Jason and Nicole still hadn’t gotten their relationship together and, although they’d slept together a couple more times, they were still emotionally torturing each other. I was having lunch today with J, and I was going to try one last ditch effort to get through to him.
Maddy and I had been doing great. She’d been much more open with me and it had been wonderful. Not to mention that the sex had been fucking amazing. She’d really let her insecurities go.
When I pulled up to the diner, I could see that Jason’s pick-up was already there. He was so damn hard-headed that I didn’t think anything I said was really going to make a difference. I told Maddy I’d try one last time, though.
“Hey, J, what’s up?”
“You tell me, dude, although I have a feeling I already know.”
As soon as I sat down, the waitress made her way over and, when I looked up, I was shocked. “Alyssa?”
She smirked at me in that way that she used to when we were together. “Carter! It’s so good to see you.” She ran her finger down my arm and I moved away from her. “What can I get the two hottest boys on campus?”
Jason laughed and I kicked him under the table. “Shit, I’ll have a...uh…water and a double bacon cheeseburger.”
“And what can I get you, Carter?” She asked that in a way that let me know it wasn’t just the food that she was offering up.
“Just give me the same.”
“I’ll give you anything you ask for.” She winked at me, then walked off toward the kitchen. That girl just didn’t know when to quit. When I looked up at Jason, he was smiling at me.
“That girl never quits, does she?”
“You’re not kidding. Listen, she’s the last thing I wanted to talk about today.”
He groaned and shook his head. “I have a feeling I already know what you wanna talk about, Carter. Just drop it. She’s leaving today for the summer, and I’m going to be going back home.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t get it all out on the table and tell her how you feel.”
“Can’t we just let it go already, Carter? I’m done. It’s not happening. I’ve been moving on, or at least trying. While I might like her, it’s not gonna happen. I’m going to go back home, work all summer and, hopefully, this will all blow over.”
“Whatever you say, dude. It’s your life. I got my last shift at the club tomorrow. Are you gonna come over?”
I was thankful that Jason and Shawn had helped me so much with keeping an eye on Maddy. At first I knew they were just doing it as a favor to me, but now she was a part of our family. Shawn hadn’t been around as much lately, though, and I wasn’t really sure what was going on with him.
“Yeah, I’ll be there, but I need to get my truck worked on before I drive home. Can I borrow your car and I’ll come pick you up when you’re done with your shift?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“So, where’s my little sister today?”
Before I could answer, Alyssa was at our table. “Here’s your food, boys.” I could tell that she’d pulled her shirt down even more since the last time she’d been at the table. When she bent over to put our plates down, I swear I thought they were gonna fall out. I knew she thought that this was going to do something for me, but all it did was make me pity her. She still didn’t get that looks weren’t everything and I wasn’t interested. When I didn’t acknowledge her, she huffed and walked away while mumbling something under her breath.
“She went to campus to sell back her books and see a couple of friends.”
“That’s good. She’s really changed this year. I remember the first time you introduced us to her. She’d barely look us in the eye and seemed scared of everything. Now, she’s so open and gives us our shit right back.”
He was right, and I was so happy that I wasn’t the only one who noticed. “Yeah, she’s pretty amazing.”
We finished our burgers and when Alyssa dropped off the check, she continued the “in your face” approach. When she walked away, we both laughed. “So, what do you want to tip the lovely lady, Carter?”
“Truthfully, an adult sized T-shirt would be the perfect tip.”
“Have you noticed anything weird with Shawn lately?”
“What do you mean?” I knew he hadn’t been around as much, but I figured he was just busy.
“He’s been going to the gym constantly, and he’s always getting these calls on his phone from weird numbers. He goes into a different room to answer them, and then usually leaves after he gets off the phone.”
“Have you asked him about it?”
“Yeah. He said he just has a lot of study groups and shit with finals. C’mon, though, Carter. When has Shawn ever studied?”
Jason was right. Shawn had always pulled straight A’s without ever needing to open a book. He was pre-med now, though, so maybe he needed it. “I dunno, dude. It can’t be anything that serious. I mean, it’s Shawn.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
I hoped I was.
Madison
I just got done having lunch with my study group that helped me get through Philosophy this year. I’d really met some great people this semester and I owed most of that to Carter. He showed me that it was okay to be myself and that if people couldn’t like me for me, then they didn’t matter.
I’d definitely started to open up more to everyone, and it felt great not to have to carry everything on my shoulders. I was almost at the bookstore when one of the classroom doors opened and I was pulled inside.
Chris was standing in front of me, and my heart started to beat faster. This was the first time we’d been alone together since he’d snuck into Carter’s room while I was asleep.
He went to give me a hug and I took a step back. “What do you want, Chris?”
“You look good, Madison.”
I wasn’t going to do this with him right now, and I was really uncomfortable. “I need to go, Chris. I have things to do.”
I started to open the door, but he pushed it closed. “I just want to talk to you for a second.”
I turned around slowly. He was much too close for comfort right now. I ducked under his arm and walked to the middle of the room. “I can give you five minutes. What is it?”
“You’ve gotten feisty, haven’t you?” He was smiling at me in a way that made my stomach turn. I started to walk toward the door again. “All right, wait, I’ll stop. Listen, I don’t know if you know this but I’m transferring to NYU.”
He was leaving? Yes! I couldn’t let him know how happy I was that I’d never need to deal with him again. “Why?”
“This school just isn’t right for me. I’m actually moving to New York tomorrow. I figured I’d get used to the city in the summer before school starts.”
“That’s good for you, Chris.”
He started to move toward me and I started to circle around the classroom and make my way to the door, in case things got bad. “Come with me.”
“What?” Was he crazy? After everything that happened, he really thought that asking me to come with him would work? I knew that he wasn’t all there, but I was really starting to question his sanity.
“I want you with me, Madison. We can have a new life together. I already have an apartment for us. You have good grades too. I’m sure you could get into NYU.”
“Chris, we aren’t together anymore. I’m with Carter now, and I’m happy. This is something you need to accept. I think it’s great that you’re starting over in New York, but I’m not going with you.”
I saw his eyes darken. I was almost at the door now. It was a look I knew all too well, and I knew I didn’t have long before things got bad. I just needed to reach the doorknob.
“So, was everything a lie then? Did you just pretend to love me so I’d take you here? How can you sit here and say that shit to me!”
My hand gripped the doorknob. “Chris, I hope you have a good life. Have fun in New York.” He seemed to realize I was leaving and, before he could reach me, I was in the crowded hallway.