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Authors: Kate Stewart

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Coming of Age, #Romance, #Contemporary

Room 212 (17 page)

BOOK: Room 212
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“Well, shit’s not happening,” Allen chimed from behind Paul. “He’s an idiot and we happen to like you, so he’s out and you are in.” Allen gave me a broad grin and threw a twenty on the bar. “Pour us some shots, hot shit, and make it snappy.”

I wiped away a stray tear and smiled. David soon joined them and we drank all we could until closing time. They were all insanely handsome and were making me laugh hysterically by the time I had my drawer ready to count down.

David, while usually the quiet one, was the first to speak when I started saying my goodbyes. “Come out with us tonight, Laura. Come and have some fun.”

I thought the whole situation odd, but couldn’t deny that a night out with three hot guys could just be the very thing that I needed. I owed Seth nothing.

“Okay, where are we going?”

“A frat party.”

“No.”

“Oh come on, the booze is free.”

“Did I take the last of your money, fellas?” The guys looked at each other and I could quickly tell that was the truth of the matter.

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m driving.”

 

*****

 

The three stooges and I ended up at the most amazing party I had ever been to. The huge house was lit with an exceptional amount of lights. There was a DJ on each floor including the top floor, which had a wraparound balcony. There were hundreds of people there on all floors and lining the stairwell. This was no small party. I managed to navigate my way to the backyard and saw a large pool full of drunks as well as a bonfire lit and burning to half of the houses height. I was sure the cops would show up any minute. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Paul with two beers in his hand.

“Thanks. Now go find a sorority brat to impregnate.”

“Look, I know I come off as an asshole—”

“Correction, sir, you are an asshole.”

“Yes,” he smiled, “I am. What are you?"

“Tired, bored and over this,” I said pouring out my beer. “I shouldn’t have come.”

He handed me his beer. “Quit acting like a bitch. I didn’t hurt you, he did, and I just wanted to make you feel better. It’s nothing you did. It’s not your fault. He loved you, he just thinks she is—”

“I don’t give a shit if he loved me. Why do you keep saying me that? He never did.”

“Because I’m sorry he hurt you and I’m sorry you feel the way you do and I hate that he got you. I hate it.”

“Why?”

He leaned over and pecked my lips quickly. I stumbled back in surprise against a girl behind me and whipped my head around to apologize when I saw him. He had his arms wrapped around a beautiful petite blonde with huge brown eyes who was talking to a friend in front of her. I saw his gaze on Paul. The look in his eyes was deadly, and he quickly met my gaze and flinched. I turned to face Paul, fury resonating throughout my body.

“I don’t know what kind of sick fucking game you two have going, but I am not going to be a part of it!”

I threw my beer at Paul and ran for my car. I was almost to the driver’s side when I heard Seth’s voice.

“Laura.”

“You made love to me last night, Seth. You made love to me and tonight you have your arms around her. How is that okay?” I turned to face him and saw my words had stung. His face was twisted and his eyes were swimming.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You said it all when you chose her.” I had let him see enough of my tears. I watched him struggle with words.

“I’m sorry. I thought about you all day—”

“Don’t! Don’t you dare. You don’t get to be the nice guy, you are the bad guy.”

Paul raced up to the car and stood next to me.

“What the fuck are you doing, Paul?” Seth couldn’t control his rage.

“Don’t worry about us and what we’re doing. Go back to Rebecca.”

I saw Seth stiffen and start to walk toward Paul with clenched fists and I stopped him.

“You know what, Seth, let’s call it even.” I wrapped my arms around Paul’s neck and pressed my lips to his. He immediately thrust his tongue in my mouth and I opened my eyes in surprise. I closed our kiss quickly and backed away. I turned to see a look of absolute disgust on Seth’s face.

“Why would you do that?” He ran his hands through his curls and lifted his chin to Paul. “You want to hurt me now, Laura? You did, you just hurt me.”

“What’s the difference, really? Are you telling me you won’t be doing that later, with her?”

“I am not you, Laura.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I can’t just do that with anyone.”

“Oh, I forgot you are too good for me. And I guess I am the whore who can jump into bed with anyone, right?”

“SETH!” It was a nightmarish shriek. I almost felt sorry for him.

“You better go, the better woman awaits you, Seth,” I hissed.

“Don’t do this to me, man.” Seth was pleading with Paul and I was completely clueless.

“You do it to yourself.”

“SETH!”

The voice was drawing closer and I quickly unlocked my door. Paul slipped into the car next to me and I took one last look at Seth.

“I guess this is us now,” I sighed.

“You won’t love him,” Seth blurted out with confidence.

“I have never loved anyone,” I said dryly. I put my car into gear and left him standing there.

I finally felt numb. I refused to let Paul speak to me and dropped him off at the Lemon to go and pick up his friends. He refused to get out of the car until I listened.

“It’s not a game, I swear. I’m the one who saw you first at the park. Seth is a nasty bastard when it comes to women. When he started dating Rebecca after we broke up, I owed him one, and repaid him. I knew he wasn’t done with her and still he insisted on being the one to hit on you. Fuck Seth. He is my brother, but there is no way I am letting him do this twice.”

“Do what?”

“Take what he wants without thinking, without seeing it through.”

“Ah, so you’re teaching him a lesson?”

“Not just that. Look, give me a chance. Forget everything you think you saw and give me a chance.”

“I want no part of it.”

“You will change your mind.”

“Not likely.”

He reached over and kissed me and I bit his lip. He pulled away laughing.

“God, I knew I would like you.”

“This is all fun and games to you boys, huh? Well you don’t know who you’re screwing with. Get out of my car.” He didn’t move. “OUT!”

“I’ll see you soon, Laura.”

 

 

 

I hadn’t slept in weeks. I did the psycho ex drive by his house while trying to be inconspicuous every night that week. I had never done that with anyone. I had seen some of my friends lose their damn minds over men and never understood it…until now. I was forced to accompany them on their stalker rides, I knew the drill. Rebecca’s car was often there. At least, I assumed it was hers. I would try to force myself to cry to rid myself of the constant nagging in my chest. It was pointless. I saw him on his porch once. He was sitting on his fronts steps and had his head buried on his forearms. Was he thinking about me? I floored the gas, thankful I was unnoticed and stopped the stalking immediately. It was close, too close. He didn’t deserve to know how much I missed him and I missed him with every breath I took.

The smell of fall in the air and the slight change of cooler temperature made for comfortable therapeutic long drives with my windows down. I would drive for hours and hours without stopping, trying to escape the unquenchable ache. Today I drove as far north as the Oklahoma state line. I got out of the car as soon as I saw the welcome sign. I carefully paced the line up and down, never crossing into Oklahoma. The sky was cloudy and the wind was whipping my hair all around me. I was freezing, but refused to stop pacing. I must have been there for hours while passersby stopped on occasion to ask me if I needed help. I couldn’t get back into my car. I was beyond restless. I was lost. I heard my car sputtering as my tape player repeated The Cure’s
Disintegration
album.

I quickly got inside and saw I was well over the empty line and drove into Oklahoma without noticing. I stopped at the closest gas station and thanked God for the huge favor he had just done by allowing me to make it there without running out. Was this karma finally catching up with me? Is this what Chris felt when I hurt him? Lesson learned. I would never be that cold toward anyone again. “Do you hear that, karma? You win!”

I walked in and got some cigarettes and a coffee and paid for my gas. I was hours away from home and was in no hurry.

But, Laura, what if today was the day he comes back and you aren’t there? I quickly got in my car and punched the gas toward the highway. I didn’t realize how badly I was crying until I had to pull over to keep from sideswiping other cars. He wasn’t ever coming back. The Cure’s
Pictures of You
seemed to summon me into another bout of sobbing. I pulled out the only picture I had of Seth and, for the millionth time since he had destroyed my heart, stared at it. Callie had taken it one night at the Lemon. It was nothing special. I had my face turned to him in an amused expression and my eyes were on his face. I was clearly in love with him and his know it all eyes looked on at the camera. It was a beautiful picture without trying to be.

“I will never find anyone like you again. Why, Seth?” I threw the picture back in the glove box and set out back on the road. I saw the welcome to Texas sign and realized I had ripped the band-aid off, I had left. It still hurts in Oklahoma, Laura. Laura, you are in Oklahoma! Are you crazy? A little voice inside my head told me to turn around and keep going, to stay away from Texas. I ignored it. Seth was in Texas. Seth is with Rebecca! Oh this is pure… hell. I made a vow to myself in Oklahoma. I would never, ever let myself fall in love again, ever.

 

*****

 

I heard voices grow loud around me, but couldn’t open my eyes. There were people surrounding me and I didn’t recognize any of their voices, until I heard Dave’s. I felt my body shake with his arms on me. I smiled, but my eyes refused to open.

“Laurs! Jesus, Laurs, get up! Wake up right now! What the hell did she take?”

“One line of Special K, she threw up a few minutes after. I think she’s just passed out, man. She finished a bottle with me.”

“Laurs, listen to me. Wake up. Open your eyes.”

I slowly opened them and saw Dave hovering and quickly closed them again. I couldn’t fight the darkness.

“Why the hell is she in her bra? Todd I want some answers now or I swear to God…”

There were more muffled voices and I heard screaming as I dosed off again. I came back to, smiling at the familiarity of the next voice.

“Baby, wake up. Why is she still here? Call an ambulance!”

Seth, I love you, I miss you so much. I reached out for him. I called his name and apologized. He wouldn’t answer me. I’m sorry, don’t be mad Seth.

“She’s out of it, but not overdosing or anything.”

“You are not a doctor, Dave!”

“This is my sister, you think if I thought she needed a hospital we wouldn’t be there?”

“She’s fucked up on K, that’s what it looks like.”

“Todd, you say one more word, I am going to kill you.”

“Seth, take her home. I’ll be right behind you.”

“I can’t, Dave, my girlfriend is in the car. She needs a doctor.”

“What? You girlfriend is lying on the floor shirtless at a party fucked up on K!”

“We broke up a few weeks ago. When you paged me I didn’t have time to—”

“This… this is on you!”

“I didn’t do this to her! Baby, wake up. Please, baby, wake up.” I willed myself to open my eyes, but they wouldn’t budge. I felt his hands on my face. I miss you so much, Seth.

“Get the hell away from her, Seth.” I heard more shuffling as the voices grew louder.

“You hurt her. She has never gone this far, EVER! What did you do, Seth?”

“We broke up and she does this stupid shit to herself. Seems like I made the right decision!”

“I trusted you, man.”

“I didn’t mean that, Dave. You know I love her. You know I do.” I felt his breath on my skin. “Baby, please open your eyes for me.” I opened my eyes and saw a blur of faces as my lids drifted back down. I finally willed myself to sit up, but still couldn’t open my eyes.

“Seth,” I breathed the words and felt him next to me. “I can’t open my eyes.”

“I’m here, baby. Dave, we have to get her to a hospital!”

“No, I’m awake. I just can’t open my eyes.” I felt myself giggle and he wrapped his arms around me. I felt myself being lifted and heard music grow louder, then it was quiet.

“Baby, I’m sorry. What did you do, Laura?” His lips were on my forehead.

“That’s all, Seth. I mean it, that’s it for you.”

“Look, I’ll drop her off and come and wait with you until she sobers up some more.”

“You’ve done enough, really.”

“Dave, this is not my fault!”

“Yeah, it’s not. Really it’s not, but leave her alone, Seth. I mean it, don’t come near her again. I’ll take it from here. If you love her, leave her alone. She obviously can’t handle this thing with you, so stay away.”

“Dave, I can’t just—”

BOOK: Room 212
13.92Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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