Beginnings (13 page)

Chapter 17

It was Friday night and I was alone in the apartment. I had a feeling this would become a weekly routine, one I was glad to take part in. I was watching a Harry Potter marathon on the television, remembering how obsessed Adam was with the series.

My phone alerted me to a text.

Thank you. I wish I could put into words

what reading this poetry means to me.

It was Adam!
How did he get my number?
I wondered briefly, then decided it didn't matter.
He's talking to me!
I quickly tapped a response, not wanting to miss an opportunity.

I'm glad. I have others you might like too.

Are you reading it now?

Yes. That's all I've done since yesterday.

It's Friday night. Don't frat boys go to

parties and get drunk?

I don't drink. Why, what are you doing that's

so much better?

Watching a Harry Potter Marathon.

Who's that?

The boy who lived?

?

I've lived a sheltered life.

Unacceptable. Put the poetry down. You're

coming over.

OK. Now?

Yes now! I live at 2034 Southwest Blvd.

Apt. 224 B

Adam was coming over! A surge of energy pulsed through my veins.
I'm going to be alone with Adam!
I rushed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. My hair was a mess so I pulled it back into a low ponytail. I ran to the kitchen and started throwing dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

The doorbell rang,
Holy crap, that was fast
. My hands were shaking as I reached for the handle.
Pull it together, it's just Adam
. Except it wasn't, he was different than
my
Adam
.
Finding my niche with him was proving harder than expected. I opened the door and was relieved to see that he looked nervous too.

“Hi,” he said shyly. His crooked grin made my insides melt. All I could do was half smile back at him.

I opened the door wider for him to come in. He took off his coat and placed it on the armrest of the couch. I had to hold back from reaching out and feeling his skin.

“Are you thirsty?” I croaked out.
Stop being so nervous
.

“No, I'm okay.” He was scanning our place from top to bottom.

“You can sit wherever,” I gestured to the couches.

“Where are you sitting?”

“I usually sit there.” I pointed to the far end of the couch.

“Okay.” Then he sat himself down in the middle section.
I did not see that coming
. I took my seat next to him.

“So the third movie is about to start. I'll fill you in on what you missed.”

“How many are there?”

“Eight.”

“Eight! Damn, that's a lot.”

“They are actually a series of children's books. There are only seven. They made the last book into two films because it was so epic.”

“Children's books?” He looked skeptical.

“How many books can
you
think of that people of all ages flocked to read?”
Why am I getting so defensive?

He looked amused, “Don't get so feisty.” He smiled the same crooked grin from before, “I was just surprised, that's all.” He pointed to the screen, “The movie's starting.”

I quickly filled him in on the highlights but made it clear that he would need to watch them one day.

I was glad I knew these movies so well; I was having a hard time concentrating. Adam was inches away and my whole body was responding to him. Feeling his closeness was so much more intense than I thought it would be. I could hardly breathe. My body was on fire trying to hold back from touching him. It wasn't my smartest plan, but at the same time I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

We were thirty minutes into the movie and neither one of us had moved a muscle. We were human statues. I tried peeking at him from the corner of my eye but it hurt to do it for to long. I was grateful for the next commercial break.

“I'm going to get a cola. You want one?” I asked standing up.

“Um...” He was seriously considering my question.

“It's just a soda, Adam,” I cocked my head to the side and smirked at him.

A funny look crossed his face. He shook his head as if to clear it, “Wow, that was weird. I totally just had deja vu when you did that head tilt thingy. Crazy.”

My heart rate revved up and went into overdrive.
He remembered that look
. I'd used it all the time with him when other people were around. I tried to rack my brain for anything else I could try, but my body was too amped up to think straight.

“I can get you water?”
That's the best I can come up with?

“Sure, water's fine.”

He went back to watching the movie, opportunity lost. I blamed Adam for sitting so close to me and making me flustered.

I poured our drinks and sat back down.

He kept eyeballing my drink, “Is that good?”

“You've never had Coke before?”

“I think I did when I was younger, but I don't remember.”

I just gawked at him. Without speaking I handed him my soda.

He hesitated for a moment then took a sip, “That's really sweet.” He took a bigger sip, more of a gulp.

“Do you want one?”

“Please.”

When I came back with a Coke for Adam I found him guiltily eying my empty cup.
He looks so dang adorable right now.

“You better be careful, you'll be wired from the caffeine. You won't be able to sleep tonight.”
Why can't he act this cute all the time?
It was so much more refreshing to be around.

“That's okay, I don't sleep much anyways. Not lately at least.”

“Why's that?”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Like?” Why was it so hard to get him to open up?

“I don't want to bore you with the details.” He started watching the movie again.

Ah uh, buddy, not this time.
I put my hand on his arm. His whole body stiffened.

“Adam, you can talk to me. I know a lot of people think I'm cold, but I've just learned to protect myself. Talk to me.” I never removed my hand. He finally turned his body to face me.

“I don't think you're cold. That's why I laughed last weekend when you told me I intrigue you. I found it funny because I'd been thinking the same thing about you.”

“Oh,” I hoped he didn’t notice my chest rising and falling so heavily.

“My family has always taught me not to let anybody know too much about myself. That it can come to bite you in the ass later on in life. I come from a wealthy family and they expect their children to make something of themselves. They don't want anything getting in the way of me or my siblings.”

“So they're control freaks?”

He laughed, “Yes, especially with me.”

“Why's that?” He let out a conflicted sigh but I interrupted, “Please don't say it's complicated.”

He ran his hands through his hair, “When I was eight I was hit by a car that left me in a coma for eight years.”

I pretended to be surprised, “I didn't know people could survive comas that long.”

“Not usually, and most of the ones who do suffer brain damage or their bodies don't fully recover. My parents had a physical therapist visit me every day. They think that contributed to having full use of my body. The first year after I woke up was excruciating. My therapist kept pushing me harder and harder. I hated him, but now I'm grateful – it paid off.”

“Why did they keep you in a coma for so long?” I didn't want him to stop opening up to me. I had so many questions about his life for the past four years.

“Mostly my mom, she refused to let me go. Sometimes my heart rate would increase, or near the end my cheeks would flush. It always left my mom hopeful.”
That's because of us Adam.
I wanted to tell him so badly. “They couldn’t explain it. The part that baffles them the most is how quickly my brain has absorbed new information. My parents hired me tutors around the clock, not wanting my life to be ruined from the coma. The tutors were stumped at how fast I learned. I matured faster too. I guess I'm kind of a medical marvel.” He appeared more relaxed, as if he'd been waiting to talk to someone about it.

“Is that why an older man was always with you last year?”

“You noticed me last year?” He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

I immediately blushed, “You don't usually see someone in college having a fifty year old man follow him around.”

He looked embarrassed, “I really hated that. My parents didn't think I was ready for college, but I insisted. I needed to get out of that house. It was suffocating me. They agreed on two conditions: the first was I remain living at home – it was easy getting off campus housing with my previous medical records – and second my main tutor needed to attend my classes to be able to assist me if needed. My parents actually paid the college a years tuition and a hefty bonus so they would agree to it. That's why I joined a fraternity. I knew it would be easy to get pledged into the top frat house on campus because of my family. It made them look good to have a Kenward. My parents were livid when I told them I would be living in the frat house this year, but I made them realize that I needed this if I ever had hopes for a future. I couldn't live at home forever, and I had already proved to them I could mentally handle it. So there you have it, my story.”

“That's quite a story.”

“Not really.” His warm eyes clouded over and his face turned to stone; he was having second thoughts about opening up to me, “I should get going.” He got up and reached for his jacket.

“The movie's not over yet,” the desperation for him to stay poured out of my voice but I didn't care, I needed more time with him.
I've missed him so much
. I finally thought I was making progress, moving forward.

“I should really start it from the beginning.”
Don't do this Adam! Please, don't push me away!
He headed for the door, “This is between you and me right?”

“Of course,” I said. He looked relieved. Then he left, no goodbye, no see you later, nothing. I was crushed.

Chapter 18

It was Saturday night and I was sitting on Haley's bed while she got ready for a party. After the “Charlotte incident” my manager took away my Saturday shift and gave me Monday morning instead. It wasn't my first time being rude to a customer; I was lucky I hadn't been fired. The money was lousy at that time of day, but I still had a job.

“You sure you don't want to come?” Haley asked again.

“I'm sure. Besides, am I even invited? Isn't it only for certain sororities and fraternities?”

“No, plenty of them have boyfriends and girlfriends that aren't Greek. Nobody will notice or care.”

I really didn't want to be alone, I needed to stay busy to distract myself from obsessing over Adam.

“Maybe we can get Jeremy to come too,” she tried, “ Then you won't feel so weird about it?”

“Jeremy's on a date tonight.”

Haley's hand slipped and mascara streaked up her forehead.

“He is?” She tried to sound cool and uncaring, but I knew it bothered her.

“Yeah, the same one from the other night.”

“A second date? In the same week? He never does that,” she frowned. “Do you think he likes her?”

“Who knows with Jeremy. I doubt it. He's never serious about anybody.” Which was true. He had had a girlfriend for about a month last year, but dumped her when she didn't like him hanging out with us.

“Maybe I'll just stay home with you tonight. We haven't done that in ages.” She was vigorously rubbing the mascara off her forehead.

“Don't let him having a date ruin your evening.”

She set her makeup down, “It doesn't bother me.”

We spent the rest of the time in silence. I knew she was upset.
She's only silent when she's brooding about something.

“I think I will go with you.”

“Really?” Her face lit up and she leaped on top of me knocking us over the bed, “We are going to have so much fun! Just wait!” She hopped up and dashed to her closet, “Can I dress you? Please?” She had her hands wrapped together in front of her chest and was pouting her lip out.

“No way! The last time I let you I had guys staring at my chest all night.”

“Aw, you're no fun.”

I sighed, “What did you have in mind?”

She squealed, then started throwing clothes out of her closet. Her voice was muffled as she dug, “You can wear your jeans, they make your ass look hot, but for your top I was thinking this,” she pulled out a black nineteen-fifties style halter top.

“That's actually something I would buy for myself,” I nodded in approval, shocked that we had a similar taste in clothing.

“I bought this for you awhile back hoping an opportunity would come up for you to wear it.”
Why am I not surprised?

“Thanks.” I pulled off my shirt and tried it on. I really liked it. Thanks to the vintage style of the top, my breasts were fully covered.

I grabbed her mascara and started putting some on.

“What are you doing?”

I had to hold back a laugh so I wouldn’t poke my eye. “I thought I might glam up a bit.” Her mouth dropped open. “You have any lip gloss I could wear?”

She dug through her makeup and handed me a red gloss, “This is going to be so much fun!”

Her energy was getting me excited too, and I hadn't even thought of Adam for a full fifteen minutes. Sad, I know, but the truth hurts.

The party wasn't that far from our apartment, so we walked. It was already packed when we arrived. We made our way through the crowd to the keg. A sign read: five dollars a cup, refills all night. We started to pull our money out, but the guy stopped us.

“It would be a crime to charge you lovely ladies for beer.” He poured us our drinks. “Remember to only get drinks from me. Don't let anyone hand you a drink because, well, you never know.” We thanked him then headed to the backyard where we joined some of Haley's sorority sisters. A few of them I didn't know, but I'd met the others at previous parties. They were scanning the crowd for the hottest guys. Most of them they found lacking.

“What about that one?” They all nodded in approval. It was hard for me to keep a straight face. It always amused me when girls did this.

Haley finished her beer and forced me to do the same. She led me back inside to get more. It was obvious something was bothering her, and I knew that something was Jeremy on a second date. It wasn't like Haley to drink, she usually sipped the same drink all night. As soon as her cup was filled she gulped it down then handed it back to the guy in charge of refilling them.

“Somebody's mad at a guy. Girls only gulp down their beers when they're pissed at a guy.” Haley shot him a dirty look then pulled me back outside. We were back with her friends for only five minutes when she finished her beer and wanted more.

“Wait, Haley, let me finish mine and I'll go with you.” I knew better than to tell Haley to slow down, that would only make her drink more. I figured I would take my time to space her drinks out more.

“Fine,” she pulled out her phone and started texting. “I just told Jeremy to come here when he's done banging his date.”

“Haley!” I grabbed the phone and put it in my pocket.
No more drunk texting for her
.

“Hey!” She tried to take it back but then got distracted. Haley's phone vibrated and I pulled it out.

Nice words Haley. Real mature.

Haley's been drinking.

It bothers her you're on a second

date – Anna

She told you that?

Not in words but I can tell.

How drunk is she?

I'm keeping her controlled. Enjoy

your evening.

Call me if you need my help.

K

I put the phone back in my pocket and went to take a sip of my beer when I noticed it was gone.
How did I not notice that?
Haley was no longer in our group.

“Where's Haley?” I asked Sarah, the girl next to me.

She shrugged, “She finished all our beers then went back inside.”

Shit!
I was only texting for about two minutes!

The house was even more packed than before. I tried shoving my way past everyone but kept getting bounced around. I was getting nowhere. I started searching for a chair to stand on when I felt a hand grab my arm.

“Come dance with me.” I turned to find one of Adam's frat brothers gripping my arm.

“I can't, I'm trying to find Haley.” My arm was starting to hurt from how tightly he held it.

“I'll help you.”

Something about this guy was giving me the creeps.

“That's okay, she's somewhere over there,” I lied, hoping he would leave me alone.

He put his hand to his ear and shouted, “I can't hear you it's too loud.” He stepped forward and I instinctively stepped back. He moved even closer, “You're really sexy you know that?” He reeked of beer and hard liquor.

“Back off,” and I scooted past him.

“Hey, that's not nice,” he pulled me against the wall. “I just wanted to dance with you.”

I tried ducking under his arm but he put his weight on top of me. I looked to see if anyone was noticing but couples all over the room were locked together in a similar manner. His face got closer to mine.

“I bet you taste real nice.”

No way will I have my first kiss be with some drunken loser and not Adam.

“You need to move. Now!” I shouted.

“I can't do that.” His finger stroked up my arm, “I've been wanting to get with you since we met at the bar.”

I did the first thing that popped in my head, I kneed him in the groin and it caused him to double over.

“You bitch!”

I hurried past him, but not fast enough.  His arm shot out and grabbed my wrist and started pulling me down the hall.

“Hey, Landon! What do you think you're doing?”

I jerked my head to find Adam stepping in front of us blocking our way.

“Back off, we're just going to have some fun.”

“No way man. You need to let go of her.” I recognized Adam's posture. He was boiling with fury.

“Step aside, Adam. It's none of your business.” Landon pulled me closer so he could kiss my neck. I used all my body strength to shove him away. That was all it took and Adam was on top of him. They started throwing punches at each other. Landon was bigger, a lot bigger, but he was drunk and kept missing swings. Adam punched him hard in the face, then kicked him to the ground.

“Shit Adam, I think you broke my nose!” He cried out in pain as blood came gushing down.

“Good,” Adam replied, his tone ice cold.

I came closer and kicked him in the balls one more time, “Jerk!”

Adam grabbed my hand and started leading me to the front door. I stopped in my tracks tugging his hand to me. He came closer, his eyes full of concern.

I stood up on tip toe so he could hear me better. His hand gripped my hip and pulled me closer as I lifted my head so my lips sat next to his ear.

“I need to find Haley.” I felt him nod his head. Being this close to Adam was intoxicating. I tilted my head back to see him better. He looked down at me with such intensity my legs felt weak. His eyes searched mine, then they dropped down to my lips. He took in a deep breath, licking his lips. The same familiar butterflies formed in my stomach. I could see it in his eyes, he wanted to kiss me as badly as I wanted him to.

“There you are, Anna! Come dance with me.” Haley appeared next to me and spotted Adam. “Oh,” she looked from him to me, then back again, “Was I interrupting something?”

Adam dropped his arm from my waist and stepped back.
Dammit.

“Where have you been!” No need to step closer for her to hear, my yelling could be heard loud and clear.

“Dancing!” She did a little shimmy and started to topple over, but Adam caught her.

Boy, is she drunk.

“We're going home,” I informed her.

“Aw, but I'm having so much fun.”

“Jeremy just texted that he misses you and wants you to come home.”

“He did?” She lit up.
The truth does come out when you're drunk.
I took her hand in mine and followed Adam outside.

“Where's your car?” Adam asked looking around.

“We walked.”

“I can't let you walk home. Can I drive you?”

“That would be great!” Haley slurred as she leaned up against him, “I'm getting too tired to walk.”

He put his arm around her and helped her to stay standing all the way to his car. I tried not to feel jealous, but I did.

She automatically got in the passenger seat.
She is so getting it from me later!
I sat behind Adam so I could be closer to him. He kept looking back at me the whole ride home.

“You alright?”

“I'm great!” Haley answered, turning up the stereo.

“I'm fine,” I responded, meeting his eyes in the rear view mirror.

We pulled up to an empty space by our apartment.

“Hey, wait, how do you know where we live?” Haley said a bit to loudly at him as I helped her out of the car. Adam came around and got on her other side.

“You told me.” He winked back at me, and those stupid butterflies started flapping.
This would be a lot easier if he wasn't so cute.

“I did?” She looked confused, “I guess it's a good thing we're home if I can't even remember telling a guy where I live.”

Getting her up the stairs was a challenge. She could barely hold herself up and kept stumbling backward. We almost dropped her, twice. The door flew open before I could unlock it.

“What happened? I've been out of my mind with worry! Don't ever pull that shit on me again!” Jeremy was standing at the door furious. He looked at Haley and his face dropped, “Is she drunk?”

“Very,” I replied.

“I thought you were going to watch her? And why didn't you answer my texts?” He lifted Haley in his arms and placed her on the couch, “I ended my date shortly after our texts and was coming to the party to get you guys, but you never told me what party you were at. I drove around, but there's a party on almost every block.”

I put my hand to my pocket.
Crap, I lost Haley's phone
.

“You mean you didn't text me that you missed me? Bummer,” Haley looked crushed. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Jeremy's eyes softened, “She thought I missed her?”

“That's how we got her to agree to come with us,” I informed him. It was then that he noticed Adam.

“You brought them home?”