Aftershocks (7 page)

“Are you doing homework?” the guy asked, and I let out a sigh but tried to make it noiseless since I didn’t want to offend him.

I looked up to smile by way of greeting, and fuly planned to look right back down at the problem that was giving me trouble. I figured if I didn’t engage him in conversation, he would know I wasn’t in a chatty mood. Then I realized it was Connor who had posed the question.

“Hi,” I said, surprised to see him.

“Hi,” he said, flashing me a wide grin. “Wow, you look different.”

I realized I had my glasses on and reached up to yank them off my face. “Reading glasses,” I said, as I felt my face flush. “I only wear them when I do homework.”

“They look good on you,” he said, and I felt my face heat up more. He was flirting again.

“Okay,” I said, not sure what else to say. He had a girlfriend. Why was he flirting?

“Why are you doing homework? School just let out an hour ago, and it’s the first day. What’s the rush?” he asked incredulously.

“I like to get ahead,” I said simply.

“Wel, I like to procrastinate,” he said, shooting me a grin as he settled back into his chair, his arms behind his head. “Want to procrastinate with me?”

I had trouble resisting his grin, so I closed my book and rested my pencil and notebook on top of it. “Sure, why not.” I smiled at him as I took a big sip of my latte.

“Connor?” asked the barista behind the counter as he looked around the café.

Connor jumped to his feet and stroled over to the counter, taking his grande whatever it was from her. I watched as he walked over to the station with the cream and sugar, picked up the half and half, poured a liberal amount into his cup before securing the lid. I noticed he didn’t add any sugar. I also found myself paying attention to the way his dark wash jeans fit him perfectly, faling just over the tops of his black Converse sneakers.

As he walked back to me, I caught myself checking him out and felt my face flush with this realization as I cast my eyes to my lap. I focused on the factory-made tear in the pocket of my jeans as he settled into the seat next to me, setting his coffee on the table between us.

“So, you like Band of Horses?” I asked, thinking of the only question that came to mind as I’d just been focused on how his gray tshirt, emblazoned with their name, was stretched just enough across his chest and biceps. I forced myself to look at him after I asked the question as to not look like I was inept at carrying on a conversation with someone who was making my stomach a competitor in women’s gymnastics.

“Yeah,” he said, and I could hear the surprise in his voice. “Do you know their music?”

“Absolutely.” I was glad I’d found a subject I could converse with him on. Music was one thing I did know.

Wyatt and I had been slightly obsessed with finding bands that were more obscure or who were just about to break into the mainstream. It seemed like once they hit the radio stations their music changed and became less soulful. We relished the albums that came before the influence of the big labels, who imparted their wisdom of what would sel versus what was actualy good, on the bands we loved.

“Impressive,” Connor said, and I wondered if he’d gotten tired of listening to Alexis’s favorites which included anything that was in the Top 40 and had a pop vibe to it.

“I saw them at ACL last year,” he said, and I was instantly jealous.

“I hate you,” I said simply, and he just grinned, knowing I was kidding. “Who else did you see?”

He started to tel me about Austin City Limits, one of the best outdoor music festivals in the country. Wyatt and I had always wanted to road trip down for it, but it was always during school, so we never did. Maybe once we were in colege.

“Are you going this year?” I asked, realizing it was in just a few weeks.

He shook his head. “No. I’m bummed, but I can’t go.”

I figured his parents wouldn’t let him out of school either, so at least we had that in common.

“So what was the deal with you at lunch,” he asked then, changing the conversation to one I’d hoped not to have with him.

“What do you mean?” I asked, feigning ignorance as I hid behind my coffee cup, taking a liberal sip of the sweet pumpkiny goodness.

“Don’t think I didn’t clue into your subtle looks of annoyance. I could tel you thought the whole conversation was ridiculous.” Oops, I hadn’t meant for my feelings to show up so readily on my face. Sensing this, he said, “Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone else noticed. What was that al about anyway?”

“I just can’t get al that excited about cheerleading and footbal and parties, I guess,” I said, careful not to say anything that might offend him since these were his friends I’d been annoyed with.

“Don’t knock footbal,” he said, as he brought his cup to his lips. He smirked at me before he took a sip.

“Can I knock the other stuff?” I asked, angling my body toward him slightly.

He turned so he was facing me. “Heck yeah,” he said, grinning at me. “Don’t tel Alexis, but I’m not that impressed by cheerleading and getting wasted isn’t realy my scene either.”

“How long have you guys been dating?” I asked, realizing I was dying to know why he decided she was the right person to date and what on earth he saw in besides boobs and spread legs.

He squinted as if trying to remember. “Um, about a month, I guess,” he said. “We met at a party at the beginning of August.”

I nodded, wishing I was a big enough bitch to tel him to run for the hils. If Alexis didn’t cheat on him or break his heart, she’d put her claws in him and not let go which was bound to leave some scars. Either way, he’d be worse off for dating her. A part of me I felt like I should use my inside knowledge for good, but I just couldn’t bring myself to tel him what I knew.

Connor cocked his head to the side as if he knew I was holding back. I knew I didn’t exactly have a poker face, but I didn’t exactly wear my emotions on my sleeve. If he could tel I wasn’t teling him the truth, he was realy good at reading people.

“What’s the deal with you two?” he asked.

I shrugged. “We used to be friends, and now we’re not.”

Connor raised one eyebrow at me, a skil I wish I could master, but I wasn’t that coordinated. “That simple, huh,” he said, as if he knew I wasn’t teling him everything.

“Sure,” I said, being purposefuly vague. “We just don’t get along.”

“In the hal today, it was like watching a preview for
WrestleMania.
You more than don’t get along.” I couldn’t tel if he was upset that I didn’t like his girlfriend or if he was just curious.

I hesitated for a minute before saying, “I’m going to plead the fifth on that. My parents raised me that if you don’t have anything nice to say then you shouldn’t say anything at al.”

I instantly wondered if I’d said too much. Would he stil be nice to me if he knew of the contempt I carried around for Alexis? Or once she told him about how evil she thought I was, would he stop being nice to me? That would suck.

“I see,” he said, settling back against the arm of his chair, and I knew I wasn’t as adept at reading facial expressions as he was since I couldn’t tel what he was thinking. I realized I’d unintentionaly bashed his girlfriend and wouldn’t blame him if he walked away.

“So, I guess this is it then,” I said, cutting to the chase.

He looked at me in question. “What’s it?”

“Wel, your girlfriend isn’t super-fond of me, and she’s not number one of the list of people I’d want to be trapped in an elevator with, so I’d say that probably means you and I can’t realy be friends.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized I was a little sad which was strange since I barely knew the guy. How could I be sad about not being his friend if I didn’t even know him? It was weird.

“I don’t think I like that idea,” he said. “Besides, how can I make up for the fact that I impaled you with my car if we’re not friends?”

He shot me a winning grin, and I knew I’d never be able to argue with him when he had that smile as a weapon, never mind his car.

I wasn’t sure how we were supposed to be friends if Alexis and I weren’t on speaking terms, but if he was okay with it then I’d be wiling to work around it. She was pretty insignificant to me at that point anyway.

Connor and I talked until he drained his coffee. As soon as he set it on the table between us, he looked at his cel phone and stood up.

“So I’l see you tomorrow?” he asked, taking me by surprise when I realized he was saying goodbye.

I sat up a little straighter. “You’re leaving?” I asked, trying not to sound too upset. I’d thought we’d been having fun.

“Yeah, it’s almost five. I have to go get Jordan from footbal practice,” he said, as he ran a hand through this curls. I watched them flop back into place around his ears.

“I thought he broke his finger,” I said, wondering how he could play sports with a splint Connor just shrugged. “He did, but he stil has to go to practice and be part of the team. Besides, injuries are part of the game. You get pretty banged up, but being mentaly tough is what gets you through it. Jordan’s a tough kid.” He smiled at that, and I thought it was adorable that he was so proud of his brother.

“Do you play footbal?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Connor was suddenly quiet as a dark cloud came over his face. “No, I don’t,” he said, and I wondered why he wasn’t teling me the truth. I’d seen him playing multiple times in his backyard, but it wasn’t like I could tel him that.

“Oh,” I said, not sure what else to say.

“So, I’l see you in physics?” he asked, and I could tel he was fighting his way back from his brief change in mood.

I smiled at him. “You got it.”

He beamed at me, his face lighting up, and I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy that he was smiling at me, but more so I was glad to see the darkness gone from his eyes. I didn’t like seeing it there and hoped it wouldn’t make a frequent appearance.

“You seem different,” Nicky said, appraising me as we walked out of Starbucks on Thursday morning.

“What do you mean?” I asked, realizing I was smiling into my latte.

“You’re smiling,” she said. “Like realy smiling. What’s going on?”

So far I’d refrained from teling Nicky what I’d been up to since she was a bit of a gossip, and for some reason I wanted to keep my friendship with Connor a secret. I’d told Wyatt who had mixed emotions. On one hand, he was my protector, teling me to be careful. He knew what could happen if Alexis truly thought I was snaking her guy, but on the other hand, he told me to go for it, and give that bitch what she deserved.

I assured him Connor and I were just friends, and I wouldn’t be going for anything, but he didn’t believe me. He said we’d be together by the end of September. I just roled my eyes at that before asking him to recount his date with Gym Guy, aka Jeremy, who was apparently amazing.

“Nothing’s going on,” I said to Nicky, wiping the smile off my face.

It was a big fat lie. I’d seen Connor every day that week. On Tuesday he’d stopped by the store when I was working just to say hi and since it was right before I was going on break, I finished up with a customer while he ran to McDonald’s. Then he sat outside with me munching my fries.

Work had been slow that night, and I’d been at the store alone, so we’d sat together until a customer came in an hour and half later. It seemed the time had gotten away from Connor too since I saw the surprised look that came over his face when he looked at his watch. As I headed back inside, he gave me a hug before rushing off, saying he had to get home.

Wednesday afternoon, we’d hung out at Starbucks again, sharing a huge brownie and talking about our favorite movies. At five he’d left to pick up Jordan, and I’d gone home to start on my homework since I’d gotten zip done while he was keeping my attention on him instead of my books. To keep my thoughts in check, I reminded myself that he had time to kil in the afternoons since I was his only friend who wasn’t at cheerleading or footbal practice, so I shouldn’t read into him wanting to hang out. Although, he sure was fun.

Just that morning, he’d texted me something funny he’d seen on TV. I responded with a snappy retort and hadn’t stopped smiling since I’d gotten into the shower after he’d texted back,
LMAO – can’t wait to see you at school.

He was flirting – again. There was no other way to categorize it. Connor flirted with me al the time. I tried to ignore it, but he made little comments here and there, found ways to touch or tickle me and always hugged me longer than I thought he should. Not that I didn’t welcome al of it. I did, but I stil had my guard up since he was dating a girl who was just waiting for me to steal her boyfriend.

“I cal bulshit,” Nicky said, as we got into the Ford Focus I’d been given to drive while my car was in the shop. “Who’s the guy?”

“Connor Richmond,” I said, as I started the engine. I tried to turn up the music, but Nicky reached over and turned it down, squaring herself so she could stare at me while I drove. It was her way of demanding answers – stare until I caved and deprive me of my music.

“Connor Richmond?” she asked, her eyebrows shooting up under her bangs. “As in the guy who is, albeit incredibly dreamy, also dating Alexis Blaine, your archenemy?”

“Archenemy?” I asked speculatively, as I turned to face her. “Don’t be so dramatic. We don’t like each other. Just leave it at that.”

“She’s gonna kick your ass if she finds out, Abby,” Nicky said, ful of seriousness.

I shrugged. “I could take her.”

“Just poke her in the boob with a stick – make it deflate – that’l take her out for a few seconds.” With that she dissolved into giggles.

It was common knowledge that Alexis had gotten a boob job at the beginning of last summer. She left school with barely B cups and returned with D cups. No one gets that big in three months, especialy when you’re only 5’3” and just over 100 pounds. Plus, I knew the truth. We were stil friends back then.