by Noree Cosper
"I'm stuffed actually."
He waved for the check. We drove back to my apartment with nothing but a five string quartet and tension between us. I stepped out of the car and headed for the stairs. He caught my wrist before I could take more than a few steps.
"I'd hoped that would go better," he said.
I gave him a reassuring smile. "It was nice."
He moved closer, threading his fingers with mine. "I was hoping for more than nice."
My breath quickened. "And what would that be?"
"Tempting." His hot breath blew against my cheek. "Arousing."
His lips brushed against mine and pressed in for a deeper kiss. I gripped his shirt, pulling him close. He tasted of oregano and dill with a hint of mint. My blood raced as though it was filled with the bubbles of the sparkling wine I drank. He pulled away, letting his fingers trail from my shoulder and down my arms to linger on my fingertips.
"There's always next time," he said.
I stood by the stairs, swaying on my feet as he drove away. Serenity was right. His words and those lips--oh, those lips--were dangerous. Too bad it was already too late for me.
8
I pushed through the double doors of the lecture hall and bounced down the steps. Bright overhead lights focused on the podium in the center of the room, leaving the red chairs that lined the circular room in tiered rows in a shadow. Serenity was slouched in one the forth row with her feet propped on the back of another and a tablet braced on her knees. I plopped beside her and rested my head on her shoulder.
"Marshall is the worst," I said. "I have a paper due on Monday and a test."
"Mmm." She brushed her finger across her screen and flipped to the next page.
"How long is this retrospective thing going to be?"
She shrugged, not looking up. "Depends on what they want to talk about."
"So I haven't seen much of you this week. What have you been up to?"
"Writing everyone else's code. Then having the whole thing screwed up by James when he decides to rewrite it again."
"Wait, does that mean you're behind?"
"Pretty much." She closed her eyes and rubbed her eyelids with a deep sigh.
"I thought you might be avoiding me after my date with Mercer last week."
"So, it's a date now?"
Damn, that was a Freudian slip if I ever had one. "Interview."
Two rows in front of us, three of Serenity's teammates burst into laughter. One of them glanced at us then turned back to his friends. The doors banged open, and James tromped down the stairs with his hands full of folders. He gave us a quick glare as he passed and continued to the first row.
"You'd think he'd have a laptop or at least a tablet," I said.
Serenity rolled her eyes. "That's too much like right."
Sheridan and Mercer entered through the door near the lecturer's podium. She was smiling up at him with her lips parted in laughter at something he'd said. I sat up straight as my tiredness evaporated.
Mercer looked crisp in his freshly pressed shirt and slacks. A small lock of hair had strayed from the rest and curled at his temple, pointed toward his eye. I shuddered, remembering the spicy scent of cardamom, patchouli, and cocoa that permeated from him.
Serenity stiffened beside me and tapped her fingers against her tablet. Sheridan wheeled a white erase board from the back of the room to the center. She stood next to it, marker in hand, as Mercer stepped up to the podium. I pulled out my recorder and turned it on.
"Afternoon, sensibility team." His smile passed over the six of us in the seats. "Good to see everyone could make it."
My stomach fluttered as his gaze lingered on me.
"So, I had a meeting with the hardware team," he continued. "I'm proud to say we have approved a final design for the prototype. We're about ready to send it to Anima Inc., but we need your group to work with them on a few of the details. How are things coming with integrating the senses?"
James cleared his throat. "We just finished up on visual programming."
Mercer gave a soft whistle. "A little behind. I expected this team to be capable of more. At least to have sound complete."
"We would be further along if more people pulled their weight." Serenity's voice traveled through the room, though she didn't glance up from her tablet.
A thick silence filled the room. James’s shoulders stiffened, and he remained still. His back was turned, but I could imagine the frozen look of panic and anger he always got when he was put on the spot. The three on the second row cast hooded glares in our direction. Mercer raised an eye brow as her gaze traveled from James to Serenity.
"Someone's not doing their job?" Mercer asked.
Serenity shrugged. "A lot of time has been spent having to rewrite what was supposed to already be done because it was sloppy."
"I assure you," James said, "we're all working together to complete this."
"Some more than others," Serenity said.
James shot her a rank glare. "Some people should stop trying to be stars."
"Because you only think there's enough room on this team for one star?" Serenity crossed her arms. "Is that why you rewrote everything I had on sound? That's why we're behind, isn't it?"
I gave a soft whistle and touched Serenity's arm. She jumped slightly and glanced at me before her body relaxed. Sheridan stood in front of the board with her eyes wide and mouth slightly open. She had forgotten her duty of writing key points. Mercer studied James and Serenity with an increasingly stony look.
"James, it's your responsibility to make sure the group is functioning properly. As for the rest, I'll speak with the two of you privately after." Mercer's voice had taken a hard commanding tone. "For now, I want everyone to focus on finishing up with sound. Also, I want you to schedule sessions with the hardware team and the consultants they are working with. We need to start getting ideas for smell, taste, and touch."
"How is that even possible?" one of the guys in front of us whispered to his friend.
"If you feel that way, then there's always the next candidate on the list." Mercer's gaze froze him in place. "If you aren't confident in this, I don't need you here."
The boy slumped in his chair along with his friend. I smirked. Serenity trembled beside me with her hands gripping the armrests. His skin had taken a reddish tone, and her jaw was locked. I shifted in my seat and glanced at my recorder. It was still going. Who knew a tech meeting could be as interesting as a soap opera?
Mercer cast his gaze over the room. "Are there any questions?"
The room remained silent, and no one moved. This was a side of Mercer I hadn't seen or even predicted. To accomplish anything in the short amount of time he did, there had to be an unyielding part of him. How much of it was his true self? Was the charismatic face just a mask?
"All right then." His smile reappeared. "Let's have a productive two weeks."
He waved to James and Serenity while everyone else filed out. With a sigh, Serenity stood and pushed past me. I put my recorder away and scooted out into the aisle behind her.
"I'll wait outside for you," I said. "You still want a ride, right?"
"Yeah," she said.
Outside the building, I leaned against the wall and flipped through Instafriend as I waited. Ten minutes later, James came out, managing to slam the glass door behind him. I raised an eyebrow, but he sneered at me and stalked off. With a shrug, I went back to my phone. He wasn't my problem anymore.
Ten more minutes passed, and there was no sign of Serenity. She wouldn't have stayed with Mercer by herself, unless the two of them were having it out. I stepped back inside and crept to the doors of the lecture hall. One little peek wouldn't hurt. Mercer leaned against the podium with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted down. Serenity stood in front of him, her fists clenched at her sides.
"You're only making things worse." Serenity's voice traveled up the stairs. "As usual, you're only thinking of you."
"That's not
true," Mercer said. "This is your chance to shine. After this, nothing will be out of your grasp."
"I don't need your help. I can get there on my own."
"But I want to. Isn't that what family is for?"
"You never cared about family," Serenity yelled. "Where were you when Mom had to go to the institution?"
Mercer opened his mouth to say something and glanced up in my direction. He gave me a strained smile.
"Pardon me," he said. "I thought everyone else had left."
I cleared my throat. "I'm giving Serenity a ride home. Sorry to intrude. I'll just wait in the car."
"Don't worry." Serenity spun around. "I'm done here anyway."
"Serenity." Mercer reached out.
"Save your lies for someone who will believe them," she said. "Like Cassi here."
She marched up the stairs and past me out the door without a backward glance. I swallowed the lump in my throat and gazed down at Mercer. He turned away with his shoulders slumped and stared off at the wall. The silence built up between us.
"I'll try to talk to her," I said, just to put anything out there.
He glanced up at me and blinked as if he hadn't realized I was still there. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.
"I doubt it will help," he said. “She's stubborn. It runs in the family."
"It's worth a try. Otherwise she's just going to mope."
Serenity was waiting at my car when I arrived. She stood with her arms crossed and one foot tapping in a quick, uneven pattern. I unlocked the doors and climbed in. The vehicle shook as she slammed her door. I let the radio play for several minutes as I pulled out onto the street. I gave her a sideways glance and bit the inside of my cheek.
"Want to tell me what that was about?" I finally asked.
"Stay out of it. You have no idea what's going on."
"You could tell me. Isn't that what friends are for? To bitch about our shitty families?"
"This isn't a simple case of sibling rivalry" She hunched her shoulders and stared out the window. "You wouldn't believe it even if I wanted to."
"Try me."
She just shook her head.
"Then I'm going to tell you what I see," I said. "It looks like he's trying to make up for being a bad brother. He came here for you."
"You're just taking his side because you want to fuck him."
I hit the brakes hard as a light turned from yellow to red. "Seriously, you think that's what going on?"
"You know how I feel. And you're still chasing him like all the other girls."
"Have you seen me chase after him all week? I did the interview and that was all that happened." I gripped the steering wheel and pressed down on the gas pedal.
She grabbed the armrest as the car zoomed forward. "You mean the date. You called it right earlier."
"Whatever, that has nothing to do with what's going on between the two of you."
"Yeah, it does. You're taking his side over mine."
"You're not telling me your side."
"So? You should have my back regardless."
I swung into the parking lot of our apartment, pulled into my space, and shut off the car, turning to her slowly. "Being a friend is also telling someone when they're wrong. I think you are wrong here."
She pushed the car door open. "This argument is pointless. You're under his spell already."
I threw my hands in the air. "That makes no sense. You're supposed to be the logical one here."
She gave me a parting glare before she slammed the car door, marched across the parking lot, and up the stairs. The bang of our apartment door echoed through the complex. I leaned my forehead against the sun heated steering wheel.
What had just happened?
9
I tapped my pencil against my test as I slouched in my chair. Professor Marshall sat at her desk and watched us with narrowed eyes over the rim of a thick book. One of the fluorescent lights flickered behind its ceiling panel. The other students had their heads bent over their own papers with intense looks of concentration. If only I could be like them. However, my mind kept wandering from the questions on the exam and back to Serenity.
She hadn't spoken to me all weekend and had barely come out of her room, just to grab some food and head back in. Every time I tried to speak, she gave me a death glare and walked away. After Saturday passed, I had to get out. I spent all of Sunday holed up at the coffee shop. This couldn't go on, for her sanity or mine.
The bells of Marshall's phone broke the silence of the room. With an exasperated glower she grabbed it from her bag and stepped out into the hall. I moved my pencil over the scantron, randomly filling in the bubbles. At least I looked productive. The door squeaked shut announcing Marshall's return.
"Cassi," she called.
I jumped and met her gaze. Shit. Did she have some sort of telepathy and could sense my disinterest? I tried to give her a bright smile.
"Yes?"
She frowned at me. "You're wanted in the dean's office."
"Now? What about the test?"
She gave a long sigh. "You'll have to schedule a make-up."
Well, that somehow worked out. I gathered my things and handed her the exam packet, though I had no idea why the dean would want to see me. My mind traveled to what I'd done over the last month since school began, and a chill crawled up my spine.
Had Mercer decided to choose another reporter because of what happened with Serenity? With my backpack slung over one shoulder, I walked out of the building and across the quad toward the administration building. I slowed as I approached the lone person moping on the bench. He sat leaned forward with his head bent with his arms resting on his knees. He muttered something, ran his hands through his hair, and lifted his gaze to mine. I froze. I'd never seen James this disheveled before. Deep shadows hung under his sunken eyes, and his shirt looked as though he'd squeezed it in a tiny ball before throwing it on. His jaw tightened, and he looked away from me with another mumble.
"James?" I took a tentative step toward him.
He glowered at me. "What? Come to gloat?"
"No, I was headed somewhere else," I said. "You look like crap. Maybe you should go home at get some rest."
He laughed bitterly. "Like I have time to sleep. I have cats to herd."
I glanced at a girl passing by us. "I don't see any cats."
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "You know what I mean. Not that it matters. I'll never be as good as her. So, I'm stuck with all the stress and no glory."
"This is about Serenity," I said. "Look, you guys are a team. Everyone gets to bask if you do this."
He sighed and laughed again. "Until they realize who the true star is. Face it, I'm doomed to mediocrity. A life of middle management."
I sat beside him. "We all have our specialties. Maybe yours is more managing people."
His head snapped up, and he glared at me. "What do you know about anything? You're just a parasite hanging on the outskirts."
It was as if I'd been splashed with cold water. "Fine, then."
With a shrug I continued on my way. Why had I even tried? James was an insufferable jackass and not my problem. The administration offices, a squat one story building made of red brick, stood at the side of the campus, closest to the main street, I climbed the steps to the second floor and stopped at the secretary's desk in front of the dean's office.
"Cassi Wayne. The dean just called for me?" I shifted from one foot to another.
She waved me over to the dean's door. "Go on in. They're waiting for you."
They? That didn't sound good. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door before entering. The rich smell of leather and cedar filled my nose as I entered. Dean Elkridge sat at his oak desk with his hands clasped together. Aunt Jo looked over her shoulder at me. My heart plummeted. Not good.
"Miss Wayne, please have a seat," Dean Elkridge said.
I sat on the edge of the leather armchair and circled my thumbs around each othe
r in my lap as I glanced between the two of them. Elkridge's smooth face was marred by the lines around his lip caused by his frown. He had his nose slightly scrunched as if he smelled something unpleasant. My aunt gave me a quick scowl before turning back to the dean.
"There any paperwork we need to sign?" she asked.
"What's this about?" I frowned at the two of them.
Elkridge cleared his throat. "Your family has decided to pull you from the rest of semester. Since they are funding your college stay, I don't have much of a choice."
"What?" I gaped at Aunt Joanna. "You can't do that. You said I could finish this year."
She raised an eyebrow at me. "That was until you blew me off. We're going home."
I turned back to the dean and crossed my arms. "She still can't do this. The semester has been paid for, and I'm an adult."
He cleared his throat and stared down at the papers in front of him. "There is the implication of your involvement in incidents of academic dishonesty. I have several statements of you selling test answers to students."
I blinked at him, caught between the urge to laugh or choke. "That is completely ridiculous. I've never been remotely involved any anything like that, and you know it."
His eyes shifted to my aunt. "I only have your word against the evidence I have before me. I'm trying to make this easy for you, but if you continue to push, I will have to expel you."
I glared at her before I turned back to the dean. "Is it alright if I talk to my aunt alone for a moment?"
He stood and gave us a strained smile. "I'll let the two of you discuss this."
As soon as the door closed, I rounded on my aunt. "What the hell?"
She snorted. "Did ya think we'd let ya go to any ole college? We made sure ya picked one we had fingers in."
"This is you getting back at me for skipping out on training. I told you I've been busy."
"Yeah, and that's why we're goin' home. Ya need to get proper trainin' and get away from all these distractions."
"These distractions are my life now, and I'm happy with them."
"Ya need to stop ignorin' yer real callin'"
"Haven't you realized it yet? I don't want that calling."