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  “Try not to come home late. I worry about you driving alone at night.” She followed me to the front door.

  “All right, Mom, I’ll call you once I get there. I promise.” I grinned at her and walked out the door. My dog incessantly barked and, for the first time, howled.

  Chapter 6: Breaking Free

  The truth shall make you free, but first it shall make you angry.

  Robert Green Ingersoll

  The evening was chilly and the sky clear. I started up my truck, waiting for the engine to warm up, wondering if I’d see Michael there. As I drove toward the town of Olean, I pictured his lips, wondering what they felt like as a euphoric feeling crept along the edge of my skin, suddenly excited and hoping he’d be there tonight.

  Coffee Cake was busy. The smell of freshly brewed hot apple cider and warm glazed cinnamon buns fragranced the cool winter air, inhaling deeply as I sent a text to my mother telling her that I had arrived safely.

  Freddie was already inside playing darts at the far end of the cafe. Samantha was sitting at a table beside the candy machine texting on her cellphone. I walked over to her.

  “Hi, Sam!” I said, removing my scarf and coat. She looked up at me with a devilish smile on her perfectly painted lips.

  “Hey. Heard what happened to you. That sucks!” she sighed, twisting her lips to one side.

  “Yeah, it was nothing. I’m feeling better now.” I smiled masking my worries about the doctor’s theory concerning my mental stability.

  “Sit. What’ll you have?” she asked, while waving a waitress over to our table. “Peppermint mocha for me and a . . .” She looked at me, waiting for me to place my order.

  “Oh! I’ll have a latte lite, please.” I added, knowing if I was going to be friends with this brunette bombshell, I’d need to start watching my figure.

  Samantha leaned in over the table to get closer to me.

  “So, what happened? Is it serious? Is it life-threatening?” she asked.

  “I think I’ll live, if that’s what you’re asking. Doctors think the medications should help with the headaches for now.”

  “For now? That doesn’t sound too promising, does it? Do they know what caused it?” She narrowed her green eyes, as she struggled to listen to me over the hum of chatter, seeming unusually amused.

  “Bethy!” I heard a booming voice yell.

  I closed my eyes, trying my hardest to become invisible.

  Sam relaxed back in her seat. “He’s heading over here.” She sang in a pitchy voice.

  Freddie greeted me with a wet kiss on my cheek. “Hey, Freddie.” I said unenthused, wiping my damp cheek.

  “I thought you didn’t feel up to hanging with me tonight? What happened? Changed your mind or did the Princess of Darkness compel you to come out?” he teased.

  Samantha raised her hand slightly “Guilty party!” she confessed, eyeing him fully, from head to toe.

  Freddie turned to my new friend, sitting ravishingly across from me. His eyes widened, as did his cunning smile, obviously pleased at the sight.

  “Well, well, well.” He said trying to be suave. He poised himself with one hand on the opening of his leather jacket and the other hand resting on the table leaning toward Sam. “We haven’t been formerly introduced. You must be the hot topic around campus. Freddie Albrizio. And whom might you be, my fine vixen?” he announced, with a hint of cynicism in his voice, yet amusement danced in his eyes.

  I laughed out loud, embarrassed by his public display of stupidity.

  “Sam Gaven,” she stated, holding out her hand to him.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Gaven. You most definitely do not look like the Princess of Darkness,” he grinned as he took her hand. Samantha abruptly jerked her hand away from his, seemingly taken back. Freddie remained stationary, staring into her surprised eyes.

  “Oh, brother! Please Freddie, you’re making me nauseous. You’ve made your introduction, nowgo away!” I chuckled, shooing him back toward his friends.

  Freddie stepped away, his eyes still watching Sam. He turned to me, kissed the top of my head and bounced back to the dartboard. I figured he’d already gotten over Mandy the minute he laid eyes on Sam.Typical guy to forget and move on to the next best thing. “Sorry about him. He’s a bit over the top, a total drama queen,” I laughed.

  Sam cocked her head, intrigued by my words, “You mean he’s . . . ” I knew where she was going with this, so I abruptly cut her off.

  “Oh no! No, nothing like that. God, no! Freddie is totally into girls. I meant to say, he’s dramatic, animated. That’s all.” I corrected myself.

  “Good to know. There’s something about him. Something more to him than just total testosterone,” she purred, following him with her emerald eyes, licking her glossy lips approvingly. She turned her attention back to me, grinning at the look of shock that blanketed my stunned expression. It didn’t seem likely that Sam would find someone like Freddie attractive. They seemed complete opposites. She being altogether more mature and seductive, while Freddie’s displays of childish habits wreaked havoc across campus.

  “Are you saying you . . . like him?” I snorted a giggle.

  “Maybe. He seems like fun for someone from . . .” She took a deep breath. “Never mind!” She huffed, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand.

  I looked over at Freddie and realized how right Sam was about him, feeling lucky to have him as my best friend. I turned to the dark-haired raven, but this time her eyes reflected an entirely new attitude. One that strangely made me shudder.

  “Everything okay? Is there something on your mind, Sam?” Her stare made me nervous.

  “Nothing is on my mind. I’m perfect!Thisis perfect! Just happy knowing that it was much easier than I thought to be your friend,” she stated with a ghost of a smile. I cocked my head, surprised by her comment. Was that the impression I gave? Did everyone at school see me as being difficult or uptight? However, after giving some thought to our new alliance, I found it to be true. Becoming her friend was just as easy.Who’d ever think that I’d have a friend like Sam. I thought to myself. Still curious, I asked, “Why wouldn’t it be easy? Have you heard something? Did Sophie say something about me?”

  “Sophie? That repulsive excuse for a pom-pom waving hare-brain? No. She knows well enough to stay the hell out of my way!” Sam snapped her fingers.

  “Whoa! Remind me never to cross your path when you’re in a bad mood.”

  “Too late for that, honey!” she winked.

  “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you, were you out of town recently?” I inquired.

  “Who wants to know?” her voice became shrill.

  “I haven’t seen you around campus.” I paused, watching her body shift positions. I gathered she was uncomfortable with my question, so I changed the subject.

  “So, have you had the chance to meet the new guy, Michael?” I babbled like a two year old at the mention of his name. Her green eyes narrowed with interest, pulling her lips upward by my new fascination.

  “Michael,” she repeated wearing a cunning smile.

  “He . . . he is . . .” I couldn’t find the words to describe him. The swells of air in my lungs made my chest rise and fall profoundly. I closed my eyes imagining his gorgeous face, the scent of his skin, and how perfect he looked in Levi jeans. I couldn’t contain my smile.

  I blushed, knowing that Sam quietly observed me, “Does someone have a crush?” Sam laughed loudly grabbing the attention of some. My cheeks flushed as many in the coffee shop turned in my direction, including Freddie.

  “Keep it down, will you! I’m embarrassed as it is.” I muttered under my breath.

  “Well, well, well, Miss Morgan. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has cast a spell on you.” She mocked, noting my obvious infatuation for the newcomer.

  “He’s different that’s all. I mean, I haven’t really spoken to him, but he seems like a nice guy. He’s not. . .” I trailed off, once again stealing a glance at F
reddie, feeling helpless, in a betrayal kind of way. I turned away, but somehow my transparent thoughts alerted Sam, who quite perceptively watched me watching Freddie.

  She cleared her throat to get my attention. “No, I haven’t met him yet, but according to your body lingo. . .he must be . . .heavenly,” she sneered condescendingly, curiously settling her eyes on Freddie, then me. I smiled at her, nervously. I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea about me and Freddie.We are friends. That’s all. Nothing more.I thought, trying to convince myself, as well. Sam cocked her head slightly watching me squirm in my seat.

  “What?” I asked innocently as she puckered her lips at me. “Only friends, huh?” Sam muttered under her breath. With Sam’s comment fresh in my head, I back tracked our earlier conversations, knowing I hadn’t revealed any intimate thoughts about Freddie. Out loud, at least.

  I watched Sam for a while as she casually talked about herself. Studying her effervescent eyes moving about, slowly ingesting the small groups of boys in the coffee shop, some shooting pool, others taking their chances at blindfolded darts, or the studious kind, who buried their heads in the books while sipping on hot cocoa. Her satin cheeks glowed as her lips curved flirtatiously at their corners. An urgency to understand the way her mind worked prodded my brain. How she perceived the boys as her eyes unwrapped them, one by one. What intrigued her––what made her tick. I watched her carefully move about the crowd, mentally recording every provocative flutter of her long lashes when she looked at a boy, counting the number of times she licked her lips when she spoke to a jock. I even began to memorize how she swayed her hips when she walked across a room. I never gave a damn about how girls used their bodies as a boy magnet, but this newfound interest I’d taken up with Michael made me crave to change my ways. My appearance never bothered me before, but today, it irked me. I hated who I was. The freak who spoke to ghosts or whatever they were. I despised how I looked at myself or perhaps how others saw me. My lack of fashion and sensuality. I didn’t want to feel insignificant any longer. For the first time in my life, I yearned to be sexy, like Sam. I desired to be desired.

  Sam stood up and glided over to the service counter. I admired her style and her noticeably pricey jeans that were perfectly tailored to her figure. Her chiffon blouse contoured her slender shoulders and thin waist, while her saddle-colored boots rose high above her knees, adding length to her already elongated legs. She was the picture of femininity, and I felt more boyish than ever in my jeans and purple sweatshirt.

  When she returned to the table, everyone was obviously enchanted with her. Boys couldn’t take their eyes off of her, while the girls sneered at her, including Sophie who watched us resentfully. Sam again sat gracefully opposite me, looking at me, but slowly raising her middle finger at Sophie without ever making eye contact. I couldn’t help but laugh, cupping my hands over my mouth. “Sam!” I scolded, holding back my laughter.

  “We should have a girls weekend,” her voice chanted loudly, fully aware that Sophie was glaring at us. Sam rested her chin on her hand as her eyes shimmered under the soft lighting. She waited for my response. Caught by surprise, I gave a sideward glance at Sophie. In the past, I had declined all of Sophie’s invites, knowing it was done intentionally as a cruel joke. This time, I was sure of my answer. I could only imagine that having a girl’s sleepover with Sam would be nothing less than interesting. No harm in that, but I’d have to convince my mom first. And even if she said no––I was ready to put my foot down!

  “Umm, my room is small, but we can sleep on the sofa in the den,” I said modestly, as a sea of embarrassment washed over my face.

  “Silly you, we’ll have it at my place!”

  Chapter 7: A Sweet Encounter

  We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.

  Fydor Dostoevsky

  Tuesday morning I packed an overnight bag. I was excited to have my first sleepover.

  Mom wasn’t thrilled about it, and Prince didn’t seem fond of the idea, either. Lately, he had become a real pest, persistently barking and howling. I couldn't understand what had gotten into him the last couple of months.

  Samantha, Freddie, and I planned to grab a bite to eat and later head over to Sam’s house. Walking out to my Jeep, I noticed the sky turned a radiant blue, not a cloud in sight. A transparent moon hovered in the morning sky, suspended over the earth with a powdery frost on its surface.Best of both worlds, I thought to myself smiling at the distant planet. Finally, things were starting to look up for me. Life was not dreary as it had been for me the past several years.

  I drove to school, parking in my usual spot on campus. The school bell sounded and everyone quickly scuttled toward the school building except for one. My eyes blink several times as students cleared campus grounds as I struggled to focus before seeing him clearly. I looked away, catching my breath at the sight of him, but couldn’t resist to look back again. To stare into the eyes that stared back at me. It was the face of my recent obsession. Michael.

  Steadying himself like Rodin’sThinker,Michael sat on Houghton’s iconic purple boulder located on the Quad lawn. He sat motionless, overcome in thought, staring fixedly at my car. At me.

  Nervously, I leaned my head against the headrest, trying to control my emotions. Excited at the same time to see him again. There was nothing I could do to quiet my thoughts or quell my nerves.What would I say to him? What would he think of me? Does he even want to talk to me?Oddly so, I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around his neck. To kiss him passionately. Seductively. But who was I kidding?I’d never done anything like that before. That would be so out of character for me and he’d only think I was easy.Is that what I wanted him to think of me? I had to control myself. I needed to shake off this wild desire.

  Reluctantly, I opened the Jeep door and stepped out. My heart beat hard, as my toes burrowed in my converse. He lifted his head to get a better look at me. Lightheaded would describe how he made me feel. Lagging my legs meekly, I walked toward him. Desperately searching for something to say, wondering how to strike up a conversation before he slipped away again; like he had in the library and in Spanish class. If I wanted to know him, I needed to seize the moment. I had to reach deep in my gut and findmy voice.

  He hopped off the painted, purple rock waiting for someone or something. I turned sheepishly to see if anyone else was walking toward him besides me. Today, the campus was eerily desolate, except for me and my beautiful obsession. His eyes followed my stride as I walked awkwardly toward the main building. I had no idea of his intentions or why, out of all the students on campus, he’d be waiting for me. But today, it didn’t matter. I wanted him to be waiting for me. I wanted to know him in the worst possible way, when unsuspectingly, he stepped in front of me, blocking my path and interrupting my thoughts. I stumbled back clutching my messenger bag to my chest, almost protectively.

  “What’s your problem?” I flinched defensively.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you.” He smiled shyly. “You’re, Elizabeth, right?” his soft voice hummed with a slight accent.

  My mouth fell open, but nothing came out. The sound of his voice saying my name left me speechless, utterly helpless and foolishly staring at him. He smiled.

  “I’ll take that as a yes. Anyway, we have theology first period. I thought I'd walk with you, if that’s okay?” He asked without interrogating, but almost insisting.

  I nodded, indicating that I did not mind. “Sure. Whatever.” I murmured, sounding unaffected, but desiring to know where he came from.

  “H. . .how do you know I have theology first period?” I stopped to question him.

  “Freddie told me about his beautiful friend who was not feeling well. Had I known it was you he was referring to, I would have introduced myself in Spanish class. Anyway, when you were absent last week, I snuck a glance at Father Tom’s roster. I could only smile when I saw your name on i
t. So, I thought if I waited today, I’d have the opportunity to talk to you without an audience.” He gestured toward the school building. “I’ve heard so much about you, Elizabeth, that I’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity to escort you to class. Thought it’d be the perfect time to make an introduction.” He smiled, and my heart melted.

  O.M.G!A voice screamed out in my head.Perfect indeed! Thank you, Freddie,I thought, trying hard to repress my smile.

  My heart raced wildly, as we walked toward Father Tom’s class. His words sounded like music to my ears, making it difficult to focus on anything else. I wasn’t a good conversationalist, especially with someone as enchanting as the new boy. But I had to get over it and step out of my protective cocoon.

  I sat in my usual seat closest to the window. I glanced up at Michael who was removing his vintage leather jacket. His scent was riveting, forcing me to inhale deeply. The crevice etched deep in his chin and chiseled cheekbones complimented his perfectly shaped nose. He smiled. I looked away, again embarrassed by my idiotic display of teenage ogling. When I turned back to look at him, he stood over me with his hands held out toward me as if asking me to dance. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me.

  He grinned. “Your coat. I doubt you’ll want to sit in class for the next hour wearing it. It is a bit stifling in here. I’m not going to bite, it’s only your coat I want.” His words cut through me like a sharp blade.

  Only my coat,I thought,not me?

  I complied, allowing him to remove my ragged coat from my shoulders. He stood unnaturally close to me for someone I just met. Not that I minded. The proximity of his body sent chills up my arms, feeling his warm breath sweep across my nape, while my stomach fluttered repeatedly. Something inside me ached to face him, touch him, but it would be an indecent thing to do, so, again I fought my desire as my cheeks flushed. He frightened me, but unexplainably I wanted him. I knew if he asked, I would’ve complied, surrendering to him, entirely. We both sat simultaneously.