Redesigned (7 page)

She makes it sound like I’ve announced I hate chocolate. “I’m a fan of government as opposed to anarchy, but I’m not a fan of studying it.”

“Oh.”

Talking to her is harder than I expected. Still, there’s a universal topic that all girls relate to.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

She gives me a sly smile. “No.”

I cock my head and grin. “But there’s someone you’re interested in. Who is he?”

Her eyes narrow, but her lips twitch as she fights her smile. “I never said there was.”

“Please. It’s all over your face.” I lean forward. “So who is he?”

Looking down at the table, she twines her fingers together. “He’s in my biology class.”

“So?”

She shakes her head and looks up at me. “It’s nothing. I need to focus on school this year. I’ll worry about boys later.”

“That sounds like something my friend Scarlett would say. Before she met the love of her life.

Now she’s crazy in love, and they’re living together.”

Her lips purse. “My family would never approve.”

“I’m not telling you to move in with a boy, Lexi. I’m telling you that you never know when you’ll find love. You may not think you have time for it, but it seems to find you whether you’re looking for it or not. You’re in college. You’re supposed to have a dozen boyfriends.”

“Have you had a dozen boyfriends?”

My smile fades. “I’ve been on over a dozen dates, but only a few boyfriends.”

“Do you have a boyfriend now?”

It’s my turn to look down. “No.”

“Really,” she states matter-of-factly.

“You sound surprised.”

“It’s just that you’re just so pretty and smart. The way you handled the meeting….” I’m grateful she leaves my conflict with her brother unmentioned. “I’d think you’d have guys lined up.”

“Well, thank you.” I swivel my head looking around and laugh, hoping it sounds playful and not desperate. “I don’t see any lines.”

“So you want one? A boyfriend?” Her tone is still expressionless. I feel like I’m being interviewed.

“I’ve got a busy year before I graduate. I don’t exactly have time.” I shrug. “But you’re only a sophomore. Plenty of time to try out all the Southern University boys.”

“Oh no. I need to get settled here first. Reed would have a fit.” The line sounds rehearsed and gives off a Stepford vibe.

There’s an awkward silence, and she cringes like she regrets mentioning him. She frowns, then a soft smile covers her face. “Maybe I’ll try it anyway.”

“Good girl. You’re only young once, and dating is part of your college experience.” I feel like a college admissions advisor.

She folds her hands on the table, her posture perfectly erect. “Do you have any idea what you plan to do with your degree when you graduate?”

“Um. No. But I’m hoping to come up with a great line for the show. My advisor’s friend from New York is coming to the show and has promised to pick one student to work in her design house after we graduate.”

“Do you have your designs figured out?”

I sigh. “No.”

She studies me, and I realize the tables have been turned. Who am I kidding? The tables were turned the moment she asked me if I have a boyfriend.

“Do you have a signature look? A specialty you focus on?”

“No.” I pause. How can I be a senior and not have a focus? But I do, I just don’t use it in my classes. “Well … there is something.”

Her eyebrows lift. “Don’t stop there.”

“It’s not something I do in class. Just for myself.” I grip my coffee cup. “I repurpose thrift store finds.”

She watches me, waiting for more information.

“I buy clothes in thrift stores, but I don’t usually use them as they are.” I shrug. “Sometimes I do, like a really classic piece, but most of the time I either embellish it to make it more contemporary or I’ll use parts of several items and put them together to create something entirely new.”

“So each piece is one of a kind.”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. “Yeah, I guess they are.”

She glances at my clothes. “What about what you’re wearing?”

“The skirt is a thrift store find.” I smooth the wrinkles from my lap. “I added a ruffled edge to the hem, but this”—I wave to my front—“is a Target t-shirt and a thrift store cardigan.”

“Do you make many of these outfits?”

“Most of my clothes are my hybrid creations.”

“Hybrid creations … I like it.” Her eyes narrow. “So why haven’t you used your hybrid creations in your classes?”

“Because they aren’t real designs, Lexi. They’re repurposed clothes.”

“There’s nothing new under the sun, Caroline. Everything has been done before. It’s just your own take on it. Your hybrid clothes aren’t any different.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why the interest in my designs?”

She gives me a mischievous grin. “I’ve read my share of
Vogue
magazines.”

I don’t believe her, but I won’t be the one to call her on it. Otherwise, what’s to stop her from asking why I scavenge thrift stores?

A cell phone rings and guilt washes over her face as she pulls her phone out of her purse. She looks at the screen and grimaces. “I have to go. Thanks for talking to me.”

“We should do this again.”

She silences her phone and looks at me in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah.” And after my initial doubt about her, I realize I like her. “Maybe we can figure out something after our next committee meeting.”

“Okay.” She looks up at me and grins, but it’s tight like she’s nervous. “I’d like that a lot.”

“Sounds great.”

She waves and heads for the door as she lifts the phone to her ear. Her voice lowers and a serious expression replaces her smile.

I’m going to help Lexi break free from her brother’s hold.

While I watch her walk away, someone else sits down in her seat. I look up, surprised to see it’s Brandon, a guy from my history class last semester.

“You’re Caroline, right?” he asks.

“Uh, yeah.” I tilt my head.

He points to his chest. “Brandon McKenzie. We had history together last spring. How’s your semester going?”

I study him before I answer. “Good.”

He grins. “You look surprised about something.”

“It’s just that you never spoke to me the entire semester. I didn’t think you even knew I existed, let alone knew my name.”

He leans back in his chair. “Oh, I knew your name all right.” Brandon gives me a playful grin.

“But my girlfriend who also took that class was the jealous type.”

“And what would she say if she knew you were talking to me now.”

“I doubt she cares since she’s now going out with someone else.”

We stare at each other for several seconds and he laughs. “This is kind of awkward, huh?”

“Yeah,” I smirk. “Kind of.”

“I think I know how to remedy this situation.”

“Do you now?”

“It’s only awkward because we don’t know each other very well. Go out with me on Friday night, and we can fix that.”

I shake my head and glance at my phone to stall. I’m supposed to be taking a break from guys to concentrate on my project. Going out with Brandon, no matter how cute he is, is not working on my designs. I cringe. “I’d really like to, Brandon—”

He holds up his hands. “Don’t say
but
! Don’t say it.”

“B—”

He clamps his hand over my mouth with a playful look in his eyes. “Don’t. Say. But.” He slowly lowers his hand as if he’s ready to raise it again if I attempt to say the word.

“All right I won’t say … that word,
however
—”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

I lean back. “What?”

“Yes or no. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

He laughs. “See? That wasn’t so hard. Do you have plans on Friday night?”

I should lie. Something about this guy screams trouble, but he’s incredibly good-looking and he definitely has charm. What if Brandon is
the one,
and I never knew because I didn’t give him a chance? I grin. “No.”

“Let’s see, you don’t have a boyfriend and you don’t have plans Friday night. It sounds like you are destined to go out with me, Caroline.”

“Just like that? I don’t see you for months, you never even acknowledged my presence before, and now you drop in a chair in front of me and ask me out?”

“I want to get to know you. Asking you out seems the best way to achieve that goal.”

I lift my chin in challenge. “I have a project I need to work on.”

“What is it? Maybe I can help you with it.”

I shake my head and laugh. He is persistent. “I don’t think so, unless you’re a fashion design major, and I missed you in all my classes. Or you secretly watch
Project Runway
.”

He twists his lips into an over-exaggerated grimace. “Busted. I watch it every Monday.”

“Thursday.”

“I record it and watch it on Monday.” Brandon leans forward, his face dangerously close to mine. “See? We can go out to dinner, and I can help you with your project.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why? Am I too unattractive for you?” he asks teasingly. A guy like him knows he’s good-looking, and he definitely knows how to use it to his advantage.

“Yes, Brandon. That’s it.” I laugh and close my government book, then stash it in my bag. “You are too hideous to be seen with in public. I can hardly stand sitting here with you.”

Brandon stands when I do. “How about I wear a paper bag over my head?”

My eyes narrow. “Why are you so eager to go out with me?”

My question stumps him for a moment. “Because I wasted too much time already. I couldn’t ask you out last spring because of my girlfriend.”

“Good thing for all of us.” I mutter.

“And then after we broke up, I kept thinking about you but had no idea how to track you down. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you sitting here.”

His explanation sounds plausible.

“Come on, Caroline. Take pity on a poor guy. Say yes. It’s one date.”

I have to admit, my defenses are crumbling. He is persistent, and I admire that quality in a man.

The fact he’s cute doesn’t hurt. “Okay.”

A huge smile spreads across his face, and he pulls out his phone. “Give me your number. I’ll text you then you can text me your address so I know where to pick you up.”

Something tells me not to give it to him, but then I remember how I was lusting after Reed before Lexi showed up. Maybe I need a date to get that guy out of my head. After I tell Brandon my number, he shoves his phone in his pocket. “I’ll pick you up at seven, and we’ll go to St. Thomas Grill.”

“St. Thomas Grill?” It’s got to be the most expensive restaurant in town.

“Nothing but the best for you.” He picks up my hand and kisses my knuckles, then just as quickly drops it and bolts out the door.

What the hell just happened?

Turns out I haven’t turned my back on guys after all.

I stand outside the conference room in the dean’s office, my stomach twisting with dread. I’m not afraid to face Reed. I’m more afraid of how I’ll react.

I’m only a few minutes early because I wanted as little awkward time with Reed as possible.

When I walk in the room, everyone is present except for Renee and Wendy. Reed sits at the head of the table, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. Lexi is next to him and offers me a reserved smile as I take a seat several seats away from Reed. I plan to keep my mouth shut at this meeting, so perhaps staying physically as far away as possible will help.

The two other girls are moments behind me, and Reed wastes no time starting the meeting.

We all report on the jobs we were assigned. Wendy tells us that she has several graphic design students competing to make a logo for this year’s event. She plans to bring their final concepts to the next meeting. Lexi reports that tomorrow she plans to meet with the head of the local charity that the Monroe Foundation will make donations to. Megan announces that she’s lining up female and male models, but she’s still working on the children. She’s waiting on the design students to let her know what type of models they need.

A cold sweat dots my forehead. I’m no closer to making my designs than I was last week when Ms. Carter announced the theme. If I don’t come up with something soon, I’ll never have time to complete construction of all the garments.

“Do you care to share anything with us, Ms. Hunter, or do you plan to stare at the wall the rest of the meeting?”

Shit
.

I clear my throat to give myself a moment to recover. Of course he’d call on me during the few moments I became distracted. “I’ve gotten bids from two companies for runways. We’ve used a carpet on the floor before, but our attendance has always been on the skimpy side. With the extra media and marketing push”—I glance at Wendy—“I expect we’ll see a marked increase in attendance. I think we should move up to an elevated stage so the audience will be able to see the models.”

The group nods but Reed frowns. “And what is the increase in cost?”

“Several thousand dollars but—”

“Do you make a habit of spending other people’s money so freely?”

My mouth drops. I quickly close it as I push down my billowing anger. I refuse to lose my cool this time. “I haven’t spent anyone’s money, Mr. Pendergraft. I’ve merely stated my thoughts on the matter. If you’d let me finish, I will tell you the estimated costs to set up the runway with the elevated stage and without.”

Reed sits up taller and his chin rises. “Then by all means, continue.”

I give them the estimated costs from both companies with both options.

Lexi looks around the table. “It makes sense to go with the elevated stage, if you think about it.

And with Wendy using graphic design students for the logo and banners, we’ll save money that we can use for the venue.” She glances back at Reed, as though she’s trying to convince him. “Since the Monroe Foundation has lent us their name and money, we need to make sure our presentation is quality.”