Dart and Dash (4 page)

Chapter 6 – Dash

The first day of classes has officially arrived. I would admit that I’m excited for this year to start. More importantly, I will be excited to see it end. I always know the fall semester is the hardest; with football, classes, partying, and girls, my schedule is full.

Since I lived so close to campus, I walked to class. I strolled down Sixth Avenue, admiring the lush green trees. It was only a matter of time before they turned to beautiful autumn colors. I don’t know if it was because football would be going full force, or if it was just all that pretty color, but I loved fall.

As I crossed Fifth Avenue, trying to dodge the oncoming traffic, I thought about my first time on campus. Dad had helped us unpack and mom put away our things. She cried the entire time. It was hard to think they had died not too long after that, and my world changed again. I don’t think I’ve ever relied on anyone since except Dart. In fact, I know I hadn’t. He was my rock.

The courtyard in the center of campus was bustling with students going to class. The bright green leaves of the trees shaded me as I made my way through the crowd. Even with all the talking and laughter, I could hear the water rushing of the memorial fountain next to the student center.

Once I reached the third floor of Harris Hall, my eyes caught the back of Garnet’s fire red hair and petite body. From her profile, I could see the panic in her eyes.

“Are you lost?” I leaned in close to her ear, catching the hint of rose petals.

Garnet jumped. “No,” she barked.

“I think you’re lying.” I called her out on her bluff.

She huffed loudly. “Fine, I just got out of class, and I’m not sure where Smith Hall is, and the Wi-Fi sucks in this building for the map to come up on my phone.”

“I could help you, but you were rude to me yesterday.”

Her mouth dropped. “Excuse me; you were being a jerk to me.”

“I was simply telling the truth.”

Garnet crossed her arms, popping her hip out.

“Did I say anything that wasn’t true? Nope. If it came across rude, it’s probably because I toted you up to your bedroom instead of getting laid in mine.” I informed her.

“Ugh, fine,” she growled. “Thank you so much, great Dash Terrance, for carrying my fat ass up all those stairs. Thank you for making sure I was safely tucked away in my bed. I’m ever so sorry that you couldn’t get your dick sucked by some ho-bag. Will you ever forgive me?” She dramatically placed the back of her hand on her for head, as if she was about to faint.

“See, was that apology so hard.” I teased her. “And yes, you are forgiven.”

Garnet dropped her hand, narrowing her glare at me. “It’s not a real apology.”

I gasped. “No? It seemed so genuine.”

I could tell she was trying to hold back the smile. “Dash, would you please direct me to Smith Hall before I’m late? Please.”

“Go out the Third Avenue side of the building, turn left, it’s the large building before the art gallery.”

She jumped up and kissed my cheek. “Thanks, Dash,” and raced down the stairs.

I chuckled, shaking my head. She definitely wasn’t like Daisy, and I liked that about her. I was thankful that I only had three classes today; it gave me plenty of time to get home and get ready for the afternoon practice.

The sun was blazing on the field, and I felt myself roasting under my shoulder pads. Coach continued to run the same routes until we had it perfect.

“My legs are burning.” Dart stood next to me, as I chugged water down.

“Yours? Mine are about to fall off.” I didn’t dare sit on the bench; I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get back up.

“Want to lift weights when were done?”

“Fuck, no.”

“Figured.” He slapped my helmet and jogged onto the field to practice his place. I was glad Dart was finally getting his chance this season. I knew how much talent he had, and he was going to be great for the team.

I wish my parents could have seen us play together at the college level. When I scored my first touchdown, I almost cried when I realized my parents weren’t there, but Dart was cheering for me. However, I pushed through that pain and it made me even more determined to succeed.

When the sun began to set, practice ended. After I showered and changed, Dart told me he and Daisy were going out to dinner. I jumped on my bike and headed back to our house.

All I thought about was a cold beer and my bed, as I pulled into the driveway. Instead, I saw a large box by our front door. I locked my bike in the garage, and walked up to the package. The label read Garnet Bowling. I picked up the box, which was heavier than it looked, and went across the street.

“What are you doing here?” Garnett asked as she opened the door.

“This was delivered to our house by mistake.” I nodded down to the box in my hand.

“My books!” She happily clapped. “Put them on the dining room table.” She stepped out of the way.

I barely sat it on the table when Garnet began to tear away the clear packaging tape.

“You are certainly excited about some books.” I chuckled.

“If I wasn’t dancing, or at dance practice, I’d have my nose in a book. I was upset Dad didn’t have this box in the truck.” She ripped open the flaps, revealing bubble wrap covered books.

“Wow, you must really love them.”

Garnet nodded. “A lot of these were my Mom’s books.”

I heard the sadness in her voice, but I didn’t say anything. I knew what those possessions meant to her, because I had a few of my parent’s things and I wouldn’t part with them for anything.

“But this one,” she said more proudly, unwrapping the book. “Is all mine.” It had a ratty cover, and I couldn’t quite tell who the author was, until I saw the spine.

“Edgar Allan Poe,” I said aloud.

“Don’t you dare tease me about it.” She raised her voice at me. “He’s my favorite author, and you don’t even begin to understand how much he means to me.”

“I wasn’t planning on making fun of you.”

She looked at me for a second. “Thanks.”

I gave her a tight smile before telling her I had to leave.

“Hey, Dash,” she caught me right before I walked out of the dining room. “Thanks for today. I mean that, thank you.”

For the first time since I’d met her a couple days ago, I saw the vulnerability in her face instead of the stone cold stare. I could have been a dick and made fun of her about it, but I wasn’t.

“You’re welcome.” I said as I left her in the dining room with her box.

When I strolled into my house, I planned to go straight to bed, but something stopped me when I reached my bedroom.

My room was large but was never as tidy as Dart’s. He was a clean freak. I had two laundry baskets: one for dirty and one for clean clothes. I hardly hung anything up except the suits that I was required to wear on game day.

On the other side of the room was my desk, which was already covered in textbooks, and a large bookcase sat in the other corner. One of my father’s hobbies was carpentry, and he built this case when I was a teenager. He’d done it because he was tired of seeing all my books on the floor.

My love of reading was a secret from almost everyone. Obviously, Dart knew the truth, but everyone else assumed I was English Literature major, because it was an easy subject. If only they knew the truth, it was harder than they thought.

I looked at the titles of my books. The majority of them were Edgar Allan Poe. The first time I read him I was a freshman in high school. I enrolled in an elective class and thought it would help me meet girls. Sadly, it didn’t but I was introduced to reading and Mr. Poe.

I never looked back.

Chapter 7 – Garnet

I had never been so thankful for Friday to come. My first week in college was pure hell. However, I did it; I made it through.

I threw my bag in the corner and flopped on my bed, pulling off my boots. My feet were aching, but I loved those hot pink peep toed boots.

“Good, your home,” Daisy was in my doorway. “What time are you going to be at the sorority house?”

I sat up on my elbows. We haven’t really talked since I blew up at her last weekend. It was mainly small questions and short answers; I was fine with that, because I don’t regret what I said. Daisy needed to hear it.

“What are you talking about, Daisy?”

“Tonight is the sorority rush. You need to be there by eight.”

I shook my head, setting up fully on my bed. “I’m not going to rush anything, unless it’s a shot of vodka.”

“But-” She looked like I had punched her in the face. “How are you going to meet people? You need to start making connections for your future and you should start now.”

I rolled my eyes and stood up. I was much shorter than Daisy, but I crossed my arms, and stared her down. “I will meet people and make connections the old-fashioned way, by talking to people.”

“The sorority will look great on your resume.”

“Stop. Just stop talking. I’m not you. I don’t need to dye my hair blonde and learn how to play beer pong to gain friends. So, why don’t you put on your string pearls, and your boyfriend’s letter jacket, and leave me the fuck alone.”

The tears were pooling in her eyes, and my heart broke a little, but I wasn’t her, and I didn’t need her bossing me around and telling me what to do and how to live
my
life.

“Fine,” she turned and walked away from me.

I slammed the door and felt a little shitty. I rubbed my temples and  sat on the edge of the bed. I needed a drink, badly.

My phone alerted me with a text from a girl I’d talked to in my English class. She sent me the address of the party she had been telling me about.

Perfect.

~~

The party was loud and everyone was crowded into the tiny apartment. I didn’t even know how much I’d already drunk, but my vision was blurry. I had to quit drinking; I knew it, if I was going to make it home tonight. I really wanted to, too, but none of these guys looked like they had the goods that I wanted right now.

Only one guy had caught my eye. Dash Terrance. He was standing with a couple of others, and I was surprised to see that no girls were around him. I had heard about his reputation from Daisy since she and Dart started dating. Yet, I hadn’t seen him with anyone in the week I’ve been here.

I stumbled toward him, trying not to bump into anyone, but that wasn’t working out so well. I practically slammed into him when I was within reach of him.

“Garnet, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I have friends,” I proudly announced to him.

“Good for you.” He looked at me confused.

“Okay, I’m going to need to get sex,” I slurred.

Dash smirked. “Do you mean a drink?”

“Nope, sex.” I shook my head, which caused me to lose my balance.

He grabbed my arm, steadying me. “I’ll take you home.” Dash told his friends he’d see them later, and he took my hand. I was too numb to understand that his fingers were intertwined with mine. I could barely get my legs to walk.

“What’s that smell?” I took a deep breath when we were out on the sidewalk.

“Fresh air?”

“No,” I leaned into him. “It’s you.”

“Well, I did shower today, and I put on clean clothes.”

“You smell good.”

“I do love when a drunk girl tells me that,” he rolled his eyes.

He was still holding my hand when he asked how I got to the party.

“I told you already; I have friends. I don’t need Daisy to help me.”

Dash pinched the bridge of his nose. “Great, you’re one of those types.”

“What type?”

“The kind you never shuts up.”

“I’m not a slut.” I jerked my hand away from his, and lost my balance. I don’t know what happened, but I was giggling looking up to Dash from the ground.

“I didn’t say you were a slut.”

I couldn’t stop giggling.

“Are you okay?” He knelt down to me.

I still couldn’t answer because I was laughing so hard.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Dash picked me up fireman style and carried me to Dart’s car.

“Where’s the bike?”

“Dart has it tonight.” He put my feet on the ground, opened the door, and helped me in. “So, don’t you dare puke in this car.”

I giggled the entire drive and didn’t stop until he pulled in the driveway and asked, “You and Daisy still fighting?”

“Oh, I guess you could say that. Can you tell if she’s over there?”

Dash looked over at me. “I’m not sure. Why don’t you come inside, and you can clean up?”

“I look fine.”

“Really?” He flipped the visor down, and the bright light revealed the leaves in my hair and the dirt on my face.

“I’m going for an earthy look,” I lied.

This made Dash laugh as he got out of the car. He helped me out and held my hand, keeping me upright as we went through the house to his room.

I didn’t fully comprehend what was happening, because my eyes kept closing on their own. Dash sat me down on the bed; I couldn’t even force my eyes open at that moment. I heard him moving around, and it wasn’t until I felt a cool washcloth touch my face, did I become more alert.

Dash was in front of me, shirtless, on his knees.
When did he take his shirt off?

“Wow, you’re as fucking hot as a male model,” I blurted out.

“Thanks,” he wasn’t fazed by the comment.

I studied his Greek godlike abs, hard pecs, and strong arms. My eyes caught the tattoo on the left side of his chest. It was three ravens perched on a branch.

“Nevermore,” I said.

Dash looked into my eyes, not saying anything.

“I have a tattoo, too.” I pulled back from his hand, taking off my shirt.

“Garnet,” he was going to yell at me but stopped. His eyes widened when he saw the tattoo. “Wow,” he breathed out.

“I love it, but Daisy hates it.” Looking down, I smiled.

The large raven wings stretched under both of my breast. The head was right in the middle of my breastbone. The bird rested on a bed of roses and below that, in perfect script, was my favorite quote:

never to suffer would never to have been blessed

“That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Dash continued to stare.

“Thanks.” I put my shirt back on. “I need to go.” I could hear the slurring of my words, but I wasn’t sure if he understood what I meant.

“You’re fine. Stay,” he ordered, getting up from the floor.

Dash left the room again. I finally looked around his bedroom. He wasn’t neat, but it wasn’t filthy. I stood up, balancing myself on the nightstand and walked over to the bookcase. The smile crossed my face when I saw all the Poe books.

Dash was a fan, too.

“You need to sit down before you fall down,” Dash softly commanded me.

“When did you start reading Poe?”

“Those are old school books, that I haven’t thrown away.”

“You’re lying.” I turned to face him, pushing my fingers against his hard chest.

Dash only stared at me, and I was I was getting a kink in my neck looking up at him. He helped me back down on the bed.

The room began to spin as another wave of alcohol washed over me, and I lay back and closed my eyes.