Discovering April (10 page)

“What are you doing later? Let’s go out?”

“It’s Monday!” I roll my eyes; this girl is crazy.

“Perfect! It’s Margarita Mondays at the Bar!”

I’m staring again, and this time she stares me right back and wiggles her eyebrows, waiting for my answer. I know she’s not going to take no for an answer and part of me is grateful. I could use some girl time… actually, I could use a girlfriend, period.

“Okay, Margarita Monday it is.” I finally force a smile.

“Good girl, cuz we need to get you out.”

I laugh finally, for the first time today, and it feels good. This girl Ro is okay in my book.

We sit there at the table, talking about everything and nothing until I notice I’m late for my next class.

FINALLY WALKING OUT of the building, I take a deep breath of the fresh air. Man, that class was draining. Today we learned how to solve problems with infinity in them, something I can’t quite get a handle on yet. I sigh, shaking the thoughts of math out of my head. I reach into my book bag for my keys when I finally come to the realization— I don’t have my car.
Crap, I didn’t think this through
. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and search for local cab numbers. That’s when I hear it, the exhaust. Jared pulls up in the same spot where he dropped me off this morning and kicks down his kickstand. Pulling his helmet off his head, he places it down between his legs and scans the hill. I didn’t notice anyone beside me because I was slightly distracted, but I hear someone at my ear.

“Looks like your
ride
is here…” Ro winks at me.

“Yup, there’s my
carpool
!” I shrug back as I walk down the pathway to the parking lot. Jared’s eyes lock on me making my way to him and I watch as a small smile begins to crown his cheeks. It’s then that he turns forward and straps his helmet back on. I turn my head, trying to hide my disappointment. A group of jocks have tried to look nonchalant hanging out in front of the Hall, probably taking notes, getting ready to report to gossip central. Let’s make it good. Picking up confidence from somewhere deep down, I saunter out past the crew of football jerks, one foot in front of the other as my hips emphasize every step I take.

“Ow! Work it, gurl!” I hear yelled from the hill where Ro is sitting with the catch of the day. I spin, flipping my hair, and wave at her. I’m almost by the bike when Jared turns his head back and watches me walk the last few steps.

“You’re late,” I tell him, taking the extra helmet from his hands.

“Well, I didn’t want to miss your little runway show over there.” He nods past me.

Hiding a smile, I shrug strapping on my helmet. “Yeah, ya know, I get my Tyra on once and a while.” I grab his shoulder as I swing my leg over and hop in behind him, letting my hand strategically slide down his arm to his waist as he kicks up the stand. He guns it and roars through the parking lot. If people weren’t staring at us before, we’ve got their attention now. Rounding the corner and stopping at the red light, I take the time to scoot myself close to him again, just close enough to smell his soap. Only, I can’t seem to smell it through the leather jacket he’s wearing. I pull my face closer until I’m practically touching him. The light turns green and the force of him hitting the gas makes me lean away from him again. He’s driving strangely, almost like he’s mad. It’s not a serene ride like this morning; it’s harsh and fast, almost like the ride home from the orchard. I try to peek my face around to gauge his expression, only every time I get close to him he seems to put the pedal to the metal and I’m forced back again. After the second longest ride of my life, he finally pulls into his driveway and rips himself from my grasp. Leaving me to put the kickstand down, I steady the bike against it and slip off.

“I know what that was, you know.” He flings his helmet over the railing to the porch.

“What was what?”

“That show you put on. You’re not fooling anyone!” He spins on his heels and glares at me.

“It wasn’t like that—”

“Save it!” he interrupts, putting his hand up to stop me before leaving me staring after him.

His work boots stomp up the porch steps and through his front door. Closing my mouth, I turn and hop over the flowerbed. Before I shoulder my way through my front door, I turn back to the ‘scene of the crime,’ trying to figure out what just happened. Shaking my head, I slip inside. Maybe I’ll never know.

An hour or so later, I’m sitting at my desk, trying to get a hold on my math homework when I find myself daydreaming about riding the motorcycle with Jared this morning. There’s something about it that calms me. I lean back slightly, risking a glance out my window into Jared’s. My shoulders slump when I notice his blinds are closed. Still insistent that I catch a glimpse of him, I sit up on my knees and he finally comes into view below me, packing away some tools into a bag. My math homework is the last thing on my mind as I watch him throw the bag over his shoulder and saunter towards the garage. I only have to wait a few more seconds before he comes back out and hops into his truck. The exhaust flares as he zips down the street and around the corner.

I sigh, reluctant to get back to my homework. I wonder what Jared’s mood swings are about… is it something I did?

“Ugh! Get a grip, April!” I scold myself, collapsing back into my chair. My mind zones out again as I stare at the infinity symbol in the problem in front of me. There’s something about it that speaks to me. Completely trying to procrastinate some more, I shake the mouse on my computer and search “Infinity Symbol.” I press the first link, which lists it as
Eternity, empowerment, and everlasting love
. Hmm, I like that. I like how it has no beginning and no end — it’s eternal. This discovery strikes something inside me.

WITH MY EARLIER drama, I completely forgot that I agreed to go out with Ro… until she calls me. I try to blow her off, believe me, but there is something about that girl that you just can’t say no to. As I get dressed and pressed for my very first ‘girl’s night,’ I decide that with all the conflicting emotions I have flowing through me right now, I definitely could use a drink! So, that’s just what I do.

Ro takes me to the college bar down the street from the University. I don’t even know if it has a name; it’s literally just referred to as ‘The Bar.’ I figure it’s safe, being Hunter usually just frequents frat parties. Ro seems to know everyone. She kisses the bouncer at the door on the cheek and we are ushered in without even getting our ID’s checked. I watch in awe as she saunters right up to the bar and provocatively leans over, kissing the bartender on the cheek in greeting before whispering in his ear and pointing to a booth by the front window.

By the time she turns around again, she is ushering me over to the booth.

I’m curious. “You come here often?”

She shrugs. “This is one of my date places.”

“Date places?”

“You know, a safe place to meet people!”

“No… I don’t think I do know,” I mutter, glancing around the dive bar filled with college students. A few of them I’ve seen on campus, but no one I’ve ever talked to and thankfully no one that knows Hunter.

Before I can overthink things again, the bartender shows up and places a pitcher of what smells like pure tequila.

“Yum! Thanks, Scottie!” She blows a kiss to the bartender’s retreating back before she begins to pour us two drinks. She sits back and I feel her eyes scan me up and down as she inspects me. “So, what is your story?”

“Me? Oh… I don’t have a story.”

“Everyone has a story. Give it to me straight!”

“I… I don’t know. What’s your story?”

“I’m going to school for fashion. I’m trying to get my grades up to transfer into FIT in the city. But it’s not really working too well because I’m slightly distracted by all the fresh meat around.” She slightly screams the last three words to attract attention. It seems to work. The guys at the table a few feet away glance over at us, and I’m pretty sure I catch her wink at one of them.

“So I’ve noticed!” I roll my eyes and giggle.

“So what about you?” She returns her full attention to me again.

“I’m just doing general ed. right now. I don’t really have a major.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Ask away!” I take a gulp of margarita, mentally preparing.

“Were you planning your life around Hunter? Is that why you feel so lost now?”

“Whoa.” I almost choke as the ice gets stuck in my throat. When it finally melts, I cough once more. “Why can everyone see right through me, but I can’t notice it myself?”

“Oh girl, it’s written all over your face.” She reaches out her hand and places it over mine.

“It’s not like I planned this, I mean, maybe it all was subconscious, that I was waiting to see what
we
were doing… I don’t know.”

“And now you feel lost without him,” she confirms. I look out the window to avoid her stare. “Well, I say fuck ‘um. All of them! Literally!” She winks at me.

“Oh, no…”

“They play us, why can’t we play them right back? Two can play at that game baby!” She lifts her cup up. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game—but hate it because I can play it twice as good as you!”

After a fit of giggles, I clink my glass with hers. Not like I believe this philosophy, but because she makes me laugh. It feels good to laugh. Laughter is like the medicine my broken soul needs to heal again. So, I take it anywhere I can get it. Ro makes me laugh so I automatically like hanging out with her.

Two hours and two more pitchers later, I’m still sitting in the sperm-infested booth across from Ro as she makes out with the guy from the table across from us. I begin to get a little weirded out when he starts making growling noises and I get the feeling I should leave these two alone. It was fun while it lasted, gossiping and talking about male idiosyncrasies, but now I think it’s time to leave. Stumbling out into the street, I try and hail a cab.

“Hey, hun, I can give you a ride.”

I awkwardly turn to notice a bald heavyset man making his way to me. He’s easily twice my age and he is coming up to me like he knows me.

“No thanks, I’m good.” I expressively wave now to an empty street.

“Come on, sugar pants, let me take you home,” he tells me, coming too close for comfort.

My mind is blurry and my balance unstable, but I’m lucid enough to smell the alcohol on his breath, watch the evil thoughts play behind his eyes, and notice the creepy smile he flashes me. Now, I’ve never been the aggressive type, so I can only blame the words that come out of my mouth as coming straight from the tequila.

“Listen, tool bag, come any closer to me and the only place you’re going is to the hospital!”

His cheeks jiggle slightly as he laughs at me, thinking I’m joking. He has the gall to place his hand on my waist, lowering it slowly, testing my limits until he gets to my…

Winding up, I let my right fist fly. Tubby topples over when he can’t handle my right hook. I reach into my purse and spray his eyes with a steady stream of mace. He lets out a noise I can only describe as a screech when I start into him.

“Don’t you ever lay hands on a woman, you asshole!” I wave my trembling finger in his face for emphasis.

Two hulk-sized bouncers grab me, pulling me away from the dramatic whale on the floor, still grabbing at his cheek. They shove me onto the hood of a car and when the police officers take over, they check my I.D, and then the highlight of my night— they strap me in handcuffs. I’m then corralled into the back seat of the police cruiser and the red and blue lights flash with our departure. The sway of the car is making me sick and I have to lean my head against the glass to steady myself. The metal cuffs dig into the skin of my wrists, which are still awkwardly behind my back.

“Can we open a window?” I mutter, trying desperately to calm my stomach.

“Are you getting sick, Xena Warrior Princess?” The bald cop in the passenger side turns to ask me.

“No, you just reek of old man aftershave,” I retort, swallowing back puke.

The driver stifles a laugh as his partner continues, “Hmm, Are you drunk Ms. Landau?”