Can't Go Home (Oasis Waterfall) (32 page)

In the elevator up, neither of us speak. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest; I wonder if Dre can hear it. I really wanted him to come here alone, let me stay back at the hotel and catch up on some work. Last night in the hotel room was incredible—and we didn’t even have sex. Dre and I talked all night, revealing secrets, telling stories about our childhoods, connecting on a whole new level, a level I thought I’d never reach with him.

We hashed out the entire plan—everything. The first step to our game plan was on the other side of the door. As Dre knocks, I swear my heart is trying to compete with who can pound harder. Finally, there’s movement and rustling from inside the apartment. I grip his hand firmly; Dre squeezes encouragingly back.

The door opens, and Leah Franchetti stares at us. Recognition registers, and she tries to slam the door. Dre puts his foot in the door, “Leah, wait. Please, I just wanna talk to you.”

Pushing on the door, Leah argues, “Fuck, I swear to God, Adrian, I’ll call the fucking cops.” Dre won’t let her close the door; she’s shoving it pretty hard against his foot. “I always thought you were the ‘good one’ Adrian. Never thought you’d sell out like the rest of those assholes.”

“Leah, please, you know me. I’m not here for them … I’m here for you.”

“Nice try, I know your Daddy sent you—just like he sent his lackeys last month.” Leah says, struggling with the door. “I know the deal … I haven’t forgotten. I’m not gonna squeal.”

“Leah, that’s exactly what I want to talk about,” Dre begs, looking at me with frustration. I nod, encouraging him to go on. “I … I … think you should tell someone Leah.”

There’s complete silence. The pressure Leah was applying on the door subsides. “Just go home Adrian,” Leah says quietly.

“Not until you let me in … not until you talk me, Leah.” Dre explains. “We need to talk.”

Seconds that seemed like hours pass; then Leah lets the door open, as she walks to the couch. She sits down, lights a cigarette, and turns her television off. Leah’s an attractive tall bottle-blonde with a short pixie haircut. Time had hardened her, but it was obvious that she was once a beautiful girl.

The apartment is cute, quaint, and artsy. “I love that mirror. Did you paint it?” I ask, before realizing that we’re not here for pleasantries.

“Yeah, I did,” Leah said, taking a long drag from her cigarette. “I made most of the shit in here from junk I found on the street—out on curbs.”

“It’s really beautiful.” I compliment, putting my hand on Dre’s knee. “I’m Kathryn, Dre’s … Dre’s girlfriend.” I say, trying it out for the first time.

“Are you sure about that?” Leah asks, “You don’t sound so sure.”

Laughing, I say, “Well, it was just established about seven hours ago. It’s pretty new. I kinda liked saying it though.” Leah looks at me curiously.

A smile grows on her face, softening her features. “Damn, that was one honest fucking answer.”

Dre laughs, “Kathryn’s middle name is honesty. It’s fucking crazy, I tell ya. Chick can’t lie.”

Leah visibly relaxes, finding a small semblance of comfort with us. “Oh I get it O’Donnell. Ya gotta start flying straight now that you met Miss Perfect here.”

Dre squeezes my leg, “Yeah that’s about right.”

Dre and Leah talk about some old high school classmates and where each of them ended up. From my vantage point, it almost seems like two old friends catching up, sharing stories and laughter amicably. They chat for nearly half an hour before Dre brings up his brother again.

Leah dodges the question and offers us some drinks, absconding into the kitchen. As Dre and I sit on the couch, I take in the modesty of the apartment. It’s exactly the type of apartment I’d have if I didn’t have a good job, money to play with.

After getting us some drinks, Leah suggests we move to the kitchen table. She stirs a shot of something into her soft drink and says, “You’re a good guy, Dre, but I can’t give you what you’re asking for.”

“Leah, I don’t understand. You’re so badass. You’ve never taken shit from anyone. Why now? Why let Tristan get away with this?” Dre asks, pounding his hand on the table, making Leah and I startle.

Leah shakes her head and sighs deeply, exasperated. “Because I am badass.”

Smiling she says, “I don’t know why I’m about to tell you this. Maybe because of that time in tenth grade, I don’t know, I’ve always thought I owed you for—”

“What happened in tenth grade?” I ask, looking between the two of them.

“Nothing really, Dre kind of saved … or Hell … maybe ruined my reputation. I don’t know,” she laughs. “What do you think it was O’Donnell?”

“Ruined, definitely ruined.”

“Fucking hoity-toity cheerleaders decided that since I’d never blown a guy before that I must be a fucking dyke—”

I gasp, hating that word. I despise when people get judged for their sexual orientation. It’s downright ludicrous, completely unacceptable.

“What’s the matter?” Leah asks, staring at me.

“I’m just not a fan of that word,” I admit.

“Oh fuck, me either. Especially the way they used it—like it’s a bad thing. Who cares what or
who
I do? Ya know?” I nod, really warming up to Leah. Actually, she’s the first person in this whole town that I’ve actually liked.

“I know Adrian here hates that shit too.” Leah says.

Dre nods, “Remember when I went to that gay pride parade in college?” Leah laughs, evidently recalling the incident.

“Oh yeah, it was the talk of the town. I was so frigging proud of you,” Leah compliments.

Confused and feeling very out of the loop, I ask, “Gay pride?”

Dre laughs and recounts a story that has Leah and me mesmerized. It will never get old listening to him open up and share his life with me. Although the story was appalling, I enjoyed hearing him talk, learning more about him.

In college, Dre and Rory went with a few of their homosexual friends to a gay pride parade. The parade was televised on the news; therefore, his parents and their snobby friends saw Dre walking down the street in all his glory, in support of his friends. The O’Donnells were mortified. They ended up refusing to pay his college tuition for the rest of the year and stopped payments on his car and automobile insurance. It didn’t faze Dre at all. He just got a part-time job, washing dishes in the dining commons to pay for his car and insurance. Two scholarships and student loans took care of the rest of his tuition.

The idea of one of their children washing dishes on campus was too much for his parents to endure, so they caved on the car payments and insurance, deciding that washing dishes was beneath an O’Donnell. It was the first time Dre realized that his parents and their financial status were ridiculous, beginning to believe that it all meant entirely too much to them. Therefore, he secretly kept the dishwashing job, oftentimes just donating the money to his fraternity to help pay for their wild weekend parties.

“And wow … just wow,” I say, “You never cease to amaze me.”

Grinning, Dre says, “Thanks Pebbles,” kissing the inside of my wrist.

“Anyway, back to the tenth grade story? What happened with those girls who were making up crap about you?” I ask.

“Oh Hell, they spread that rumor all around the school. Everyone treated me like my ‘lesbianism’ was contagious,” she recalls, grimacing and narrowing her eyes. “Man, high school can be brutal. Fucking cuntbags.”

“So later that month, your boyfriend here, told everyone … like fucking everyone … that I blew him, and it was the best blowjob he’d ever gotten,” Leah laughs. “Mind you, I’d never even talked to him—let alone touched him. Adrian did it all on his own.”

Dre picks up where Leah left off. “And I hadn’t gotten blown yet either. Basically, it was a win-win lie. I got status, and Leah was suddenly straight with guys beating down her door,” Dre explains, holding my hand on the table.

“I didn’t know if I should thank him or kill him,” Leah admits. “It’s crazy how it was okay for me to be a tramp who’d blow a guy I’d never met, but it wasn’t okay for me to be in love with a girl,” Leah says disgusted.

Continuing, “I mean; I wasn’t. I’m straight. But still, high school’s stupid. They were both fucking lies. One got me isolated; the other got me social status. Teenagers are fucked up.”

Laughing, Dre says, “I mean, if you don’t wanna make a liar out of me, we could always—”

“Hey!” I scream, hitting his arm. “Down boy.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” Dre jokes, winking at me.

Leah puts her head in her hands and groans. “I know I’m gonna regret this,” she says, sighing again. “Jesus Adrian, you’re just too damn cute-’’

“Thanks Leah, so you’ll do it? You’ll turn him in?” Dre asks.

“I think it’s for the best Leah … for you … for everyone,” I add, wanting her to know that we really are on her side.

“Whoa, whoa, hold on guys. I said I’m going to tell the truth,” Leah says, pausing and rubbing her forehead. “Alright, fuck it; here goes … your fucking brother didn’t rape me. I’d cut off his dick if he even tried.”

Silence.

Silence.

“What?” we both exclaim together.

“It’s blackmail. Extortion 101. Your parents, although rolling in cash, aren’t too bright, ya know?” Leah explains, as she begins to tell us the events of the night she was allegedly raped by Tristan O’Donnell.

According to Leah, she and Tristan had drunk all night together, getting pretty loaded up. Quite willingly and eagerly, she accompanied him to the hotel. Apparently, they had pretty incredible, mind-blowing sex. Leah pointed out that they’d consumed so much alcohol she was beyond shocked that Tristan could even perform so well—or even at all.

At one point, Tristan was behind her, being rather rough. With one overly powerful thrust, he knocked her off the bed, and she lunged forward hitting her face on the small writing desk in the room. At the time, they both thought it was hysterical. Tristan even went down the hall to get her some ice.

After another round of kinky crazy sex, they both fell asleep. The next morning, Leah rolled over, reached for him, and he was gone. Leah’d waited for him to call her, come see her, anything, but he never did. Then, she devised the plan to get herself out of debt, open her dream art gallery, and get revenge on yet another douchebag who “dicks deep and ditches.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dre asks, incredulously, knocking over his chair as he stands. “So, you just made it all up?”

“Technically … yes,” Leah admits. “But, I’m pretty sure Tristan’s done his fair share of dastardly deeds. He could use a little penance.”

“But it’s my parents who are paying—not Tristan,” Dre argues. “This is fucking—”

“Wait, wait, wait Dre,” I soothe, rubbing his arm. “Babe, this couldn’t be better news.”

“How can you say that?” he asks in disbelief.

“Well, first of all, Tristan didn’t rape anyone. Your asshole brother is a lot of things, but he’s not a rapist. That’s pretty good news if you ask me. He’s probably even learned his lesson at this point.”

“Unlikely,” Dre says gruffly.

“Leah’s out of debt and able to start her own art gallery,” I add.

“How does that even—”

“Dre! Don’t you get it? Your brother didn’t rape someone! You’re not covering up a crime, an unforgivable, heinous crime!” Dre rubs his forehead, scowling and pensive.

Continuing, “Unfortunately, you learned who your family really is through all of this, which sucks, I know, ” I explain. “But, you’ve completely evolved this year, thanks to the lies and deceit of this one woman. Do you really want to turn her in for extortion? Aren’t you better off in your life now? Isn’t everyone better off now?”

Dre stares at me, anger draining from his face. “Except for one person,” he says, his face lighting up. “But I just figured out how to fix all of this. Pebbles, you’re a genius.”

As Lafferty pulls up the driveway to my house, I watch Kathryn’s face as her eyes bulge and her jaw drops. “You grew up here?”

“Nope, I grew up in Charleston this past year,” I smirk, pulling her onto my lap. I kiss her neck, running my tongue along her jaw. “I can’t wait to get you back to the hotel. We’ll have nineteen hours of uninterrupted time until our plane takes off.”

“If … the plan works,” she says, brow furrowing.

“So far, everything you and I do together turns out incredibly,” I say, biting lightly on her bottom lip until she opens her mouth, giving me full access to tease her tongue. “And I mean everything.”

Lafferty opens the door, “Excuse me sir, we’re here.” Like I didn’t know that. Like he didn’t know that I was back here fooling around with Kathryn. Jesus, I could not wait to get out of this damn stifling state.

“It’s go time!” I say, kissing her excitedly. “Are you sure about this? You’re on board? Completely?”

“For the five thousandth time, YES!” she screams, grabbing my head with both of her hands and kissing my forehead.

“Dre, I’m head over heels, crazy in love with you. I’ve never wanted anything more.” Hearing her say it, watching her face shine as the words settle over us, I know that this was the best decision for everyone.

Walking out to the patio where my parents and Tristan are having brunch, I start immediately as to not lose my courage, “Glad to see nothing’s changed—even with your daughter in a suicide watch psyche ward.”