Page 12 of Devious Gambit

I had an early class and got up, had a shower while reciting Dante’s Inferno again, and proceeded to get dressed into black skinny jeans, red Chuck Taylors, and an oversized navy hooded sweat shirt. Underneath my sweatshirt was about five layers of clothing to keep me warm.

Knowing that there was likely something delectably edible to eat inside the shoebox, I attacked the tape with a knife and ripped the lid off. A tremendously invigorating scent of chocolate, sugar and butter hit my senses. Tris’s grandma had been busy. There were three cellophane bags of home baking, raisin oatmeal cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, and a tower of chocolate mint slices that got a little squashed during transit. Amongst the bag of cookies was a small parcel, beautifully wrapped in silver Christmas paper. The card attached read; Merry Xmas lots of love from Patty, Tris and Danny xx

Danny was Patty’s new boyfriend, her first serious relationship since Tris’s dad died almost 4 years ago. No one deserved happiness more than Patty Fisher did, and I hoped she’s genuinely happy, not fake happy like my mom.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I began to rip the paper off the parcel. To my surprise, it was a jewelry case. I never wear jewelry and sparkly things were everything I was not. Therefore, it was strange she bought me something I was unlikely to wear. I opened the case to find a silver locket necklace inside in the shape of a fish. Again, it wasn’t really me, until I turned it over to find an engraving that read; You are in our hearts forever, love Patty and Tris xx

The floodgates opened up again, forcing me to rush to the bathroom for toilet paper to blow my snotty nose. Even though my mom was too busy with her new family, at least I had the Fishers.

“Fishers – fish. Ha ha. I just got the connection,” I mused, unhooking the fish necklace, wrapped it around my neck, and dropped the silver fish underneath my sweatshirt. Strangely, wearing the necklace made me feel like I belonged to someone, and that I was part of a tribe, albeit a small one.

After stuffing down a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies for breakfast, I brushed my teeth and left for KVU feeling a spring in my step. Until I remembered the text from Sweeney and the message I sent to SexEd in anger. My happiness hit the ground with a solid thud, just as the snow began to fall and I’d forgotten my gloves. Great.

My hands were so cold, I struggled to hold things and they turned a lighter shade of aubergine. As I sat in my 20th century American literature class, I kept taking my fishy locket out rereading the inscription, just in case I missed something. The locket opened, but there was nothing inside. It wasn’t the type of locket to hold a tiny pic of an admirer, which was good since I didn’t have one, but maybe for something else close to my heart. Maybe a picture of Sidney Parker would suffice.

The hall was packed with students after I left class, my living nightmare. It filled me with so much dread to walk down an aisle of living bodies, giggling and making of fun of me behind my back. As per usual, I kept my eyes low, focusing on my steps, my arms wrapped around books, my hair hiding most of my plain features, and my fish locket strapped to my chest. My armor.

Just as I could see the end in sight, a male student roared “YA!” into my ear deliberately to frighten me. I screamed and dropped my books, sending everyone onto fits of laughter. Once again, my English rose complexion betrayed me as heat surged into my cheeks.

“You fucking idiot!” I heard SexEd’s smooth voice scold the guy who roared at me.

He appeared to pick up my books and handed them back to me, which only amplified my embarrassment.

“Apologize to her, Sweeney,” Mr. Ed demanded.

I froze at the sound of his name, refusing to look at the man who physically threatened me on Friday night, who said he knew where I lived. Shaking my head, I tried to get past Mr. Ed who was blocking my way. “Please,” I begged, “just let me go.”

“Not until this fucker apologizes to you,” Jace growled.

“I don’t care,” I pleaded, “just let me pass.”

Reluctantly, he stepped aside and I ran out into the falling snow, a welcome reprieve to cool my burning cheeks. I didn’t have another class for a couple of hours, so I strode to my favorite place of succor in the university gardens. I didn’t care that my preferred bench was wet from snow and my butt cheeks would become sodden and numb from the cold. I needed fresh air, and space and time to catch my breath.

My favorite spot was amongst bushes and trees, but close to the footpath, so I can people-watch. The leaves of the trees were glistening from the melted snow and the grass was frosty white.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the brisk air, letting it caress my lungs and numb the pain of embarrassment. I felt the bench move beneath me and I snapped my eyes open.

“Are you alright?” he asked me.

“Well, if it isn’t the one and only randy Mr. Ed,” I mused.

He smiled. He has such a beautiful smile, not too dissimilar to Sidney Parker himself. “You still haven’t taken up my offer,” he stated.

“I’m not interested.”

“Your body tells me a different story.”

“I assure you, you’ve misread the signs.”

He folded his arms across his chest, tucking his hands in his armpits to keep warm. He wore a red baseball cap back to front and a few strands of his black hair sprung out the closure hole. “In the library you were gagging for it. I bet your panties were soaked.”

“Dry as a chip actually.”

“Liar.” A bird pecked busily at the fallen leaves under a bush. “Aren’t you just a little curious?”

YES. “Not at all.”

“Don’t you want to know what an orgasm feels like?”

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