Found by You

by Victoria H. Smith

  “That’s Destiny Young,” Clare gasped.

  She started tugging at her short hair, still highlighted pink from the bout, and I laughed, leaning in. “Is someone strung up?” I asked her.

  “Only since freshman year,” Clare said, chewing her lip. “She was in my Western Civ class.” She faced me, unblinking. “I heard she’s bi.”

  I smiled. “You should talk to her. Say hi?”

  “Hi?”

  I chuckled. This sounded familiar. “Go say hi.” I pushed her off. “And don’t come back until you get her number.”

  She made a few stumbled steps then turned. “Will you be okay?”

  I waved her forward with my hands. I kept a visual just to make sure she actually talked to the girl. Destiny stopped dancing and smiled when Clare reached for her hand to shake. They stood bantering for a few seconds before they both slowly moved into a dance.

  I backed away, leaving my friend to it. I had my own mission tonight. I was going to find Griffin. Hell, maybe even ask him to dance. I didn’t spend all this time on my makeup and clothes to not dance, and I wanted to do so with him.

  I scanned the room, trying to fit in but look casual about it at the same time. I was very focused, goal oriented. So much so I stumbled into a red head at the makeshift bar on a kitchen island. That must have been where I was. The kitchen. I laughed. I was so focused I didn’t realize I wandered in here.

  The girl was bent, brushing at whatever was in her red cup off her black dress.

  Crap. I must have made her spill on herself.

  “Sorry about that,” I said.

  She rose up. When she did I fought my eyes from widening. Her chest was pretty much completely exposed. The deep plunge of the gown reminded me of J-Lo’s green ensemble she wore to the Grammy’s that caused a media frenzy because it was so revealing. And the size of this woman’s chest was massive. I assumed it was paid for. I never usually noticed such things, but well, they were on display. Her makeup was also over the top. Bright red lips, dark eyelids, and a big mole.

  Her look was kind of off putting, but when she smiled at me I felt terrible for my thoughts. She wasn’t mad I bumped her at all.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “Just water tonight.”

  She raised her glass, and I let out a breath of relief. I was glad I didn’t damage her dress.

  “Oh, good,” I responded. “Didn’t want to mess up your dress.”

  “It’s okay, sweetie.” Turning, she grabbed a cup with something in it off the bar. She handed it to me. “Drink?”

  “Um, sure.” I accepted it to be nice. I wasn’t stupid and wouldn’t drink something sitting out in the open for anyone to taint. I never went to parties, but I knew there was protocol to the whole thing.

  “Which one of the guys invited you tonight?” she asked, making conversation.

  “Uh, Griffin. Griffin Chandler.” I raised my glass with both hands like I was actually thinking about drinking the mystery beverage.

  “Ah,” she said, placing her hand on her hip. “Nice, one there. D, short for Diondre, invited me. He’s one of Griffin’s roommates. I was apprehensive since I’m not getting paid, but I like these guys. They give good parties.”

  I frowned. “I’m sorry. Paid? Are you an entertainer?”

  She grinned. “Something like that.” She took a sip from her glass and looked around. When she stopped, she bent to my level. “I work parties like this usually.”

  “I’m sorry. Work?” I asked, still not knowing what she meant. What was this woman going on about?

  “Yeah, hon. Work. My original gig was to service the team in whatever way they wanted. Some corporate gents wanted to thank the boys for the good job they do on the court. So they called me, and I took care of them.”

  Words like paid, entertainer, and work didn’t click in my head. But the word service did. This woman…

  Was a prostitute.

  I put my glass down. “Uh, do you mind me asking who you ‘serviced’?”

  “You inquiring about who to hang with tonight? Who gives it the best?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  I placed my hands on my hips. “Something like that.”

  She put her own cup down and bent in again, this time placing her hand on my shoulder as if to give me a silent tip. “You won’t go wrong with Griffin. Believe me. Stick with him, and you’ll be all right. He treats a girl just fine.”

  The nausea surfaced and a layer of heat blazed over my face, causing the room to spin. I wanted this woman’s hand off me. Now. I didn’t have to tell her, though. One of the basketball players came in and brought her into an embrace. I assumed he was one of the players since he was so tall. He was also as dark as me, sporting a bald fade haircut.

  And he was clearly drunk.

  He hung all over this girl, slurring something into her ear. She grabbed his ass, and I nearly lost all I had in my stomach right there on the kitchen floor. I moved away to give them room, but the guy called my name.

  “You’re Roxie, right?” he asked, giving a wobbly grin. “You have to be. Black girl. Green eyes. Fits the bill.”

  I stopped. “What are you talking about, and how do you know who I am?”

  “Griff. He told me to look out for you. He’s looking for youuu…”

  His last word muffled a bit when he kissed the prostitute’s neck. I wanted to know what all he was going to say. “Griffin? He’s looking for me? Where is he?”

  The guy started to walk away, but turned to answer as he did. “With his girlfriend and fuck buddy. Somewhere. Probably in his room. Nice to meet you.”

  Giving a drunken’ chuckle, the guy moved away with his prostitute.

  I officially had enough. Quite frankly, more than enough.

  Breezing out of the kitchen, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. In my shaking state, I couldn’t confront Clare to let her know I was leaving. And I had a feeling if I did, my eyes might lose it. I might cry.

  I sent her a text message that I was heading home to my chat and passed the basketball player and the prostitute on my way out the door.

  I cut in front of them. “If you see Griffin, tell him I went home.”

  I didn’t stick around to see if the drunk understood what I said. I had a new mission.

  I had makeup to clean off my face.

  Chapter Six

  Griffin

  “What do you mean she left? When?” I asked D, leaving the barricade of my bedroom after he knocked. I didn’t want to take any chances that I’d run into Ursula and Tanya, so I chose to stay put, leaving the room every few minutes to loop the apartment. When I didn’t see Roxie, I came back, but now I was regretting the decision to lie low. Why would she leave?

  He was rubbing the back of his neck, squinting as he thought. Fuck all mighty if this guy wasn’t my best friend. I did not need his buzz fucking with his memory right now.

  “I don’t know. It’s kind of fuzzy,” he said, dropping his hand. “It was before I fucked Candie, though. Like maybe an hour ago?”

  My face blazed in fire. And he just now thought to tell me?

  Fuck.

  I pushed my hand through my hair. “Well, why did she leave?”

  He shrugged, leaning against the door. He closed his eyes and I knew I was losing him. He really needed to stop with this getting wasted shit. He was getting too damn old for it. We’d be graduating soon, and hopefully getting offers to play professionally. How many guys had we all heard about that threw it all away to liquor and fast women? I didn’t want him to become a statistic. He had a family he sent home money to: a momma and sisters.

  I shook his shoulder, and he jumped awake. “D?”

  “Man, I don’t know,” he groaned. “She just left.”

  “Did you say anything to her?”

  “I don’t think so. Candie and me were trying to get to my room quick, though.”

  My eyes had to have jumped a width in size in that moment, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. “Sh
e didn’t see Candie? Did she?”

  I wasn’t one to normally say anything about peoples’ appearances, but Candie, well she dressed liked what she did for a living. If Roxie knew there were prostitutes at this party… it wouldn’t look good. It would probably put her off. Even more so if she knew my brief history with Candie a few years back. She’d have no way to find out about that, though. Thank God.

  D was falling asleep on the wall again, and I gave up trying to get anything else out of him. He wouldn’t be able to tell me anything until he was sober. I shook him again, fighting myself from doing it too hard. He really managed to pummel any hopes of a decent night for me. One where there was no drama. No Ursula, Tanya, or Candie. One where it was just getting to know Roxie.

  He opened his eyes, frowning.

  “Rest this shit off, man,” I told him. “I swear to God if I see you with another drink tonight—”

  “Fine. Fine,” he said, pushing off the wall. “Sorry about your friend. If I remember something I’ll let you know.”

  I didn’t leave the hall until I saw him move into his room and close the door. The night was pretty much shot. I knew Roxie lived in the area, but I didn’t know which building. It would probably be weird if I went looking for her. I didn’t want her thinking I was some kind of creep or something. Fuck, D and his stupid shit. Tonight was the only time and place I knew I’d see her. I didn’t know where to find her, or if I’d ever see her again. There was always her intermural time on Thursday nights, but again, I had to be wary of the creep factor.

  I scratched into my hair as I left the hallway and headed to the kitchen. I needed a fuckin’ drink after all the crap that happened tonight.

  The apartment was still full, and I knew it would be for at least a few more hours. I was done entertaining, but I wouldn’t kick anyone out. My other roommate, Ryan, would most likely take care of things. He was on the basketball team as well. He was the more responsible one out of the three of us who lived here, and thank God for that. He wrangled the masses, handled the noise complaints, and kept D and myself out of trouble a few times over the years when we could have gotten busted for various things. Underage drinking being a big one. Booze always made it to these parties, and he kept the cops at bay by keeping our party noise in check. It really made me sick thinking about the way I used to be, how careless and irresponsible. It was so easy to pass it off for youth and stupidity, but in the end, we always made a choice. To pick up that first drink, to sleep with that girl. I was responsible for my own messes. I always had been.

  I got myself a drink when I made it into the kitchen. I was surprised that it ended up being water.

  I maneuvered through the bodies, attempting to make it back to my room. That’s when I saw Tanya. Platinum blonde hair, legs so long, and a smile that used to wrap me up and get to me, which was why I always took her back. She no longer had that effect on me. No longer had me in that all-consuming way. Ursula was absent from her. Good. I didn’t have the patience to handle both of them at the moment.

  Tanya, of course, saw me, and she waved me over to the group she was talking to.

  “Hey,” she said when I arrived. She attempted to hug me, but I made sure it was a relaxed side hug. We were done intimately, and I meant that.

  She frowned when she realized she was getting the cold shoulder. But only slightly. Tanya always kept up appearances.

  “You missed Ursula,” she said, turning her back to her group. They went on without her, though.

  “Oh?” I said, trying to sound interested before taking a drink of water.

  “Yeah. She left early. She had a test tomorrow and was tired of trying to find you.”

  She put her fingers on my chin, moving it and cooing at me like I was her little boy. That shit was always unattractive. I hated when girls went all Marilyn Monroe, raising their voices to unnecessarily high levels and trying to be cute. Little did they know what guys actually wanted was a woman. A real woman. A guy that didn’t want that was just a sick fuck and shouldn’t be messed with anyway.

  I moved my chin out of her fingers. “That doesn’t matter, Tanya. I told you girls I’m not messing with you both anymore.”

  She released the act. Crossing her arms, her faced fused into that of a classic Disney witch with a sadistic debutante twist. “I know. Who are you going to go with to the Valentine’s Day masquerade then? Everyone expects one of us.”

  “I honestly haven’t thought about it.” And I really hadn’t. The alumni put on a masked dance every year for the basketball team. It was held out at some fancy country club a few hours away, and it was all expenses paid. Another perk of being on a winning team. I probably would end up going by myself. Who gave a shit what everyone expected? Maybe I was tired of doing what everyone expected of me.

  I backed away from her with my water. “I’ll see you around. I’m turning in.”

  “Well, I’m available for it,” she said behind me. “I just wanted to let you know.”

  And I was sure she always would be. Available that is. I shook my head, heading into my room as previously stated.

  I found myself on my balcony, looking out aimlessly. Staring into nothing but green grass and the other buildings of my complex. I didn’t think I was looking for anything, but what I ended up spotting told me I was.

  A few floors below was another balcony and a girl. The one I wanted to talk to tonight.

  Roxie lay on a lounger, a laptop on her lap illuminating her face in the night. Her legs were raised, her knees knobbed in. Her black shorts revealed the deep brown tone of her skin, her ample thighs and calves exposed to me. She had on a white t-shirt that had a wide neck, falling off her shoulder and revealing more skin. Her long hair was up on top of her head, and she had on some of the biggest black-framed glasses I’d ever seen. The likes of which made me smile at the way they made her look. She really was so pretty. Her sweetness alluring.

  She was chewing her lip, deep in concentration. I almost dared not to say anything, just stare at her in hopes that by some small chance she’d know I was there and would look up naturally. I wasn’t good for patience, though, and I wanted to talk to her.

  “Roxie,” I said to her. Not loudly. I didn’t want to scare her.

  Despite my attempt at not being too loud, she still jumped and looked up. When she saw me her mouth dropped open, and she ripped her glasses off her face.

  “Griffin,” she said, snapping her laptop closed. “Uh, hi?”

  The word came out like a question, and I laughed. “Hey. I heard you came by tonight. Why did you leave? I was looking for you.”

  Her plump lip went back into her mouth, and she moved her hand restlessly up and down her arm. “I suppose I was tired. I’m not really the party type I guess.”

  The unease I had earlier left me. She didn’t leave because of Candie, and she was actually like me. Not one for the party scene. I wanted to admit that to her, so I decided to tell her. “I’m not really either. Into the parties that is. I really wanted you to stay, though. I wanted to talk to you.”

  Her eyes veered away and I didn’t know why. Perhaps she didn’t like that she had to keep looking up at me to talk to me. That was even better. I could go down to her. “Do you mind if I… if I come down?”

  Her lashes fluttered a bunch when her gaze returned to me. “Come down?”

  I gestured down there. “To you. Do you mind if I come down and talk to you? That way you won’t have to look up at me.”

  I did notice what I just did there. Pass off my intent to see her. I really didn’t want her to think I was some weird guy, so I went about what I wanted casually.

  She gripped her glasses, turning them in her hands. She looked uncomfortable, and I started to regret what I just asked, but that regret went out the window with her next words.

  “Sure,” she said.

  Chapter Seven

  Roxie

  I didn’t know why I told Griffin it was okay for him to come down to my apartment. It r
eally wasn’t. It didn’t sit well with me after what I found out about him. Despite that, I said yes anyway. I knew the type of person he was. The things he took part in. So why did I give him permission to come to me? Allow him to be in one of my most intimate of spaces, my home. I could only gather that my obvious feelings for him outweighed my reservations. I really was one of those stupid girls that succumbed to him and believed in the magic of who he was. I just didn’t understand why he continued to talk to me. He was leaving his own party now, and he was doing so to spend time with me. Why would he do that when he had already been with two girls tonight? Ones who most assuredly didn’t look or act as shy and reserved as me. I just didn’t understand Griffin Chandler.

  He just didn’t make sense to me.

  I hid my laptop first. That was the most important thing. He wouldn’t understand my online sessions and I didn’t want to risk him seeing them. After that, I didn’t have time for anything else. He knocked. He was here.

  I tugged down on my shorts, making the journey to my door on bare feet. Before I answered, I thought over my plans for tonight. I wouldn’t let him stay long. He said he wanted to talk to me. Maybe it was about something specific and then he’d leave.

  I nodded at my game plan to tell him to go soon and then opened the door to the big man on campus.

  Griffin filled both the width and height of the doorframe. In fact, he would have to lower his head a bit to come into the room. He wore faded jeans and a thin t-shirt that covered his trained definition, exposing his sculpted arms.

  “Hey,” I said, hanging onto the open door. I did so as if it was my lifeline. There was still time to close the door, to turn him away.

  He said, “hi,” giving a small smile that curved up in the corner of his lips, and I knew I wouldn’t make him leave initially. He sent a flutter into my heart. Even after all the crap tonight.

  Widening the door, I allowed him to pass me, and just like I predicted, he had to hunch a bit to come in.