Graceful Ashes (5 page)

A small stone wall lined the patio. I turned and plopped my happy ass down. The chill of the stone seeped through the thin material of my sheer leggings, causing me to shiver. “What the hell was I thinking?” I bowed my head and massaged the back of my scalp with my fingertips.

“You weren’t thinking apparently.”

My eyes shot open and I lifted my head slowly. Hendrix was standing directly before me with his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing those almost black jeans with a grey Henley. But what caught my eye was the charcoal toboggan that was pulled low over his ears. He looked like a different person with his curly locks hidden, but those navy eyes of his were just as intense.

“Nice to see you too.” I straightened and covered my bare midriff with my arms.

“Here.” A black jacket dangled from his hand. “You look cold.”

“I wasn’t until now.” I shivered as a small gust of wind blew past us.

I took the jacket and quickly slid into it then zipped it to the top. “Thank you.” I smiled shyly as the mixture of woodsy cologne and marijuana tickled my nose.

“How do you know that douche bag, Eli?”

“I don’t exactly…”

His eyebrows rose. “Could’ve fooled me.”

I scoffed. “What are you trying to say?” My face heated from the accusation in his tone.

Hendrix took a seat beside me. He extended his legs to pull something from his front pocket. “Take a chill pill, pretty girl.”

My eyes widen as he slipped what looked like a homemade cigarette between his lips. He cupped a hand around the end and lit it. The joint burned brightly with each pull he took. He exhaled and the thick smoke danced around my face, the aroma, pungently sweet.

He held out the joint. “Here.”

His voice was strained as he stifled a cough.

I held my hand up in refusal. “I’m fine.”

“Take a hit, Zoey. It’s not like you haven’t done it before.” A wicked smile spread across his mouth.

I narrowed my eyes. “Technically you’re the one who blew the smoke down my throat; I didn’t take a hit on my own accord.”

Hendrix boisterous laugh echoed through the air between us.

“Way to throw a technicality into the mix.” He leaned closer and extended the joint once more. “It’s your call, pretty girl, last chance.”

My pulse quicken as I debated on what to do. If I took the joint it would be the second time during the night that I’d succumbed to peer pressure. But had I really been pressured into drinking? Not exactly. Was I really being pressured to smoke a joint? Again, not exactly. But deep down, something inside of me wanted to step outside of the box I had been sheltered in and experience all of those things. Whether they be a mistake or not.

I took the joint that rested between his first finger and thumb, and held it to my lips. I paused for a brief second then inhaled deeply. Instantly I choked then coughed to dislodge the thick smoke burning my lungs. “Shit.” I coughed again feeling like I was hacking up a lung.

“Breathe, Zoey. Relax and breathe, pretty girl.” Hendrix patted my back.

I caught a breath between coughs then another. After a handful of steady breaths my coughing fit passed and the high from that one deep hit smacked me in the face like a full-blown hurricane.

“I think that was a bad idea.” I cradled my head in my hands.

“In a few minutes you won’t feel so bad.” Hendrix caressed my back in small soothing circles

“How do you enjoy getting high?” I turned my head so that I could look at him.

“I’ve done it for far too many years to have much of an explanation for you. Hendrix scratched his scruffy chin with his free hand. “Some people can’t mix it with alcohol, which might be your problem now, while others just don’t like it. However, I do.”

I nodded and placed my heavy head back into my hands and listened to myself breath. Something about that was calming. The only other noise was the thumping of the music from inside the building. I’m surprised no one had come to bust up the party.

Hendrix’s hand stopped moving, and instantly I missed his caresses, but I wasn’t going to say that aloud. Already, I had lost my ever-loving mind drinking and smoking pot. The last thing I needed to add to the growing list of crazy was admitting feelings for a mysterious pot-smoking guy I randomly met at a party in the hallway of my building. Yeah, that would go over just perfectly with Talon and Tegan. An ironic chuckle escaped me before I could clamp my hand over my mouth. But I was hoping to the man above that Hendrix hadn’t heard it.

“What’s so funny?”

His lips next to my ear sent chills across my skin. “Nothing,” I breathlessly lied.

“Oh, it was something.” He took a drag from his joint.

“Nope, definitely wasn’t.” I straightened, crossed my legs and propped my clasped hands on my knee.

“You’re a horrible liar.” Hendrix scratched his head through his toboggan and leaned closer into me.

I looked away and sucked in a breath until my lungs burned from lack of air. Exhaling slowly, I braved the situation and looked at Hendrix. His face was barely an inch from mine. His stormy eyes searched mine. For what, I wasn’t sure. But the urge to press my lips against his was dangerous. I had to get the hell out of Dodge before I made one hellacious mistake.

“I need to go.” I stood, leaving Hendrix sitting there, and started for the door that led into the kitchen.

“There’s a gate on the side of the house, so you can avoid the crowd inside.”

I stopped before I reached the door and gripped the jacket I was wearing. Hendrix’s jacket to be exact. I had forgotten that I was wearing it. I pulled the zipper down and slipped out of it as I walked back over to where he was still perched on the stone wall.

“Thanks for letting me wear it, and for the info about the gate. I’d much rather avoid going back in there.” I held out the jacket to him.

He waved it off. “Put it back on.” Hendrix stood and stepped over the wall. “It gives me a reason to find you again.”

When I didn’t move, he took the jacket and slipped it onto my shoulders. My next move was unlike me, but hell, the entire night had been. “Give me your phone.”

“Not gonna’ happen, pretty girl.”

I narrowed my eyes. The nickname he had given me on the train was kind of growing on me, but the lack of doing what I asked was driving me nuts. “Then you put my number in your phone yourself.”

“I didn’t ask for your number.”

“Wow. You’re one nice guy, Hendrix.”

His laughter carried through the gentle wind.

“I’ll find you, Zoey. I always do.” He grinned.

I headed toward the gate.

“Zoey! Oh my gosh! I thought I lost you!” Clara stumbled through the door and into the back yard.

Thankfully she was alone.

“Yeah, thanks for leaving me high and dry.” She was too drunk to fully comprehend what she had done, but she was going to get an ear full or bringing me to my first party and vanishing like Houdini himself.

“I thought you were having fun with Eli.” Her eyebrows dipped low as she swayed.

I grabbed her arms before she could face plant on the patio.

“Speaking of Eli.” I cleared my throat and looked to where I’d been sitting with Hendrix, but he was nowhere to be seen. “He was way too grabby hands and aggressive. I’ve been out here for a while now.”

Clara swayed toward me and sniffed. “Why do you smell like pot?” Her eyes glassed over as she focused on the Hendrix’s jacket. “Where did you get this?” She grabbed the collar, almost pulling me down to the ground.

“A friend. Now, let’s get our asses home.” I wrapped my arm around her as I typed our location into the cab app.

Once we settled into the cab, Clara passed out cold. I wish I could’ve been the one to pass out then what transpired with Hendrix wouldn’t be running through my mind. But I’d never been the lucky one.

Chapter Five

Clara was still passed out when we reached her apartment. Me, being the caring person that Talon raised me to be, I decided to crash at her place. When you hear horror stories of people drowning on their own vomit, you don’t want to be the person who left them alone. At least I didn’t.

I’d never carried someone’s dead weight before. Clara might be a small girl, but lord have mercy she felt like a ton of bricks as I hefted her up to a standing position. I wrapped my arms around and helped her walk inside. We took the elevator to the third floor because no way would I have been able to manage climbing the stairs with her.

Clara groaned as I rummaged through her tiny handbag for her keys. I found them quickly because the only contents were her driver’s license, student I.D., and numerous tubes of lip balm and lip gloss. Why would someone need ten different shades for one night out? I would never understand being a girly girl, but to each their own.

“We’re almost there, Clara.” I turned the knob and kicked the door open.

“Hello!” I called out.

Clara hadn’t mentioned having a roommate, but the last thing I wanted was to meet the roommate for the first time when she was drunk off her ass. I could only imagine how that would play out.

No response.

“I’m Zoey! Clara was out with me tonight, just bringing her home.” I called out again as I walked us into the living room.

“Alone.” Clara groaned as I lowered her onto the couch.

“You live alone?” I asked softly.

She nodded.

“Damn, must be nice,” I mumbled.

This being only my second time inside her apartment, I took in every gorgeous inch. Her place was everything I wished mine was. My apartment wasn’t run down or anything, but it wasn’t roomy or as nicely furnished as hers. The open living room area had a large plush tan couch. A floral patterned white, tan, and pink high back chair sat in the corner.

I grabbed the blanket resting on the arm of the chair and covered Clara then stole the trashcan from the bathroom in case she needed to vomit during the night. I also didn’t want to leave her sleeping alone in case she choked if she indeed vomited. This left me with the floral chair that didn’t look so comfy.

“This is what you get for trying to have the night of your life.” I slipped off Hendrix’s jacket, crammed myself into the chair, and then covered myself the best I could with the jacket.

It was going to be a long night.

“What the hell!” I gasped as I startled awake.

My back was killing me from sleeping upright, and the room was too dark to see what the hell that noise was. I pulled the jacket up to just below my eyes and looked around cautiously. A light above the front door illuminated the entry way but didn’t help me see shit from where I was sitting.

“Ugh…Son of a bitch.” Clara groaned.

Clapping echoed in the open room and the lights came to life.

“How in the…” I blinked a couple times, trying to focus on the couch, which was now empty.

“Who put the damn trashcan beside the couch?” she groaned.

It took all I had not to burst out in laughter when I finally saw her sprawled on the hardwood floor beside the couch, the trash on its side, and her skirt hiked up to the point of almost showing her goods. Clara’s dark hair was a ratted mess, spiking in numerous directions with her mascara smudged under her not so bright eyes.

“What the hell did we do last night?” she choked out as she sat up and secured herself with a hand on the floor.

“How are you awake right now?” I questioned once I caught a glimpse of the time on the clock hanging on the wall.

“What time is it?” She narrowed her eyes and blinked a few times trying to see the clock.

“Four in the morning.” I stood and stretched, my back popping in the process. “This chair sucks ass by the way.”

“No one forced you to sleep in it.” Slowly she slowly stood then cradled her head in her hands. “I have one massive ass headache.”

“Well, I would tell you why you have a headache, but you kind of up and left me as soon as we got there, so I really have no clue what you did last night.”

Clara lifted her head and stared, her mouth hanging open, her blue eyes hazed over with red rings around them. “I’m sorry about that. Thad has been on my radar for quite some time, I guess him giving me attention threw me off kilter.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and stood in silence, even though it was killing me not to interrupt her.

“I know it doesn’t help that I left you, but I hope you don’t hate me for it.” She smiled sadly.

A large breath left me in a huff. “I don’t hate you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll go to another damn party with you.” Clara crossed the room and hugged me tighter than her hungover self should’ve been able to.

“I’ll talk you into another one, don’t worry.” She chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. “You think you will. Now can we please go back to sleep? Just not in this damn chair.” I kicked the leg of the chair.

Clara’s laughter picked up. “I do have a spare bedroom. Second door down the hall on the left. I’ll grab you something to sleep in.”

I waited at the guest room door until Clara came back holding a pair of plaid red shorts and a black tank top. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I flipped the light on in the spare bedroom.

“I really am sorry for how tonight unfolded, if I’d fully been thinking I would’ve warned you about how touchy Eli can be. But I heard he got a good reality check by some guy that followed you out back. Would you happen to know the guy?” A knowing grin spread widely across Clara’s face.

My cheeks heated as I wondered what Hendrix had done to Eli. I had never mentioned Hendrix to Clara, so I didn’t know why she had that goofy ass grin on her face.

I shrugged. “Eli shouldn’t have been a jackass.”

Clara full-out belly laughed. “Sounds like the guy who put Eli in his place is into you, Zoey.”

I waved dismissively. “He’s just a friend.” I turned away in hopes that she would drop the subject.

“Friends my ass,” she countered. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

I groaned. “Goodnight, Clara.” I shut the door, changed my clothes and crawled into the very comfortable full bed.

“Wake up sleepyhead!”

Clara’s way too rambunctious voice had me rolling over and covering my head with the pillow.

“Go away,” I groaned into the covers.

“It’s almost noon. Get your butt up!” She bounced on the mattress.

“If I wouldn’t go to prison, I would totally murder you right now.” I threw the pillow against the wall and sat up.

Clara laughed at my threat.

I narrowed my eyes

“Good morning to you too, sunshine.” She slapped my thigh and jumped from the bed. “I have an appointment with one of my professors today. Just make sure you lock the door before you head out. Oh, and there are donuts on the counter if you want some.”

“Wait, what?”

“Wake up, Zoey.” She waved her hands around. “I have to meet with one of my professors. There are donuts in the kitchen if you’re hungry. When you leave, makes sure you turn the lock before you shut the door.”

I was taken back by her allowing me to stay at her place while she was gone. For all she knew I could rob her blind, even though I wouldn’t, it’s the fact of the matter. We barely knew one another. I couldn’t say I would do the same, but Clara was definitely the opposite of me in so many ways.

“Okay,” I finally said.

“I’ll call you when I’m out. If you aren’t busy maybe we can grab some lunch or something.”

“Okay.”

“Is that the only word you know?” Clara grinned.

“Shut it.” I shook my head and laughed. “Have a good day.”

“See ya later.”

The sound of the front door shutting echoed, and I sat in the bed taking in what just happened. Clara was nothing like I’d expected my first college friend to be, not that I really had thought about what a close friend would be like, but still. I wasn’t ready for the whirlwind that was Clara Stevens.

Instead of hanging around her place all day, I collected my things and changed back into the clothes I had worn out the night before. The stench of stale booze and pot made me gag, so I searched the hallway bathroom for some perfume. After dousing myself with the floral mist I tossed the sleep clothes she had let me borrow into the hamper inside of her tiny laundry room and left.

The sun was beaming brighter than the day before as I walked home. The vitamin D warming my skin felt nice, even if the breeze carried a chill along with it. The thought of Hendrix letting me wear his jacket had a smile a mile wide dancing across my lips. I had no idea what it was about him, maybe the bad boy factor, or how he seemed to just show up unannounced, but whatever it was it had me falling over myself The sad part was I didn’t even know his last name, or phone number for that matter. My infatuation was transforming into a full-blown crush, as childish as that sounded, but I couldn’t seem to shake my feelings.

“Hello, Zoey,” my instructor Elizabeth Vurdo said as she approached.

“Hello.” I smiled but wondered why I was running into her on a weekend, when classes weren’t in session.

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

She was creating small talk, which was odd. Not because she wasn’t one to do small talk, but because I hadn’t talked very often with a dance instructor that didn’t revolve around the routine I was performing.

“Yes it is.”

“Are you ready for a run through of the routine this evening?”

This evening?
A cold chill rolled through my body.

Hey eyebrows furrowed as we both came to a stop. “You did get the email, didn’t you?”

My body temperature spiked and sweat beaded on the back of my neck. I was officially screwed! I hadn’t gone over any of the routine since class had been cancelled.

I took a deep breath, knowing I had no choice but to dive into the situation head-first. “To be honest, I hadn’t checked my email since you cancelled class.”

Hearing my own words made me cringe as I awaited her response. I had been hoping and praying to make a great impression on her since the last instructor had loathed me, but at this rate I was stuck in a revolving door of Zoey screwing things up.

Mrs. Vurdo’s smile didn’t falter. “Well, the studio is open if you want to go run through the routine a few times before this afternoon. Class is at four thirty sharp.”

I should’ve known from the warning in her email she’d schedule the make-up class for a Saturday.

I nodded. “Great! I’ll change and head on over.”

Even though I was smiling, internally I was cursing myself for being reckless and avoiding my emails for the past couple of days. That wasn’t me; I was always the person on top of things. I was the person who had the dance routine down pat a couple days after they taught it to us. My life revolved around spending hours upon hours in the studio perfecting each move and leap, even if the instructor didn’t notice me. I made it a point to notice effort and poise in myself. Why I was slacking off was beyond me. Dancing was my life, but adjusting to being a normal college kid massively kicking in the ass. Wasn’t there a way to balance the two?