Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (3 page)

“Great, I actually work here in the Library.”

“You're a librarian?”

“Yes,” she blushed, from either embarrassment or nervousness, but she had grown nicely into her looks. Her brown hair cascaded down her back in ripples of curls and her eyes were still the greenest green I had ever seen. “When did you transfer in?”

“This semester,” My eyes watched as Lucas walked away with his stepsister, Lydia. She was only seventeen, but she adored her older brothers more than anything in the world.

“Well, if you ever need anything, let me know, please. I would love to help you.” Whitney turned on her heel.

“Dinner tonight?”

“Excuse me?” She was bright with happiness.

“Would you like to join me for dinner. I am kind of new and there are about 100 places to go here.”

“Sure, I have to change, I hate wearing this vest out anywhere. What time should we meet?”

“I can pick you up around 7:30 and we can decide from there, could you write your number down?”

Lucas

Everyone has one demon or two in their closet. I have a couple of dozen and those demons like their home nestled in a tiny closet for my eyes only. The truth had never surfaced about me and I wanted to keep it that way. I lived a dual life, or at least it felt like it. I had my life for the public. My book had made it easy for me to not work, that's a good thing. My last few jobs back home in England has resulted in a death of one patron and three bosses. I was not a patient person, granted, I tried my best to make it look like I was more than patient. I hated competition and most of all I hated people with simple minds telling me what to do.

My sister continued with her playful recalling of her first day of her senior year at her school. If her mom, my adopted mother knew of her being here and not at some rehearsal Lydia had made up she would be grounded. But Lydia cared nothing for our mum's opinion. She just wanted to make sure she was in the loop with Mark and me. Mark was rarely on campus. He was so busy supervising the Summit that he almost forgot he was in school, but being as smart as he was, it was no problem, he always caught up. He always made sure that they were up to par.

“So, what do you think?”

I had listened to a small portion of whatever she was talking about and developed that she wanted to know if this guy liked her or was playing games. The simple answer was game playing. “He is more infatuated with the possibility of sex Lydia.” I scrolled through my phone searching for the number of my favorite restaurant. Food was my favorite and I worked out to make sure my love for it wouldn't alter my looks.

“But he said he wanted to meet my mom.”

“It still doesn't mean that he is not into shagging you, dear.” I looked at their menu. They had the three bean soup as their special today and it just happened to be the best in town. “Join me for a bite to eat. They have Three Bean Soup today.”

“Did you hear anything I said?”

“Lydia, I am starving, literally. I heard you unlike Mark I always hear you. I'll buy you lunch.”

“Ugh, fine, call mom.”

“Good, I would much rather her bust your chaps than mine.” I smiled and finally we made our way to the cafe for some soup and a chat. Granted the entire chat was likely to be about Lydia and her darling Trey.

Contrary to popular belief about psychopaths we tend to have emotions. We just struggle to empathize with others. I could not and really didn't care to understand my sister's infatuation with Trey, he was a complete and utter idiot. She could do and deserved better. I knew I had to support her in her conquest, but the kid had one time to fuck up with her and he would meet the end of my blade before he could apologize. I handled most issues by hiding. Hiding and blending in. But I never forgot what a person done to me.

Cypress, she was a sweet girl. And based on the average picture of any male my age, she was what was missing. I needed a girlfriend, and up until I saw here the thought had never crossed my mind. She held my book like a bible and stared at me like her savior. And for the first time since my mom died I felt that there could be a real connection there with her. We had plans to study later and critique some work and hopefully she would want to grab some more food after we studied.

“It's your last year,” Lydia said as we made our way to my car. “I'm coming here in the fall. Can I have your apartment?”

“Are you mad?” I said before thinking. Her face was pouty as if I had hurt her feelings.

“You're moving back to England aren't you?”

“I haven't even thought that far ahead Lydie. You little moocher.” I laughed. I hadn't thought past Advanced Creative Writing. “We shall see. I thought maybe that I could stay in the states. I like it here and you are my family. I really only have me Nan at home and she just gardens and reads Ethan Fromm.” My Nan was a character and she was boring all at the same time. I moved to find adventure and have a larger prey.

“Well, mom wants me to stay in the dorms first year.”

“Why not, I did?”

“I don't want to.”

“I don't want to go against mum and I don't know if I am even moving. Be normal for a change.” Shit, I fucked up again. She was about to be extremely annoying and ruin my Three Bean Soup with her teenager rants. “I'm sorry. I'll think about it, okay?”

“Fine, I don't even know why you like Three Bean Soup. It's nasty.”

“You have poor taste. I think they have pizza there as well. Something normal for you?”

We rode over to the Cafe and she talked about how she wanted Mark to give up being an accountant to piss her father off and how she was thinking that she would go into dance to piss him off further. In my opinion, he was a pretty good guy. He worked hard to make sure even I had food when we were younger. Our situation being a delicate one the family rarely brought up how I was brought into the family. They hated my mum and the arguments never went over well with them. So the subject was dead when it came to them.

“How do you think I should go about pursuing this new girl?”

“You are doing more than a one-night stand?”

“I'm trying. I like her. I just met her. And shut up.”

“Well get to know her before you stumble head over heels. Remember your ex...”

“Oh shove off.” I mumbled. 

Cypress

Lucas had simply run through my mind all day. He did not exist back home. They are simply athletes or lab geeks. There was no in between. It was part of the reason I did not fit in. I preferred reading to partying and then whenever there was a free moment I was deep within the lines of a good book.

The car lot had tons of cars in the parking lot. I only had 8 grand to spend on the car. The rest of the money would have to be for living off of. I had no job yet and I doubted that I could get on the tutoring roster. I had a plan to post signs up all over the campus to tutor student for 200 a month. Five students would be good enough to cover rent and some utilities. I stared at the Black Altima. It was under my budget and the mileage was good and he was throwing in a free year unlimited warranty. Beings that I knew jack shit about cars I would have to have it.

My phone buzzed continually in my pocket. My mother was so consumed with knowing how life was it was bothersome. “Mom, I am buying a car,” I said answering.

“That’s great, your father and I are still around. We decided to make sure you had some groceries in the house. If you could call us when you leave with your errands we will stock, you up.”

God, I loved them. That saved me 500 or so. “Yes, I am actually going to start the paperwork in about ten minutes. I looked over the car again and it rides good.”

“Perfect, we will see you shortly.”

I finished up with the car and swiped my card. I wanted to payment plan; I just wanted to get the car done with and start the year.”

My parents were sweet and they wanted genuinely what was best for me. I was happy that they were leaving though. I wanted some alone time. I got the groceries and we ate lunch. We stocked up the empty apartment and then they left for their 7-hour drive home and there was silence.

I made my way to the library, my new story was tweaked. I had taken out the stupid parts and revamped it. Paradise was now a good start and hopefully Lucas would think the same thing. The library was huge and I had got lost walking in to three times, so I stood outside and waited for Lucas.

There he strolled with some girl, her hand intertwined in his they looked like they were perfect. I could not even think of a mean thing to say. He kissed her forehead, “Look, remember what mum said, and be home by 7. I don’t want to hear her mouth, okay?”

Mum? I was lost. I thought she was dead. I twitched uncomfortably and smiled at him as he got closer. “Did you have a good afternoon?

“Perfect actually, my little sister and I went to get some soup.” He chuckled and his sister pushed him playfully. “Though she hated the soup and complained the entire time.”

“He read the entire time,’ she had no accent. “So we’ll meet here at about 630, Wednesday then?”

“Yes, and be on time. I have to do some editing for the Publisher.” Lucas walked towards me as she left. “So are you ready to be creative?”

“Born to, I re-tweaked it a bit.”

“I did too,” We walked in the library and up to a study room. They were everywhere. I loved college already. I could lock myself up here when I didn’t want to be bothered.
 

Lucas sat down and tossed his notebook on the table. “So this Prince Charming that you had to simply dump this year… why’d you leave him?”

“He was suffocating basically,” I said simply put. “I wanted to have some time to find myself. I can’t find myself while being with him.”

“Nice,” he jotted down some notes.

“What about your mom? How did she die?”

“Lou Gehrig’s,” he said. “She fought hard and that was all we could ask.”

“Your story is profound, one line is circling around my head, I really can’t stop it… “
Even the skies cried for her,”
I paused. “Wow,” I said.

“Thanks, I thought that when she died. Usually it rains quite often in England, but the time that she was dying it was dry and it was nice. She enjoyed it and then when she took her last breath the sky started to cry and so did I. My mum was a doll.  So let me see the revised copy of the
Summer in Paradise.”

I reached into the backpack and grabbed the notebook. “Be honest, okay.”

My revision was nice; it was still garbage though. I could not find anything more than this asshole to write about anymore.

I watched him read and twiddled my fingers and rolled my eyes at the length of time he was taking. He shifted in his seat and placed the paper down. “Nice, I like it.”

He was lying, I had not known him long but I could tell. “Be honest please!”

Lucas smiled. “Okay, look everyone has their summer drama and people care but readers won’t. Paradise… what did you hate the utter most about him?”

I stuttered, “I, uh… I couldn’t breathe.”

“Okay, he was smothering.” He jotted the words down and looked up. “A smothered paradise, perfect all you do is take that feeling in your gut and put it here.” He slid the notebook over to me. Writing is the expression of you and this is a cliché. I don’t think your cliché. Granted, I don’t know you and I could be wrong, but I feel like there is nothing from here.” He touched his chest. “On here,” he pointed to the paper.

“Okay… well, I am not used to be prompted something to write. I just usually write and go on about my life.

“Don’t think about the concept of paradise. It’s fucking you up. What happened this summer?”

“I dumped him.”’

“You freed yourself.” He smiled. “You were suffocating in a smoldering, smothering paradise and you freed yourself. It’s all about the concept of how you think. You are happier now, correct?”

“Yes,” I said.  “Well, put that shit on paper.” He jotted more notes down in his notebook. “I added some new things to mine. I’ll let you read it and tell me some mean words to get back at me being mean to you.”

I knew that my work was less than perfect. “You weren't meant to me, you were honest.”

“I was and I would like to make it up you… do you have supper plans for next Friday?” Everything about him was perfect. His smile, his dimples the way he blinked was even perfect. And I had always had a weakness for men with long hair.

Next Friday? I barely knew what I was wearing the next day yet alone eating?  “None at all,” I said as I mentally cancelled plans to decorate my apartment.

“Perfect, we should go to this place called The Summit, I own it; I know you will like it. You can be my date if that’s okay. I think the guys think I’m gay.” There was a hint of humor as he smirked at me.

“Are you not?” There were so many rumors about him that floated around campus. He was like a mystery.

“Well, damn it, no.” he burst into laughter. “Cypress I just asked you out. I am completely straight and completely impressed that you didn’t slap the shit out of me for talking about your work. I took some writing classes under my aunt one summer and she taught me to be harsh when critiquing. It lights fires that can’t easily be put out.”