Trouble's What You're In

by Danielle Allen

  Seconds later, the bathroom door opened, and a dripping wet James Williams strolled out.

  “Hey,” I greeted him as I took in the sexy sight.

  “Kim left?” he mumbled as he grabbed a pair of boxer briefs and socks. He dried off, not bothering to cover himself.

  I tried not to check him out, but I couldn’t help it. “Yeah, she’s gone. She said she’s going to go to the police station before her class.”

  “That’s good. If she tells them she saw you,”—he glanced at me— “that’s going to help. It has to.”

  “I’m praying for a miracle.”

  Wordlessly, he sat on the other side of the bed to put on his socks.

  “Jay?”

  “Yeah?”

  Eyeing his profile, I waited for him to look back at me. He didn’t. “Are we okay?” I asked quietly.

  His jaw clenched. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Jay…”

  He put on his shirt. “What’s up?”

  “Can you look at me, please?”

  He turned his body so that he was facing me. He didn’t say anything, but I could see it all over his face.

  “We don’t lie to each other.” I moved so that I was within arm’s reach and put my hand on his. “Aiden and I kissed. That’s it.”

  He ripped his eyes away from mine and stood. “It is what it is.”

  My brows furrowed. “I just wanted you to know.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you seemed… I don’t know. You didn’t seem okay after Kim said…what she said.” I paused. “Talk to me.”

  “What do you want me to say? You want me to tell you that I’m happy for you?”

  Although I was sensitive to how the situation went down, I had a lot on my plate, and I didn’t plan for anything to happen.

  “No, it’s not that. But I don’t know. I feel like we should talk about it.”

  He pulled on his sweatpants roughly. “There’s nothing to talk about at this point, right?”

  I folded my arms. “Jay—”

  “Because I remember asking you what happened with him and you didn’t mention it then.”

  My mouth hung open, but words didn’t come out.

  I didn’t tell you because of all the other stuff going on, I argued in my mind.

  After he put on his sneakers, he looked up at me. “But we don’t lie to each other, right?”

  “Jay, it wasn’t like that.”

  “I told you, it is what it is.” He grabbed his wallet. “I’m heading to class early.”

  “There’s a lot on my plate right now and this thing with you and me just happened last night,” I reasoned as I followed him down the hall. “I didn’t say anything about Aiden because it didn’t matter in the whole grand scheme of the story.”

  With his backpack and his duffle bag, he gave me one last look. “Alright, Brooklyn.” His tone was flat and his expression even flatter.

  Just before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Jay looked out the peephole and shook his head.

  “Must be for you,” he muttered as he swung the door open.

  There was a man with a bouquet of at least two dozen red roses staring at his clipboard. “Hi! Delivery for Brooklyn Cage.”

  Jay took a step back and I walked forward.

  “I’m Brooklyn Cage,” I stated as I approached him.

  “These are for you.” He handed the bouquet to me first and then tried to hand me the clipboard. “And I need you to sign here.”

  I couldn’t hold the bouquet and the clipboard and almost dropped them both.

  “Here,” Jay sighed, taking the bouquet from my arms.

  “Mr. Black says he’s sorry about what happened at Gino’s yesterday,” the delivery man said unnecessarily.

  “Wow,” Jay muttered.

  I quickly signed the paperwork and shoved it back into his hands. “Thank you,” I told him through clenched teeth.

  Closing the door, I looked at Jay who had an unreadable look on his face. “Here are your flowers. I have to go.”

  “I don’t know what this is about,” I stammered with my eyes wide.

  He shrugged. “It’s about what happened at Gino’s apparently,” he said as he walked out.

  I stood in stunned silence, clutching my flowers, staring at the closed door.

  I sighed loudly. “Great,” I grumbled, placing the bouquet on the kitchen table. I plucked out the card. “Forgive me. Aiden.”

  With an even more dramatic sigh, I showered and then spent the rest of the day in the office completing schoolwork. If I had any chance of getting any of that financial aid loan money, I knew I had to prove that my grades didn’t take a hit during the transition. My head started hurting during the late afternoon and by the evening, it was throbbing. I hadn’t heard from Jay or Kim, but I had two missed calls from Aiden. The entire day stressed me out and I needed to breathe.

  I took two pain pills, grabbed my crate, and searched for my journal. As I was digging around, I noticed a bunch of stuff that wasn’t mine.

  Did Jay grab the wrong crate?

  I went to the other crate and found my journal and started writing. I couldn’t get through a paragraph before I felt like I was having my very first migraine. I turned the light off and got comfortable on the futon. I just needed half an hour in complete silence and darkness to feel better.

  Five hours later, I woke up with a blanket draped over me and a bonnet on my head. I didn’t have a bonnet or a blanket with me when I fell asleep, so I knew Jay had returned home and covered me up. I wasn’t sure why that brought me to tears, but it did.

  …

  Chapter Twelve

  I didn’t want it to feel awkward with Jay, so I’d planned to talk to him when I woke up in the morning. Unfortunately, because I’d fallen asleep without setting my alarm, I didn’t have time. I had a morning class that I had to attend, and he was still sleeping. After class, I went to the bakery in the dining hall and picked up the biggest cinnamon rolls they had. It was a peace offering to break the ice.

  “Hello?” I answered the phone as I was on my way home.

  “Brooklyn? It’s Carrie Yates,” Carter’s mom greeted.

  “Hi, Mrs. Yates.”

  “I’m sorry I’m just getting around to calling you back. There’s been a lot to do planning Carter’s… funeral,” she explained, her voice merely a whisper.

  “I understand. I just wanted to call and check on you. Kim told me about the update…” I let my sentence trail off because I didn’t want to be insensitive.

  “Smoke inhalation! I knew she didn’t drown. My baby was a phenomenal swimmer. If she didn’t stop competing, she could’ve been in the Olympics! She wouldn’t have drowned. I told you. I told everyone. I knew she didn’t drown.”

  “I know. You were right. I’m glad you trusted your gut.”

  “Did you speak with the boys?”

  “Um, well, they aren’t exactly talking to me,” I started, unsure of how much she knew and how much I should tell her. “The cheerleaders made up some stuff about me and long story short, none of them are speaking to me. But I didn’t do what they’re saying I did. I was at the party, but I was in the basement for most of it with a classmate.”

  “Aiden Black.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “How did you know?”

  “I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”

  My heart rate accelerated. “Oh…”

  “There’s a lot of things being said, but I trust my gut. I know Carter didn’t set a boat on fire and I know you didn’t have anything to do with her death.”

  My eyes pricked with tears. “I didn’t.”

  “I know.” She paused. “But someone did, and we intend to get to the bottom of it. Will you be at the wake on Friday?”

  “Yes. I’ll be there. I’m coming straight from class.”

  “Will you say a few words?”

  I was quiet for longer than I intended. �
�Okay.”

  “She would’ve liked that,” Mrs. Yates whispered before clearing her throat. “I have business to attend to, but I will see you on Friday.”

  After we said our goodbyes, I sat in my parking spot for a minute or two, reflecting. It was a good thing that the Yates family believed that I wouldn’t do anything to Carter. But the comment she made about not talking to me about what was going on was distressing.

  And I still haven’t heard back from Kim!

  I called Kim’s burner phone and when I didn’t get an answer, I called her actual phone number. She answered on the second ring.

  I made a face when I heard her voice. “Kim?”

  “Hey! How are you?”

  I looked around my empty car in dramatic confusion. “On the fucking edge of my seat. How are you?”

  “That’s good to hear,” she replied robotically. “I’m fine.”

  “Did you…go yesterday?” Something in her tone made it evident that I shouldn’t say too much on her line.

  “Yeah, class went well,” she answered. “I’m on a lunch date right now, but can I call you when I get back to campus?”

  I lowered my voice. “Are you okay? You sound off.”

  “Yeah, I’m just so hungry. I ordered a burger and I hope they don’t burner it. I’m famished!” She let out a forced laugh that made me uncomfortable.

  Burner it? Her burner phone?

  “Kim…?”

  “Okay no problem. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”

  “Okay…” I was unsure of what to do or say next. “Talk to you soon.”

  “Bye!”

  She hung up before I could tell her goodbye.

  The whole conversation made me uneasy. I put the car in drive and sped across campus to Jay’s apartment. With my bag in one hand and the cinnamon rolls in the other, I had a hard time maneuvering my way in. Maybe if I had been paying closer attention, I would’ve seen that Jay’s car wasn’t parked outside.

  I let out a loud, dramatic sigh.

  I needed to talk to my best friend, and he wasn’t home. Besides the fact that we needed to work out our own situation, I needed to tell him about the conversation with Mrs. Yates and Kim.

  “Is he avoiding me?” I wondered aloud as I placed the cinnamon rolls on the kitchen counter.

  When I turned around and saw the flowers still sitting in the trashcan, I wondered if Jay noticed that I threw them out.

  Or if he cared.

  I needed to sort out my feelings for Jay, but it was so complicated.

  I went to the office to finish my journaling that I’d started the day before. But I was quickly sidetracked when I noticed Carter’s belongings in the second crate. Pulling out her book of words, I smiled.

  Now this is the Carter I knew and loved.

  I opened the black leather-bound notebook, remembering the days she’d spend writing the finished drafts of her poems, quotes, and random missives. All freshman year she said she was going to have it published. But by the end of sophomore year, she had abandoned her passion to focus on being a cheerleader.

  Dedicated to my parents, my big sister, and The Trifecta, I read silently with my eyes watering.

  I never knew about the dedication. As I read the work that was between the pages, most of the pieces I remembered. When we were roommates, I would proofread for her. If she completed work when she was back home, she would get her sister to proofread. So, every now and again, I would come across a piece I’d never read before. And it would take me back to our three years of best friendship. I felt like I was discovering new parts of Carter Yates all over again. But sometimes it felt like she was in the room.

  Third Eye Love You.

  I sat up as I read the title again. Folding my legs underneath me, I read her words carefully.

  Third Eye Love You

  It’s the little things.

  The little jokes.

  The little looks.

  The little touches.

  The little light that ignites the eye when he sees her.

  It’s the little things.

  The little sighs.

  The little comments.

  The little flirtations.

  The little smile that lights the face when she sees him.

  It’s the little things.

  My third eye never misses the little things.

  Each time electricity crackles between she and he, my third eye sees and says nothing.

  And when I ask myself why, it’s clear that it’s the little things.

  The little hurt.

  The little ache.

  The little pain.

  The little break that cracks my heart when I see them and know it’s real.

  It’s the little things.

  The little like.

  The little love.

  The little hope.

  The little dream that tells me that she and he are meant to be.

  It’s the little things.

  My third eye never misses the little things.

  Each time thunder rumbles inside of me, my third eye knows and says nothing.

  And when I ask myself why, it’s clear that I don’t want to be left alone in the storm.

  I closed the book and thought about the words and what they could’ve meant. I read it again. I was only halfway through it the second time when I heard the front door open.

  Jumping to my feet, I ignored the flutter that danced in my belly and flew out of the room. “Jay!”

  He looked alarmed. “Why are you yelling and running at me?”

  “We need to talk,” I responded, instantly regretting using those dreaded four words.

  He cringed. “Can I put my stuff down first?”

  “Yeah,” I answered, shifting from one foot to the other. “I bought you a cinnamon roll when you’re ready.”

  He looked at the box sitting on the counter and then let out an aggravated sigh. “You know I can’t resist cinnamon rolls.”

  I smiled. “I know.”

  He met me on the couch five minutes later. “What’s up?” he asked before taking a bite.

  The icing dribbled on his lip and for a second, I wanted to lick it off. Instead, I looked away.

  “I talked to Mrs. Yates today,” I started. “We’d been playing phone tag. She called on Monday morning when my phone was dead, and even though I called her yesterday, she wasn’t able to get back to me until today.”

  “Any news?”

  “Mrs. Yates knows there’s a conspiracy against me.”

  He coughed, choking on the bite he’d just taken. “What?”

  I nodded. “She wouldn’t say much about what she knows though. She said she couldn’t talk about it.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  “Probably not great, but she believes me. She knows I didn’t have anything to do with what happened. She said she shouldn’t say much more, but she knew I didn’t do anything to Carter.”

  “That’s good. That’s a win,” Jay assured me as he chewed. “Is that what she called to tell you?”

  “No, she called to tell me the cause of death was smoke inhalation.”

  We were both quiet for a moment.

  “She’s looking for the truth,” I told him with a hopeful smile. “I don’t think she’s going to rest until the truth comes out. I think it’s going to be okay.”

  He wiped his hand with a napkin and rocked his shoulder into me. “It’s going to be better than okay. You’re going to be good.”

  I hooked my arm around his, keeping our bodies in contact. “Are we going to be good?”

  “Yes.” He sat back, removing his arm from being pinned to mine and draped it around my shoulders instead. “We’re good.”

  “Can we talk it out and—?”

  My phone rang loudly, interrupting my sentence. I glanced on the table and saw it was from Aiden.

  Of all the times he could’ve called, why now? I grumbled to myself as I redirected my attention to Jay.

  From his set
jaw, it was clear he saw the call. “You can take it. It’s cool.”

  I ignored the call. “No. We’re in the middle of a conversation. And I wanted to talk about what happened between us. Our friendship—”

  The phone rang again. Aiden’s name flashed across the screen again. I felt like he was calling to get a thank you for the flowers, so I didn’t want to answer the phone. But I could almost see the wheels turning in Jay’s head and I started to feel like not answering the call looked bad.

  “Pick it up,” he dared me.

  So, I picked it up.

  “Hello?”

  “Did you notice anyone else in Gino’s when we were there?” Aiden questioned loudly.

  I jumped, not expecting those to be the first words out of his mouth. “What?”

  “At Gino’s! Was someone else in the restaurant?”

  “No… not that I can remember. Why?”

  “That email,” he growled. “I’m going to fucking kill someone.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Jay stopped pretending he wasn’t listening and looked directly at me, brows furrowed.

  Aiden let out a string of expletives.

  “What’s going on?” I asked again, holding Jay’s gaze. “I don’t know what email you’re talking about.”

  “Check the school email account. Someone is sending out bullshit speculating about what happened at the party,” Aiden replied heatedly.

  Jay already had his phone in his hand and the look on his face made my stomach sink.

  “I’ll check it out and call you back,” I told him.

  Before he could respond, I disconnected the call.

  “What does it say?” I asked as my finger punched the student email icon on my screen.

  I didn’t have to scroll far to find the email in question.

  Subject: We’re Allowed To Be Concerned

  Hello Concerned Students,

  University Falls Institute of Technology senior Carter Yates (21) was found dead last Sunday morning on the edge of Lake Falls, just behind the Pi Rho Omicron Fraternity House on Fraternity Row. The $200,000 cabin cruiser owned by PRO President Trevor Dowd was set on fire. The PROs, represented by Trevor’s father, Harrison Dowd, remain tight lipped and have deferred to their lawyer for all questions. And outside of the news of Carter Yates’s untimely death, the UFIT Administration has said nothing to the student body or the press about how she died or how the fire started.