Текст книги "Fraternizing"
Автор книги: C. Brown
сообщить о нарушении
Текущая страница: 21 (всего у книги 26 страниц)
Chapter 27
Alex
Stepping onto the plane first thing in the morning, after only two hours or so of sleep, had me craving the headrest. But I wouldn’t have traded my night for anything.
Cassie meant too much to me, and I knew these next few days would fucking drag without her. I made her picture my screensaver on my phone, her beautiful fucking face, those pouty lips, and emerald green eyes looking seductively into my camera. No one out in Florida would know who she was, so I could have her there, look at it, and not have to hide it in case anyone took a peek.
On the other hand, my mind wouldn’t rest with this bad feeling I had about Allen. No one was really telling me much, but I did find out that she’d had an argument or something with him. I wasn’t fucking stupid. There was more to it than that. The way she froze in the classroom when he approached had me smelling blood. I was ready to attack. The kid rubbed me wrong, and her demeanor solidified things for me. I couldn’t wait to get him out and on his way, and hopefully that wouldn’t include sending him wherever Cassie would be headed.
When I touched down in Florida, there was a young Lance Corporal waiting there for me. He looked a hell of a lot like Dalton, and as soon as I saw him, Cassie came popping back into my head.
“Welcome to Florida, Sergeant.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have any bags we need to get?”
“No. I have my bags with me.”
“Alright. Well, I have the car parked over here.”
“Good to go.”
I placed my bags into the back of the small SUV he was driving. Once I was seated in the car, I pulled out my phone and texted Cassie.
Me: Made it. Still hungry… It’ll be days before I am properly fed again.
Cassie: Glad you made it safely. You are insatiable. Enjoy Florida.
Me: You aren’t here. But I’ll try.
When we reached the base, I was led to my barracks room for the next few days. It had been such a long time since I had lived in the barracks, and the cold cement brick walls, painted over with gaudy white paint, made me remember exactly why I was so thankful to have my own house, even in a shithole town like Twentynine. I finished unloading all of my things when my phone started ringing. I answered it without looking at the screen.
“Hello,” I answered, fully expecting to hear Cassie’s sweet voice on the other end. Instead, I got fucking Riley.
“Hey, man. Just wanted to see if you’d made it. How’s Florida treating you?”
I sighed. “I’m here, in a shitty ass barracks room. It’s humid as fuck. I’ll take that blazing desert heat any day over this.”
“Sounds about right. Well enjoy it. It’s always nice to get away for a change.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Hey, man. Someone’s at the door, I gotta go.”
I hung up the phone then swung the door open. A tall guy stood before me, dressed in khaki shorts, a polo shirt, and sandals.
“Sergeant Cruz, I’m Staff Sergeant Bilkens. I’m here to show you around the base.”
“Nice to meet you, Staff Sergeant. Let me grab my sunglasses, and I’ll be right out.”
The sun was just as deadly here as it was back home. Coupled with humidity, it was downright miserable. He took me around the base on a golf cart, pointing out the various buildings, the meeting room where the presentation would be held, the chow hall and other recreational areas. He said he and a few other guys would be heading to the driving range in a few, and asked if I wanted to come along. I wasn’t much of a golfer, in fact, I was downright terrible at it, but I went anyway, needing to stay busy and be social.
When we got to the range, I met two Navy guys, Petty Officer Mike Douglas, and Petty Officer Aaron Miles. Miles was married, but said his weekends were his and his alone. He reminded me a hell of a lot like myself before I’d met Cassie. I had his mentality, but now that she was solidly planted in my life, I couldn’t imagine wanting to be away from her.
Douglas was as single as they came, and said he liked it that way. He said he was making a career out of the Navy and wouldn’t marry while he was still active duty. Too much cheating and whatnot when deployment comes around had him afraid of settling down. His words struck true because that was exactly what I had gone through with Evelyn. After her, I couldn’t imagine being exclusive with anyone again, then that blonde hair, flowing down that sexy ass back of Cassie’s came into view and my world changed. I was happy about it.
“So Cruz, there’s this club we’re hitting up tonight. You coming?”
It was kind of weird that Miles was the one asking.
“Yeah, sure. What time?”
“Probably about nine. We’ll swing by and get ya.”
“Sounds good.”
Bilkens took me back to my room where I crashed down on the bed and took out my phone, finding a missed call from Cassie. I immediately called her back.
“Hey,” she answered, her voice soft and soothing.
“Hey. What are you up to?”
“Just hanging with Dalton. I’ve got nothing else to do.”
“Good. Stay away from everyone else.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Cassie—“
“I know. I know. Anyway, what are you doing?”
“Nothing. I just got back from the driving range with some of the guys here. It’s humid as hell. Makes me miss the desert.”
She laughed, the sound like music to my ears.
“You only miss the desert. Nothing else? You’re a tough one, Cruz.”
“We both know I miss a hell of a lot more than just that piece of shit desert. But if I get into that, my balls will be fucking purple by the time I get back to you.”
She laughed again, seemingly enjoying my torment.
“Alright. Well, you enjoy your humidity. It’s hot here as well, so we’re off to the pool.”
“The pool? “
“Yes, that big rectangular thing filled with water.”
“I know what it is. Tell Dalton to keep his fucking hands to himself and his eyes in his goddamned head.”
She laughed again, but I didn’t find the humor in it.
“I don’t really think that’ll be an issue.”
“I’m not kidding, Cassie.”
“Enjoy the rest of your day. I’ll talk to you later.”
She hung up, and I slowly began to hate this fucking temporary assignment. Dalton or not, I hated the thought of her prancing around in a tiny bikini, and me not there to keep the vultures away. I turned on the fan and laid down, falling asleep full of tension and irritation.
Standing outside of Shake, the nightclub these guys chose to go to, I felt a little better after my phone call with Cassie earlier in the day. The nightlife here was to be envied. The small bars in Twentynine were in no way comparable to this place. The line wrapped around the building to get in. Sharply dressed guys, and scantily clad women, a booming sound system–there was nothing better. I scanned the crowd, seeing that we’d be in line probably half of the night before we actually got to go inside. Much to my surprise, Miles walked right up to the bouncer at the door and handed him some money. They shook hands, and we were waved in.
“How the fuck did you make that happen?” I asked, curious to know why more people didn’t do it.
“That’s Big Pete. I’ve been coming here for a while, so as long as I hand over cash, he lets me in without having to wait in these shitty ass line. And this place always has that line.”
I nodded my head, following the guys in. A tall, very thin, Latin girl, dressed in a mini skirt and bikini top greeted us, holding a serving tray. She was hot—that couldn’t be denied—but the second she started talking, with her helium filled fucking voice, I about shut down.
“What’s up, boys? I’m Jossie, any particular seating you looking for?”
The dark walls with neon signs plastered to them were filled with people. Some holding drinks in their hands and chatting, others making out, some even looking like they were two steps away from fucking. This wasn’t a classy establishment, but it was popular, and I was beginning to see why. Anything went here.
“We’ll take the usual, Jossie,” Miles answered, winking at her. I had no idea what the usual was, but Jossie smiled and turned, all of us following right behind her. When we finally stopped, we were in an enclosed area, cut off by a wine colored, velvet curtain.
“Four beers, please,” Belkins said. “Whatever is on tap. I’m paying tonight.”
He reminded me a lot of Jensen, only he wasn’t as uptight.
“So, Cruz. What is it that you do?”
“I’m a radio communications instructor at the Comm School in Twentynine Palms.”
“I went through Comm School at that place. It’s a piece of shit. Florida is so much better. I hope to never see the place again.”
I laughed. “Yeah, it’s no fucking oasis like the signs say, but it’s home. And it isn’t so damn humid. This humidity out here can kiss my ass.”
“I’m a Florida boy,” Douglas threw in. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The waitress came back out, bringing four pitchers of beer with her. My eyebrows scrunched. I thought when Belkins ordered four beers, he meant four mugs.
“Thanks,” he said, stuffing money into the waistband of her tiny miniskirt. “Drink up, man. Plenty more where that came from.”
Free beer would never be passed up by me—ever. Before long, I was sucking down the last of it just as Jossie was bringing out four more pitchers.
“Are pitchers the norm here? I thought she’d be bringing out mugs.”
“I slipped her a little something extra,” Belkins said, smiling.
These guys were definitely a little wilder than my crew back home. We sat around talking, Belkins stuffing large amounts of money in the form of tips into Jossie’s pants. The dreaded beer buzz was starting to hit me as I went to work on my third pitcher.
“I’ve never tested this theory. I wonder if I can get an extra beer if I tip more back home?”
“Don’t let this asshole fool you. Jossie is his girlfriend!” Douglas yelled out over the music, ribbing Belkins.
“So we were going to get in here tonight regardless?”
“No,” Miles answered. “Big Pete wants to be paid.”
“Gotcha.”
“Hey, Jossie’s friends are coming in to chill until she gets off,” Belkins said, nodding his head in the direction of the entrance to the VIP area.
Three tall, thin, Latinas strutted over to our table, wearing tight fitting dresses that left very little to the imagination and high heels that screamed, fuck me. Their thick, long, flowing hair draped their shoulders, hitting just right against the light caramel color of their skin.
“Who’s the new guy?” one of the girls asked as they stopped just in front of us.
“This is Sergeant. Alex Cruz. He’s in town for work.”
“Another military guy. Love it,” the girl said, puckering her lips and smiling. She threw out her hand, introducing herself. “It’s nice to meet you, Sergeant. Alex. I’m Jazlene.”
I took her hand and shook it, not trying to be rude. The other two girls immediately took to Douglas and Miles. I watched them for a bit, noticing that Miles was very comfortable with this girl who didn’t appear to be his wife. They all stood, making their way out to the dance floor where they easily mixed in with the crowd, groping and kissing much like I had done with Cassie the first time I ever saw her. Jossie dropped off more pitchers of beer, stopping to chat with Jazlene for a bit. I drank it, trying to hide my loneliness with drunkenness. Belkins followed Jossie off somewhere, leaving me alone with Jazlene.
She moved to the chair directly beside me, her much too short dress riding up even further. I continued drinking, bobbing my head to the beat of Promiscuous Girl—how fucking fitting.
“So how long are you in town for, Alex?”
“Until Tuesday. I’m here for a work seminar.”
“Ugh. That’s no fun.” Her eyes lowered as she sat her hand on my thigh. “I can show you a good time while you’re here.” Her hand slowly moved upwards. I looked down at my thigh, then back into her eyes; hunger and lust riddled in them. She bit her wine colored lips, silently begging me to take her off somewhere and fuck her senseless.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I said, removing her hand as I sat my pitcher down on the table. I got up and let the room stop spinning, then walked off in the direction of the bathroom. I wasn’t sure what I was thinking coming out to this club, but I quickly realized that this was not the scene I wanted to be in, especially not with Cassie clear across the country. I tossed some water on my face, feeling the heat begin to creep into my body with the settling of the overabundance of beer. I walked out, pushing my way through people as the club seemed to be filling up even more. When I reached the table, Jazlene was still sitting there, looking bored. Her eyes landed on me, instantly igniting the lust that filled them just before I stepped away.
“You want to get out of here? My apartment would be so much more fun than this place.” The smile she gave was just as intoxicating as the beer I’d been drinking all night, but I wasn’t interested.
“I’ll pass,” I said, standing up and walking out to Douglas. He was the only one of the three that I could find.
“Hey, man. I’m gonna go.”
“Everything alright?”
“Yeah. I just want to get back and sleep. Long day.”
“Alright. You need a ride?”
“Naw. Stay and enjoy yourself. I’ll get a taxi.”
He nodded his head, and I turned and walked out. I took a taxi back to the base, dragging myself to my room and crashing on the bed. I had every intention of calling Cassie, but the exhaustion from the day and the alcohol flowing through my veins inhibited that, leaving me passed out, still fully clothed.
When I awoke the next morning, I had a headache from hell and a missed call from Cassie. I called her back, trying hard to lie still so as not to make my pounding head worse.
“Hello,” she said. Her voice was enough to take a slice of the ache away.
“Hey, good morning,” I said slowly with a hefty dose of grog.
“Morning? It’s almost noon. I was wondering what was going on with you. When did you get in?”
“Um….” I looked at the clock sitting on the nightstand. “I got back kind of early. I left the club.”
“Then why the hell are you so tired?”
“I drank way too much, and I didn’t get any sleep the night before.”
She went silent. I could hear her breathing, but no words came out of her mouth.
“You there?”
“Yeah, I’m here,” she said, the anger in her voice easily distinguishable.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Did those guys have any females around?”
I wasn’t going to lie to her. “Yeah. And that was when I checked out.” She went silent again. “Cassie, there were girls there, one hit on me, and I left. Honest to God. I made that fucking mistake once. I’m not making it again.”
“Alright. Anyway, what are you doing today?”
“Sleeping. I have a fucking hangover and all I want to do is sleep. What about you?”
“Dalton is taking me back to the pool. It’s like one-ten here.”
“Did you give him my message?”
“No. Completely unnecessary.”
“It’s necessary. But, I’ll check it out when I get back.”
“Have a good day of sleep. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
As soon as I hung up with her, I lolled to the bathroom, then climbed back into bed and went back to sleep. I didn’t want to eat, see daylight, or anything else. I just wanted to sleep, in a shroud of darkness, thinking about nothing, since thinking hurt too much. Never again would I drink beer the way I did the night before. It wasn’t meant to be consumed like that—not for me anyway. I slept until ten that night, when I woke up and finally left the room to grab something to eat. The sticky, night air, fireflies flying all around me, mosquitos looming with them, had me hurrying to get back to my room. Florida was definitely not for me, and I was on serious countdown mode to get my ass back on a plane that would take me back to the dry heat of the Mojave Desert.
Monday morning, I woke feeling so much better. I dressed in my uniform and left for the meeting room, where I was handed a binder as I walked in, taking my seat at my assigned spot next to Belkins.
“Hey, man. What happened to you Saturday? You okay?”
“Yeah. I was just too wasted. And that chick was up to no good. I have a fucking girlfriend back home.”
“Ahhhh. Gotcha. We thought something was wrong with you.”
I shook my head, turning in my seat as two middle aged men walked in, beginning the presentation on a new aircraft based radio system for joint services. The presentation was informative, teaching a few things that aren’t normally covered in regular Comm School, but I couldn’t get too in depth with it. My mind was elsewhere. I never thought that I would long for Twentynine so badly, but I was. That shithole with all of its sand, bushes, blazing heat, had one thing that sunny Florida and all of its pristine beaches just didn’t have.
Cassie.
When the class was over, Belkins turned to me as I was gathering all of my brochures and binder materials, reaching out his hand for a shake.
“I hope if you come back to Florida, you look me up.”
“Oh, for sure. Thanks for showing me a good time.”
I said my goodbyes to Miles and Douglas, then headed back to my room to pack up. I had an early flight in the morning, and I couldn’t wait to get on that plane and get my ass back to California.
Halfway through packing, I picked up the phone and called Cassie, needing to hear her voice.
“Hey you,” she answered, the tone of her voice sweet and excited, making me long for her even more.
“I’m all done here. I’ll be on a plane early in the morning. Coming back for you.”
“Can’t wait to have you come,” she said with emphasis on the ‘come’ part.
I laughed, feeling like I could go to town on her and never stop. This three day separation was killing me, but thankfully, it was just about over.
“I have a long flight and a layover in Phoenix. It’ll probably be kind of late by the time I land.”
“No worries. Just get your ass back here to me. And bring that delicious cock with you. I think I’m hungry now.”
“Fuck, Cassie. You can’t say shit like that to me while I’m on a different coast and can’t do anything about it.”
“Well, hurry up and come home.”
“I’m working on it. Let me go to sleep so I can wake up and be on a plane because as early as I have to be up, I won’t remember much of my morning.”
She laughed again.
“Alright. Have a good night. See you soon, Sergeant.”
“Bye.”
I hung up the phone and quickly packed away the rest of my stuff before jumping in the shower. The stickiness in the air and the fact that I wanted to cut out the morning routine had me hurrying to get myself to bed. I would be back in Twentynine by tomorrow evening, and I had never been so thrilled. I couldn’t believe my heart was stuck in that fucking place, but it was. It was firmly planted, and needed to get back as soon as possible.
Chapter 28
Cassie
Alex’s TAD trip seemed to drag.
It felt as if he was gone forever, but when I woke up this morning and met Dalton down at the chow hall, he reminded me that Alex would be back by this evening. Those words were like music to my ears. I didn’t think a few days apart would be that hard, but it turned out to be more difficult than I had anticipated. Thankfully, Dalton was around because I avoided Angelica like the plague.
I walked into the classroom, excited and ready for the day. Although this course was coming to an end–and that alone brought astronomical amounts of sadness– I knew Alex would be coming back, so I pushed that little cloud of misery out of mind and focused on his arrival.
We filed into the room, Jensen standing before the class with a roster in his hands.
“Alright. It looks like Headquarters Marine Corps has finally assigned you to your first duty stations. Remember that preference sheet you filled out at the beginning of this course? Disregard that because some of you will be happy with whatever they gave you, and some of you will not.”
My breathing picked up as he began reading off names with unit and location. I had been dreading this day for a while. Alex had told me not to worry about it, and I’d tried not to give it any further thought, but the reality of it all still followed me. And now, here it was.
“Private Allen, Eighth Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.”
Allen’s face soured. He obviously wasn’t too happy with his duty assignment.
“Private, Bane, Eighth Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.”
“Private First Class, Banuelos, Eighth Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.”
“Private First Class, Bennett.” He called my name, and I froze; my throat went dry and my hands began to sweat. I didn’t want to hear my assignment, but I was too anxious to tune him out. Time seemed to stand still as I stood there, looking ahead but unable to truly take anything in. My heart beat with ferocious vigor, awaiting the news that would either make me a happy girl or rip me to shreds.
“Eighth Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.”
My breath stopped, and my blood ran cold. I wanted to erase what had just happened and make something else come out of Jensen’s mouth. Did he really just say that I would be sent to the other side of the country, away from Alex, to go and work in a unit with none other than the idiot known as Allen? I tuned out the rest of what he said, for fear that I would burst into tears if I listened to anymore. I mentally chided myself, making me focus on the here and now and figure out a way to make things work with Alex. If I was this upset about leaving, I could only imagine what the news would be like for him. I didn’t even want to think about it. It hurt all over again to think about what it would do to him.
When I finally tuned back in to the classroom, Jensen was already at R.
“Private First Class, Ruiz, MWSS-374, Twentynine Palms, California.”
Envy shot through me as Angelica received word that she would be staying put in Twentynine, the place that I couldn’t wait to get away from when I‘d first arrived. The place that had stolen my heart. The place that held Alex.
“Eighth Comm has quite a few people leaving, so that’s why so many of you got assigned there. Go out to your new units and kick ass. You are well trained, and you should serve your units well,” Jensen said, shutting the binder that held that goddamned roster. “We still have some things to cover for your final exam that will be coming up soon. You all graduate next week, so we have to make sure you pass the big test before shipping you off to some unit where you’ll be expected to perform.”
I sat in my seat, pissed that I was so entrenched in Twentynine, but would be uprooted soon, and there was nothing I could do about it. Newsome took over where Jensen left off, taking us clear back to chapter one and outlining exactly what it was that we would be expected to know for the final. I couldn’t concentrate, instead focusing on how Alex would react to the news when he finally got wind of it. The thought hurt, like a piercing stab with sharp knife, twisting and turning until it could go no further. I tried hard to block it out, but everything led back to it, and I was beginning to feel sick.
After a while of note taking, which I did very little of, Newsome released us for lunch. I was never so thankful to get out of the suffocation of the classroom and outside, even if it was above one hundred degrees and no breeze. The room and the confines of the four walls seemed as if they were closing in on me.
Like they were crumbling, leaving me standing in the middle of the debris.
Like they were killing me.
My heart ached in the worst way, and as anger and sadness began to pile up, so did the anxiety of having to share this news with Alex.
Dalton walked over to where I stood, his usually infectious smile plastered to his face. “Guess where I’m off to?” When I didn’t say anything he blurted out, “Third Light Armored Reconnaissance. I’m staying right here in Twentynine and going to Third L.A.R. I’m so fucking excited about that. What did you get?”
I looked Dalton in the eye, the misery shining through me erasing his smile.
“Uh oh. This isn’t good.”
“I’m going to Eighth Comm.”
“Noooo….”
The hairs on the back of my neck began to stick up as I felt a presence near me that was wholly unwanted. Allen was passing by with the idiots that made up his crew. Not only was I pissed that I was being ripped away from Alex, but I’d have to go and join a unit with a guy that I didn’t think belonged in this century, let alone in a purely technological unit.
“Dalton, did you just say you got Third L.A.R?” Allen asked, his face pinched and angry.
“Yeah,” Dalton answered back, giving him a dirty look.
“This is fucking unbelievable. Your weak ass gets Third L.A.R., a fucking combat unit, and I get to run off to some pussy ass unit like Eighth Comm with a bunch of bitches.”
I wanted to let it go, but I couldn’t. I was already in a rotten mood, and he was spoiling what little positive I could possibly salvage from this day.
“I guess you just aren’t cut out for infantry, Allen,” I said, turning to find his red face filled with throbbing blood vessels that looked as if they would pop at any second.
He moved closer to me. “Maybe going off to North Carolina will be good for you. No instructors around. Just fleet Marines, not giving a fuck about bitches and their issues. Maybe then I can teach you how to stay in a bitches’ place. On your fucking knees with my dick shoved down your throat so you can’t run your fucking mouth anymore.”
I was about to say something to him when Newsome’s voice came bellowing through the corridor. He stridently walked over to where we were, his face stiff, eyes low, yelling, “Private Allen, Private First Class Bennett, over here! Now!”
I turned and walked his way, meeting him halfway. I swallowed hard, afraid of whatever was to come. This day was horrible, and it seemed to be getting worse and worse.
“What the fuck was that bullshit I just heard?”
Allen stood quiet, staring Newsome in the face like he was ready for battle. He looked like he had lost it, much more so than any other time I had seen him go crazy.
“Don’t look at me like you’re fuckin’ crazy, Allen. Answer my fuckin’ question.”
“You heard whatever you heard, Sergeant,” he lowly grumbled, not talking his eyes away from Newsome’s. The look was scaring me.
“Devil Dog, you’ve lost your motherfuckin’ mind. I know female Marines in Eighth Comm that will fuckin’ destroy you. That shit you just said is grounds for sexual harassment, and I won’t fuckin’ tolerate it. Especially not from one of my students. Go stand-by in Gunny Chavez’s office right the fuck now. He’ll decide if this shit goes up to First Sergeant.” Newsome’s face was nearly touching Allen’s—deep red, and full of rage. His finger looked as if it would poke Allen’s eyeball out, and to say that I would be glad to see it happen would have been an understatement.
Allen didn’t say a word. He glared at Newsome for a minute longer. Newsome wasn’t moving...wasn’t blinking...
“Jump if you feel froggy, Marine,” Newsome growled.
For a second, I wasn’t sure if he was even breathing. As angry and volatile as Allen came across, Newsome looked ready to kill him should he make one wrong move. I glanced around and found most of the students’ eyes trained on us, taking in the tense, albeit entertaining scene. Allen finally tore away from the stare down and turned away, walking down the hall that would take him to the upper administrative offices. I had never seen that side of him and it worried me, but Newsome wasn’t afraid. I was sure if Allen went completely stupid, he’d be thinking twice after Newsome was finished with him.
“Bennett, stand-by. You will be called in for your statement about this.”
I nodded, not knowing exactly what to say. He turned and followed the same path that Allen took, finally bringing air back to my lungs, and blood back to my veins. The whole thing happened so fast, and now a shit storm was brewing, leaving me feeling light headed.
“Whoa! That was some serious shit. You okay?” Dalton asked, coming up behind me.
“Not really,” I said, choking back a sob. When my clear thinking mind finally came back to me, fear set in as I realized that it was certainly going to get back to Alex.
“Hey, he’s gone. He’s probably going to get a serious punishment, and then maybe you won’t have to PCS with him.”
“I know. I don’t care about that though.”
“Ohhhh. You’re thinking about Alex.”
I nodded my head, wiping away the loose tear that had managed to escape.
“He’s going to find out about it. You might as well be the one to tell him. Call him.”
“I won’t reach him. He’s a on a plane, on his way back here.”
“So leave him a voicemail and he will hear it when he gets off. You need to be the one to tell him, Cassie.”
“He’s a loose cannon, Dalton. If I tell him that, he won’t even think. He’ll just react and come straight up here. Jeopardizing everything.”
“Cassie, I listened to you when you said not to tell him what had been going on with you and Allen. Now, this—this will surely get to him, and he’s going to be even more pissed. I think it’s better if you tell him. Just leave him a voicemail and discuss it with him once he’s off the plane.”
Dalton was right. I needed to call and let Alex know what was going on, but inside, I didn’t want to. I knew how angry he would be, and I didn’t want to deal with that. I wanted everything to go back to before Allen ever opened his mouth in that courtyard. I wanted to take it all back and re-do it, leaving Allen out of the equation as Dalton went on with his excitement about his new unit and I wallowed in self-pity for mine. All of that seemed so much more enjoyable than what we were faced with now, and the thought of calling Alex and telling him what had taken place, in front of numerous students, made me sick with worry.
“I can’t do that right now, I—“
“Cassie, stop,” he said, raising his voice and drawing attention to us. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from all of the prying eyes fixed on us. “You need to seriously shut up and listen to me. You do not want Alex to hear this shit from anyone but you. Look at everyone out here. This is going to be the talk of school for days to come. Don’t let Alex hear about it through the fucking grapevine, Cassie. What’s wrong with you?”
I stared at him, completely understanding what he was saying, and agreeing with it, but unable to bring myself to actually do it. The one thing Alex had told me before he left was to stay away from everyone else stay out of trouble. I was in the middle of a big heaping mess of it.
