Janet was too tired to point out that they had never arranged a time and Ethan had come to threaten her.
“Yeah, very,” she said glumly.
Chapter 3 – The Other Side
Ethan Reed was a man of his words, no matter how terrible the words were. When he promised to make someone’s life miserable, he went through with it. The fact that he was giving this plain, simple Jenny girl a chance to apologize was really gracious of him.
In perspective, Ethan wasn’t a bad person. He looked out for his friends and when he cared about someone, he was fiercely loyal to them. The problem was there was hardly anyone he truly cared about. Jih Beton was Ethan’s childhood friend and one of the lucky people Ethan directed his loyalty towards. George Gamez and Kan Conner were also good friends of Ethan but none of them were the same as Jih. Besides Jih, Ethan was extremely close to his cousin, Nel Reed who was four years older than Ethan. She was one of the few people who Ethan forgave for being cheeky with him. In fact, he appreciated her straightforward comments. She wasn’t afraid of speaking up against him and normally, Ethan would seethe over that but with Nel, it was different. Nel was a local TV star, pretty popular in Georgia but not too known outside of it. She was trying to break into the national TV industry and so, was frequently out of town on tours. Whenever she was in Georgia, she was sure to give Ethan a piece of her mind whenever she could.
Ethan was brought up in a family that was extremely well acquainted with the rich and wealthy in every single part of the world. His mother, Grace Reed, had started a line of bus and metro services while in her late twenties. Now, it was a multibillion dollar company reaping tons and tons of money every single day. His father, Simon Reed, was a politician, formed mayor of Georgia and now running for senator. When he wasn’t wooing voters, Simon Reed was overseeing his own construction business. Ethan had always had every little thing he had wanted or asked for. His parents loved him, he had excellent grades and money had never been a problem. In short, Ethan Reed led a perfect life; a life several people only dreamt of. So when a spilled coffee changed his life forever, Ethan did not know how to handle it. At first, he thought his life had become imperfect. But soon, he learnt that his life hadn’t become imperfect. He had just come to terms with the fact that life wasn’t supposed to be perfect. And the spilled coffee had a lot to do with it.
Presently, Ethan was lounging in the living room of his house. House would be an understatement. It was more of a mansion. When Ethan was young, he had lived here with his family. When he turned 12, they had moved to California for his parents’ work. The mansion had become more of a summer home to him. Nel lived in Georgia and so did Ethan’s (late) grandparents. He always visited them in the summer and when he decided to go to Georgia, Ethan had moved here permanently. He was usually alone, except for the several servants who worked hard to keep the mansion in order.
Something was bothering him which he couldn’t quite place his finger on. It was either the fact that the serving girl Janet thought she was worthy enough of answering him back or it was the fact that he didn’t know how to make her life miserable. He couldn’t treat her like he did the other people who came in his way. There had never been a girl before and even if there was, she was more like that crying, sobbing friend of Janet’s and not big mouthed like herself. He knew one thing; she would have to pay for it or people at Georgia would think he had become soft and anyone can come in his way now.
Ethan sighed, frustrated. He checked his watch again. Nel was supposed to meet him an hour ago but he supposed she had got caught up in one of her social gatherings. Ever since Nel had returned to Georgia from her tour, there had been social events every single night with everyone wanting to spend some time with her. When she finally showed up, Ethan’s theory was confirmed.
“Sorry, cousin,” Nel said as she threw her bag on the couch and flung down on the bed besides him.
“Caught up in your little fan gathering?” Ethan scoffed.
“Is this how you greet your favorite cousin?”
“You’re not my favorite.”
Nel rolled her eyes and talked idly about her next tour for which she would be leaving at the end of the week.
“So cousin, tell me about this little girl whose life you’re planning on ruining,” Nel began after a pause in their discussion. Ethan raised his eyebrows. “George told me,” Nel explained. “He said you went to her work to threaten her and you’ve been talking about how insufferable and insolent she is ever since- well ever since whatever it is that happened. I don’t really care what happened. I want you to leave this girl alone.”
Ethan glared at her. “If you don’t know what happened, you don’t get to have a say in it.”
“I know that you’re a spoiled brat who treats people horribly. Now, what’s her name?”
“Janet,” Ethan replied grudgingly.
“Where does she work?”
“Why?” Ethan sounded suspicious now.
“Where?”
“The Four Stars.”
Nel gave him an enigmatic look before changing the subject. “Well, I only left my little party because you were being anti-social. We’re going back.”
“I’m not going,” Ethan said stubbornly.
“You are.”
Nel dragged him back to the party being thrown by Michelle Parkinson in Nel’s honor. Michelle Parkinson was the head of the little girl club who was presently trying to make Janet’s life miserable on Ethan’s account. She was also Ethan’s ex-girlfriend. When Ethan grudging entered the party, he was engulfed by George, Kan and Michelle and her little club so he didn’t notice Nel slipping away from him and out of the club where the party was being held.
Chapter 4 – The Invitation
Janet couldn’t concentrate. The music blasting from the club opposite The Four Stars was too loud and distracting. Customers were low today because of the cold weather, she presumed and so she had found some time to work on her homework during her shift. She was seated at the reception desk, reading and rereading a single line, trying to comprehend it.
The town had been celebrating Nel Reed’s return ever since she had- well- returned. Janet had caught glimpses of her when she was passing on the streets surrounded by her group of admirers and fans, mostly people from the affluent class. The fact that she was a TV star set to make her national debut soon along with her being from the Reed family, Nel was well known and well respected throughout Georgia.
Janet looked up as the door opened and for a moment, she thought she was imagining Nel entering the restaurant. She blinked to make sure it wasn’t a product of her thoughts just moments ago on Nel’s fame and popularity. Nel was dressed in knee high fur boots with an emerald scarf wrapped around her neck. Her coat was pulled tightly around her and her brunette hair was wind swept. She was tall and- Janet couldn’t help noticing- extremely pretty.
“Hello,” Nel said, coming up to the reception. “I’m looking for someone called Janet.”
“Er-” Janet was extremely confused. “I’m Janet.”
“Oh hey Janet!” Nel brightened up and held out her hand. Shaking it enthusiastically, she continued, “I’m Nel. Nel Reed.”
“I know who you are,” Janet replied.
“I want to apologize for the way my cousin has been treating you.”
“Ethan?”
“Unfortunately, that’s my cousin.”
“That’s-that’s alright.”
“I also want to invite you to the little party being held across the street.”
“Oh n-no, thank you,” Janet tried to find an excuse. “I have homework to do, see –”
“Just for a little bit,” Nel said with finality, grabbing Janet behind the desk and pulling her outside.
“But I’m not dressed for a party!” Janet protested.
Nel turned to examine her. She removed Janet’s apron and adjusted her hair a bit. Then she pulled out some make up from her purse and set about applying it on Janet’s face. Once
she was satisfied, she started dragging Janet along again. Janet couldn’t do much but pray that Ethan wasn’t at the party but of course, he was. Her eyes fell on him the moment they entered. Ethan looked extremely surprised as Nel and Janet entered arm in arm. Nel went about introducing Janet to other people present there. Most of them greeted her politely. However, the students of Georgia University looked plain shocked and didn’t know whether they should be mean on account of Ethan or polite on account of Nel so they stammered hello and turned away. Eventually, Janet was left alone as Nel was pushed forward in the crowd of all the guests who wanted to spend some time with her.
Janet sighed. This was going to be awkward.
Ethan detached himself from his group of friends and made his way to a now Janet-free-Nel. Pulling her away from a few fans, Ethan turned to face her.
“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
“Teaching you a lesson.”
“By bringing the serving girl with you?”
“That’s exactly why I want to teach you a lesson. Serving girl, really? Maybe you should deflate your head a little. You’ll see what I’m doing.”
Ethan opened his mouth to reply but they were interrupted by Michelle who was pushing her way towards where Janet stood alone.
“What are you doing, Michelle?” Nel asked brightly, coming in her way.
“Oh-” Michelle looked around as if she only just saw Nel. “There’s an uninvited guest. I don’t think we called her as a server either. I’ll be back . . .” she said more to herself than to Nel.
“I invited her,” Nel said.
“What?” Michelle looked even more shocked than Ethan.
“I invited her. Let her be.”
“It’s- it’s my party,” Michelle said, clearly not wanting to offend Nel.
“Well, I was invited to loads of parties tonight. I suppose I could go to another one…” Nel trailed.
“Oh no!” Michelle said. “Of course, any guest of yours is welcome here.”
With a forced smile, Michelle returned to her friends. Nel threw Ethan an exasperated look before moving away too.
Janet accepted a glass of punch from a passing waiter, grateful for something to do with her hands as she stood awkwardly. Some people threw her curious glances but most just ignored her. Suddenly, a drunken man a little older than Janet appeared before her. He was stumbling and clearly out of his mind. Janet stepped out of his way but he lunged at her.
“Hey Pretty,” he drawled. “Not alone, are you? Where’s your boyfriend?”
Janet edged away, unsure of what to do. “You are alone,” the drunken man stated, laughing. He grabbed for Janet and before she could do anything to defend herself, he was planting a sloppy kiss on her lips. Janet struggled but he was too big and strong. Suddenly, the man was pulled away and Jih Baton was standing over him, looking furious. He roughly guided the man outside the club and instructed the guards to take him away. People were turning to stare at them now as Janet struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Nel was by her side, asking if she was okay and apologizing profusely but Janet didn’t want to hear anything. She wanted to go back to the safe confines of her room. Nel instructed her to wait outside for her so she could collect her things and get her car keys. Janet insisted she could go on her own but Nel was adamant.
Janet stepped outside the heated club. The drunken man had disappeared and Jih Baton never returned after the little episode. She was in the back garden, which was a pretty little place filled with the smell of roses. Janet gulped the fresh air, willing herself not to cry. She had always expected her first kiss to be magical and romantic; not forced upon her by a drunken man. She remembered Marlene’s words when she had told Janet she was stupid for thinking first kisses are supposed to be magical. According to Marlene, Janet had been watching too many fairytales.
She jumped when she realized that someone was standing at a distance and watching her. Ethan Reed’s eyes pierced through Janet, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking and feeling as he walked towards her,
“Go away,” Janet said, turning away her face.
Ethan ignored her. “Was that your first kiss?” he asked softly.
“Why do you care?” Janet was furious now.
“Not exactly how you imagined it,” he said, as if stating a fact. He leaned closer.
“What are you doing?” Janet asked her voice shaky. If this was another one of Ethan’s tactics to make her life worse than it already was, she was going to kill him.
“Just be a good girl and hold still and we’ll see if we can create something a touch more romantic,” he whispered, sending shivers down her spine. Before she knew it, he was pulling her closer, his hand slipping around her waist. His other hand guided her face up as he kissed her.
She tried to pull away but his arms held her tight. As his lips moved gently against hers, a strange sensation came over here, rendering her incapable of anything but reciprocating the kiss. His thumb was gently stroking the skin where he held her and she found herself responding as his tongue pushed into her mouth. He deepened the kiss, igniting a desperate need within her which left her startled and gasping. Janet did not know how long he kissed her but it was enough to make her (almost) forget the traumatizing experience with the drunken man.
He pulled away gently, brushing a lose strand of hair out of her eyes. Janet pushed him away, trying to put some distance between them. She was gasping for breath and staring at him shocked.
“You’re an infuriating little serving girl who won’t apologize to me but you deserve a memorable first kiss,” he said, winking and with that, he departed.
Nel hurried out of the club, talking distractedly to a few people. She spotted Janet and rushed towards her, pulling her along. They reached her car and she handed the keys to a man which Janet presumed was her driver. Once they were seated in the car, Nel turned to Janet.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure that man gets what he deserves,” Nel told her.
“It’s not your fault.”
Nel was very interested in Janet’s studies and job and listened attentively as she talked. Janet reflected on how different she was from Ethan and pointed it out, though she did not want to think of Ethan because it made her blush.
“Ethan is immature. I always try to put some sense into him but he doesn’t learn,” Nel said, rolling her eyes.
Janet didn’t respond.
“But,” Nel continued in a would-be-casual tone. “Maybe you can drill some sense into him.”
“Me?”
“Hmm.”
Janet laughed. “He hates me.”
“He listens to you. Hangs on to every word you say. He’s been fuming over everything you said to him for days, George tells me. That’s a good sign. At least he’s thinking about it.”
“Thinking about it to get back at me, yes,” Janet responded.
Nel shrugged. “Just a thought.”
Janet couldn’t get the feeling of Ethan’s lips and touch out of her head. As she went to bed later that night, she reflected on the fact that Ethan was quite a good kisser though she had nothing to compare it with. Still, the way he had made her feel was good. She would maybe even like to kiss him again. Those were her last thoughts as she fell into an uncomfortable sleep.
Chapter 5 – The Tutor
When Ethan entered the Advanced Calculus classroom, he quickly became annoyed. Ethan wasn’t used to struggling with school work so when he found Calculus difficult to comprehend, it bothered him to no end. However, today, it wasn’t calculus that bothered him. It was Janet who was sitting in the front row. He glared at her and turned to Kan and George who had entered with him.
“What’s the serving girl doing here?” he asked.
“She’s been here all along,” Kan said. “She’s taking advanced classes apparently so she’s with the seniors.”
Ethan turned to look at her while she was determinedly avoiding his eye. Flashes of the night before came back to his h
ead. He didn’t know why he had kissed her but seeing her hurt and broken had bothered him. He wanted to see the same, fierce and angry Janet instead of the crying one.
Today, he observed Janet and how she always answered every single question thrown at them by Professor Pakpen. He also seemed to be exceptionally fond of her. Suddenly, an idea struck Ethan. He would ask Janet to tutor him and that way, he’ll be able to figure out how to break this girl who, so far, seemed unbreakable. Happy with the idea, he could barely wait till the class ended. When it did, he threw off his friends and approached Janet, who was chatting with Professor Pakpen. It was too perfect.
Professor Pakpen turned towards him.
“Ethan,” he said. “Working hard, I presume?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan replied in the good mannered tone he used with grown-ups. “But I just can’t seem to grasp my head around the concept that you taught last week. It’s just so difficult. Maybe if someone smarter could help me…” he trailed off.
Professor Pakpen fell for the trap immediately.
“Janet is my best student. Why don’t you ask her for help?”
Ethan turned to look at her and noticed that she was looking at him through narrowed eyes, trying to figure out what he was doing.
“That’ll be nice, I suppose,” he said, purposefully doubtful.
“Let’s give it a shot,” Professor Pakpen said. “Janet, I’m assigning you as a tutor for Ethan from today. I want regular updates.” He concluded.
Janet opened her mouth to protest but Professor Pakpen was already picking up his books and she thought better of it; what would he think if she refused? He exited the classroom and Ethan turned to her, smirking.
“You did that on purpose,” she said flatly.
“I did, yes. What a smart little serving girl.”
“What do you want, Ethan?” Janet said, sighing.
“I genuinely want your help,” he said, trying to sound sincere.
Janet shook her head. “I’ll help you since Professor Pakpen said so. But don’t you ever try to kiss me again.”
Romance: The Campus Player: A College Romance Page 15