Page 21 of Where the Dark Knelt
Chapter Nine
NIGHT OUT
Wandering over to the canteen, I grabbed a sandwich, before finding a spot on the campus lawn to enjoy the sunshine.
Small groups of students milled around, others were sitting alone reading, texting or listening to music through ear buds. It was a beautiful cloudless day, but then nearly every day is sunny in Miami.
I turned tothe sound of laughter. There was a group of students nearby. One of the guys in the group was teasing a pretty dark-haired girl as she was rolling around laughing on the grass. He was tickling her.
The girl was helpless from laughing and her giggle was so infectious that I found myself grinning at the sound of her. She looked relaxed and was obviously very familiar with the guys she was with.
I felt more than a little envious of her relaxing with her friends right then, while I was missing mine. The small group continued to joke around and were all teasing each other. Swatting ‘tickling guy’ the girl shouted, “I did not, that’s notwhat I meant, and you know it.” They all started laughing again.
Catching me watching them, the girl tried to compose herself. Leaning back on her hands, still chuckling a little, she flicked her bobbed head back in acknowledgment of me, “Hi.”
Smiling, I tried to look confident. “Hey, are they giving you a tough time there?” I lifted my hand and gestured toward the guys she was with.
Snorting at them she replied, “What, these two reprobates? Nah, they’re harmless, really.” Pointing, she introduced them to me. “This is Neil and his partner in crime, Will. I’m Mandy. I saw you around earlier. Are you majoring in music too?”
I nodded in affirmation. “Yeah, I am. I’m ready for the courses to start now that all that boring stuff is out of the way.” I stuffed the rest of my sandwich in my mouth and mentally chastised myself, because this was the best small talk I could think of.
“Oh, you’re English?” She smiled, looking interested.
“Yeah, long story, but very glad to be here.” I smiled warmly at her. Mandy put her hand up inside Neil’s T-shirt and rubbed his back.
“Neil and I have a gig at Bailey’s Bar tonight. Would you like to come with us? Will could use the company. His cousin has a date tonight, and she’s left him high and dry.” She quickly added, “That is, if there isn’t anywhere you need to be.” Mandy’s fingers plucked at the lawn.
“Sure, it would be cool to hang out with you, if your friends don’t mind.” I was just pleased to be included in someone’s plans.
Will seemed fine with Mandy’s suggestion. “Great, the more the merrier, I only get to do one song with them, andshe’s right, I could use the company,” he admitted, and smiled warmly.
Mandy waved her hand in Neil’s direction. “He doesn’t get a say, since he’s my boyfriend!” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
That much was already apparent from the way herhand was roaming absentmindedly around his body. I swapped cell numbers with her so she could send me the details later, and we started to head back to class, falling into easy conversation. We all shared a lot of the same classes together, so it would be good to get to know them.
Mandy’s petite frame, along with her short bobbed black hair, made her look sophisticated without having to try. Her haircut was super sexy, with a side parting and razor cut edges. She seemed completely comfortable and confident with the guys, and I kind of envied her apparent sense of identity and confidence. Maybe one day I’d be confident like that.
Turning the corner, my step faltered when I saw Alfieright in front of me. He was sitting on a bench by the pathway, guitar in his lap, surrounded by a group of girls. I smiled when I saw him and wondered whether to go and say hi.
Deciding against that, I stood watching him instead. He was deep in conversation with the girls and had a captive audience. They appeared to be hanging on his every word.
From what I could tell,he’d affected them the same way he affected me yesterday. His easy conversation was keeping them interested, something that had attracted me as well.
Alfie wasa feast to look at, with his stunning rock star appearance, great personality, and bad-boy charm. Sex appeal oozed out of him, and the girls were drawn to him like moths to a flame. As if he had sensed I was watching him, his head snapped up as he flicked his loose strand ofhair out of his eyes, and he stared directly at me, holding my gaze.
When I began to smile at him, he turned away, completely ignoring me. Alfie turned his attention back to the girls and didn’t look back in my direction again. Instead he leaned forward and brushed his hand over the cheek of one of the girls who sat Indian style on the grass in front of him.
After our earlier intimacy, Ireally didn’t expect that at all. I was mortified and needed a way out of this situation. I rummaged in my backpack as if I’d forgotten something and spotted my cell phone.
Takingit out, I pretended to take a call, saying loudly, “Sorry, I didn’t hear you, it was on vibrate.” I turned away from him, throwing my head back, before I walked past him nodding as if someone was talking to me on the other end.
Ididn’t know what else to do except get away from him. Horrified at how he’d treated me, it put me in a funk for the rest of the afternoon, until I could get out of there.
When I was safe in the privacy of my car after class, I couldn’t help but think about his behavior toward me today. What a contrast to the needy, funny guy I’d been with this morning.
He had treated me like I didn’t exist.He did say no strings, but he never said anything about not acknowledging me in public.So what happened to the consideration he promised me?
Switching onthe radio, as if on cue, Adam Levine was singing “Lucky Strike” loudly and I felt he was singing it about me. The words were resonating in my ears.
