She used almost the entire time while we ate talking about all the new people she met in the last week. It seems like she already knew the names of half the school and their backstories. Sprinkled in between lines of her story were smiles and waves to the people she recognized walking past us. I wish we would have had one class together – with Em around I wouldn’t have to worry about any awkward introductions. When it was my turn to talk, I told her about the poor girl in Bio that had the seizure.
Just like in high school, Em knew every piece of news before I did and could usually add more detail. “Yeah, I heard it was really bad. Her folks came and cleaned out her room and everything, so it sounds like she won’t be back. I heard there was some really hot guy right next to her that kinda freaked out when it happened. Madison, this girl two rooms down from me, told me all about it – she seriously has the hots for that guy.” Great. So, everyone has the hots for him, I thought jealously…but I’m the only one that he made drawings of. That’s gotta count for something, right?
“Um, sure – he’s handsome I guess” I said hoping that she wouldn’t see through me and figure out just how handsome I though he was.
“Oh! So, you know who I’m talking about? If you see him tonight you have to point him out. I listened to Madison describe him for like an hour. I’ve got to see this guy.”
“Okay.”
And like that she was off – going through a detailed list of every other guy she was hoping to see at the party tonight. There were enough guys and enough details that I barely had to talk at all for the next hour. I started wondering to myself if the term ‘boy crazy’ might be based on an actual psychological condition. Then she asked a question I was hoping she wouldn’t.
“Is there anyone you’re hoping to see at the party?”’
“Um…No” I said, but the pause before I said no was too long. I can see her face change as she figures out I was lying. Her eyes light up and she lifts her hands into the air next to her head and starts frantically shaking them.
“I knew it! Who is he? Where did you meet!?” Oh, no. She isn’t going to let this drop. Ugh.
“It’s no one. You know I’m not into guys. The dating thing just doesn’t work out with me.” I say hoping to get her to leave it alone. If I did talk about Dorian, what would I say anyways? I don’t know anything about him – not really. I know that he’s gorgeous and a stalker. He also isn’t very nice to girls that like him, and he runs from people having seizures. I can’t talk about this – it’s just too embarrassing.
“Lucky, just because it didn’t work out with those other two bozos doesn’t mean anything. I think there is someone you’re hoping to see. You look hot tonight – if this mystery guy is there, he’ll probably be tripping over his feet to get to you. I can’t wait!”
“Em, not everyone is boy crazy like you!” I said as my last-ditch effort to get her to drop the subject.
“We’ll see” she said with a smirk. If only she knew that for the first time, she was right.
Chapter 3
Em was right about boys paying attention at the party. Some came up to us with cheesy pickup lines. Others just stared at us like they were hungry. The difference between me and Em was that she was loving all the attention. I on the other hand was trying to avoid it without success. All the guys at the party were acting like moths, and Emily was their fire.
College guys were definitely a lot more aggressive and no matter how far back in the corner I tried to wedge myself it seemed like there was no escape. I’ve never had attention like this before and it is not what I had imagined. I was suddenly wishing I had on jeans and maybe one of my oversized sweaters to cuddle into.
I inwardly groan as I see a guy walking up to me with an extra drink and a smile. I’m relieved when I hear my cell phone buzz with a text and I take the opportunity to turn away and check my phone in hopes that Mr. Drink-in-each-hand will find a new target.
‘How’s the party?’ – it’s from Wyatt.
I quickly type back ‘Great’. It’s hard to be sarcastic through text, but I’m sure Wyatt will understand.
Just a few seconds later my phone is ringing with Wyatt’s call and I weave through the party to get to the back door of the frat house.
I answer Wyatt’s call. “Hey.”
“What’s wrong, Lucky.” His tone is sympathetic, but obviously not surprised.
“Parties just aren’t my thing.” I said sadly.
“Parties have never been your thing, Luck. At least you let Em have fun.”
“Huh?”
“I saw her posts with pics of you two. I know you didn’t pick out that outfit or put that makeup on.” He sounds amused.
I want to protest his assessment of my skills, but the problem is that he’s right. “Yeah, that’s true.” I am walking down the sidewalk while talking, with a string of frat and sorority houses on one side, and the campus houses for professors on the other. The locals always joke about how this was the school’s solution for trouble. What better way to keep the parties from getting out of hand than to make their neighbors a bunch of stuffy professors.
There are a couple of street lights burned out, so it was very dark just a short way down the street. If I hadn’t been trying to avoid going back to the party, I probably wouldn’t have let my eyes focus long enough on the dim glow across from me to make any sense of it, but as my eyes adjust to the change in lighting, I can see that someone is sitting in the bushes on the side of a professor’s house. The face is dimly illuminated by the reflection of a book light – it’s Dorian!
Whispering, I say. “I gotta go. Talk to you later.” And then I disconnect the call even though I can hear Wyatt faintly trying to talk to me as my hand reaches for the screen. I shove the phone into the small white purse Em lent me and quickly turn to keep walking. Once I’m past the point where Dorian could see me, I cross to his side of the street and walk back. I feel like I’m in some kind of spy thriller. This time as I walk past, I’ll be closer and maybe I’ll be able to see what he’s doing. I stop on the sidewalk as he comes into view. With how close the houses are to the street, he’s maybe only 20 feet away. He really is just sitting there reading. His back is up against the house and his legs are stretched out leisurely in front of him.
I am full out starring at him and caught by the beauty of his face when my phone starts to ring noisily at my side. I can see the shock on his face in the soft glow of the book light, and then suddenly I’m blinded by the beam of a flashlight. It’s there burning bright into my eyes for just a second before Dorian shifts it slightly down.
Even though the blinding light is gone, I still stand frozen and my phone just keeps ringing and buzzing marking the time that it’s taking me to come up with something to say.
Dorian speaks first. “Lucky, are you going to answer that?”
“Um… I ahh…Hi.” Great response Lucky, I mentally chastise myself. I start fumbling around to find the button that would turn off my phone and it’s taking longer than it should.
Looking back up at him, I can see a small grin pulling up the corner of his mouth. “Hi.” His response has an almost teasing tone and he’s looking at me like I’m the odd one, but I’m not sitting in the bushes.
“So…You couldn’t find a better spot to read?” I ask.
“There usually aren’t a lot of people walking around at this time of night.” How he said it makes me think that he doesn’t really want me to know why he’s there and it doesn’t escape my attention that he didn’t answer my question. But why would anyone choose to read in the shrubbery on a cold night?
“You wanted to be alone?” I ask because it’s what he seems to be implying, but I can think of a lot of places where you could be alone and read without having to sit on damp cold earth.
“No, I’m not alone.” At those words, I start to look around. Even though it’s dark, now that my eyes are better adjusted, I would have seen if someone else were there. The only sign of life besides us is t
he light of a single lamp straining to make it through the shade covering the window above where Dorian is now standing up. His grace while standing reminds me of a lion– strong and fluid. His body is athletic in a way that none of the guys at my school ever were. Seeing the beauty of his movement has me tongue tied all over again.
Dorian ducks to the side quickly and turns off his flashlight as a different bright light spreads across the ground. Someone must have heard us and is now pushing the curtain aside and peering out. I’m so preoccupied watching Dorian, I duck back into the shadows just a second too late. To my surprise, I can just make out the face of Professor Kondy peering through the glass of the window, but thankfully it doesn’t look like he’s focused on me.
Whispering now, Dorian says “Time to go now, Lucky.” Then he quickly starts walking away from the street and toward Professor Kondy’s back yard. Am I supposed to go with him? He didn’t really invite me, but he didn’t tell me to go away either. He also didn’t really explain himself yet, so I decide to follow whether or not he intends me to, dashing through the faint light.
I run to catch up, but it’s so dark I can’t tell exactly where he’s gone. I don’t look around for long because a porch light flashes on from Professor Kondy’s house. I run behind his neighbor’s garage to get out of his line of sight. I wait there holding my breath afraid to make a noise while I keep an eye out for any sign of Dorian. I guess he would have waited up for me if he wanted to continue our conversation. That thought depresses me.
From my dark hiding spot, I can hear the professors pinched voice. “I know you’re out there and if I find out who you are, I’m looking forward to pressing charges. I do not tolerate trespassing!”
A town this size doesn’t have many police officers and I’ve known them all since I was a kid – I’m not afraid of them catching me for trespassing. I am afraid of what professor Kondy would do to my grade if he found out that I walked across his lawn (which apparently is some major offense in his book). I can’t risk staying to look for Dorian, so I edge my way farther around the neighbor’s house and back toward the sidewalk.
I go back to the party to check on Em, and I don’t think she even noticed that I left. I find her in the center of a large group of people talking and laughing. She is absolutely in her element. As I walk up to her, she’s introducing several people to each other and as I get closer, she sees me, and her smile grows wider. After she’s done introducing me to everyone, she pulls me into a corner. “Have you seen your mystery guy?” she said conspiratorially.
I try to think of a way to answer that wouldn’t be a lie, but my cheeks answer before I can as they start to blush.
“Oh my god, he’s here! – Point him out!” She is way too excited about this and I’m afraid that she won’t let it go. The only think I can think of is to get her talking about one of her potential beaus.
“He’s not here, but what about that Ryan guy you were talking about?” I hope this works - that was the only name I can remember from the long list of guys she was hoping to run into tonight.
“Shhh. He’s right over there.” She tilts her head back and rolls her eyes to the left indicating where he is. “Don’t let him hear you!” She whispers. This is my chance. If I could get her talking to him, I’d be off the hook for the rest of the night.
“C’mon, let’s go over there.” I whisper while tugging on her arm. “He’s looking at us now, it’s too late.” She gives in and turns around flashing a bright smile in his direction.
As we walk over to him, she chastises me talking out of the corner of her mouth. “I can’t believe you’re making me to this!”
If I didn’t know better, I might actually believe this isn’t exactly what she wants.
My plan is working perfectly. Em and Ryan are ignoring the rest of the world (including me) just like I had hoped. I envy Em’s outgoing nature and I’m grateful that boys can so easily distract her. This looks like my chance to make a break for it. I say a quick goodbye to Em and remind her that she needs to txt me when she’s safe back in her dorm room. “I don’t want to be worried about you all night, so don’t forget!”
“Sure, Lucky. I’m so glad we did this together.” She reaches over and gives me a hug.
“Me too, Em. Thank you soo much. I had a great time with you today. Oh, and thanks for the makeover too!”
It’s still early, but I’m glad to be going home. The surprising thing is I’m glad that I went to the party too – at least I can cross that off the list of things I should do in my life. Being honest with myself, the real reason that I’m glad I went to that party is because I got to see Dorian. I’m already daydreaming about Dorian again as I walk down the steps toward my car and then suddenly there are hands clenched around my shoulders and a face inches from mine.
“Wyatt, what are you doing here?” I’m completely surprised to see him. He looks like he’s been panicked.
“Are you okay? You hung up on me and you sounded so odd. I drove around until I found your car and then I started walking toward the loudest music. I was worried that something happened to you.” As I start to smile at his over-reaction, I can see relief wash over his face.
“I’m fine” I lie. I can’t stop thinking about Dorian and that just isn’t like me. Every time I try to get answers about him, I only have more questions. Maybe I should just confront him about his sketches, and why he was watching me at my house, and what he was doing in Professor Kondy’s bushes, and what happened with the girl in Bio class, and where he lived if it wasn’t in the dorms. The list is too long.
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t been answering your phone, and you’ve been acting really weird ever since I got back” Wyatt said with an uncharacteristic scowl on his face. I could see that he really was worried.
His words remind me, and I reach into my purse to turn my phone back on. As the screen comes back to life and I switch the volume back on, I can see that I’ve missed half a dozen texts and just as many phone calls from Wyatt. I feel awful. I look back up into his eyes which are still higher than mine even though he’s standing a full step below me, with exaggerated sadness. With a finger pointing at the notifications on the screen, Wyatt makes his point again. “See, I was worried.”
“I’m sorry. College is just turning out to be different than I thought it would.”
Wyatt steps next to me and with his arm around my shoulder gives me a gentle squeeze. “Hey, you’re smart Lucky. If anyone can figure out how to ace all their classes, it’s you.”
Wyatt obviously must have thought I was talking about classes being difficult or something along those lines. That’s okay with me though, because I wouldn’t want him to guess that the cause of my distractions is a guy – I’m still feeling guilty about admitting that one to myself.
When I look over, his usual warm smile is back. I can’t blame him for thinking my only worry would be my grades. Wyatt’s known me so long, and up until this week he would have been right. Passing Kondy’s class would have been my biggest concern right now if Dorian Smith had chosen a different school. It’s amazing that one person can make such a huge change for another in such a short amount of time.
If Dorian hadn’t come into my life I would probably be exactly where I was right now, and Wyatt would probably be with me, but I could see it all unfolding very differently. I would still be leaving the party early, but instead of Wyatt showing up worried about me, he would have been here because I would have asked him to come if our phone conversation had played out to the end. Instead of hanging up on him, I would have told him all about my day with Emily. I would have tried to remember all the cheesy pick-up lines I heard at the party and we would have laughed about them on the phone until he arrived. In that world, I wouldn’t feel so guilty right now. I also wouldn’t have experienced a rush like I do each time I see Dorian, so I know which version of events I would choose.
“How about you let me buy you some Roadhouse pizza for trying to be my rescue
r?” I say, trying to come back into the moment.
“Well…as long as I’m in town.” I could tell from his tone that I was forgiven.
Roadhouse was the one and only pizza joint in Ripon, but it didn’t matter because it was so good that you wouldn’t want to go anywhere else even if there was a selection. Like most of the businesses in town it had been there forever, and most people’s parents remember hanging out there as teenagers. It was in an old brick building on Main Street. Its only window was the one that faced the sidewalk and there was only enough room inside for about 20 people. Even in a town this small, that wasn’t enough room to accommodate all the business it got, so most people just placed their order to go and would eat on one of the benches next door in the town square.
The college and Roadhouse pizza were on opposite ends of main-street, which in Ripon wasn’t a very long distance, so we walked there.
When our order was ready, I walked up to the counter with my debit card ready to pay, but Wyatt beat me to it. He’d been doing that a lot lately whenever we went out to eat.
I protested. “Hey, I’m trying to make it up to you that I got you all worried – I’m supposed to be paying”
“Maybe I didn’t have a good reason to be all worried, or I just wanted to see you in Em’s fancy dress. You in a dress is something that might only come around once in a lifetime” He smiled and winked at me. He sure loved pressing my buttons. Sure, I didn’t get dressed up much, but it wasn’t that rare of an event. Without a good response, I settled for hitting him on the arm.
Being with Wyatt, I didn’t feel the pressure to come up with a good comeback. It wasn’t like hanging out with anyone else. I always had fun with other people, but there was always an edge too. With other people there was pressure to give appropriate responses and stick to social norms.
With Wyatt there was no pressure to fill silence and it never felt like I had to put on any kind of a show. He knew me so well and he had always accepted me.
Lucky: Dorian Gray Novels Book 1 Page 3