Dire

“Whatever, someone’s going to tap that soon. If they haven’t already.”

He was right. I knew that. I’d seen her out on a date the week before and found it bothered me more than I wanted to admit. Mary Anne had definitely grown up, and I wasn’t the only one noticing just how attractive she was. She hadn’t realized it yet though. I could tell by the way she looked down instead of making eye contact.

“Are you really planning to leave early tomorrow?” He wisely dropped the Mary Anne subject.

“Yeah, I don’t want to get stuck in the mountains when the snow hits.”

“How many hours is it?”

“Just four, but it takes ten times longer in the snow.”

“Gage, what’s up man?” Tad, my at times annoying roommate, called from across the room.

“I’m pretty much the same as I was a few minutes ago when you asked.”

He laughed drunkenly. “Oh, I forgot.”

“Why are we friends with him again?” Josh asked.

“I could ask the same question about you.”

Chapter Three

Mary Anne

“Wow, this is fun.” I rolled my eyes at Geneviève as we made a half-attempt to mingle with our classmates. We were at a house party of a sophomore I’d had a few classes with that semester. It’s not that Genevieve and I were completely anti-social, but we didn’t exactly revel in drinking cheap beer and wearing short skirts with the hope of catching the right guy’s eye. Okay, I’d have worn nearly anything to get that kind of attention from Gage, but I knew he wouldn’t be at this party. Even in college Gage and I were part of different crowds. I guess some things never change.

“We’ve been here close to an hour. Let’s hold off until ten thirty, and then we can leave.” Genevieve was the type who always came up with an answer. She never waffled or wavered, which made her the perfect person to go out with.

“Deal.” I forced myself to take another sip of the flat beer I was currently holding. It tasted just as putrid as the last sip. I gave up on the beer and focused on the faint music playing in the background. The music seemed out of place at a college party. It felt dated in that, ‘this is what my parents would listen to’ sort of way.

“We’re done with first semester. That should be exciting.” She sipped her own beer. By the expression on her face she wasn’t enjoying hers either.

“It should be. We’re halfway done with freshman year.” Somehow the first semester of college had been a letdown though. My high expectations tend to lead to disappointment.

“Maybe there’s something wrong with us. We don’t get excited about normal things.”

“Or maybe we’re the normal ones.” I set down the red cup.

“Mary Anne?”

I tensed. I recognized the voice, and it wasn’t one I’d been looking forward to hearing. I turned around slowly. “Hi, Roy.”

“I’m not sure if you got my calls.” Roy eyed me suspiciously. He wasn’t really asking a question.

“Oh, sorry. It’s been a busy couple of days.”

“I’ve been calling for the past week, and you definitely avoided me after lab the other day.”

Genevieve laughed, and I glared at her.

“I’m sorry.” When push comes to shove, sometimes you have to cut your losses and just fess up to someone even if it’s going to make for a sticky situation.

“I don’t understand you.” He crossed his arms.

“How so?” This would be interesting.

“Why go out with me if you were just going to blow me off afterward?”

That was a good question, one I didn’t feel like answering.

“You really won’t even let me drop you off on my way home? I promise I’m a really good driver.”

“I don’t doubt your driving expertise, but I told you I already have a ride.”

He sighed. “You look really nice tonight.”

I glanced down at my jeans and sweater. Nothing overly special. He was grasping for straws. “Thank you.”

“At least you’ll take a compliment from me. That’s better than ignoring me completely.”

I felt bad. I never should have said yes to him in the first place. I’d just been curious. And lonely. I was eighteen-years-old. Loneliness shouldn’t have been an issue. “I really am sorry.”

“Hey, ladies.” Tony strode over in his geeky way. I had no clue what Genevieve saw in him, but she wasn’t the only one. He seemed to always have a girlfriend, and they were generally the really pretty sorority girl type. Maybe it was the whole ‘he could be the next billionaire software developer’ angle. It didn’t do it for me. I’d have rather made the money myself.

“Hey, Tony.” Genevieve smiled all doe eyed at him.

“Did you guys see the weather update? It looks like it’s going to be a crazy storm.”

“The report changed?” How hadn’t I known? I was usually on top of that sort of thing. I pulled out my phone. “Two feet? We’re supposed to get two feet now?” I hoped the more severe forecast didn’t mess with our trip home.

Genevieve sighed. “There’s no way my flight is getting off tomorrow.”

I groaned. “If it snows like that I’m not getting home either.”

“That settles it, we can have a snowed in party then.” Tony put an arm around both of us. Sometimes I wanted to remind him that he wasn’t actually cool.

“A snowed in party?” Roy asked while shooting his friend a dirty look. I was positive the look stemmed from him having his arm around me. I glanced at Geneviève. She had to realize how ridiculous he sounded. Instead she was grinning. I wondered if I looked just as ridiculous when I talked to Gage.

Tony appeared oblivious to Genevieve’s attention. “Yeah, we might as well make the most of it.”

I shrugged out from underneath his arm. I needed to find out what Gage’s take was on the storm. Knowing him, it wouldn’t worry him. “I’m going to text Gage.”

“Why? So he knows he can stay out all night partying?” Genevieve ribbed. She understood my fascination with Gage as much as I understood hers with Tony. At least we’d never have to worry about fighting over the same guy.

I rolled my eyes. “No, so we can make alternative plans.”

“Gage? Gage Morris?” Roy looked between us. “Are you still hung up on him?”