1)
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Chapter
3

Maisie

Two weeks have passed since I started at CSUF. My life has become pretty routine. I wake up in the morning, get dressed, go to my classes, then come home and do my assignments. To say my life is tedious is putting it mildly. But I’m happy with it. I don’t want dramatic. I want peace. I’ve not seen much of Chloe recently, either. She’s made a lot of new friends, ones who actually want to do the whole college experience and party. We still hang out in our room, or go to Cafe Blanc, but it’s not as often as we used to. I know I can’t hold her back, so I don’t mention that I wish we spent more time together.

I haven’t spoken to Jesse since he sat next to me. When I next had English, I made sure to arrive just before the professor
and get a different seat, so that he couldn’t sit next to me. It’s childish, but something about him affects me. Also, the guy just screams trouble! I don’t need my broken heart to be broken even more.

It’s Saturday
, and I promised Jake that I would attend his party tonight. Chloe is ecstatic that she finally got me to accept. I, on the other hand, would rather be watching boring reality shows all night than hanging around a bunch of loud drunk people that I don’t know. I didn’t bring any clothes with me to wear to a party, so right now we are on our way to the shopping mall. The girly side of me is bursting out of the seams. I love shopping. Chloe and I used to go and spend all of our money on clothes of the latest trends.

Venturing around the mall, the first shop we stop in is
Hollister.

“We need to find you something that will make you look hot to trot
, baby girl. How about this?” Chloe holds up a knee length lilac dress with a round neckline. I shake my head then carry on looking through the racks.

“Look, I know you don’t want to come tonight
, which I understand. I really do, Mais, but this will be good for you. Forget about what happened last time. You don’t know anybody here, and you need to get out there and make friends. This party is the perfect place. So, stop looking at granny clothes and find something sexy okay?” she says with a sad smile on her face. She’s right. I do need to forget about what happened and move on with my life. This is what the new start was about, so I need to start living.

“Okay.” I smile a true genuine smile.

“Well, that was easy.” We both laugh. “Let’s find you something to wear then!”

 

****

 

Twenty minutes later, we are in the changing room with armfuls of clothes. Most of the clothes I try on aren’t right for me. I have one outfit left to try, and I love it. It’s perfect for tonight, and I could wear it during the day as well. I’m wearing a black leather faux skirt with a black crop top covered in gold studs. Twirling in front of the mirror, I smile at my reflection. I’d forgotten what it felt like to get dressed up. I don’t look trashy or too done up. This outfit is just the right amount of dressy, and I don’t have too much of my flesh on display.

“I think this is the one
, Chloe. I love it! I’m never taking it off!” I laugh to my smiling best friend. “I just need to find some shoes now.”


You look amazing!” Reaching up, she wipes a tear off her face.

“Why are you crying
, silly girl?”

“Because I finally have my best friend back!
I’m so happy right now. I thought I’d lost you forever...” Chloe looks down at her feet. I draw her in for a hug, telling her I’m sorry over and over until we are both in tears.

It’s a while before we are all out of tears. “Come on
. Let’s buy these then go get something to eat. I’m starving.”

Chloe decide
s to get the lilac dress. It looks beautiful with her blonde hair.

 

****

 

We sit down in a booth at one of the diners in the mall, and the waitress comes over to take our order. We both order cheese burgers and fries with a diet coke; our usual. I know I should start a conversation and ask Chloe what’s been happening in her life recently. I’ve missed out on a lot because I’ve been in my own little world filled with books and homework, but I honestly don’t know where to start. I decide to start with the guy she met in the coffee shop.

“So how’s Ryan?”

“I wouldn’t know. We haven’t spoken for a few days. He turned out to be a douche. I mean, we were only hooking up and sometimes hanging out, but he never once told me he was in a long term relationship. I found out he has a girlfriend back home, so I ended it, but then he couldn’t understand why. I feel sorry for his girlfriend. She doesn’t have a clue.” I feel proud of Chloe in this moment for ending things, not being a home wrecker.

“I feel for his girlfriend. I’m glad you ended things with him
, though.” I smile at my best friend. “So how are your lessons going?”

“Oh
, they’re really good! My art teacher, Professor Longhorn, is a genius. I’ve learned so much already. I’m glad I went with Art instead of business, like my parents wanted. I would have been miserable. Can you imagine me being in an office nine till five? It would drive me insane.” We both laugh. The image that pops into my head is hilarious; Chloe wearing a suit and carrying files. What a joke! Chloe wouldn’t last two minutes in an office. She doesn’t like to be bossed around, which is why she chose art. This way, she has her own deadlines and is free to express who she is in her drawings.


Oh God, I have a stitch!” My tummy muscles aren’t used to this kind of strain anymore. I haven’t laughed in months. I calm myself down as our food arrives, so we tuck into it.


Oooooooh, that was good. I needed a good meal. I don’t know how much longer we can live on noodles, Chlo,” I say, wiping my face on a napkin.

“We have to live on noodles. We’re students, which makes us poor. Most of the time
, I would kill for one of Mom’s home cooked meals.”

“I really miss your mom’
s lasagne.” I pull a sad face, which makes Chloe laugh at me. “Don’t laugh at me, bitch! I’m really fed up with eating the same thing every day. It’s making me miserable, especially now that I can taste your mom’s lasagne.”

“Okay. I’m sorry.” Sh
e’s still laughing at me, though. Her laughter finally subsides after I shoot daggers at her. “Let’s stop talking about what we obviously can’t have right now. It’s not doing us any good. Tell me. How are your lessons going so far? Make any new friends?”

“Yeah, my classes are going surprisingly well. I
’m not failing, which is a bonus.” I haven’t spoken to anybody since I started lessons, not if you don’t count Jesse. I wouldn’t call him a friend. Plus, I haven’t spoken to him in two weeks. Maybe he finally decided to stop pestering me and realized I wouldn’t give him what he was obviously looking for. Looking over at Chloe, I realize I’ve taken too long to answer the rest of her question. Oh, what have I got to lose? She won’t tell anyone. It’s not like anything interesting has happened. “No, I haven’t made any friends, but do you remember that guy at the coffee shop who made me drop my latte all down myself?” Chloe nods. “Well, his name is Jesse, and he’s in my English class. After the sidewalk and latte incident, I hoped not to bump into him again, what with the campus being huge. So when he decided to drop his bag down next to me on my first day in English, I knew that the Gods were out to get me. I had to sit next to Jesse for the whole class, unable to concentrate because I’m not blind. He is probably the best looking guy I’ve ever seen, and for some reason, he just affects me, Chloe. No one has affected me except Matt. Jesse looks like he could break someone’s heart with the click of his fingers. I don’t need that in my life. So the next day, I made sure to arrive just before the professor so that I didn’t have to sit near him. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Chloe looks like she’s trying to process everything I’ve just told her. I don’t blame her. Thinking about all of what I just told her,
it’s actually pretty confusing. I made it sound like I have a crush on him. I don’t even know the guy.

“Maisie?
You do know that you can be friends with a guy without having to date him, right? Just because you don’t want to get into a relationship with him, doesn’t mean you can’t talk. You’ll never make any male friends if you’re always questioning their motives. Not all guys have motives, sweetie.” She’s right, not that it matters now. I haven’t spoken to Jesse for weeks. He’s most probably given up trying to talk to me. I’ll just keep it in mind for when the next guy talks to me.

“You’re right
, except I don’t think Jesse wanted to be just friends.” Looking at my watch, I notice it’s getting late. “We need to leave if we’re going to make it to Jake’s party. It’s six o’clock already, and I’ve still got to shower.” We pay the bill, and then walk back to my car.

 

****

 

I’d forgotten how long it takes to get ready for a party. I haven’t been to one in four months. I used to party every weekend, but after walking in on Matt and Megan, I hardly left the house, let alone partied. I didn’t want to be humiliated anymore than I had been, and with Matt being popular, everybody sided with him. It didn’t matter that he was the one in the wrong. People who I thought were my friends turned their backs on me. I got told that I wasn’t enough for Matt, hence why he went elsewhere. In the end, it was just easier not to leave the house. That way, I didn’t have to hear what people were saying about me.

Going to this party tonight is a big step for me. I just need to remind myself that nobody here knows who I am. I don’t have a boyfriend
, so it won’t be a repeat of what happened before.

It’s just after nine when Chloe and I arrive at Jake’s house. Jake is a year older than me
, so he shares a house with some of his best friends just off of campus. I’ve never met any of his friends, but it’s no surprise that they are overly good looking. Jake is definitely a lady’s man. Come to think of it, he’s always got a different girl on his arm, though they have never been girlfriends. Chloe and I make our way over to tell Jake we’re here. When I tap him on the shoulder, he stops his conversation and turns to face us.

“Hey, Maisie,”
he says, pulling me into a bear hug.

“Nice to see you too,” I laugh, pulling out of his embrace.

“Why haven’t you been to see me since you arrived?”


Yo, Jake? Who’s this pretty little thing, and why have you been keeping her hidden?” a guy who I’m guessing is Jake’s friend asks.

“Evan, shut the fuck up
, man. This is my little sister, Maisie, so stay away, unless you want me to chop your balls off.” Jake warns, giving Evan a serious look. The other guys laugh, but say nothing. Smart guys.

“Alright.
I hear you. Nice to meet you, Maisie,” Evan winks at me. Evan is really good looking, in the surfer boy kind of way. He must be around five foot eleven and has longish shaggy blonde hair, but it suits him. Looking into his eyes, which are the brightest shade of green I have ever seen, I smile at him.

“Nice to meet you to, Evan. This is my best friend, Chloe.” I point to Chloe
, taking the focus off of me. She has been quiet since we arrived. I’ll have to ask her what’s wrong when we get a moment. I see Chloe look at Jake, and then turn toward Evan.

“Hello. Would you show me to the drinks please?
” Chloe asks, giving Evan a flirty smile. Oh God. Jake must have pissed her off. This isn’t going to end well, especially if Evan flirts back with her. Why do they do this to each other? Either date or leave each other alone. It’s simple really. I give it an hour before Jake has found a girl just to make Chloe jealous, in which case, she will probably end up sleeping with Evan just to spite him. Then, in the morning, when the alcohol has worn off, she will be in depression mode for a few days until her and Jake sort it out again. It’s been the same situation for the last few years. I told them both years ago that I’m not getting involved. I won’t be made to choose between my brother and my best friend. So far, they haven’t gotten me involved, but it will happen eventually, unless they finally decide to give it a shot or call it quits.

“Of course I can
, pretty lady. Please follow me.” Evan holds his arm out for Chloe to take. I focus on Jake, noticing his jaw tighten and his fists clench as he watches Chloe leave with Evan. I just shake my head at their behavior.

“Jake
, please don’t do anything stupid, okay? I’m going to get a drink then find somewhere to sit quietly.”

Pouring myself a vodka and coke, I make my way to sit down on the sofa. Well
, this party sucks already. I’ve only been here twenty minutes, and already I want to leave.

Avicii’s
‘Hey Brother’ starts playing. I quietly sing along, lost in my own little world. I love this song. I think it’s the country accent used in the song. Tapping my foot to the tune, I don’t notice that someone has sat next to me.

“You look like you’re having fun
, darling.” At the sound of the voice that I haven’t heard for two weeks, I turn my gaze toward Jesse. Wow, he looks extremely hot tonight. He’s wearing a white t-shit that hugs his muscles in all the right places and dark jeans, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of him. Every time I see Jesse, he just gets better looking. How is that possible?

BOOK: Alive (Mended Hearts #1)
2.57Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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