“I just want some magazines,” Matilda added from the backseat.
“I need a few computer books,” Laura added sheepishly. “You didn’t have to bring us, though. It was really nice of you.”
Aric kept his gaze fixed on me. “And you?”
“You’re getting a massage out of it,” I reminded him. “Stop your complaining. You weren’t doing anything anyway.”
“That’s not true,” Aric protested. “I had a whole afternoon of NBA basketball on my schedule.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure we’ll make it back to your place in time for you to watch hours of boring stuff.”
“We’d better.”
Once we got inside, everyone split up – even Aric. “Where are you going?”
“I need a few things,” Aric said. “I might as well get them now. Hey, you’re wearing it.”
I glanced down and watched as he reached for the chain under my shirt, pulling out his Christmas gift to me. It was a sterling silver moon on a chain that had been made by a Native American jewelry shop in Arizona. Aric had ordered it special and I had looked on it with a sense of awe and glee when I opened it. I had been wearing it ever since – and it wasn’t just because it made him so happy whenever he saw it.
“Of course I’m wearing it,” I said, snatching it back from him. “I love it.”
Aric smiled and dropped a quick kiss on my forehead. “Hurry up with your shopping,” he instructed. “I figured you could just come home with me after we drop your roommates off.”
“I don’t want to sit around watching basketball all day.”
“That’s not what I had in mind,” Aric winked as he sauntered off.
I felt a little chill rush through me at his words. It warred with the warm and tingly feeling I got every time he smiled at me. Yeah, I was a goner where he was concerned. Who wouldn’t be?
I perused the bookshelves for textbooks I might need, but ultimately opted to get them all on Kindle this semester. Three of my classes this term were English courses – two literature and one creative writing. The other two were sociology and history. None of those required physical textbooks. I had made a conscious decision to stay away from journalism classes this time around, mostly because Sam Blake was teaching the only one on my list I could enroll in. I still didn’t know what to think of him, and I figured space was the best way to make sure I wouldn’t have to deal with him any time soon. Sometimes I’m a coward. I choose to think of it as strategy, though.
Since I didn’t need anything for my classes, I bought a gossip rag magazine and a Diet Coke, and sat down at a bistro table to people watch and find another reason to hate the Kardashians.
After about fifteen minutes – and five new reasons to outright loathe reality television – I found my righteous indignation and moral superiority interrupted by the arrival of Mark and Paris. “Hey,” Paris smiled brightly and slid into the chair across from me. “What are you doing?”
“Hating popular culture,” I replied.
“I do that on a daily basis,” Paris agreed.
Mark grabbed a chair from an empty table a few feet away and drew it over to my table before sitting down. “Oh, Kim Kardashian is hot,” he said when he caught sight of the cover of the magazine.
Paris frowned at him. “You think she’s hot?”
“She’s definitely hot. Wait. Unless you don’t think I should think she’s hot.”
Paris frowned while I tried to smother my laughter. “Way to think for yourself, Mark.”
“What?” Mark looked pained. “What did I do now?”
“Nothing,” Paris sighed breezily. “I’m just disappointed to find out you’re a typical man.”
Mark looked suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m going to go and get a coffee. You want one?”
Paris nodded, reaching over to pull the magazine away from him as he started to walk away. “I’ll keep this.”
“She’s not hot,” Mark said hurriedly before he scampered away.
“Men,” Paris blew out a disgusted sigh.
“So how was your Christmas break?” I asked. I realized we hadn’t really had a chance to talk in weeks. Our living arrangements and mutually unsatisfactory roommate situation were making friendship a little difficult right now.
“It was good,” Paris said, a small smile playing at her lips. “I took Mark home to meet my parents.”
“How did that go?”
“About as well as could be expected. Everyone was home. So it was a full house.”
Paris was one of eight kids. As an only child, just the thought of that many people under one roof made me claustrophobic. “Ugh.”
“It wasn’t so bad,” Paris laughed. “He had to bunk with my brothers, though, and they’re a little rambunctious.”
“When Aric went home with me for Thanksgiving my dad prowled the halls at night with a gun. Things could be worse.”
“How are things with Aric? I saw him over by the notebooks a few minutes ago, by the way.”
“Things are good,” I said. “Now.”
“Now?”
I launched into the story – all of it. I told her about the induction ceremony at Delta Omicron and Jessica’s mage pronouncement. I finished up with the confrontation with Aric and how he had showed up at the ski resort to make up. When I was done, Paris sat for a few moments in stunned silence. Finally, she let out a low whistle.
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t believe how much I miss now that we’re not living together.”
“I know,” I lamented. “I really miss being close to you. The fact that I can’t visit your room because of Brittany and you’re not comfortable coming to my room because of Laura only exacerbates things.”
“Exacerbates? Good word.”
“I’m taking three English classes this semester. I figured I should expand my vocabulary.”
“No journalism this semester?” Paris cocked an eyebrow curiously.
“No,” I shook my head emphatically.
“Trying to stay away from Professor Blake?”
“Yup.”
“That’s probably a smart move.”
I glanced around the café to make sure Mark wasn’t in hearing distance and then lowered my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Has Mark mentioned anything about them?”
Paris shook her head. “I’ve been trying to get information from him about the group, but he’s really tight-lipped.”
“Are you sure that he’s still part of it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Paris said, tightening her lips to keep from frowning. “He has regular meetings with them.”
“Doesn’t that make you nervous?”
“Truthfully? Yes. He’s Mark, though. He doesn’t have an evil bone in his body.”
I opened my mouth to make an inappropriate joke but Paris silenced me with a hard look. “Don’t go there,” she said. “So, things are better with you and Aric, though?”
“They are,” I agreed, showing her the Christmas gift he had so nervously presented me with.
“Oh, that’s pretty,” Paris said, taking it in her hand and running it through her fingers appreciatively. “That’s really nice.”
“What did Mark get you?”
“A sweater.”
“That’s nice.”
“It’s pink and fluffy.”
Ugh. “Did you thank him?”
“Of course. I just don’t wear it.”
“Doesn’t he ask about it?”
“Nope.”
“Do you think he knows?”
“Probably. My sisters were laughing hysterically when I opened it. I think that might have been a giveaway.”
“Bummer.”
“It’s the thought that counts.”
“Especially when it’s pink,” I laughed.
“Yeah. I know. Like he’s ever seen me wearing pink. Shh. Here he comes.”
“So, what classes are you taking this semester?” I changed the subject sm
oothly.
“Three art and two crap fillers.”
“I’ve got two of those, too.”
“Here we go.” Mark slid a cup of coffee in front of Paris with a wide smile as he returned to the table. “And Kim Kardashian is still not hot.”
Paris rolled her eyes. “Let it go.”
Mark blushed and cast his eyes downward. “So, how was your Christmas break?” He turned his attention to me as a defense mechanism.
“Bad and good,” I said truthfully.
“What was bad and good?” Aric appeared at the edge of the table, pulling a chair over and plopping down in it, capturing my hand in his.
“My Christmas break,” I replied dryly.
“Better good than bad, though, right?” Aric sent me a wolfish grin, leaning back in his chair and crossing his long legs at the ankle as he relaxed. “Hey, Paris.”
“Hey, Aric. I saw the gift you got Zoe for Christmas. It’s beautiful. Good job.”
Mark’s face fell. I felt a little bad for him. “I heard you got Paris a beautiful sweater,
Mark. That was really nice of you.”
Paris shot me a grateful look.
“It was pink,” Mark offered lamely.
Aric smirked. “I’m the best shopper ever. I should teach a class or something.”
“You’re really modest, too.”
“It goes well with my rugged good looks,” Aric agreed, reaching for my Diet Coke and taking a proprietary swig. “You need to start drinking regular pop. This stuff is gross.”
“Or you could buy your own,” I suggested, not entirely seriously. I was too busy basking in the comfort that was emanating from our little group. This was the way it should always be.
“Or,” Aric suggested brightly. “We could go and spend the rest of the afternoon naked.”
Mark looked horrified at Aric’s blatantness but Paris beamed widely. “I’d take him up on that suggestion if I were you.”
“You would?” Mark looked as though he was physically shrinking in his chair.
I sighed as I got to my feet. “Let’s go. You’re starting to make everyone uncomfortable.”
“Then my task is complete,” Aric smiled. “I knew I would wear you down.”
Sometimes he is just too yummy to deny.
Twenty-Two
Getting into a new class routine is always a pain the first week of a new semester. That wasn’t made any easier by the never-ending torrent of snow constantly being dumped on us. Michigan was mired in one of the snowiest -- and coldest -- winters on record. Class cancellations were starting to pile up at a frustrating rate – and this was from someone who usually detests going to class.
“We’re never going to learn anything if this keeps up,” Kelsey complained. She was impatiently looking out the window as the snow continued to fall. “They’ve already cancelled classes for tomorrow.”
“I like it,” Matilda admitted. The three of us were lounging around the common room watching mindless television and trying to pretend we weren’t going crazy while constantly cooped up. “It’s like an extended vacation.”
“I’m sick of the snow,” I admitted. “It’s making having a social life a little difficult.”
“What are you talking about?” Matilda laughed. “Aric always picks you up.”
“He does,” I agreed. “But he’s not my entire social life.”
“Since when?” Kelsey asked pointedly. “You two spend practically every night together. Not that I wouldn’t do the same thing. With all this snow, being curled up in a bed with a really hot guy sounds like heaven right now.”
I considered the statement. Kelsey was really pretty. No, I mean really pretty. As long as I had known her, though, I hadn’t seen her go out with a single guy. I wracked my brain trying to think of a single instance when she had shown interest in anyone of the opposite sex – or even the same sex -- but I was drawing a blank.
“Where is Laura?” Kelsey changed the subject. “She’s not out in this, is she?”
“She had to run an errand for Delta Omicron,” Matilda shrugged. “Maybe she’s spending the night there? I wouldn’t go out in this unless I absolutely had to. She probably decided to play it safe and stay there.”
“What kind of errand?” I asked, fighting to keep the suspicion out of my voice.
“I have no idea,” Matilda replied, her attention fixed on the television. “I didn’t really ask, though.”
“It’s probably safer for her to stay at the sorority house,” Kelsey agreed, although she didn’t look convinced.
“Yeah,” I sighed wearily. “It’s really crappy out there.”
“And we’re stuck in here,” Matilda grumbled. “With nothing to do or drink.”
“I’ve got a fifth of whiskey,” Kelsey announced. “We could mix it with something.”
“What?” I glanced around the room. All we had was Diet Coke.
Kelsey followed my gaze. “Maybe it won’t be so bad?” She sounded hopeful.
I was bored enough to try anything.
An hour later, I had completely forgotten my misgivings about whiskey and Diet Coke. I was even enjoying reality television.
“So what is the point of this show?” Matilda asked, sipping from her cup happily.
“They grow long beards and kill things? And that’s it.”
“Sometimes they do stupid stuff in the warehouse, too,” I said.
“I like them,” Kelsey announced. “I think they’re funny.”
“You’re so drunk you’d find clowns in a car funny right now,” I giggled.
Kelsey frowned. “Yeah? Well so is your face.”
“What?” Matilda was laughing so hard she tilted over as she sat cross-legged on the floor.
“What?” Kelsey asked, her face flushed from the alcohol. “Why are you making fun of me?”
“No one is making fun of you,” I laughed. “You’re drunk. You’re making fun of yourself.”
“I’m not drunk,” Kelsey scoffed. “You’re drunk.”
“I’m definitely drunk,” I agreed. “I’m not feeling so bad about the snow now, so that’s a good thing.”
“It’s snowing?” Kelsey’s face had gone blank.
Matilda dissolved into hysterical giggles again. “You’re so drunk.”
We looked up when the door to the common room opened and Laura stomped in.
She was dressed in a heavy overcoat and her knit hat, and she looked as though she’d trudged through an actual blizzard to get home.
“Oh, look, it’s Santa Claus,” I deadpanned.
Matilda broke into another laughing fit at the visual. “Where are my presence ... I mean my presents?” She hiccupped.
Kelsey smirked. “I want a pony.”
Laura didn’t look thrilled with our level of inebriation. “Well, I’m glad to see that my disappearance into the snowpocalypse didn’t worry anyone.”
I frowned. “We thought you were spending the night at the fraternity house.”
“Sorority house,” Matilda corrected me.
“Right, the sorority house. We thought you were there.” I thought about what I’d said for a second. “Although, spending the night at a fraternity house could be a lot more fun.” When they didn’t turn into werewolves and try to eat you, that is.
Matilda snorted out another laugh. “That’s my idea of Christmas.”
“What have you guys been drinking?” Laura asked as she stalked to the bedroom and shed her boots, coat and hat. I didn’t blame her for being a little annoyed. When you’re the only sober person in a roomful of drunks, things can get tiresome pretty quickly.
“Whiskey,” Kelsey announced proudly. “There’s still some left if you want some.”
“I think I’ll pass,” Laura said distastefully. “It’s a school night. I have classes tomorrow.”
“No you don’t,” Kelsey replied. “They’ve been cancelled.”
“They have?” Laura looked disappointed at the announcement.
/> “Yep. No classes for us. No learning. No learning ever again.”
“Go to bed,” I instructed. “You’re drunk.”
“And you’re seriously starting to bum us out,” Matilda slurred happily.
I raised my hand to give her a high-five, which she enthusiastically returned.
Unfortunately, our hand-eye coordination wasn’t exactly one hundred percent, and we missed. Badly.
Matilda dissolved into giggles again. “You missed.”
“You missed,” I shot back. “I was right on target.”
“Well, you two seem to be getting along,” Laura said coldly, weaving her way between Matilda and me, and plopping down on the couch. She crossed her arms over her chest and proceeded to pout.
“Is there something wrong with that?” I asked pointedly.
“Should there be?” Laura asked with something akin to a sneer on her face. “I just didn’t realize you guys were best buds. Last time I checked, you thought we were idiots for joining a sorority and we thought . you guys didn’t like us all that much.”
“We’re just taking the edge off during a snowstorm,” I said, my buzz rapidly burning away. “And I thought we had worked this whole sorority thing out?” Or at least tabled it for the foreseeable future.
“So I see,” Laura said. “So I always see.”
“What’s your glitch?” I asked. “You’re acting like we’ve done something wrong.”
“Wrong? You? Never,” Laura said sarcastically. “Not perfect little Zoe Lake. She never does anything wrong.”
Matilda straightened up and focused her eyes on Laura worriedly. “We weren’t doing anything. Honest. I would never do that.”
Do what? “What would you think we were doing?”
“Bonding without me,” Laura replied piteously. “Like you always do.”
This was starting to get old. “We were just having a few drinks and watching television. It’s not some evil conspiracy.”
“Like things with you usually are,” Laura shot back.
I got wobbily to my feet. “I don’t understand what your problem is.”
“Of course you don’t,” Laura countered. “You don’t understand anything that doesn’t revolve around you.”
I shook my head tiredly. “I’m going to bed. I can’t deal with any more of your drama.”
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