Talon
I waited outside of Charlotte’s review session. It was due to let out any minute. While she was there, I’d gone to the Starbucks at the student center and studied for my chemistry final tomorrow. I hated chemistry, but it was the last science class I would ever take in college, and in life, I hoped.
Before I left to meet up with Charlotte, I grabbed an Americano for her. Three sugars. No cream. It was her favorite, and after being up most of the night last night, I was sure she could use the pick me up.
Plus, I figured it couldn’t hurt to butter her up a little. I felt bad about making up an excuse to get out of dinner with her parents, but it had to be done. After talking with Julie earlier, I had big plans for the evening, and tonight would be one of the few nights I could get away from Charlotte and her parents without anyone getting suspicious.
I hated lying to Charlotte, but with everything going on in my life, I didn’t have much of a choice. With the way our relationship was going, it was just time. And hiding it from Charlotte was for her own good. It was just better this way for everyone involved.
Still, keeping secrets from her meant it was weird to be around her sometimes. She knew me well, and she could tell when something was bothering me. It was one of the things that made her so great, but it also made it difficult to do anything behind her back. I just had to make it until after Christmas. It would all be over then, and she would know everything.
Charlotte and Katie came walking out of the classroom with their heads bent together, whispering about something. I didn’t think anything of it until Katie shot me a judgmental look. Oh, shit. Were they talking about me? Had Charlotte noticed how I was acting? She had seen me talking to Julie, after all. If she was worried about my behavior enough to tell Katie about it, then I might be in serious trouble.
I pretended like I didn’t notice. I smiled at them and held out the cup of coffee to Charlotte. Her eyes lit up when she saw it.
“An Americano?” she asked.
I nodded. “Three sugars. No cream. Just how my princess likes it.”
Charlotte smiled, and Katie rolled her eyes. “Get a room, you two,” she said.
“Good to see you, too, Katie,” I said.
Charlotte took the coffee from me gratefully. “Thank you, Talon. This is exactly what I needed.”
“I figured, after a pulse-pounding calculus review session,” I said.
“It was actually helpful,” Charlotte said. “Now I know what to focus on when I study tonight.”
“Speak for yourself,” Katie said. “It’s still gibberish to me. I’m gonna have to sleep with Professor Math to pass this class.”
I looked at her and then at Charlotte. “Who is Professor Math?”
Charlotte grinned and shook her head. “No one. Are you ready to go?”
“Ready when you are,” I said.
Charlotte turned back to Katie. “See you tomorrow, bright and early,” Charlotte said.
“Not if I quit school and run away to join the circus,” Katie said seriously.
“I thought they got rid of freak shows in the circus,” I said, smiling.
Katie laughed and shot me the finger. She turned to walk away and called out over her shoulder, “Congrats on the upcoming nuptials!”
My heart froze in my chest. Charlotte shot her a glowering look, but Katie didn’t see it. She was already gone. Charlotte looked up at me nervously.
“What is she talking about?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound as jittery as I felt.
“Nothing,” Charlotte said, turning and walking in the direction of the parking lot. “I just told her about what my dad asked us last night.”
I followed her. “You told her about that?”
“Yeah, just in passing,” she said. “I told her it was super awkward.”
“It wasn’t that awkward,” I said, even though it totally had been.
“Well, it was a little awkward,” Charlotte said. “But anyway, I think she was just trying to mess with you, after that ‘freak show’ comment.”
I chuckled to myself. “Come on, that was funny.”
Charlotte smiled. “It was kind of funny, but kind of mean.”
“Oh, come on,” I said, laughing. “Katie has said way worse things to me. She called me ‘Twatzilla’ once. Completely unprovoked, I might add.”
Charlotte giggled. “I remember that.”
“So, it’s just our thing. We break each other’s balls. She’s like a sister to me at this point.”
“Oh, yeah?” Charlotte asked, eying me. “So, you’re saying my best friend is like family to you?”
I was puzzled by the oddly specific question. “Yeah, I guess so. Why are you looking at me like that, weirdo?”
Her face broke out in a secretive smile. I had no idea what was going on in that pretty little head of hers, but it seemed like whatever I’d said pleased her somehow. So, I didn’t pursue it.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s get out of here.”
We headed back to the apartment. Neither of us said much. I was lost in my own tangled thoughts, and Charlotte was probably just thinking about math formulas and equations that I would never understand.
When we got inside, Charlotte collapsed on the couch, sighing happily. “It’s good to be home.”
I sat down beside her. “Yeah, I hate spending all day at school. It’s only five o’clock, and it’s already dark outside. It feels like the whole day is gone.”
“It’s that late already?” she asked. “I need to call my mom and see what the deal is for dinner. Are you sure I can’t persuade you to come with us?”
I sighed and got up from the couch. “You know I hate saying no to you, but I can’t tonight.”
She looked down at her lap. “Right. You have errands to run.”
I nodded. “I do. Speaking of which, I should head out soon. Tell your parents I’m sorry, but that I’ll see them tomorrow.”
“Fine,” she said, but the tone of her voice told me it was anything but fine.
I didn’t have the time or the energy to talk about this right now. I headed into the bedroom and opened up the closet. The clothes I was wearing were my normal beat up jeans and t-shirt, but they wouldn’t work for tonight. I didn’t have to get dressed up or anything, but I sure as hell didn’t want to look like a bum, either.
Of course, I had to be careful about getting too dressed up. I wanted to look nice, but I didn’t want Charlotte to notice my wardrobe change and question me about it. That would just lead to a discussion—or a fight—that I didn’t feel like having.
I got undressed and threw on a less faded pair of jeans and a dark blue sweater that made my blue eyes pop. Charlotte had gotten it for me last Christmas, and I knew I looked damn good in it. I took a quick look in the mirror. The outfit would work. I ran a hand through my dark hair a few times, getting it just the right mix of styled and messy.
Perfect.
I paused at the bedroom door and listened. Charlotte was still in the living room, talking on the phone with her mother. Now was the perfect time to leave, while she was distracted. I grabbed my coat and held it at my side so Charlotte wouldn’t get a good look at my clothes. Then, I hurried out of the bedroom to the front door.
“I’m heading out,” I said quickly. “Be back later.”
Before Charlotte had a chance to respond, I was outside with the door closed behind me. I paused and took a deep, shaky breath.
My neighbor, Zak, was walking up the stairs with a hot little brunette sashaying behind him. Like most of the people in these apartments, he went to school with us. The guy had a new girl on his arm every week. He reminded me of myself before I met Charlotte. Always keeping things casual, playing the field, and bedding more than my share of college cuties.
That had been a long time ago. Charlotte had come into my life, and nothing had ever been the same since.
Zak nodded at me and grinned, almost proudly. We weren’t friends exactly, but we spoke on occasion. He was kind of a douche bag, and I wondered if that was what I’d been like before Charlotte.
I nodded back at him. “I see you’re studying hard for finals.”
He laughed. “Something’s gonna be hard tonight. That’s for sure.”
The girl behind him giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world. Well, they seemed perfect for one another. I let them pass and then headed down the stairs, putting Zak out of my mind and focusing on the errand I had to run. With any luck, I could make things quick and be back before Charlotte got home from dinner. Things would be better that way.