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ZACH
I met some of the guys at Fixx, a new club that had opened near campus. The place was packed, but we knew the bouncer and he let us skip the line. I grabbed a beer, fully intending it to be my only one. I had to be home early in the morning for our annual Christmas card photo session, complete with fake snow and Christmas decorations galore. If I looked remotely hungover, Mom would kill me.
"This place is nuts," Brett said.
"Yup," I said, glancing at my phone. Three texts from Becca wanting to talk, then changing her mind, then wanting to talk again and another from a girl in my Terror and Espionage class. I deleted Becca's texts and replied to the girl from class. What was her name again? Jennifer? Carla? I couldn't remember and her text came up as only a number. I only knew it was the girl from T&E because of some of the earlier messages in the chain.
"You here with me, or with your phone?" Brett asked, staring at my cell with contempt.
"You're just jealous cuz all the girls love me," I said, punching him in the arm.
"Fuck off."
We got our beers and then Brett and I headed for a less crowded corner while the other guys stayed near the bar. Brett chatted up a cute brunette, but by the disinterested look on her face, I knew he was wasting his time. I took the opportunity to sneak another glance at my phone. Terror-and-Espionage girl had texted again. Wanted to know if I'd study with her and go for coffee after that. She was cute, but not my type. I texted back that I'd let her know.
"Well, look who it is."
I looked up from my phone. Bianca. I'd managed to avoid her for the weeks since the incident at Brett's cabin. A huge smile spread across her face as she batted her eyelashes a few times. I was easily six inches taller than her and she had to crane her neck to stare up at me.
"Hey," I muttered.
"I haven't seen you around campus. Hiding or something?"
"I guess we don't cross paths."
She smirked. "So I hear you were the one who gave Emma a ride home from Brett's." She said Emma's name like it repulsed her.
"Yup."
"You know she's a loser, right? Totally freaking weird. Jake says you've been nice to her, and I thought you should know what kind of person she is."
I shifted my feet and stared over her head and focused on the dance floor. I didn't want to give her the impression that I found her interesting. "And what kind of person is she?" I sounded bored. Mission accomplished.
"She's in love with Jake and wants to break us up. She's always trying to get between us. And she's super strange. She's into something like witchcraft or whatever. Everyone stays away from her. She has no friends. Zero. Nada. Nothing. You should stay away from her too."
"Why?" I asked. I should have shut down the conversation, but I was curious what more she'd fabricate.
"I heard you had a soft spot for her. I don't think your parents want you mixed up with someone so ... questionable."
Fucking Brett. "The only questionable thing here is your story."
Bianca's mouth gaped open for a second. I took a sip of my beer.
"You like her, don't you?" Bianca said with a sneer. Not a good look for her.
"I think she's a normal and nice human being. I can't say the same thing about all the people I know."
"OMG! You do like her!"
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "So what if I like her? What is the big deal? Am I not allowed to be friendly to her? Do you make the rules?"
"You're a fucking idiot, you know that! People like her can screw up your dad's re-election."
"Thanks for the valuable insight."
"I'm trying to help you."
I'd had enough of her shit. I stared her down, planting myself in front of her. "I don't need your help. Last time I checked, it's you who needs me."
She knew exactly what I meant. She retreated and her shoulders dropped. "Is that what I get for giving you a heads-up?"
"Yeah, so leave me alone. Leave Emma alone too."
She stomped off and I was glad to be rid of her. I turned to Brett who'd been dismissed by the brunette. He was scanning the crowd for his next victim.
"What'd you tell Bianca?" I asked him.
"About what?"
"About Emma."
Brett thought about the question and shrugged. "Who's Emma?"
"Emma from the cabin. I took her home. Remember? How many times do I have to remind you who she is?"
"Oh yeah, the weird one. Nothing." He paused. "Oh wait, I told her you were texting her."
"Why'd you do that?"
"She came up in conversation. Something about Bianca going around to her job and giving her a hard time."
"Wait, what? Going to her job?" My blood pressure was rising. I could literally feel it ticking up by the second.
"She and Becca went by the place she works and gave her a hard time or something." Brett looked at me and the smile on his face vanished.
"You're an asshole, you know that, right?"
"Hey, it was sort of funny."
"What was funny about it?"
"Why are you getting so bent out of shape?"
"Because she didn't do anything to you, to Bianca or to whoever else was there."
"Jake laughed, too, and he's her friend."
"Then that makes you all assholes." I gulped back the last of my beer and slammed the bottle down on the bar. "I'm out of here. I'll walk home."
#
THE BRIGHT SPOT OF my night out with the guys was that I was home early and up looking fresh and bright-eyed when the entourage arrived for our Christmas card photos. Clothes were picked out and after a quick hair and makeup session, I was sitting with Dad on the sofa, waiting for Genie and Mom.
"You're keeping up those grades?" Dad asked.
"I know how important these next two years are. I won't screw it up."
"No more distractions."
"I know."
"We'll talk more about this after breakfast," he said once Mom and Genie appeared.
I would have killed someone for breakfast, but Mom didn't want to look bloated in the pictures. Normally she wasn't vain, but this Christmas card went out to thousands of people and she wanted to look her best. The second I was out of my sweater, slacks, and tie, I'd be chowing down on pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Louisa had promised it all.
For an hour the photographer placed us in various positions while his assistants moved various Christmas decorations around—all decorations I know weren't ours. By the time the last few pictures were snapped, my stomach was growling and Genie was fidgeting.
"How much longer?" she asked. "I'm about to eat one of these Christmas trees."
"We're done," the photographer said.
"About time," she said. "I'll let Louisa know we're ready to eat. Let's meet in the dining room in five minutes."
She rushed out of the room to change and I was close behind. I threw on jeans and a T-shirt and when I got to the dining room, Louisa was putting out plates of apple pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, and cubed potatoes. I didn't wait for the rest of my family before I dove in.
"Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you, Louisa."
She touched my shoulder and squeezed it. Louisa had been a part of our family for so long we couldn't survive without her. She kept us fed, watered, and moving in the right directions. And when she finished putting out all the various plates of food, she took her seat next to me. Unlike other the help at other homes, Louisa always ate with us. We'd have it no other way. If it wasn't for Allen, Dad's communications director, laying down his veto, Louisa would have her place in our Christmas photo shoot.
"We should wait for everyone else," Louisa said.
"No way," I said, passing her the plate of pancakes. "You snooze, your food is cold."
Louisa smiled and pinched my cheek the same way she did when I was five. "You're a little devil, aren't you?"
Dad, Mom, and Genie filed in moments apart. Mom had Christmas on the brain and wanted to discuss arrangements for the party that was two months away. She let Louisa in on all the details, often running ideas past her. Dad was busy with the newspaper so Genie fixed her attention on me.
"I need a favor," she said.
"What's that?" I asked, pouring more maple syrup on my pancakes.
"One of Steve's friends is getting married and he's the best man. He wants to throw a big party and I thought you could help."
"Zach has retired from party planning," Dad said.
"What Dad said." I wouldn’t help Steve plan a party if it was the last party I'd ever attend.
"You could give him some ideas."
"I've never thrown a bachelor party so I can't help."
She huffed. "If you got to know him, you might actually like him."
"Doubt it."
"You could at least give me some leads."
Dad lowered his paper. "Genie, your brother has already told you he can't help you. Let's move on."
I tried not to smile. Dad hated Steve as much as I did.
"We'll talk later," she said under her breath.
Not if I had my way.
We finished up breakfast and I hung out with my parents for a bit before heading back to the apartment. I passed Julian's on my way home and thought of Emma, wondering if she was inside. For a split second I considered turning around, but stopped myself. I couldn't hang around Julian's all the time. The girl loved Jake, despite how shitty he’d treated her. I could try to make her see reality, but my gut told me I'd be wasting my time.
But somehow, I didn’t think that was going to stop me from trying.