Now, however, a month into my first semester, I’d let Robbie convince me to take a break. Which is why we were in the nearby town of Lafayette for a party. Robbie was hauling my bag out of the back seat of his car.
“I have no idea what you have in it, but it weighs aton,”he grumbled.
It was heavy because I had snuck in a textbook that I had been caught up in when Robbie had turned up, but he didn’t need to know that. He already thought I was bad enough. He’d convinced me to come with him today by arguing that some time in the sun would be good for me. He’d looked pointedly at my total lack of tan as he’d said it. Ok so maybe I was a bit pale, but I hadn’t had time to be sunning myself. I’d been working hard through the summer. Plus, he’d added, meeting people other than him would be good for me. I had almost refused but he had then added that I could help him find a suitable girl and not a party girl. A girl like me maybe.
That could have become uncomfortable quickly, but he had laughed and slung his arm over my shoulder. “Not you Elle, but someone like you. Someone who studies hard. Someone polite, motivated and not inclined to hook up with just anyone. Being easy on the eyes would be a bonus too.” He had winked when he’d said that last part and looked at me hopefully. Those puppy dog brown eyes of his had twisted something inside of me, so I had agreed to come.
The thing about Robbie was that he was good looking and had no trouble attracting attention from other girls, but in a way he was right. He had a tendency to go for party girls. Ones you knew were in the elite group and thought more about their looks than anything else. The girls who were vapid, insincere and flighty. I frowned at myself for being so negative. I needed to lighten up; I was turning into an old spinster well before my time and that would be a problem. I didn’t even like cats.
“So, my roommate Tommy said he would be here with some of his friends if you were up for it? I know I wouldn’t mind hanging out with them and it would give you a chance to meet him and the others?” He was looking at me expectantly. It registered with me how hard he tried even though he seemed resigned to me saying no. His shoulders started to slump, already accepting defeat when I cut him off.
“Sure,” I said. “I’ve have been wanting to meet the notorious Tommy for a while now.” This was a lie. I would be quite happy to never meet Tommy. From what Robbie had told me, Tommy was a typical jock, here on a scholarship and all about football. He seemed to be quite the ladies’ man. I cringed inwardly as I thought about the stories that Ihadn’theard. Fingers crossed he wouldn’t be so bad in actual person. Plus, I liked football, so I could always talk NFL with him.
“Cool. Come on – I’ll message him and see where they are.” Robbie reached for his phone while I looked over the park at the party. There were blankets everywhere. Loud, throbbing music. That annoying dull bass beat that seems to be in every dance song ever made.
I noticed several picnic baskets and picnic tables. It seemed you wandered where you wanted and ate what you liked. A free for all. Fantastic –welcome e-coli, I thought, vowing silently not to eat anything that wasn’t individually wrapped. A shiver ran over me. I think I hated this party already. I turned back to look at Robbie, who was putting his phone away and grinning at me.I must try to be a better person,I scolded myself.
“This way,” he said, and off he went, almost at a gallop, leaving me no choice but to follow. Another of my pet hates – and yes, I admit to having many; ridiculously tall people who only need to take one stride for a shorter person’s two (or, in my case, sometimes three). If you asked them to slow down, they thought you were a lunatic. Didn’t you know they were walking at a normal pace? Robbie was already halfway to the edge of the lake and I hadn’t taken more than about ten steps. I suppose I could shout to get his attention, but it wasn’t like I could really lose him – his height made him easily identifiable in a crowd, especially a crowd of people who were mostly sitting or lying down sunbathing. Resigned to follow after him I started to pick up the pace, only to suddenly find myself lifted off the ground and flung in the air. I was placed rather heavily over someone’s shoulder. My tote fell to the ground behind the person who’d picked me up.
“What the hell! Put me down you idiot!” I yelled. Uproarious laughter was the answer and I was swung around in a circle, the person spinning as they held me tightly. I started hitting my assailant’s shoulders, which only made him laugh harder; thankfully I heard Robbie running back to me.
“Hey man, put her down!” I could tell by his tone he wasn’t all that upset. That made me angrier and I renewed my effort of hitting the idiot carrying me over his shoulder.
“Hey now calm – down Ari, no need to be all mean and growly.”
I completely froze, I recognised that voice. There were only a few people who called me that. I’d done my best to ensure that I would be nowhere near any of them for a long time. I was finally lifted off the shoulder and deposited back on the ground. I found my footing and forced myself to look up into laughing blue eyes. I took a step back and glanced to my right – sure enough, Theo wasn’t alone. Matt laughed, winking back at me as I shook my head, looking back and forth between the two of them. Granted they looked genuinely pleased to see me, but I really wished in that moment I could have said the same. Then I was in a group hug that was hot, smelled overwhelmingly of cologne and most importantly felt like home. I couldn’t lie to myself completely, believing that I wasn’t glad to see them. After a few seconds, I wriggled free and adjusted my top, trying to buy some time. To be fair, it had become scrunched up in the hug.
“I can’t believe you’re really standing in front of us,” Matt said softly as he reached out to clasp my hand. I squeezed it in return.
“Elle, do you know these yahoos?” Robbie was standing awkwardly to the side rubbing the back of his neck and looking between me and the guys. Matt and Theo looked at him.
“Yahoos? Who says yahoos?” Matt said offhandedly to Theo. Theo grinned back in amusement and flicked a condescending glance at Robbie. Robbie flushed. I felt slightly bad because I knew Matt was only teasing, but only because I knew him so well.
“Guys,” I warned as I turned to Robbie and smiled at him. I heard Theo whistle under his breath and mutter something to Matt who in turn nudged him to be quiet. I turned back to them quickly and flashed them both a warning look before turning back to Robbie. “Hey, so these are old friends of mine from high school,” Robbie glanced at them and his eyebrow went up, friends I had never mentioned. He was about to start asking questions. I quickly hurried on before he could say anything. “So, I will just have a quick catch up with them and then come find you and Tony.”
“Tommy,” Robbie corrected.
“Yeah, gosh I’m sorry, I know that, must have been all that blood running to my head when I was hanging upside down.” I glared at Matt. He pointed at Theo. Theo threw his head back and laughed.
“So…you want me to leave?” Robbie asked. He looked so disappointed that I tried to get him away from the terrible twosome. I stepped forward and put my hand on his arm; I smiled,
“I’ll be right behind you, five minutes.” I promised. Robbie took a step back, frowned like he was going to say something, shrugged and then turned and reluctantly left. He didn’t look back.
“Pussy whipped,” Theo muttered.
Taking in a deep breath I whirled around and glared at Theo, he got a punch on his shoulder for his comment – ok it was more like his forearm because Theo was an oversized giant.
“He’s a nice guy and he is most certainly not pu...whipped by anything!” I growled out.
Theo burst out laughing and held onto Matt’s shoulder for support. Matt also got a punch on the shoulder...arm. Now they were both laughing at me, throwing up my hands I whirled on my heel and started to march off after Robbie. I didn’t get far before I was picked up again and put over Theo’s shoulder.
“Come on Lil Bit, stop being so grumpy and give your boys some love,” Matt said, “We haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Theo! For the love of all that’s holy, put me down!Now!” I was dangled ungracefully for a few more seconds and then was gently placed back on the ground. Thank God for flat shoes was all I could think of.
I wanted to glare at both of them.
“So, Ari, what brings you here?” Matt asked. He was still smiling and I reluctantly smiled back. Then when I started looking around, I realised they had taken me off to the side of the main park, we were currently under a tree that was partly sheltered from the rest of the party. I knew their greeting was perfectly normal for the college crowd and I was hoping they hadn’t attracted too much attention.