Twist of Fate (14 page)

I walked around in a circle to make sure everyone was in proper position. I skipped over the majority of the pledges in the back since they'd been in the downward dog, or child's pose the whole class, but came up next to Ben. I'd had the class in an upward plank for the last twenty-seconds, and Ben was in position.
 
I bent down to look into his eyes. "Nice, Ben. Good form."

He winked one his beautiful brown eyes at me. "Good teacher."

I strolled slowly to the front of the class, instructing them to stretch their arms, bow down to touch their toes a few times before releasing the class.
 

"Namaste."

A second later after everyone repeated me, I heard someone in the back yell out, "Namawhat?"

I slipped my hand down to grab my towel, wiping off the sweat from my forehead, and then walked over to turn the music off, and to turn the lights up higher. I stifled a laugh when I noticed the guys in the back all lying face down, or wiping the sweat from their bodies. Some were laughing, cracking jokes at poses I asked them to do, but Ben was just wiping his mat down. He grabbed for his water, and I watched as he gulped down a large sip from his bottle, his adam apple bobbing as he swallowed, before he shoved himself into a standing position.

"Great class, Paige. I'll see you after the holidays," said Betty.

"Thanks. You too."

I was in the process of tucking my mat, and towel into my yoga bag when Ben moved in front of me. Somewhere between the time I saw him chugging water, to saying good-bye to Betty, he'd taken his shirt off. Instantly, I saw the sweat glistening on his stomach, some beads slipping into his belly button. I looked away, embarrassed. "That was a good class, P. Thanks for the work out."

I looked back up, and instantly regretted it. God, this boy got to me sometimes. I grabbed my water, taking a long swig, hoping to create a diversion of some sort, but by his shit eating grin I knew he had caught me. "Feel free to look, P." He stepped back, moving his hands up and down the sides of his stomach. "It's not everyday you get to see this."

"Remember I've slept with you before." I grabbed my bag, tossing it over my shoulder. "Not much to see." I swore just as it came out every pledge raised their eyebrows.

"Ouch! The claws are out," he chuckled, being a good sport.

"Please clarify to your horny friends what I meant. I gotta go actually work out now."

He jogged to keep up behind me. "Work out? I'll go with you."

"Ben. I'm fine. I can go to class myself."

He grabbed my arm, pulling me back, harder than I liked. "Let go of me." He released my arm immediately.
 

"I'm sorry, P. I just thought we could grab lunch or something?" His face registered confusion.

"Crap, Ben." I sighed, at my outburst, feeling horrible for yelling at him. "I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just...it's just, I got to go to spinning class, or I'll be late. Call you later?"

He grabbed his T-shirt from around his neck, putting it back on. "Yeah, sure." I could tell by the way he answered me that he was disappointed in my answer, but when he grabbed me, it triggered a memory that I desperately tried to forget everyday.

Once I finished showering, I debated calling Ben or not. I said I would, and I hated to let people down, especially the ones I cared about, so I flipped open my cell.

"What's up, P? I'm kind of busy." I wasn't sure how to take his response to my call. The tone in his voice made me think that I was bothering him.

"I was just calling you since I said I would. Remember?"

"Yep, I remember." I swore I heard sarcasm in his voice, which I didn't understand.
 

I hated when he was upset with me, so I tried to keep the conversation light. "So, I was kind of craving a churro. You feel like going with me?"

He was silent for a full minute, but I could hear his breathing through the phone. "I can't tonight. I got a date. But, you have my car, so feel free to take it. I gotta jam."

"Wait!"

He sighed into phone. "What?"

"Well, who are you going out with? Do I know her?"

"Yeah, she was in your class today. Her name's Emma."

Shoot me now. Emma!!! I was a pretty confident girl when it came to my body, because I worked my ass off to make it look good, but Emma. Sheesh! She had to be almost six feet tall, and was all legs. Not to mention one of the most beautiful girls I'd ever seen."Gee, you work fast."

"I gotta go, Paige."

"Well," I paused not sure what to say.
 
"I guess have fun."

Click! Well, I'd be damned. He just hung up on me.

I guess it was just one for Mexican food tonight. I would have asked Ellie, but she never showed to class. She texted me that she was studying in the library. Yeah, right.
 
The only thing she studied was human anatomy.
 
I wished I had the guts to be so brave with guys. I didn't want to be a slut, but to feel safe, and comfortable with one would be nice. I just wanted to be a normal college girl, and have normal college experiences. Why was that so wrong? And, lord knows I'd tried to go out with a few of them, but it never turned out well.

BEN

Chapter 16

I'd always loved driving Tommy's car. His parent's set him up with a killer Jeep Wrangler. We took it four wheeling out on the trails once in a while, whipping it up. Then we'd make the pledges clean all the muck off of it. It was a win, win situation really. Emma lived off campus with her parents, so I asked her to meet me at Dirtbags for a few beers. I knew the bouncers, so it wasn't a problem getting in with my I.D. One of the many rewarding benefits of being in a frat.

I got there a half hour before she was due to arrive to loosen up. I didn't even want to be there. I had no idea why I went back in that studio and asked her out. That was a lie. I did it to piss off Paige. She acted all sweet and innocent, but I was sick of being teased by her. The little looks, the little talks, the little moments we shared that no one was aware of but us. It was those little moments that we spent together that meant more to me than I cared to admit. Love sucked! I swore if I wasn't a Junior, I'd transfer to get away from her. Every time I looked at her it hurt to not be able to touch her, to kiss her, to just be with her. I'd never come out and told her how I felt about her, so maybe it was my fault. Maybe if I just unloaded? Got it out there, then I'd feel better. At least I'd know where I stood with her. But, instead I was sitting here, pushing Paige away.

I debated for several minutes while staring at my phone. It would be so easy to just tap her number into the phone, and tell her I'd meet her for that damn churro. Billy the bartender stuck another beer in front of me, just as Emma sat down next to me. "Wow! You look amazing," I told her, because she did. This girl should be on a pin up in my room, not sitting next to me. But, I still didn't care. As gorgeous as she was, I still thought Paige was even prettier.

"Thanks! You too." I found that hard to believe since I was wearing cargo shorts, and an old American Eagle T-shirt that I found in the bottom of my drawer. And it didn't escape me that I hadn't run a brush through my hair, but I accepted it. "Thanks. What'll be?"

Emma was thinking her drink out way too long. Billy was getting irritated, pretending to clean the bar a few times. He gave me the eye that pretty much asked, is she twenty-one? "Billy, just get her a beer."

"Oh, God! No way. I don't drink beer. I'll just have a vodka, with a splash of pineapple." Great! She was one of those girls. What the fuck was wrong with beer?

I found out seconds later. "I can't drink all those carbs. I'd get fat if I sat around drinking beer all the time. You know it even creeps up on men, too." She looked down at my stomach. "Just saying."

I lifted my shirt up slightly. "Well, I'm in pretty good shape, so don't worry about me and my beer. All right, sweetheart?"

"Sure thing," she said with a twang before sucking on the small straw.

I knew it was time to change the atmosphere, but kept up the pretenses. "So, where are you from?"

"El Paso, you?"

"Scottsdale. Wait! I thought you lived with your folks?" I frowned.

"I do. Just my Daddy and me. My momma died a few years back. He doesn't like to let me out of his sights for too long."

I already hated this girl. It really wasn't even her fault. She just wasn't Paige. She may be hot, but too much baggage. I needed to lose her. I took a long, hard swig of my beer, then gazed into her eyes. I knew what I was about to do was shitty, but I didn't care. "So, does that mean you're not coming back to my room tonight?"

Her face contorted into an instant look of disgust. "Excuse me?"

"You said your Daddy keeps tight reigns, so I was just wondering where this date was leading to?" To make it really stick, I ran my hand up her dress, and grabbed her ass.

"Shit!" I yelled. I barely saw her walk out. I was covered in her drink, and I had to laugh because it didn't taste half bad. In retrospect I should've seen it coming. She didn't seem like the type to fall into bed so easy. I got just what I wanted.

Looked like I was heading home alone.
 

***

It had been two days since I'd seen Paige. I didn't know how many times I punched her number in my phone, only to chicken out when I got to the last button. I could easily just call her to tell her I needed my car back, that way we would need to see each other. But, I worried about her, so I wanted her to have it. At least until someone told me what was going on. I knew Tommy had been keeping a better eye on her than before. When he was not around, or in class, he texted me that he was hanging with her.

My only saving grace was going to be our road trip back home in two days to get a decent meal. I had a ridiculous amount of laundry for my mother to do, not to mention I couldn't remember the last care package she'd sent. I couldn't get too mad. My parents deposited enough money into my account every month, and it was plenty to keep me satisfied.

There was a party in full swing down in the basement, but I was hanging in my room tonight. Just me and a six pack. I liked to do this sometimes. Just chill. I didn't feel like dealing with pledges, or broads, or stupid drinking games.
 
It seemed liked lately I'd been skipping the parties more and more. I couldn't explain it, but partying didn't hold the same interest for me it once had. I sighed, knowing the reason or rather the girl who was responsible for my change in attitude.

After my third beer, Tommy and Jack came hustling in wasted, while I was listening to my iPod, playing Call of Duty. I took one bud out of my ear. "What the fuck, Benny Boy? Why you hiding out tonight?" Tommy asked, slapping me on the side of my head.

I barely looked up at them. "Not in the mood."

Jack flopped onto his back next to me. "Well, there is this chick downstairs who is smoking hot, looking for you."

I pushed his feet to the side. "Tell her to leave, or find someone else."

Tommy laughed, then took a swig of his beer. "Paige has got you whooped, man."

This time I yanked the other bud out of my ear, and threw is aside. "Tommy, man, don't piss me off. This has nothing to do with Paige."

He burped loudly in my face, like a drunken asshole. "Sure it isn't. Let's go Jack. I need to find some little freshman piece of ass."

When I was sober I realized just how much we sounded like complete assholes when we talked shit like that. It sounded much cooler after a few drinks. I said it out loud to make sure I stuck with my plan, "Never touch another freshman." Silently, I added, "Unless it's Paige."

Tommy stepped out, but popped back in tilting his beer back and forth in my face. "You sure?"

I closed my eyes, letting myself think of Paige for the briefest of seconds. If she wanted me, she knew where I was. "Fuck it! Let's go."

Tommy grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. "That's what I'm talking about."

***

I shook the cobwebs from my head as the commotion outside my door grew louder. The room spun for a few seconds after I sat up, so I slumped back down onto the floor. When I did, I realized I wasn't alone. I looked up at my alarm clock to find out it was just past three in the morning. I swung my gaze to the girl lying next to me on the floor-she was naked as a fucking jaybird. Thankfully, my shorts were still where they were supposed to be.

As soon as I realized what I had done, not a second went by, when the door to my room swung open. "Paige, I told you he's busy. You need to go," Tommy pleaded with her, but Paige pushed through.
 

I closed my eyes, because I couldn't look at Paige, and I couldn't look at Ellie who was now jumping up from the spot next to me. And, she was apologizing to Paige. Why was she apologizing? I was still pretending to ignore the situation when Tommy kicked my leg. "Get up."

Slowly, I took my arm away from my face, and my eyes locked on Paige. She was crying, her eyes were so red I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Paige reached into her pocket, grabbed the keys to my car, chucking them so hard they hit me in the face. And, it hurt.

"Asshole," she called me. Then she spun on her heels and ran.