Never the Same

by Michele L. Rivera

“Oh. It’s a…splinter or something. I’ll take it out with tweezers when we get to the dorms.”

  “Are you really menstruating or is there still acrimony betwixt you and Lennox?”

  Paige rolled her eyes. “Drive. Please.”

  Justin put his foot on the gas pedal and steered his coupe onto the road. “Hmm. Thought as much. So are you gonna tell me or shall I speculate?”

  “We’re getting coffee together tonight.”

  “Who?”

  “It’s informal and amicable. Two people hyped up on caffeine. That’s it.”

  “Shit, Paige! Lennox? What happened to you not being into her?”

  “I’m not. That hasn’t changed.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “Don’t ‘mmm hmm’ me. It’s to appease the group. Mainly Marissa.”

  “Then Marissa knows?”

  “No. She doesn’t. And she won’t because you aren’t ever going to speak of this. To anyone. Alright?”

  “Alright. But eventually you’re going to have to desist from keeping all your women a secret. Hanna. Lennox.”

  “Lennox isn’t my woman. For one thing, she’s not property, and secondly, I only get involved with women like myself.”

  “Bitchy?”

  Paige snarled at Justin. “Gay.”

  Chapter Five

  “You look snazzy,” Keira said.

  Paige turned away from the full-length mirror in their room and gave Keira a thin-lipped smile. “Thanks.”

  “Hot date?”

  “No! I’m going to The Bean.”

  “Mmm. To meet a girl?”

  “Keira!”

  “Paige, really? You only ever change your cartilage earring from a stud to a hoop when you’re trying to woo a lady.”

  Paige frowned. “That’s not. No. I don’t do that.”

  “So, who is she? Puh-lease tell me it’s not Hanna!”

  “Well, even if it were, it doesn’t matter now anyway, tattletale. Marissa’s policy.”

  “Hey! I snitched to protect you from that beast. You would’ve done the same for me.”

  “Whatever.”

  Keira giggled. “Way to retaliate there.”

  “Listen, I don’t have time to squabble.”

  “Ooo. Do be sure to pencil me in for later then.”

  Paige shook her head. “You’re on.”

  “Nice.”

  Paige took her keys from the top of her dresser, went over to her desk where her backpack was, and put them inside. She began to zip up the bag.

  “And Lennox?” Keira asked.

  Paige stopped moving as the icy sting of panic blanketed her. “Huh?”

  “Lennox. Our new drummer. She’s sensational! Bi or not, you have to admit, the girl’s got skills.”

  “Oh. Yeah. She’s um. She’s talented.” Paige slowly sealed the knapsack and lifted it onto her left shoulder. “I’ve gotta go.”

  “Right. Don’t want to be late for your…appointment.”

  “Yes. Because that would be uncivil.” Paige walked to the door. She glanced at Keira. “About the jewelry. That was spooky. How did you…”

  “I take notice. Remember?”

  “Weirdo.”

  Keira grinned. “And you have a lovely evening, too.”

  “Goodbye, Keira,” Paige said and exited their dorm.

  Paige wiped the perspiration from her hands onto her jeans as she stood in front of dorm room number twenty-seven. She glanced to her left and then her right to ensure that no one she knew was around. She brought her shoulders back, took a breath, and knocked. In seconds the door opened. Lennox smiled, eyes glimmering. Paige’s insides seized.

  “Hi,” Lennox said.

  “Um. Hey.”

  “You ready?”

  “Sure. Yeah.”

  “Alright.” Lennox stepped into the hall and pulled the door shut behind her. “To the parking lot then. I’ll drive.”

  “Fine by me,” Paige said.

  “Are you normally this polite?” Lennox quipped as they began walking down the corridor.

  “Are you normally this snide?” Paige parried.

  Lennox smirked. “Seems as though we’re off to a good start,” she said and reached for the doorknob of the building’s main exit. She held the glass pane ajar and gestured for Paige to pass through first. “After you.”

  “Nah. You go ahead,” Paige said.

  “But I insist.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m giving you a lesson in social graces.”

  “I’m plenty gracious.”

  “I’ll believe it when I see it,” Lennox said.

  Paige compressed her lips, shook her head, and snaked her body through the tight space between the wall and Lennox. A scent of vanilla and lavender wafted off Lennox and consumed Paige’s airways. The thud against Paige’s ribcage echoed in her own ears and she ducked to mask her blush as she made her way outside. She pulled at the hem of her shirt and turned to Lennox.

  “There. You were being courteous and I complied, which makes me just as genteel as you,” Paige said.

  Lennox came out of the building and sauntered toward Paige. “So what you’re saying is that we’re equals. You. Me. Lesbians. Bisexuals.”

  Paige furrowed her brow. “Do not manipulate my words.”

  “I didn’t. I was translating.”

  “Aargh! May we please proceed with the evening?”

  “We may.”

  “Okay then.” Paige stared at the multitude of vehicles in the lot. “Which car is yours?”

  “This way,” Lennox said and led Paige over to the third row of parked automobiles. Lennox stopped at the passenger side of a black pickup truck.

  “This is what you drive?” Paige asked.

  “Yes. And you’re bewildered why?”

  “It’s…um…spacious.”

  “Well, it makes transporting my drumset painless.”

  “Oh. That. Right. I had imagined something more…”

  “Feminine?” Lennox grinned.

  “That’s not what I was going to say! I…okay maybe it was something like what I was going to say.”

  “You think it’s sexy. Don’t you?”

  “Psht. No!”

  “You do,” Lennox said and hit a button on her keychain, unlocking the door. She opened it and looked at Paige. “You gonna get in or what?”

  “You’re outdoing yourself with the whole chivalry thing, you know.” Paige climbed inside.

  “My apologies. Then you can close it yourself.” Lennox rounded the truck and got into the driver’s seat. She glanced at Paige, who was slack-jawed. “What now?” Lennox asked.

  “That was uncouth. You didn’t even shut it for me.”

  “Oh my god. You virtually told me not to so I didn’t. What are you, Goldilocks? I’m too courtly and then not courtly enough?”

  Paige laughed. “Relax. I’m messing with you.”

  Lennox pouted and then quickly fastened her safety belt to veil her blazing cheeks. “Wow.”

  “I couldn’t resist.”

  “Who would’ve thunk it?” Lennox revved the engine.

  “Huh?”

  “That you had a sense of humor.”

  “There’s a lot to me that you’ve yet to witness,” Paige said.

  “Hmm. And does that playfulness extend to the bedroom?”

  Paige’s face flushed.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” Lennox winked.

  “You did not just ask me that.”

  “Don’t put out your dishes if you don’t want to get served! Ha!”

  “Ugh. Can we get a move on already?”

  Lennox laughed softly. “We sure can. Oh! And uh…back to what you were saying earlier.”

  “About?”

  “You’ve imagined me?”

  Paige palmed her forehead. “Go! Pleeease!”

  Chapter Six

  “Hi. Can I help you?” the barista behind the counter of The Bean asked Lennox and Paige.

/>   Lennox glimpsed at the menu board and then at Paige. “What would you like?”

  Paige aimed her index finger at Lennox. “No no no. You are not ordering for me.”

  Lennox shrugged. “Well, then tell”—Lennox looked at the nametag on the young man’s apron—“Elliot what you want.”

  Paige smiled at Elliot. “Hi. I’ll have a small, hazelnut latte. Thanks.”

  “Okay.” Elliot turned to Lennox. “And for you?”

  “I’ll take a large, iced coffee with two shots of espresso and a splash of milk,” Lennox said. “Please.”

  “Coming up.” Elliot wrote instructions on two different cups and passed them to the teenage girl at the bar. “Are these together?” he asked Paige and Lennox.

  “Yes,” Lennox said and quickly placed a ten-dollar bill next to the cash register while Paige was sifting through her bag for her wallet. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks! Your drinks will be ready over there.” Elliot pointed to the other end of the counter.

  “Great. Thank you, Elliot,” Lennox said and waltzed out of line and toward the beverage-serving section of the café. Paige trailed her reluctantly.

  “You didn’t have to pay for me,” Paige muttered.

  Lennox nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  “Can I give you the money?”

  “No. But you can wait here for our refreshments and I will get us a table. Cool?”

  Paige sighed. “Cool,” she said flatly and trained her eyes on Lennox’s backside as she walked away. “Lord help me,” Paige whispered.

  “I’ve got a small latte and a large iced!” the female barista announced, breaking Paige’s concentration.

  “Oh. Hi. Yeah. That’s mine…I mean they’re ours,” Paige stammered.

  The girl’s painted eyebrows lifted. “Then do you want to take them?”

  “Yes. Yes, I do. Sorry.” Paige reached across with both arms and grabbed the two cups. She scoured the coffee shop and spotted Lennox sitting by the window, rotating the ring on her right thumb. Paige girded herself and schlepped to the empty chair diagonal from Lennox. She put down the drinks and sat. “So here we are on our…what is this anyway?”

  Lennox punctured the plastic lid of her cup with a straw. “What would you call this?”

  “Initially I thought it was just hanging out, right? But you’ve been administering it as if it were a date.”

  “Huh. And what’s date-ish about it?”

  “What’s NOT date-ish about it? You’re getting the doors for me and paying for me and…” Paige sipped her beverage contemplatively.

  “That’s all you got, isn’t it?”

  “For now.”

  “Isn’t that what you do?” Lennox asked.

  “Me? What I do?”

  “No. Not you per se. Lesbians. You take each other out, buy things for one another, flirt, and then classify it as ‘hanging out’ when in actuality it’s a date.”

  Paige gaped. “Whoa! Hey!”

  “Something I said?” Lennox innocently ingested a mouthful of coffee.

  “Uh. Yeah!”

  “Ahh. I get it. You don’t like being stereotyped, do you?”

  “Son of a—”

  “Uh! Language,” Lennox warned.

  “Nicely played. Alright then. Let’s delve into it.”

  “We’re delving now, but we hardly know each other,” Lennox said.

  Paige glowered. “You’re frickin’ hilarious.”

  “Sometimes, yes.”

  “I’m listening, so can you just say what it is that you wanted me to hear?”

  “No.”

  “No?” Paige’s frame became taut.

  Lennox rested her hands on the table and folded them. “Paige.”

  Paige’s belly fluttered at the sound of Lennox’s voice annunciating the syllables of her name. Paige dispensed the breath she had inadvertently corked and slumped back in her seat. “Lennox.” She attempted to speak in an even tone.

  Lennox tipped her head to the side and smiled. “It’s appealing.”

  “What?”

  “The way your mouth moves when you say ‘Lennox.’”

  A sudden tingling sensation poured through Paige. She crossed her legs and then uncrossed them. She leaned forward. “Don’t,” Paige whispered.

  “Praise you?”

  “Hit on me,” Paige said.

  “Is that what you think I’m doing? My, my, my. Aren’t we cocky?”

  “Jesus Christ! Why are we here if you won’t talk about what you brought me here to talk about?”

  “Awesome question. See, the object of this conference is for us to become acquainted. That way, you’ll be able to stop discriminating between me as a person and me as a bisexual. Ultimately, you’ll discover that I’m just me.”

  “And how will you perceive me?” Paige asked.

  “Same as I do now—as yourself.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay,” Lennox said. “Let us begin with the basics.”

  Paige took a drink from her cup. “Such as?”

  “Surnames. Mine’s—”

  “Hansford.” Paige smirked.

  Lennox pouted. “How did you…”

  “I looked you up in the Miranda University database. The freshman roster.”

  “You ran a search for me online?”

  “I did,” Paige said.

  “When?”

  “About two hours prior to leaving my room.”

  Lennox glanced around the café and then at Paige. “Because you’re taken with me?”

  “No. I was curious. Now who’s being arrogant? Anywho, mine is—”

  “Yours is easy. Galner.”

  “Ha! You did it, too. You investigated me on the internet.”

  Lennox raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. The internet, where your blog is, which I used to read. Doesn’t take a genius.”

  “Only my first name is on that site, brainiac.”

  “Fine. Maaaybe I Quested you.”

  “Mmm hmm. Recently?”

  “Nope. Try two years ago when you started posting. I liked the way you disseminated your thoughts in writing, so much so that I looked you up. A couple clicks here and there on the computer and BAM! It brought me to the school’s website…freshman roster. How ironic.”

  Paige nodded. “That means that you were what at the time? Fourteen?”

  “You’re hysterical,” Lennox deadpanned. “I was sixteen.”

  Paige shook her head forlornly. “You’re sooo young.”

  Lennox rolled her eyes. “Again? Does our whopping two years age disparity bug you that much?”

  “You know what? No. It doesn’t. Because this…us”—Paige moved her hands back and forth between herself and Lennox—“this is hugely platonic.”

  “That’s unfortunate.”

  “What? I. Uh. Why?”

  Lennox smiled. “Because you’re adorable. Especially when you’re flummoxed. And also, I thought you thought this was a date.”

  “Listen, you. I don’t get flummoxed. And I thought that this was and then you clarified things and so…yeah.” Paige picked up her cup, swooshed the liquid inside of it around, and then placed it back on the table. “You think I’m adorable?” she asked meekly.

  “Yes.” Lennox shifted in her seat, gaze down at the floor. “Your online photo doesn’t do you justice.” She glimpsed up at a simpering Paige. “Please don’t preen. Drink your coffee.”

  “But in the garage, you gave me the impression that I was the sole person doing the beholding!” Paige said.

  “Hmm. I didn’t, though,” Lennox said. “You chose to interpret it that way. Perhaps you have some trouble reading between the lines? I asked you here.”

  “On a non-date!”

  Lennox smiled widely.

  “Grrr! You’re infuriating!”

  “Aww. I’m sorry.” Lennox sniggered. “Okay. Carrying on. Where are you from?”

  Paige sighed theatrically. “This is home to me. Well, near
here. I’m from Cambridge…it’s outside of Boston. You?”

  “Vermont.”

  Paige nodded. “Are you one of those hippie, crunchy, granola breed of chicks?”

  “Stuff enough adjectives into that sentence?”

  “Yup.”

  “Personally, I’ve opted for plain ‘earthy,’” Lennox said.

  “Oh.”

  “Are you all prestigious and hoity-toity?” Lennox put her index finger in the air. “Riiight. You are.”

  “Bite me.”

  “Is that a proposition?”

  “You wish,” Paige sniped.

  Lennox pursed her lips. “Maybe I do.”

  Paige choked on her own saliva and canopied her mouth with the inner bend of her right elbow.

  “Paige!” Lennox got out of her chair.

  Paige raised her left hand, signaling Lennox to stop. “I’m fine,” she gargled.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  Lennox grudgingly sat down. “I can get you some water.”

  “Thanks, but no.” Paige exhaled.

  “Should we resume the inquisition?”

  “Alright. What classes are you taking?” Paige asked.

  “Mostly intro. The prerequisite crap. But I’m majoring in Sociology and Gender Studies. You?”

  “Communications and Journalism with minors in Psychology and Public Relations.”

  “That’s disturbing,” Lennox said.

  “Umm. Why?”

  “It’s going to be your job to promulgate societal goings on to the masses?” Lennox guffawed.

  “That’s funny to you?”

  “Very.”

  “Because?”

  “Almost everything you write is subjective. You have to be nonpartisan to be an adept reporter. If you ask me.”

  “But I didn’t ask you,” Paige said.

  “No. You didn’t. I just wouldn’t want you advertising theories you know nothing about and then making a fool out of yourself. Oh. Hang on. That already happened.”

  Paige clenched her fists. “If you’re going to persist in antagonizing me then we’re through here.”

  “No! We’re not through. We haven’t traded stories yet,” Lennox said. “That was insulant. I’m sorry. Am I pardoned?”

  Paige swiped her hand over her face and shook her head. “We do the story thing and then we go home. What’ve you got?”

  Lennox smiled flimsily. “Alright. Let’s dispel some myths. You wrote that bisexuals are confused.”