Page 14 of Smoke the Enemy

“Well, I can’t help you with anything other than telling you where the self-help aisle is and where you can fuck right off.” I turn my back on him and stomp off. His laughter follows me.

“I guess we can reconnect over winter break back in Mississippi.”

Not if I can help it.I jump when I turn to get away from him and almost run into Lois. “Bless me. What’s wrong, child?”

Before I can answer, Alex walks past us. He tips his head and gives me a panty-dropping smile. He continues walking past us and down the stairs. When he is completely out of sight, Lois turns to me with wide eyes.

“Where do you keep finding these gorgeous young men?”

“I–I didn’t find him.”

Lois barks with laughter. Her sixty-seven-year-old frail body shaking as she practically doubles over. “Right. I’m not deadyet,girl. My eyes are bad, but I saw the look in his eyes. Now I don’t know what happened on the back row, but I’m no fool.” Her little feet shuffle along, but she stops. “There was something familiar about him, though. But I’ve seen and met so many students so it’s probably this old mind of mine playing tricks on me.”

Her thin lips part to say more, but she stops. I want to ask her if he reminds her of someone from her past, but somehow it seems almost cruel to bring that up. I don’t want her to know that her one true love, Walter, lived and went on to marry. He had children, and grandchildren. Even great grandchildren. And she had no idea.

It’s hard to imagine Alex being a descendant of Lois’s version o f Walter Dupree, though. So I let Lois go ahead and I focus on getting back to work.

Mississippi

Winter Break

Taylor

The semester is over and we have a month off for winter break. I’m back in my hometown again, but what about when break is over, and class resumes to in-person? Every time I’ve gone to church since being home, I expect Alex will be standing at the altar waiting for me. Like in my dream… That stupid dream still haunts me. Sometimes I wonder if I still have this toxic and lingering attraction to Alex because he was my first love. He was the first guy I was crazy over, whom I couldn’t stop thinking about. I’d even dream about us getting married. Does a person ever fully recover from their first love? Or what they thought was love…

Why won’t Alex leave me alone? Coming home might have been a mistake since he lives here too. I needed my home though. I need a place that feels familiar. A place that is different from Blue Rose. My family is here, and even though they anger me at times, I’d take helping my mom grocery shop any day over sitting in class next to Steffan, or running into Soren in the hallways. Home is simple. Thorn University is…complicated.

My parents are thrilled to have me home for the holidays, and I’m sure Alex will be at the Christmas Eve ceremony at church since his father is the pastor. Or adoptive father. Brother Myers, whom I now know is his adopted father, and his real family lineage is tied to The Illicit Brotherhood, has already reached out to my parents about me singing this year.

No wonder Alex’s childhood was traumatic with Brother Myer’s obsession over his blood being tainted by coming frombad blood.Ironically, Walter Dupree pushed his children away in hopes of them leading a safe and comfortable life, only to send them directly into a different kind of chaos. If Walter is his great-grandfather, and Brother Myers is his adoptive father, then who is Alex’s biological father? Where is he?

All of this assaults my mind again as I think back to when I packed and left Blue Rose.

“Are you all packed?” Kali enters the room holding a little black gift bag.

“I’d rather stay here with you, but I’ve put off going home long enough.”

She sits next to me on the bed and throws an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t let those pricks scare you. And if that psycho bothers you at home, shove your foot up his ass.”

“I wish I could.”

“Didn’t Thing Two teach you how to fight?”

“His name is Soren. And yes, he did.”

“Good, you can defend yourself then. Here.” She places the light bag in my lap. “I got you something. Merry Early Christmas.”

I smile, “Kali! Thanks, roomie. Hold on.” Keeping a grip on the bag with one hand, I lean over and grab the pink bag I have by my bed.

“It’s pink. My favorite color.” Kali smirks at me.

“Shut up.” I give her the bag and joke, “Sorry it’s not black like your soul.”

“No, it’s pink like my–”

“Stop.”

“I was going to say heart. But we know where your mind is.”

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