Page 12 of Deprivation

“You know Smith, right?” he asks.

Taking a sip, I look up from my beer bottle to greet Smith with a small smile. What is it about this guy that makes this beer suddenly feel like acid in my throat?

“Not really. Hi,” I finally reply. About this time, God decides instead of sending an earthquake to swallow me whole, He’ll send me the next best thing. “Sorry, I have to take this,” I state excitedly, noting Olivia’s name on my phone. I step into the empty hallway to answer the call. “Hey, Liv. God, I miss you. How’s everything in the Big Apple?”

“Hey, Kit Kat. It’s great. This is such a fast-moving place. I got lucky with my roommates, and we all get along but one. She’s usually shacking up with some sleaze-bag she met in a bar, so we don’t see her much, anyway.” I can hear a lot of street noise in the background; a picture of beautiful Olivia standing in Times Square comes to mind.

“Snagged any parts in a big production yet?”

“No, not yet. I’m still putting my headshots out there and auditioning for anything I can find. If it doesn’t work out, at least I can say I gave it all I had. The reason I called was to let you know I’m coming to town next weekend. I’m taking the train in on Friday night and back out on Sunday, so it’ll be a whirlwind trip. I just wanted to see you while I was there if you could fit me in, even if it’s just for a quick hug,” she pleads.

“Oh, Liv. I’ll make sure to see you.”

“That’d be great. I really missed Mac and wanted to spend some time with him and couldn’t wait until Thanksgiving like we originally planned.”

“Just let me know what time to meet you. I miss you so much, Olivia.” I smile into the phone, knowing my dear friend can’t see but hoping she can feel the sentiment.

“Miss you, too, Kat. We can chill with a bottle of wine on Friday at my parents’ place and catch up,” she encourages as she ends the call.

I tuck the phone into my back pocket and turn, stumbling directly into the firm, tall body of the boy I’m sure God has designed just for me. Holding my beer tightly, I pray I haven’t covered his Henley in cheap hops.

“Was that your boyfriend, Kat?” he teases, looking down at me. A smirk lifting the corner of one side of his mouth.

“Uh, no,” I stammer. My retorts clearly still need life support. I check to make sure my mouth is closed as I peer up at him. God, he’s even more beautiful up close.Was Kelly blind? If I lean forward just a bit, I could lick his sexy Adam’s apple.That wouldn’t be weird, right?

“Hey, Smith and I have tickets to see the Dave Matthews Band this weekend. Any chance you’d want to go?”

I look around quickly to make sure this isn’t some sort of prank with a bunch of people waiting for the punch line. I realize we’re alone and turn back to him hesitantly. Can this really be happening? I peer back up at his inquisitive eyes and can’t get the words out, still waiting for the other shoe to fall. I just nod my head. I’m sure I look like I’m having a stroke.

He grins down at me, reaching over to brush my hair behind my shoulder. Softly, he continues, “Okay, Kat, it’s on Saturday night. I‘ll call later in the week and get your address so we can swing by and pick you up. All right?” With that, he bends to put a soft peck on my left cheek, and I pray to all the gods watching over social misfits to keep me standing upright. As he walks away, I release the breath I’ve been holding.

I walk over to where Melanie is standing and notice Tyler and Smith are no longer in the room. “Did Tyler leave?” I whisper carefully.

“Yes, you can breathe now,” she whispers back, chuckling.

“Stop, this is serious!” I exclaim. “He asked me out. Well, I think he did, but he said Smith was coming too, so I guess it isn’t really a date, but who cares? How am I going to handle this without embarrassing myself?”

“You’ll be fine. I’m sure it’s a double date type of thing. That might make it easier for you, anyway. Take some of the pressure off,” she encourages. “Just try not to think about it too much this week or you’ll talk yourself out of it. Pick out something like what you’re wearing now, and just have a good time.”

* * *

I sleep later than usual Saturday morning, having finished off a bottle of wine, or two, with Olivia the evening before. I’m sure it must have hit her harder given she weighs all of ninety pounds. I’ve taken Melanie’s advice to heart and have my clothes already picked out and ready to go. After showering, I get dressed and apply a little makeup. I even try to get my stone straight tresses to curl. Looking out the window, I notice a Lincoln Town Car. I briefly spoke with Tyler a few days earlier and provided my address.Could this be for me?

Suddenly, the rear passenger door swings open, and Tyler steps out wearing loose-fitting jeans and a pullover. As if he knows I’m watching, he turns his head upward and catches me staring down at him. Instead of making his way to the steps, he waves me down, and I nod in understanding. I wipe my already sweaty hands on my jeans.This is really happening,I think. Trying to take slow, deep breaths to calm my nerves, I gather my things and head toward the door.

As I walk toward the open back door of the Town Car, I realize Tyler must have returned to his seat to await my arrival. Peering in before entering, I quickly comprehend my night is going in a much different direction than I’d hoped. Climbing inside the car, I sit in the only available seat next to Smith who gives me a once over.

“Heyyyyy, Kat,” he drawls.

I look directly in front of me to see Tyler sitting beside a buxom blonde I know from the rescue squad named Crystal. The nicest thing I can say about Crystal is she knows how to pick a good plastic surgeon with her daddy’s money. Crystal is well-known for her easy ways, and I don’t mean casual conversation. She seems the type of girl Smith should be paired with, not Tyler. She’s a spoiled rich girl, rebelling against her mother and father every chance she gets. This Town Car is likely her doing. I rarely see her without a cigarette, and her skin is intermittently covered with unattractive tattoos that look like she may have drawn them herself. The latest rumor at the squad is that she’s been dancing at a local strip club and even has condoms personalized with her stage name, Crystal Peaks, emblazoned on them.Ugh.Why on Earth is Tyler sitting with his arm around this bimbo?I know they were friends while he was dating Kelly.Is that why she dumped him?

I look over and see Tyler smile at me again, but suddenly it’s lost its luster. I feel Smith’s arm drape around my shoulders, a mirror image of Tyler and Crystal. Thank God I was too nervous to eat earlier because I might’ve started searching in the pockets of this Town Car for a barf bag. I reach behind me and remove Smith’s arm from my shoulders. He doesn’t appear offended. We travel the rest of the distance to the concert in silence, only Dave Matthews’Crushplaying in the background.

The concert is as painful as I expect. Luckily, we didn’t stay in our seats much. We walked about the Carpenter Center quite a bit, and I took several opportunities to excuse myself to the restroom. Truth be told, I almost hoped to lose them so I had an excuse not to have to ride back home with them. I contemplated calling someone to come and pick me up however; I like riding at the rescue squad and don’t want to burn any bridges there. I try to pull up my big girl panties and realize it is, again, my own fault for not reading this better. I should’ve asked right away when Tyler said, “Smith and I have tickets” what that meant. Look at the bright side, Kat, at least he isn’t looking for a threesome.

I return to our seats just in time for the encore. I can’t believe I’m wishing for this night to be over harder than I wished for it to get here. As the music stops and the lights return, I feel a hand grab mine. It’s warm and clammy and just the thought of who that appendage is attached to makes me want to hurl. I don’t bother looking up and decide until we reach the Town Car I might as well just go along so as not to make the trip back any more uncomfortable. Little did I know what was to come.

* * *

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