next to him, and America shoved her elbow in my ribs when she noticed my attention was elsewhere.
“Whatcha lookin’ at, Abby?”
“Nothing. I’m not looking at anything.”
She rested her chin on her hand and shook her head. “They’re so obvious. Look at the red head. She’s ran her fingers through her hair as many times as she’s blinked. I wonder if Travis gets tired of that.”
Shepley nodded. “He does. Everyone thinks he’s this asshole, but if they only knew how much patience he has dealing with every girl that thinks she can tame him…he can’t go anywhere without them bugging him. Trust me; he’s much more polite than I would be.”
“Oh, like you wouldn’t love it,” America said, kissing his cheek.
Travis was finishing his cigarette outside the cafeteria when I passed. “Wait up, Pidge. I’ll walk you.”
“You don’t have to walk me to every class, Travis. I know how to get there on my own.”
Travis was easily sidetracked by a girl with long, black hair and a short skirt walking by that smiled at him. He followed her with his eyes and nodded in the girl’s direction, throwing down his cigarette.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Pidge.”
“Yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes as he jogged to the girl’s side.
Travis’ seat remained empty during class, and I found myself a bit aggravated with him for missing over a girl he didn’t know. Professor Chaney dismissed early, and I hurried across the lawn, aware that I was to meet Finch at three to give him Sherri Cassidy’s Music Appreciation notes. I looked at my watch and quickened my pace.
“Abby?”
Parker jogged across the grass to walk beside me. “I don’t think we’ve officially met,” he said, holding out his hand. “Parker Hayes.”
I took his hand and smiled. “Abby Abernathy.”
“I was behind you when you got your bio test grade. Congratulations,” he smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Thanks. Travis helped, or I would’ve been at the bottom of that list, trust me.”
“Oh, are you guys….”
“Friends.”
Parker nodded and smiled. “Did he tell you there’s a party at the House this weekend?”
“We mostly just talk about Biology and food.”
Parker laughed. “That sounds like Travis.”
At the door of Morgan Hall, Parker scanned my face with his big green eyes. “You should come. It’ll be fun.”
“I’ll talk to America. I don’t think we have any plans.”
“Are you a package deal?”
“We made a pact this summer. No parties solo.”
“Smart,” he nodded in approval.
“She met Shep at orientation, so I haven’t really had to tag along with her much. This will be the first time I’ve needed to ask her, so I’m sure she’ll be happy to come.” I inwardly cringed. Not only was I babbling, I’d made it obvious that I didn’t get asked to parties.
“Great. I’ll see you there,” he said. He flashed his perfect, Banana Republic-model smile with his square jaw and naturally tan skin, turning to walk across campus.
I watched him walk away; he was tall, clean shaven, with a pressed pin-striped dress shirt and jeans. His wavy, dark-blonde hair bounced when he walked.
I bit my lip, flattered by his invitation.
“Now
“He’s cute, huh?” I asked, unable to stop smiling.
“Hell yes, he’s cute…in that preppy, missionary position kind of way.”
“Finch!” I cried, smacking him on the shoulder.
“Did you get Sherri’s notes?”
“I did,” I said, pulling them from my bag. He lit a cigarette, held it between his lips, and squinted at the papers.
“Fucking brilliant,” he said, scanning the pages. He folded them away in his pocket, and then took another drag. “Good thing Morgan’s boilers are out. You’ll need a cold shower after getting ogled by that tall drink of water.”
“The dorm doesn’t have hot water?” I wailed.
“That’s the word,” Finch said, sliding his backpack over his shoulder. “I’m off to Algebra. Tell Mare I said not to forget me this weekend.”
“I’ll tell her,” I grumbled, glaring up the antique brick walls of our dormitory. I stomped up to my room, pushed through my door, and let my backpack fall to the floor.
“No hot water,” Kara mumbled from her side of the desk.
“I heard.”
My cell phone buzzed and I clicked it open, reading a text message from America cursing the boilers. A few moments later there was a knock on the door.
America walked in and plopped onto my bed, arms crossed. “Can you believe this shit? How much are we paying and we can’t even take a hot shower?”
Kara sighed. “Stop whining. Why don’t you just stay with your boyfriend? Haven’t you been staying with him, anyway?”
America’s eyes darted in Kara’s direction. “Good idea, Kara. The fact that you’re a total bitch comes in handy sometimes.”
Kara kept her eyes on her computer monitor, unfazed by America’s jab.
America pulled out her cell phone and clicked out a text message with amazing precision and speed. Her cell phone chirped, and she smiled at me. “We’re staying with Shep and Travis until they fix the boilers.”
“What?
“Oh, yes you are. There’s no reason for you to be stuck here, freezing in the shower when Travis and Shep have two bathrooms at their place.”
“I wasn’t invited.”
“I’m inviting you. Shep already said it was fine. You can sleep on the couch…if Travis isn’t using it.”
“And if he’s using it?”
America shrugged. “Then you can sleep in Travis’ bed.”
“No way!”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a baby, Abby. You guys are friends, right? If he hasn’t tried anything by now, I don’t think he will.”
Her words made my open mouth snap shut. Travis had been around me in one way or another every night for weeks. I had been so occupied with making sure everyone knew we were just friends, it hadn’t occurred to me that he really was interested only in friendship. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt insulted.
Kara looked at us with disbelief. “Travis Maddox hasn’t tried to sleep with you?”
“We’re friends!” I said in a defensive tone.
“I know, but he hasn’t even…
“Except us,” America said, looking her over. “And you.”
Kara shrugged. “Well, I’ve never met him. I’ve just heard.”
“Exactly,” I snapped. “You don’t even know him.”
Kara returned to her monitor, oblivious to our presence.
I sighed. “All right, Mare. I need to pack.”
“Make sure you pack for a few days, who knows how long it will take them to fix the boilers,” she said, entirely too excited.
Dread settled over me as if I were about to sneak into enemy territory. “Ugh…all right.”
America bounced when she hugged me. “This is going to be so fun!”
Half an hour later we loaded down her Honda and headed for the apartment. America hardly took a breath between ramblings as she drove. She honked her horn as she slowed to a stop in her usual parking space. Shepley
