CRASH (A Logan Brothers Novel)

by L. A. Shorter

  It was kinda weird that she was even around. She was out most nights, I didn't know where. We weren't the closest of room-mates, even though we got along fine, so I never tended to ask. With all my college work and working so many shifts at the restaurant we hadn't really bonded much. I guess I also had this lingering bitterness that I had a room-mate in the first place.

  “You all right Jen? You seem a bit - I dunno - upset.”

  She nodded vacantly as she began to undress, pealing off layers of warm outerwear to reveal a silky and tight-fitting dress. Wow, she looked amazing, the fabric hugging her feminine curves, accentuating her breasts and bum. She unzipped the dress and stepped out of it, revealing some sexy, lacy underwear.

  Ah I see, she's been on a date....and it didn't go well.

  I unglued my eyes from her and turned my attention back to my books. I heard her slip into bed behind me and her lamp shut off, leaving her side of the room blanketed in darkness.

  Right, let's get to work.

  Chapter 3

  It was Saturday morning when I woke with my head, literally, in a book. I'd never worked to hard or long in my life, and had eventually collapsed, I guess, with my forehead planted firmly into one of those $100 textbooks I was forced to buy.

  The bright morning was dowsing a sharp light into the room as I lifted my head, neck aching furiously, and swivelled in my chair to see that Jen had gone.

  A fairly prominent frown grew on my face as my vision cleared on the room. She wasn't just gone, she was gone. As in, all her stuff from gone too. What the hell?

  I walked to her side of the room, as if to double check that her things were actually missing. There was suddenly no color in the room, her throws and rugs and bright bedding now gone. I checked her wardrobe: there were no clothes there, nothing.

  Then I noticed something, a piece of paper perched on my bedside table. I darted over to it, hoping to quell my confusion with a reasonable explanation.

  Hey Alice,

  I know we never really got to know each that well but I still thought I'd better tell you what's going on. I've been kicked out of school, and I'm not coming back. I guess they're going to find you a new room-mate now. Good luck with all your studies and for everything in the future.

  Love,

  Jenny

  I ran my eyes over the note once more. Um, an actual explanation would have been nice Jen. She didn't even say why she'd been chucked out.

  I wasn't really a self involved person but this was just what I needed. With everything that was going on I'd have to bunk up with a new room-mate now. I mean, sure, Jen wasn't my bessie mate or anything, but at least she was comfortable, and barely around. It was almost like I was living on my own most of the time.

  I shot off out into the hall and up a couple of floors to Tess's room. I realized as I banged on the door that I hadn't even checked the time.

  “Jesus Alice, what is it? It's 7 am on a Saturday!” she said, opening her pristine room to me. She was a real girly girl, with pink and various shades of red and purple being her preferred colors. It was so much more welcoming than my dive down below, large cushions dotted around her bed and various posters and pictures littering the walls. She was lucky enough to have parents who could, and would, pay for just about anything she wanted, so didn't have to suffer a room-mate like I did.

  I walked in and sat down, my tiredness now banished as my head tried to compute what exactly was going on with Jenny.

  “So, get this,” I said with more energy than you could reasonably expect a college student to have at that time on a weekend morning, “Jen's moved out. Literally, she's just gone like a puff of smoke. I wake up, right, and she's not there. She must have moved all her stuff at the crack of dawn or something.”

  I think I was speaking too quickly for Tess to keep up. That's what the look on her face told me: I could tell she had no idea what I was on about.

  She could only manage a “huh?” and a bewildered expression before I slowed down and tried again.

  “Ok, so I got in yesterday night after being in the library and Jen was there. She literally went straight to bed at about 7 pm and I carried on working. I woke up just now, about ten minutes ago, and she was gone. All her stuff, everything. Oh, and she left a note.”

  I handed the note to Tess, who sent her sleep deprived eyes over the words, her confused expression not abating as she read.

  “Sooo, she's gone? But she doesn't say why?”

  “No,” I shook my head, “weird huh? Guess I'm gonna a new room-mate now though.” My voice deflated slightly at the thought.

  “Not necessarily,” said Tess, “there might be no one to fill it. It's the middle of the year Alice, you might get lucky.”

  I smile threatened to spread across my face. “Really?”

  “Yeah, you might just get your wish of living alone after all.”

  After a few more minutes of natter Tess shooed me away and I returned to me room. It was so weird walking in there without Jen's side all pimped out, the place looking like an empty shell: more like a prison cell than a college dorm room.

  For the rest of the morning and into the afternoon I continued to beaver away, my mind working overtime to get the paper done. I had always been a 'last-minute' sort of girl, often leaving my work until the day before it was due, so the fact that I was pushing for the finish line more than a day in advance was pretty shocking to me.

  It was mid-afternoon when I heard a knock at the door. I ignored it, not expecting anyone or wanting a visitor right now, and turned back to my books.

  The door knocked again.

  “Look Tess, if that's you asking me to go to Tom's party again tonight then you can leave it, OK!”

  There was a silence on the other end, then a man's voice, deep and smooth.

  “I'm looking for Jenny. This is her dorm isn't it?”

  I wanted to tell the man that she wasn't in, but my curiosity got the better of me. Jenny had never had a gentleman caller to my knowledge. Maybe this guy knew something about her leaving?

  I stepped towards the door. “It was,” I said, “but she's gone now.”

  I peered through the peephole and saw him, his strong chin dimpled and dusted in stubble, his cheekbones perfect, his eyes a piercing blue. Even through the blurry glass I could tell he was gorgeous.

  His voice went suddenly stern. “What do you mean, gone?”

  I could see his jaw clenching on the other side of the door, the dimples in his cheeks growing deeper.

  “That's all I know. She left suddenly this morning.”

  He brushed his hand vigorously through his long dark hair. He seemed agitated, his eyes narrowing. He wore a dark jacket with a high collar - or was it a hood - that shrouded the top and sides of his head, creating a shadow over his face that made his complexion hard to see.

  “Who are you anyway,” I asked.

  He turned suddenly and seemed to look right at me, causing my heart to jump into my throat. I stepped back from the peephole, my breath caught in my lungs. Surely he couldn't see me? Not from a foot away from the door?

  “I'm just a friend, I need to talk to her. Are you sure she's not in there?” He spoke slower now, his words distrusting.

  I stayed back from the door, the nerves building inside me. “No, I'm not lying to you. She's gone.”

  “What's your name?” he said suddenly as soon as I'd answered. He had an authority to him, one that forced me to answer.

  “Alice.”

  “Well Alice, my name's Kyle. If you see Jen, please tell her I dropped by.”

  Clearly he didn't trust that she'd left. I stepped back towards the door and before I could try to convince him further, he was gone, walking swiftly away back down the corridor.

  My pulse began to slow as I sat back down at my desk. Who the hell was this guy? If that's Jen's boyfriend, then my God she's done well for herself. Those eyes, that jawline, those puffy lips.

  I tried to steady my mind as I returned my
gaze to my books, but my heartbeat kept up, pumping away inside my chest. I couldn't focus, I needed a break, needed a distraction, and I knew just where I'd get it from.

  Tess is gonna love me for this.

  Chapter 4

  An hour later I was sat back in Tess's room once again, vodka mixer in my hand, music blaring from her iPod speakers.

  “Girl, it's good to have you back!” she was shouting as she bounded from side to side in a skimpy skirt and top.

  “Yeah well don't go getting too excited. I'm only gonna stop by for a little while. A few drinks is my limit hun - need to polish my paper tomorrow.”

  “Ah me too, now let's live a little, huh! We're young, let's act like it!”

  I knew she'd gotten her paper done days, possibly even weeks ago. She was like that - diligent at work, hard at play. Plus, she didn't have to work outside of college like I did, so could easily dedicate more time to her work if she needed to. She had it easy - not that I ever told her that.

  I needed the distraction though. I'd been working straight all day and was way ahead of schedule, so it was nice to be able to relax for once on a Saturday night without having to traipse into town and wait on people all night.

  It was the first time Tess and I had been out in a long time - too long - so I could see why she was so excited, grabbing her hair brush and lip syncing to Miley Cyrus. Not my choice of music, but fun enough. She jumped on the bed and started twisting her body and flicking her hair, doing her best impression of a rock star. I thought it was jarring - her pretending to be a rock star while singing along to a Miley Cyrus song! Not a combo that went together in my head.

  It wasn't long before we were cruising on down to another dorm block a few minutes walk from ours. The ground was slippery beneath our feet, and my knees were shaking beneath my large coat, the only protection I had against the biting wind.

  Tom had money, a lot of money, and despite his incredibly yawn-worthy jockness, he was actually pretty generous when it came to hosting parties, putting out plenty of alcohol and sinking hundreds of dollars into themed decorations. This time, it was 'fight-fest', I guess owing to his love of 'slasher' movies like Scream.

  What Tess hadn't told me was that, not only was the party themed, but it was fancy dress. Not that it would have made a difference if I'd known anyway - it wasn't like I had the time to go out and get an outfit.

  As we walked into the building it became clear that we'd be two of only a few who hadn't made the effort to dress up. There were vampires everywhere, ghouls and ghosts jumping out from behind pillars at unsuspecting girls, a group of werewolves howling as they downed their cups of punch. People had really made an effort.

  A guy dressed as Freddy Krueger came creeping towards us, tilting his head and shaking his long, knife-like, fingers in our direction. “Freddy's coming for you,” he growled as he approached - I guess it was a saying from one of his films.

  Tess squeezed my arm as if she was actually frightened, but it was pretty hard to be intimidated when there was another Freddy Krueger just off to his left doing the robot dance.

  “Great party Tom,” I said, recognizing his voice under the mask.

  He pulled off the grotesque visage and his handsome face appeared, a look of disappointment on it. “Ahhh, how'd you know if was me?” he moaned.

  He had short blond hair that sprung into curls and hung slightly down his forehead. His face was tanned - it always seemed to be that way - and his eyes were a shallow blue. I'd have thought he was good looking if he wasn't such a monumental dick most of the time - a stereotype who liked to play up to his image of the rich kid/star football player/womanizer. It was so immature.

  Tess, though, she did like him. I guess they were from the same walk of life - the mansions in the hills to my hut down on the plains. Not literally, of course - I didn't live in a hut - but the analogy is pretty apt. Suffice to say, they both had money, I didn't.

  “Hey Tom,” she said shyly, “I love the theme!” She was always a bit like this around Tom, her usual bounciness and confidence slightly deflated by his presence. I didn't get it personally, but I could see why half the campus had fallen for him. Tess was just one of that number.

  He smiled at her and I felt her quiver next to me. “Thanks, what can I say, I...”

  TOM...YO FREDDY!

  A loud chorus came from behind and he quickly turned away, flung up his hands, and roared as he launched himself into a group of guys all standing with red paper cups in each hand. One guy had taken put his own spin on the Edward Scissorhands outfit by strapping two cider bottles to his hands instead. Edward Ciderhands - that's what they called it.

  Tess looked on slightly forlornly as he started jumping around in a huddle of monsters and nightmarish creatures. Underneath I guessed they were some of the football team, owing to their size. I patted her on the arm. “Let's get a drink, huh?”

  It was bizarre in there - I'd never been to a party quite like it. The effort everyone put in, and the amount of money they must have spent buying or putting together their costumes, was actually pretty impressive. I saw a pretty intimidating version of Death, a couple of Jason's, and a host of cackling witches who really seemed to be staying in character. Probably drama majors.

  I lost count of the number of zombies I saw - some pretty lacklustre, others looking like they'd just walked off the set of Dawn of the Dead. There were a couple who looked like they must have spent about 3 hours in the make-up chair just for this one night. The amount of time people had on their hands. Jealous much.

  I don't know if it was just me but I was finding it hard being social in there. I had literally no idea who most of the people were - not because I didn't know them or hadn't met them, but because they were so hidden in make-up and masks that I just didn't know who I was talking to most of the time.

  They'd come up to me with their masks and make-up and start chatting away as if we knew each other. We probably did, but I didn't know it. It was as if they assumed I could see through their outfit, or just tell by their voice who they were. But no, with the amount of noise in there everyone was shouting, making their normal talking voices impossible to determine. It was fun enough though, guessing who they were by what they said or how they spoke. Only with a few did it occur to them to actually take of their masks or reveal their true identity.

  Tess, as always, was flirting away with the football guys, trying to make Tom jealous. I just didn't get the infatuation, but it seemed to be one shared by a lot of the girls. I could see them all looking over at him and giggling to each other. Oh how simple their worlds must be. How they must actually be enjoying the college experience. If I ever had time to even think about finding a boyfriend, or even hooking up with a guy, maybe I'd be the same.

  The only guy there who caught my eye was a mystery. He hadn't made much of an effort, simply wearing a V for Vendetta mask to fit in, but it was the way he was acting that was most intriguing. He cruised around, not drinking, not talking to anyone, just subtly checking out every girl in there.

  He was tall, and I noticed a thatch of dark wavy hair sticking out from above his mask. I don't know whether he was just incredibly shy to talk to women or what, but I didn't see him utter a single word to anyone as he disappeared in and out of view.

  I tried to keep my alcoholic consumption low, my mind still filled with thoughts of getting my paper completed the following day, but I could already feel the pull as I sipped on my cup of punch. I knew that it was time to go.

  I whispered my intentions to Tess as she continued to pass the time in the company of the progressively drunk football team. She nodded me away, her mind now fixed on other things, and I headed into the back to collect my coat, stashed away in a side room when we had originally arrived.

  I felt a chill hit me as I stepped away from the crowd of ghouls, the quiet of the back rooms unsettling. After a few drinks the costumes were growing ever more unpleasant in my head, especially when so many of the guys insisted on stayi
ng in character.

  I found the room with all the cloaks and nervously rummaged through them to find my own. As I slipped it on I heard a sudden voice behind me, cutting the silence of the room.

  “Leaving so soon?”

  I turned quickly as my heart tried to climb up my throat, and saw Freddie Krueger standing in front of me.

  “Tom, you scared me, fuck man.”

  He laughed lightly and took off his mask. “Sorry Bambi, I thought you were tougher than that.”

  “Yeah, well not after a few drinks in a house full of nightmares,” I said, sucking in air.

  He walked up towards me, his eyes drunk, his hands busy. “So how about we head up to my room?”

  Wow, I didn't expect that. Most girls would have jumped on him, literally, at the chance, but not me.

  “Er, thanks for the offer Tom, but I've got a paper to finish tomorrow. I had a great time, though, thanks.”

  I tried to walk past him towards the door but he stepped in my way, pulling me in towards him. “Oh come on Alice, don't play me like that. I see how you look at me.”

  Huh?

  “Yeah don't look so surprised.” His words were slurring, oozing from his mouth. “Yeah, you look at me like the rest of them, don't pretend like you don't.”

  “Sorry Tom, you're a good looking guy n all, but you're not my type.”

  He scoffed at the idea. “Not your type? Then what is your type?”

  I wasn't in the mood to entertain him right now. “I don't have a type right now - only work. Why don't you go talk to Tess, I know she likes you.”

  “Tess?” He sounded confused.

  “Yeah Tess, you know, blue eyes, long legs, blonde hair, Tess. I came in with her.”

  “Ohhhh, Tess. Well if we're talking types she's not mine.”

  “Really?” I said, genuinely shocked. Tess was gorgeous - it was news to me that any guy wouldn't fancy her.

  “Yeah, too tall, not enough meat on her bones.”

  “So you're saying I do have enough meat? Are you calling me fat Tom?” I joked.

  “Curvy,” he said, “like a woman should be.” I could see his eyes washing all over me, stripping me bare one garment at a time.