Page 44 of Surviving Lies

Ty

“Dude, what are you doing up so early?” Jake whined as he lumbered into the kitchen. “Early” is a relative term to college students. Especially the day after a football game. It was already after eleven. He was scrounging through the cabinet looking for something. “And what smells so good? I’m fucking starving. We’re already out of food and we’re not even a month into school.” He walked over to the island and inspected the bags of food I placed there moments before.

“Asshole, don’t even think about it!” I warned. “Those are for me and Becca. I’m picking her up soon.”

Once I talked to my parents about staying here at school for the first football game, I took full advantage of them giving me this opportunity. Knowing I had these extra two days I wasn’t expecting, I came up with this idea to see Becca today last minute. I had no idea if she would go for it, but I was fucking ecstatic that she did.

Jake backed up, hands in the air. “Whoa, no problem, man. Up early to impress the missus – I get it.” He went to the refrigerator next; I knew he hoped something of interest would materialize. But we had nothing, which was why I went out for food.

I chose not to drink too much yesterday, knowing today was important. I didn’t want to be hungover. Looking at Jake and his current state, I was pleased with my actions.

“You look like shit,” I told him. “What are you even doing up?” He had found a half-empty carton of OJ and was chugging it from the container. When he finished, he threw it across the room, attempting to make it in the trash can, but missed.

“I have a test I need to study for,” he replied. “A test already. Can you believe it? And the professor is an ass, too. No study guide or anything. I’m meeting up with a study group soon.” He continued searching for something he could put in his stomach. “I’m going to have to leave earlier than I thought to get something else to eat.” He turned to look at me. “We need to come up with a food plan for this house, a better one. Who’s in charge of food shopping?”

“Don’t know, man. I think all four of us need to talk and figure that out.” I didn’t disagree with Jake about that. We needed a plan. Aaron and Ben, the other two guys we lived with, I was sure would be on board with doing something like that: a shopping and cooking schedule. “Maybe like a house meeting or something.”

Jake nodded vigorously. “Yes,” he agreed. “I’ll see if the other guys are around tonight. You around? Nine work for you?”

I kind of hoped after my day with Becca I wouldn’t be around tonight, but that was wishful thinking.

“Yeah, I’ll probably be around,” I told him.

“OK, good. Got any aspirin? My head is pounding,” he said as he started back toward the stairs. “I really shouldn’t have drunk as much, knowing I had a study group this morning.”

“Up in the bathroom cabinet. Help yourself,” I told him. He mumbled something on his way up the stairs that was probably a thank you, but I couldn’t hear him. I was thankful we weren’t holding any grudges from our tiff. I didn’t need any more drama in my life.

I went back to gathering everything I needed for the day I had planned with Becca. I told her we were getting coffee and breakfast, and that was true. But I didn’t tell her where we were taking it. And everything else I would have hiding in the trunk of my car.

I only hoped my little surprise for her would help me.

I took out my phone and shot Becca a text when I arrived at her apartment.

Me:

Hey Bec, I’m here when you’re ready

Knowing her, she wouldn’t be out for a while. But to my surprise, the door opened only two minutes after I hit send on the text and Becca strolled down the path to the parking lot where I was waiting. I jumped out of my car and hurried to open her door.

“Morning, Bec. You look beautiful.” And she did. She was in a little dress that reminded me of the one she wore the first day back at school. This was one was a deep red, my favorite color on her. She wore a little white sweater over her shoulders, and there was a hint of fall in the air, considering it was still kind of early in the day. Her hair was a shiny black in the sunlight; the hint of red highlights seemed to have faded, which I missed. She wore it down her back, long and wavy. I hoped she wore it like that because she knew I loved it that way.

She stopped when she got near the car door and looked up at me. “Thanks,” she said with a smile. As she slid into the seat and I closed the door, I realized I was nervous.

Was this going to do us any good today? Was she expecting me to tell her anything else? Because that was not in my plan. My plan was to woo her, treat her like a princess, and try to remind her of what we once had.

As I got in my seat, I noticed her eyes on me, watching my every move. “You don’t seem hungover,” she said, almost in disbelief.

“Well, that’s because I’m not.” I put the car in gear and began our drive to the coffee shop downtown, the cozy one I knew she liked. “I chose not to drink too much yesterday, knowing we were seeing each other today.” She remained quiet after I said that. She propped her elbow on the car door as her hand held her head up and she continued to watch me.

“What?” I asked, genuinely bewildered by her stare.

The slow shake of her head as she turned to look out the front window made me think she wouldn’t answer me. But a few moments later, she did.

“Thank you,” she said. “That’s all. Thank you.”

Her tiny smile was only visible in profile since she kept her gaze out the front window as she spoke. But it did something to my heart; it squeezed it tight in my chest. Because if it weren’t for me putting us in this position, this all wouldn’t be necessary. I wouldn’t have to be walking on eggshells around the girl I loved trying to win her back. Instead, we both would have enjoyed the party yesterday and stayed in bed all day today.

But I fucked up.

---