He’d been so apologetic. Since we had some classes together, which Robbie noticed when collecting up the books, he had replaced my now coffee stained books with his own copies and kept the damaged ones. When he thought I wasn’t looking, I saw eyes run quickly up and down over my slim body. When I knew he wasn’t looking, I’d slipped my Gran’s engagement ring onto my finger.
I’d felt a tiny bit guilty, but I didn’t want the hassle of telling him I wasn’t interested in a relationship. It sounded conceited, but life was simpler if I deceived him. Appearing to be unavailable was just as good as being unavailable. I was coming to college to get my degree and nothing else.
Now, however, a month into my first semester, I’d let Robbie convince me to take a break. Which is why we were in the nearby town of Lafayette for a party. Robbie was hauling my bag out of the back seat of his car.
“I have no idea what you have in it, but it weighs a ton,” he grumbled.
It was heavy because I had snuck in a textbook that I had been caught up in when Robbie had turned up, but he didn’t need to know that. He already thought I was bad enough. He’d convinced me to come with him today by arguing that some time in the sun would be good for me. He’d looked pointedly at my total lack of tan as he’d said it. Ok so maybe I was a bit pale, but I hadn’t had time to be sunning myself. I’d been working hard through the summer. Plus, he’d added, meeting people other than him would be good for me. I had almost refused but he had then added that I could help him find a suitable girl and not a party girl. A girl like me maybe.
That could have become uncomfortable quickly, but he had laughed and slung his arm over my shoulder. “Not you Elle, but someone like you. Someone who studies hard. Someone polite, motivated and not inclined to hook up with just anyone. Being easy on the eyes would be a bonus too.” He had winked when he’d said that last part and looked at me hopefully. Those puppy dog brown eyes of his had twisted something inside of me, so I had agreed to come.
The thing about Robbie was that he was good looking and had no trouble attracting attention from other girls, but in a way he was right. He had a tendency to go for party girls. Ones you knew were in the elite group and thought more about their looks than anything else. The girls who were vapid, insincere and flighty. I frowned at myself for being so negative. I needed to lighten up; I was turning into an old spinster well before my time and that would be a problem. I didn’t even like cats.
“So, my roommate Tommy said he would be here with some of his friends if you were up for it? I know I wouldn’t mind hanging out with them and it would give you a chance to meet him and the others?” He was looking at me expectantly. It registered with me how hard he tried even though he seemed resigned to me saying no. His shoulders started to slump, already accepting defeat when I cut him off.
“Sure,” I said. “I’ve have been wanting to meet the notorious Tommy for a while now.” This was a lie. I would be quite happy to never meet Tommy. From what Robbie had told me, Tommy was a typical jock, here on a scholarship and all about football. He seemed to be quite the ladies’ man. I cringed inwardly as I thought about the stories that I hadn’t heard. Fingers crossed he wouldn’t be so bad in actual person. Plus, I liked football, so I could always talk NFL with him.
“Cool. Come on – I’ll message him and see where they are.” Robbie reached for his phone while I looked over the park at the party. There were blankets everywhere. Loud, throbbing music. That annoying dull bass beat that seems to be in every dance song ever made.
I noticed several picnic baskets and picnic tables. It seemed you wandered where you wanted and ate what you liked. A free for all. Fantastic – welcome e-coli, I thought, vowing silently not to eat anything that wasn’t individually wrapped. A shiver ran over me. I think I hated this party already. I turned back to look at Robbie, who was putting his phone away and grinning at me. I must try to be a better person, I scolded myself.
“This way,” he said, and off he went, almost at a gallop, leaving me no choice but to follow. Another of my pet hates – and yes, I admit to having many; ridiculously tall people who only need to take one stride for a shorter person’s two (or, in my case, sometimes three). If you asked them to slow down, they thought you were a lunatic. Didn’t you know they were walking at a normal pace? Robbie was already halfway to the edge of the lake and I hadn’t taken more than about ten steps. I suppose I could shout to get his attention, but it wasn’t like I could really lose him – his height made him easily identifiable in a crowd, especially a crowd of people who were mostly sitting or lying down sunbathing. Resigned to follow after him I started to pick up the pace, only to suddenly find myself lifted off the ground and flung in the air. I was placed rather heavily over someone’s shoulder. My tote fell to the ground behind the person who’d picked me up.
“What the hell! Put me down you idiot!” I yelled. Uproarious laughter was the answer and I was swung around in a circle, the person spinning as they held me tightly. I started hitting my assailant’s shoulders, which only made him laugh harder; thankfully I heard Robbie running back to me.
“Hey man, put her down!” I could tell by his tone he wasn’t all that upset. That made me angrier and I renewed my effort of hitting the idiot carrying me over his shoulder.
“Hey now calm – down Ari, no need to be all mean and growly.”
I completely froze, I recognised that voice. There were only a few people who called me that. I’d done my best to ensure that I would be nowhere near any of them for a long time. I was finally lifted off the shoulder and deposited back on the ground. I found my footing and forced myself to look up into laughing blue eyes. I took a step back and glanced to my right – sure enough, Theo wasn’t alone. Matt laughed, winking back at me as I shook my head, looking back and forth between the two of them. Granted they looked genuinely pleased to see me, but I really wished in that moment I could have said the same. Then I was in a group hug that was hot, smelled overwhelmingly of cologne and most importantly felt like home. I couldn’t lie to myself completely, believing that I wasn’t glad to see them. After a few seconds, I wriggled free and adjusted my top, trying to buy some time. To be fair, it had become scrunched up in the hug.
“I can’t believe you’re really standing in front of us,” Matt said softly as he reached out to clasp my hand. I squeezed it in return.
“Elle, do you know these yahoos?” Robbie was standing awkwardly to the side rubbing the back of his neck and looking between me and the guys. Matt and Theo looked at him.
“Yahoos? Who says yahoos?” Matt said offhandedly to Theo. Theo grinned back in amusement and flicked a condescending glance at Robbie. Robbie flushed. I felt slightly bad because I knew Matt was only teasing, but only because I knew him so well.
“Guys,” I warned as I turned to Robbie and smiled at him. I heard Theo whistle under his breath and mutter something to Matt who in turn nudged him to be quiet. I turned back to them quickly and flashed them both a warning look before turning back to Robbie. “Hey, so these are old friends of mine from high school,” Robbie glanced at them and his eyebrow went up, friends I had never mentioned. He was about to start asking questions. I quickly hurried on before he could say anything. “So, I will just have a quick catch up with them and then come find you and Tony.”
“Tommy,” Robbie corrected.
“Yeah, gosh I’m sorry, I know that, must have been all that blood running to my head when I was hanging upside down.” I glared at Matt. He pointed at Theo. Theo threw his head back and laughed.
“So…you want me to leave?” Robbie asked. He looked so disappointed that I tried to get him away from the terrible twosome. I stepped forward and put my hand on his arm; I smiled,
“I’ll be right behind you, five minutes.” I promised. Robbie took a step back, frowned like he was going to say something, shrugged and then turned and reluctantly left. He didn’t look back.
“Pussy whipped,” Theo muttered.
Taking in a deep breath I
whirled around and glared at Theo, he got a punch on his shoulder for his comment – ok it was more like his forearm because Theo was an oversized giant.
“He’s a nice guy and he is most certainly not pu...whipped by anything!” I growled out.
Theo burst out laughing and held onto Matt’s shoulder for support. Matt also got a punch on the shoulder...arm. Now they were both laughing at me, throwing up my hands I whirled on my heel and started to march off after Robbie. I didn’t get far before I was picked up again and put over Theo’s shoulder.
“Come on Lil Bit, stop being so grumpy and give your boys some love,” Matt said, “We haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Theo! For the love of all that’s holy, put me down! Now!” I was dangled ungracefully for a few more seconds and then was gently placed back on the ground. Thank God for flat shoes was all I could think of.
I wanted to glare at both of them.
“So, Ari, what brings you here?” Matt asked. He was still smiling and I reluctantly smiled back. Then when I started looking around, I realised they had taken me off to the side of the main park, we were currently under a tree that was partly sheltered from the rest of the party. I knew their greeting was perfectly normal for the college crowd and I was hoping they hadn’t attracted too much attention.
Then I looked at the guys again, who am I kidding, they both looked like they fell off the cover of Men’s Health or something, girls would notice them anywhere. They were both so tall, both blonde and maddeningly gorgeous. Theo was properly buff, all muscle and tight t-shirt. He had close cropped blonde curls, beautiful blue eyes and ridiculous dimples. They were in long shorts and t-shirts. They fit in perfectly to the lake party scene as I glanced ruefully down at my own jean clad legs.
“College party at the lake.” I answered Matt. Running a hand through my hair. I tried my best to act nonchalant. My hair had grown really long since I saw them last and it now hung heavy against my neck in the heat, falling in waves down my back. Why I hadn’t pinned it up today was a mystery to me.
“You’re so funny,” Matt deadpanned. “I meant what brings you here?” He was looking at me a little bit more intensely now. Suddenly all colour drained as my brain caught up slowly to what he wasn’t saying and I started looking around frantically. Theo put his hand on my arm to get my attention and to reassure me.
“Calm down, he’s at the other end of the lake, we went for a wander to check out the merchandise.” Theo was willing me to believe him and get me to calm down, I could tell by the intense way he was looking at me.
“Merchandise?” I replied scathingly, knowing full well he meant girls. These two were serious players, they were never with the same girl twice and in a town like Big Sky, that had been an accomplishment.
Theo grinned and winked whilst Matt cleared his throat and looked at me expectantly, still waiting for the answer to his question.
“I go to school here.” I said, shrugging somewhat defensively. Both guys exchanged looks and frowns.
“You can’t,” Theo replied. “School started weeks ago and this is the first time you have been anywhere.”
“I can’t go to school here?” I demanded incredulously, I could feel myself bristling.
“He means we haven’t seen you dumbass, not that you can’t attend school.” Matt clarified.
“I keep to myself,” I muttered, “this is my first social.” Stupid stupid lake party, why hadn’t I said no to Robbie? Stayed safe and deluded in my cosy apartment and just studied. I kicked my foot at the ground in frustration.
“Hey,” a finger went under my chin and I looked up at Matt who was frowning down at me with concern. “Don’t be sad Lil’ Bit. It’s best to get it out now than meet him in the halls or on campus.”
He was right, it would have been horrific to see them on the grounds anywhere with no warning. Why were they here, they were supposed to be a long long long way from here.
“Why aren’t you in California with Colton?” I asked. “I thought you were all going there? You guys were there, what the hell happened?” I flipped my hair out of my eyes. Really why had decided to wear it down today? I was seriously regretting so many things suddenly.
“Colton had to change to be closer to his dad’s business in Denver, don’t ask, we didn’t, he said he had decided to change schools, so we changed too. To be fair, this is a good school, pretty much does what the last one did. It’s no biggie.” Matt shrugged. Theo nodded. He was currently listening to us whilst scanning the park. I knew who he was looking for; I felt something quiver inside at the mention of Colton, those green eyes of his haunted my dreams still.
My head whipped back to Matt, “Wait, you’re all here?”
Matt nodded; he had the decency to look sympathetic. My knees were turning to jelly and I let myself slump against the tree as I slid down to the ground with my head in my hands. This couldn’t be happening. Oh God, this couldn’t be happening. Of course where one would go the others would follow, this was not good. I thought I had been so clever, I thought I had been sheltered.
“Sorry Lil Bit, we didn’t know you would be here. I swear he doesn’t know you are, neither of them do.” Matt crouched down beside me and Theo glanced down too, he nodded his confirmation of what Matt had said. “I thought you had stayed abroad in Scotland with your grandparents, I put feelers out and no one knew where you were, you vanished.” Matt continued.
I looked at Matt and could feel the tears building, Matt was always the gentlest one out of the four of them, he treated me like a little sister. The four of them! Oh God I was going to have a panic attack, I had to get out of here.
“Ok – so you can’t let him know that you’ve seen me, either of them.” I looked sharply at Theo, he would tell Colton if he wasn’t told not to. “I know to look out for them now. I have been here for a while, classes started four weeks past, I’ve not seen them so it’s easy to keep avoiding them. Especially now I know they are here.” I nodded, speaking more to myself than to them. “Plus, there are thousands of people who attend this school, I’m likely to never just walk into them. I’ll stick to my normal routine and avoid socials. I was hoping on doing that anyway.” I looked at them both. “I’m only here for Robbie and he could have come himself. He has friends here.”
Matt was frowning. It wasn’t good when Matt frowned, I found myself frowning back at him. “So, you and this Robbie...” he started.
“He’s a friend.” I quickly cut him off; I showed them my left hand. Theo paled significantly. Matt started to swear.
“You’re engaged!” Matt spluttered. He ran his hand through his hair. “Jesus Ari, are you nuts? Do you know what this will do to them, to him?” He was glaring at me.
“No! I’m not engaged you moron! I wear the ring, guys leave me alone.” I slipped my hand back in my pocket, hiding the unknowingly offending item.
Matt visibly calmed down. “Can’t you just tell them no?” He suggested.
“No doesn’t seem to work on boys with too much testosterone and some ridiculous notion they need to sleep with as many girls as possible in their youth.” I snapped back. I rolled my eyes. “Yes guys I have just described you both.” They smirked as they knew it. “This works...mostly.” I muttered the last part. It was quite scary how many boys the ring didn’t seem to bother, in fact, I worried for their future wives.
Theo had turned his attention back to me and he was frowning as he was quite obviously thinking something over.
“Why can’t we just take you to them and get it over with?” He asked. Which to be fair for most people was perfectly reasonable. I mean it was only my ex. Yeah, only my ex and his brother, oh sheesh kebab, the brother.
“Because it would be horrible and she’s been through enough, we need to think of a plan.” Matt said quietly. Theo looked at him and then looked away in defeat. I looked up at Matt and he smiled softly.
“Ok Lil Bit. You need to get your cute butt out of here. They’re on the other side but they have
quite a gathering, as you can imagine. We’ve been gone too long, someone may come looking. We can’t be seen with you if we want to keep our good looks and not have a mini riot on our hands.” Matt smiled, Theo grunted out a laugh.
I looked over the party, it was going strong and I realised suddenly, I had no idea where Robbie went – which means I had no way to get home. It didn’t matter; I would have to find a way back, even if it meant my own two feet.
“I’ll text Robbie, tell him I wasn’t feeling too good and got a ride home.” I stooped and picked up the tote bag. It was really heavy and the thought of walking back with it was quite disheartening.
“You can get back to campus without him?” Theo asked. I wasn’t overly amused to see that he liked the idea of me not being anywhere near Robbie.
“I don’t live on campus, have a place just off, I’ll be fine Theo.” Theo nodded and bent down to wrap his huge arms around me and gave me a tight hug.
“It’s so good to see you Arielle, I’d say don’t be a stranger, but you know.” He shrugged as he let me go. He slid his aviator sunglasses on, his hand clasped my shoulder and squeezed. “Tell your dad I said hi.” I flinched internally.
“It’s good to see you too Theodore,” I said with a forced smile and then laughed as his face scowled at the use of his full name. Yeah, two can play this game, I grinned at him. He playfully mock punched my shoulder. Matt chuckled beside me, but I knew he was waiting to give instructions.
“Theo, check they’ve not moved and then we can move Bit out.” Matt instructed. Theo texted quickly, Matt stared at me. I knew he had so many things he wanted to ask me. Like a coward, I looked away. Only Matt ever called me “Bit”. Usually I would scold him but it felt so good to be called that now. He was Colton’s best friend, but he had been the nearest thing to my best friend too for a long time. Seeing him again made me so sad. I knew I had been lying to myself about how much I had missed them.
“Yeah, they’re still over on the other side. Some guys strung a rope up and they’re getting ready to rope jump into the lake.” Theo’s eyes were bright; it was obvious he was eager to join in the fun. I didn’t ask who the guy was, less I knew the better.
Indian Summer Page 5