Tracey
The words on my laptop screen are starting to blur. I didn’t realize how much work this degree involved. Even though it’s only four classes this semester, each class has a lab section as well as a classroom section. It’s like having eight classes worth of work. And right now, I need a break from the avalanche of work, especially from the paper I’m writing for my Marine Molecular Bio class and the confusing thoughts of Dak which keep blocking any scientific thoughts. I need food.
The dining halls on campus are unbelievable. The Sea Star Café is on the top of the “best college food” list every year. Since the primary majors at the college focus on ecology and the environment, everything at the campus dining halls is made from scratch from organically and sustainably grown food. Sounds too good to be true, I know. What can I say? It’s Maine. Except, at the moment, since I’m unable to fulfill the real pleasure of comforting sex, I’m going to settle for the next best thing to fill my carnal yearnings—a Zeus burger. Sometimes a body needs grease to satisfy its other unfulfilled desires.
I slip into a pair of jeans and one of my many Save the Ocean t-shirts. This one is black and has Save The Ocean, Save The World sprawled across the front. I’m not into advertising company logos or names on my clothes, but this type of message is something I’m willing to wear every day.
The weather is beautiful and it’s still early. Since there are a couple of hours before the sun goes down, I ride my bike to the restaurant instead of drive. It’s only a five minute ride anyway. The unfortunate thing is, when I decided to take Alex up on meeting him and Nikki at the Thirsty Whale again for dinner, I didn’t know he had ulterior motives.
***
The usual Thursday crowds of football fans are yelling at the screens of the various television sets. The Patriots are the lucky recipients of the loud instructions coming from around the room. I find Alex and Nikki at the same booth we sat at last time. Neither of them is showing any interest in the latest intercepted pass, which has incurred the wrath of the rest of the students in the bar.
“Hey, girl. We have cooties or something? We thought you dropped off the face of the planet. Where you been? Haven’t even seen you at the Sea Star,” Alex reprimands me as I slide into the empty seat opposite them.
“Sorry, my schedule is crazy. My research project needs to be submitted in two weeks, there’s a paper due tomorrow, and I took a part-time job giving kayak tours out of Bar Harbor.”
“Here. Have a drink. You need it.” Nikki slides a full glass of beer over to me. It’s not happy hour, but she always seems to keep a spare on hand. I suppose it’s her efficient way to be sure there’s not too long of a wait between pints. I think the girl must be part camel. She never shows the slightest indication of being drunk. Even with her petite size, I think she could outdrink most of the male athletes in here.
I don’t protest her gift. The cold effervescent liquid is just what I need to calm my overworked brain for a few minutes.
“You took a part-time job?” Alex grimaces. “I thought you had a grant or scholarship or something?”
“I do. But it’s only partial and the rent on my house is killing me.”
“You’ve got a whole house?” Nikki sits up straight from her usual slouched position.
“Yeah. My mom insisted. She did some searching online and found this pretty little house and claimed it was where I had to live. I agreed because she never takes no for an answer and, in this case, she’s right. It’s quiet, no distractions, it’s easy for me to focus on my work. But it was on the condition they would let me pay my own rent. I don’t want to keep depending on them for everything. Except, now with the schoolwork load, I don’t know if I can do it. The tour season will be over in a few weeks anyway, which is good for extra time. But then there goes the extra income.” I shrug and take a deep breath. The thought of juggling my schedule and my finances is exhausting.
Nikki gives a wide-eyed look at Alex and turns her palms up like someone placed a present in her hands and solved a problem for her. “Are there two bedrooms?” she asks tentatively. “In your house, I mean.”
“Yeah. The second one is unoccupied. My mom wanted to furnish it, but I couldn’t take another pink, storybook cottage bedroom.” I shake my head at the thought of the ridiculous bed. “I put the bedroom furniture I brought with me from Delaware in there.”
“Storybook cottage?” Nikki’s brow pinches in confusion.
I sigh. “It’s a long story.”
“Who cares about the furniture?” Alex jumps up and down in excitement. “Nikki wants to get out of the dorms. She has a roommate from Hell this semester. She’s looking for off-campus housing and you could use someone to share the rent. It couldn’t be more perfect!” He claps his hands like he’s figured out the meaning of life. The truth is it would be the perfect solution to my financial problem.
“Chill, Alex. She didn’t even say she wants a roommate,” Nikki says, but it comes out more like a question than a statement. “I get it if you like your privacy.”
“Oh, shut it, girl.” Alex rolls his eyes at Nikki. “You told me yourself it was going to be impossible to find somewhere off campus since the semester has already started. This is perfect. My two BFF’s in one house. Easy for me to come over and cry on both of your shoulders when my new hunky hockey player breaks my heart.”
The waitress places our food and drinks on the table and asks if we need anything else right now.
“We’re going to need another round of beers in about five minutes,” Nikki informs her and the waitress scurries off to fill the order.
I drown my burger and fries in ketchup and stuff a few fries in my face. Damn. Nikki as a roommate is the perfect solution. But Alex hooking up with Dak when the super douche keeps invading my thoughts is not perfect at all. I should tell Alex his hunky boyfriend has obvious wandering desires. I wish someone had told me about Sean. Although, I don’t honestly know what’s going on with the two of them, so I don’t say anything to Alex.
Nikki must misinterpret the confused expression on my face because she says, “Don’t feel like you need to say yes. No pressure. I just started looking. I’m sure I can find someplace.”
“No.” I ignore the clenching in my stomach over the thought of Dak and Alex. “It would be great if you could move in with me, Nikki. Alex is right. It would be the perfect solution for both of us. Besides, I’d love you as a roommate. And at least you know I won’t be the roommate from Hell.”
Wait till she gets a load of the décor.
Hmm. Yeah. Nikki isn’t exactly Goth, but her tastes definitely don’t run in the Disney princess area either. She may decide my house is one of the nine circles of Hell after all.
We’re all lost in the delicious mesmerizing flavors of our food for a few minutes. Alex appears to be in a race to see if he can lick his plate clean the fastest. He manages to take a breath in the middle of inhaling a bite and lets out a big whistle. “Look who just came sauntering in, all by his gorgeous self. Mm, mm, mm. That boy is heaven on legs.”
I glance over to see who he’s referring to and almost choke on my glorious mouthful of Zeus burger. “Oh por puck sakes. Bhat’s he booing here?” I hiss out between burger bits. If he’s here to see Alex, I don’t want to be here to witness it. I can’t think about Dak with Alex.
Or is it the thought of Dak with anyone else you can’t think about.
No. It’s not. Why should I care? I hate him.
“Probably came in to grab a bite to eat. What else? Right, Nikki?” Alex shifts in his seat.
“Undoubtedly. What else?” Nikki asks in this sarcastic tone.
I glare at Alex. “What’s going on? What are you up to?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Alex puts a hand to his chest and does his best imitation of shock. “We’re here enjoying a nice meal with our new friend. What could we possibly be up to?”
“Not we. You,” Nikki mumbles into her beer glass. “What could you possibly be up to?” She glowers at Alex over her glass.
“We’ve got to go. Right, Nik?” Alex swallows the rest of his beer.
“Leave? But I haven’t…” Nikki appears to be as puzzled as I am. I guess she’s not in on Alex’s shenanigans, whatever they are.
“Yes, Nikki. Remember? We’ve got…um…shit to study.” Alex throws some money down on the table and slides out of the booth.
“Leave? What are you talking about? Even though you’ve become a member of the Olympic speed eating team, I haven’t finished. And you haven’t even gotten your beer order yet,” I protest.
Isn’t he supposed to be the one interested in Dak?
“The beer’s all yours. We forgot we’ve got…you know, like, schoolwork.” Alex is a bad liar and Nikki doesn’t seem to be too happy to join in on his little plan. “You can take your time to finish. Enjoy yourself. Come on, Nik,” he persists, one hand planted on his hip.
“Yeah. Okay. Fine. Coming, Match.com.” Nikki gulps the last of her beer and slides out of the booth with a reluctant sigh.
“Shit to study? You two aren’t even in a class together. What are you—”
“Hey, Bambi. Just the person I want to see.” Dak steps around Alex and Nikki. “Hey, Nik. What’s up, Alex?” He flicks his chin at the scheming Alex and his reluctant co-conspirator.
“He calls her Bambi. Isn’t it adorbs? Nothing’s up at the moment, Dakota. Expect that to change soon though.” Alex grins and winks at me.
How many years would I get for strangling a fellow figure skater?
“You’re just in time to keep Trace company. Nikki and I are off to go study something,” Alex says.
“Oh, yeah. They’re off to study shit for the class they don’t have together.” I smirk and flutter my eyelashes at the two traitors. “Oh, by the way Alex, remind me next time I go out for a dive in the tropics to bring you back a beautiful sea urchin as a pet,” I say in a sugary voice.
Dak tries to interject. “Uh, Trace, sea urchins are poisonous and you can’t—”
“Mind your own business, Dak. A poisonous urchin would be the perfect pet for this guy.” I glare at Alex.
“Girl, bye.” Alex waves me off and gives me a I’m-so-pleased-with-myself expression. Nikki, on the other hand, shrugs and gives me a sheepish, so-sorry look as they both make their way out the door. I’m totally confused. I thought Dak and Alex were into each other. I don’t understand anything anymore.