Page 80 of Damnation
I pause to look around at the dove-gray walls that surround me, the slightly worn flowered sofa, the wooden table with a bowl of fruit already in the center, and I feel an immediate sense of ease.
“As you can see, the living room is pretty small but welcoming. The bathroom is in the back,” she informs me, pointing to a door. “Bedroom is that way.” She gestures at another door to my right. “And here we have the kitchenette, small but practical.”
“Damn…” I whisper, turning around slowly. My eyes land on a television affixed to the wall. “Does that work?” I point to it a little hesitantly, remembering the one in the freshman dorm that was completely useless.
“Of course it works. Now, if you don’t mind, can I get you to sign these forms?” She hands me the stack of papers she’d been holding under her arm. “The first one is registering you for a mailbox; thesecond is confirming you got the keys. The RAs are two other girls and me; you can get our numbers down in the secretary’s office or from this instruction packet. If you need anything, just call, we’ll be happy to help you.”
The way she says it, I find it hard to believe that she would be “happy” to do anything. I nod and grab the pen she hands me. I put the papers down on the table and begin to quietly read through them before signing.
A few minutes pass before, suddenly, I hear Athena’s wearied voice snap, “You know there’s other stuff to look at, right?”
I turn quickly to see her and Vince facing each other.
“You’re cute,” Vince answers, winking at her with that cheeky grin that he refuses to put away. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he has the confident air of someone who likes what he sees and isn’t afraid to show it.
“Yes, I’m aware,” she answers, raising her chin. She’s just as confident as he is, if not more so. “But that doesn’t give you the right to keep your slimy creeper eyes glued to my ass.”
“I wasn’t…” he babbles, caught off guard.
“Ah-ah,” she admonishes him, pointing her index finger at his face. “Don’t try to deny it; I know it’s true.”
“Well, in my defense, that ass really was made to be stared at,” Vince says with a cocky grin.
“Vince!” I leap up, red-faced, while Athena irritably gathers up the papers from the table and shoulder-checks him out of her way. Before she walks out the door, she stops and pulls a flyer from the pocket of her white skinny jeans. She hands it to me without much conviction. “There’s a party tonight on the top floor. Nothing big, pretty quiet in fact. You’re invited, if you want to come.”
“Oh, thank you for that, but I have to work tonight. I don’t think—”
I don’t have time to finish my sentence before Vince snatches the flyer from my hand and answers for me. “We’ll be there.”
Both Athena and I glare at him.
“You don’t even live in this building,” she says.
“And how do you know that?”
“I’ve never seen you here.”
“You’re seeing me here right now.”
Athena raises her hands in surrender, shaking her head and sighing. “Do what you want; I don’t care. Have a great day.” Her gaze drifts over Vince’s body and she adds, “And for God’s sake, take a shower. You smell like a distillery.”
When we’re alone, I slap his shoulder with the back of my hand. “Wanna tell me what’s going on in your head?”
“Right this minute? Are you sure you want to know?” He gives me an exaggeratedly innocent grin.
“You’re a pig!” I exclaim, trying to hold back laughter.
“Oh, but look at that; is that a smile I see on your little mouth?” He pinches my cheek gently with his thumb and forefinger.
I try not to smile to avoid giving him the satisfaction, but in the end, I break.
“Well, Little Gem, it’s time for me to pack it in,” he says, glancing around. “This isn’t so bad. Compared to my place, you’re living in a palace,” he jokes, moving to leave. But before he can turn the door handle, I stop him.
“I’m sorry, where do you think you’re going?”
“To sort myself out; I’ve got to get rid of this hangover,” he answers casually, stretching his arms behind his back.
I shake my head no at him. “You insisted on coming here with me, you embarrassed me in front of that girl, and you accepted an invitation to a party on my behalf without my consent. You’re nuts if you think I’m going to let you off the hook that easily,” I say, looking down at my wristwatch.
