The Lonely Girl (3 page)

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The next few days go by so fast. I go to classes with Alec and Keegan. Jake even talked my brother into letting me go to his art class with him after he saw me drawing at the table during lunch.

It’s Friday night, and Alec and Keegan are studying
since they have exams starting in a week.  Alec takes off to the library, promising to take me out tomorrow night before I go back home Sunday afternoon.  Keegan stays to study in the dorm.

I have dodged Dillon all this time. Keeping my phone off and telling my mom it was acting up.
It turns out Dillon even called the house telling my mom he couldn’t reach me. She relayed that my phone is acting up so that cooled him down. I got a message this afternoon from him saying:
I’m sorry baby I just miss you see you soon

Keegan goes to take a shower so I take the time to call Dillon. He picks up on the first ring. “Hey baby
, your phone is working better?”

“It’s still not holding a charge so I can’t talk long. Did my mom tell you I get home Sunday?”

He sighs. “Ya, she did. I’m sorry for freaking out. I just had plans for us and I didn’t realize how much I missed you till I couldn’t see you. Why are you there? I thought we decided you were going to go to Western with me?”

Just then Keegan walks back in from his shower and he’s only in a towel and his chest
is bare. Yup, I was right athletic body, definitely hot. I try not to stare, but I can’t help it. I barely hear Dillon still talking about Western, because I am so distracted. I don’t even think before I say, “I don’t want to go to Western, Dillon, you know that.”

He goes quiet. “
No, we decided you’re staying, it will be perfect, baby just...”

I interrupt him.
“Dillon, listen I have to go, my brother’s roommate is back.

“No, wait,” he says.

“Okay, bye.” I hang up the phone all the while looking into Keegan’s eyes.

“Was that the boyfriend?” Keegan says with a smirk.

“We aren’t together. We’re just... hanging out. Besides, I’m leaving for school in the fall,” I say.

“
Yes, you are. It will be fun having you here,” Keegan replies, with a huge smile on his face.

“Maybe here.”

He looks right at me like he’s reaching in. “Rebecca you belong here.”

Wow, Rebecca. I hate it when people call me that usually. It’s still better
than Bec, but I’ve never liked it.

He grabs some of his clothes and tells me he’s going to go change, and then we can watch a movie. He comes back five minutes later and shows me a bunch of movies. I pick some action movie even though he had a chick flick in the bunch. I’m so tired it won’t matter. I know he’ll enjoy that one. I go to sit on the futon, and he stops me. “You can’t see the TV from there. You can sit on my bed.” Oh boy. I look at him, he’s still smiling softly.

“Okay, so what’s this movie about anyway?” I crawl up on his bed, and he sits beside me and hands me a bag of skittles. I take some and get comfy.

Handing
me his pillow, Keegan says, “You know big guns and explosions.”

I just laugh at his generic response.
We are about twenty minutes in when I start doing the head bob. I’m so tired. I drift again, and I knock my head into his shoulder slightly.

I laugh. “Sorry I’m tired but I want to see big guns and explosions.” He laughs and puts my head on his shoulder. I tense up.

He laughs. “I don’t bite Becca.”

I relax. I can smell him. He smells like mint and springtime. It is completely unique to him. Before long, I am completely out.

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I wake up the next morning and realize I’m still in Keegan’s bed. Better yet, no nightmare. I look beside me, no Keegan. Where’s he though? I look over to the futon, and I see him
scrunched up on it. Now I feel bad, it can’t be comfortable. Alec is in his bed and snoring, but what else is new. I put my head back down and smell. It’s minty and springtime. It’s Keegan. I smile to myself. I go to get out of the bed, and it squeaks. Keegan wakes up and looks right at me.

He smiles. “Did you sleep well?”

I stretch and say, “Yes I did but you should have woken me and told me to go to the futon, that couldn’t have been comfortable for you.”

He gets up and stretches his long torso
. His shirt comes up, showing his stomach. I try not to look, but he’s just, well heck, anyone would look.

Keegan says, “Hey, I’m hungry let’s get some food.” I turn and look at my brother. “Becca, he didn’t get home till after
four he won’t wake up till dinner time.” He laughs.

“Oh alright then yes lets go.”

Keegan and I spend the next six hours getting a bite to eat and walking around campus. We talk about his courses. He is majoring in Biology and Chemistry and he’s a genius. I tell him I like the sciences, but struggle with Bio sometimes. He offers to help me as he’s aced all the classes. Well, if I do go here at least I know someone who I could go to for help. We talk about my home, my friends and what I do. We don’t talk about Dillon. I haven’t turned my phone back on since we spoke. I tell him about this spot I go to back home where I sit and draw. I tell him how it’s so quiet and absolute solitude.

Keegan stops. “
Hey, can I show you something?” I look at him, puzzled. “Trust me,” he says.

“
Sure, why not?” I shrug and start to follow him.

He takes us up a path into
a wooded area. We are walking for about five minutes when we turn and come up to a rock formation with a little wet area by it where the rain has collected. It’s beautiful.

Keegan shuffles his feet and says, “I found this my first year. I come here sometimes. You can still find your solitude here, Becca.”

I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say to him. I turn to Keegan.  “This is so beautiful. I’d love to draw it.”

Keegan walks up to me and brushes my hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear. “And you will, Becca, in the fall. You can come and draw this place and make it your new solitude.”

I’m speechless. I suddenly remember my words. “Thanks Keegan, I might just do that.”

I give him a grin, and he laughs. “
Well, let’s get you back. Your brother should be up my now and if not we’re going to wake his ass up. It’s party time.”

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My first party. Well, a university one, that is. Alec and Keegan are getting ready in the room. I go to the bathroom to shower and get ready. I packed my skinny jeans, and a tight dark green top that hugs my curves nicely. I didn’t really think to pack party clothes when I was packing. I scrunch my hair and spray it in place so it’s kind of curly instead of the poker straight style I usually do. I put on some mascara, bronzer, and pink lip-gloss. This is more effort than I usually do. I throw on a pair of heels that were already in my bag when I packed. Nothing fancy, just plain black heels, but they make my legs look longer giving me some height. I grab my stuff and leave the bathroom only to bump into Jake.

“Hey, sorry... Wow Becca? Is that you?” Jake seems shocked. I haven’t exactly been wearing anything
flattering while I’ve been here, just mostly joggers and jumpers.

“Ya hey Jake, are you going to the party?” I smile.

He’s quick to respond. “I was thinking about it but now that I know you’re going I’m definitely going. Just... Don’t tell your brother or Keegan I said that.” He laughs, but I can tell he’s serious.  I blush what I’m sure is a noticeable beet red.

“No problem Jake. Our secret.” I wink at him just to make it less awkward. When he smiles
again, I know it worked.

“I’ll walk you to Alec’s room. Looking like that you might not make it there before the party with all the boys stopping you.” I smirk at him. He’s flirting and not even being shy or slick about it.

When we approach the door I stand to the side. He knocks, and Keegan opens the door.

“Hey man
, I found this. I think it belongs to Alec.”

I give Jake a look clearly telling him ‘Ha Ha.’ He just smirks at me again.

I turn to see Keegan open gawking at me. Oh God, maybe I look horrible. I probably look like I’m wearing a snowsuit compared to other girls at this party tonight.

Keegan finally finds his words turning to Alec. “
Dude, you’re going to have a hard time keeping guys away from her tonight. I thought she didn’t bring anything suitable for the party.” He turns to me and continues, “I think you’ll fit in just fine Becca.” He smirks, and my brother is now the one gawking at me.

“What Alec?” He looks flustered.

“God Becca, when did you go and grow up? You’re going to make it very hard for me to keep the team away from you. Want to wear my sweater?” I burst out laughing. But both Keegan and Alec just stare at me.

“
No, Alec, I’m fine and if I’m going to be coming here in the fall you need to get used to the fact that I’m going to look like every other girl here.” I stick my tongue out at him. He comes and puts an arm around my shoulder.

“But you’re not just anyone, you’re my sister.”

I laugh. “We’ll get used to it, let’s go.” I walk out of the room and the boys follow.

When Keegan is locking the
door, he says, “Well, Alec you have your work cut out for you. She’s a firecracker.”

My brother says quietly assuming I can’t hear him, “She used to be like this before...
Well before you know, now I’m not sure which I like better. I’m going to have to kick some asses tonight I think.”

Chapter 3

We arrive at the party which is being held at a teammate’s house that a few of the guys live in. It’s your average university house. There are like fifty people here already and everyone has a drink in their hand. Alec tells me he’s fine with me having a few drinks, but only if it comes from him or Keegan, which is fine with me. He doesn’t know, but I don’t really do parties back home anymore, so drinking isn’t really something I do. Besides, I’m eighteen already. What’re a few drinks at eighteen? When I visit my family in Scotland, I can legally drink. I don’t complain he’s just being my brother. My brother introduces me to a couple of the guys. He brings us a few drinks, and we just chat for a few hours.

As the night goes on I notice this
one guy. He’s at the back of the room in the corner. He’s staring at me. He’s attractive, but it seems he knows that, which takes him down a few notches in my book. He has dark brown hair and is wearing all black. It suits him, but his eyes are what draw my attention. The way he looks at me like I’m on a menu is making me a little uncomfortable. I turn to Keegan and get his attention. I bend my finger to get him to lean over so I can talk to him with the music being so loud.

“What’s up Becca, your brother will be right back?” I stare at his eyes.
Wow, I could get lost in them. They stand out so much from the rest of him, but they look like that’s exactly where they belong.

“Keegan, who’s that guy in the corner, he’s staring at me?” He looks up and laughs until he spots who I’m talking about.

He comes back down to me and answers, “Becca, that’s Drake. He’s not a great guy, stay away.”

I have one brother, and I don’t need another telling me what to do. “Keegan thanks but I can take care of myself.”

Oh well, I wasn’t going to talk to him, but now that I’ve had a few drinks…

When I look back over to Drake, who I’m not at all interested in, he is heading this way. He stops in front of me and looks at Keegan.

“Hey Key, is this…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he says but whatever it is made Keegan tense.

“Drake this is Becca, Potts Sister.” He gives Drake a look I’m not quite sure of.

Drake turns to me. “Well then, I’m Drake nice to meet you, Becca.”

He reminds me of Dillon with his cockiness. I wave nicely. He keeps talking to
me and I’m trying to remain interested, just to prove a point to Keegan, who is scowling at me now.

Keegan leans in and says loud enough for Drake to
hear, “What about Dillon, Becca?”

I am stunned; he just brought up Dillon
. What an ass? He knows Dillon and I can see other people. Two can play that game.

“Dillon and I are very much over because he’s an
asshat and I’m leaving for school.”

Wait when I did I make this choice. Keegan looks stunned now. But just as Drake goes to take a step closer Keegan shuts his mouth and puts his arm around me
, and my brother comes up behind me.

“Did I hear that
right, you agree he’s an asshat. Finally!” Alec exclaims. I turn and laugh.

Of course
, the time I say what I think of Dillon out loud Alec is there. I notice Jake has spotted us and is heading over. This can’t get any more awkward, so I excuse myself to the bathroom. Once I finally get back my brother is gone, and Keegan is talking to Jake.