LWLU – Totally Busted

Sara didn’t know what to say. On some level, she knew this could happen, that it probably would happen, but she didn’t think beyond that. Those blue eyes held so much pain and anger and she didn’t have a clue what she could say to make it better.

But nothing she could say would make it better because Nika had every right to be pissed off right now.

She slid her hand into Paul’s in as nonchalant a manner as she could manage and wet her lips. “We’re on a date. What are you doing here?”

Nika folded her arms in front of her ample chest. “I’m supposed to believe that? You’re on a date with a guy I had to force you to see the first time around and you just happen to show up at an out of the way café? I’m not stupid.”

Paul gave her hand a squeeze before Sara could panic. “We had a criminal justice project to work on for Monday and I promised Sara the best burger in town when we were done working. Besides, we never got to finish our first date.”

Her friend shifted her eyes back and forth between Sara and Paul. “So…this is a coincidence? You’re really on a date?”

Sara shrugged. “Is it really so hard to believe?”

“I guess not.”

Sucre stepped out of the shadows, hanging back from the group when he caught sight of Paul. “Everything okay, mami?”

Nika nodded and smiled at him. “Yeah. I’m just…paranoid, I guess.” She turned to Sara. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

Sara’s eyes darted from Sucre to Paul and forced a smile. “Sure.” If the two of them got into it while left alone, the flimsy ruse was probably over. Once they were out of earshot of the guys, she asked, “So…you’re out with Sucre again?”

“I know. Sara, I mean, I really know, but…” She sighed. “I didn’t hear from him for a little while after the bowling alley and then he kept calling and calling, leaving messages begging me to talk to him.”

“Sounds stalkerish to me.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. He sounded so…different. I felt like I had to talk to him.”

“You don’t owe that guy anything after what he was trying to do to you.”

Nika’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “I know, but you don’t get it. He’s bipolar. Like, super bipolar. When he’s not taking his meds, the manic episodes get really, really bad. It’s like he literally can’t control himself when he gets like that.”

“Sounds like an excuse.” Before Nika could protest, Sara put up her hand to hold her off. “If he gets that bad, why did he stop taking his pills in the first place?”

“I asked the same question, believe me. He said the pills were affecting him too much and he thought that meant they weren’t working because he didn’t need them anymore. He said they put him on something else and that he was back in control of himself.” A smile touched her lips. “He started leaving a rose and an ‘I’m sorry’ note on my car every day after that until I agreed to see him again.”

That still sounded more like a stalker than a date to Sara, but she kept quiet. It wasn’t her job to make decisions for her best friend, even when she didn’t agree. “And you’re sure he’s different now?”

Nika nodded, relieved. “I’m sure. I’m so totally sure. We went to a drive-in and he didn’t try a single thing.” She bit her lip and grinned. When we were having dessert, he touched my hand and was so hesitant and nervous. It was so cute.” She took in a deep breath. “I know he messed up, but Sara, I don’t remember the last time I liked a guy as much as I like Fernando Sucre.”

Well, this was probably better than Nika’s serial dating. Sara had to admit that her friend appeared happier than she’d been in a long time. In fact, this was the first time she remembered her looking this happy since the abrupt end to her year-long relationship before her boyfriend’s family suddenly moved away Freshman year.

Sara shifted her weight and stuffed frozen hands into her coat pockets. “Well, if you’re happy, you know I’m happy.”

“Good…but, Sara…” Nika glanced back at the guys and lowered her voice. “You aren’t really sleeping with Paul are you? I know I hooked you two up, but, you know…the pact. Waiting’s better. It may not always make sense, but it…just is.”

The pact. As if Sara was capable of thinking about much else since breaking it. “I’ve seen him twice outside of school. Why would you think I’m sleeping with him?”

“Well…Roni seemed pretty sure when she was screaming at you in the bathroom.”

She groaned. “You heard that?”

“Chick, people five counties away heard that.”

“Well…I’m not. I don’t know what she was freaking out about.”

Nika nodded, buying the flimsy lie. “I don’t want to be rude, but can we talk more this weekend or something? I sorta want to get back to Sucre.”

That was a good idea. Even though bits of their conversation drifted over to where they stood, Sara could still sense the tension coming from that direction. “Yeah. I need to head home anyway.”

Paul didn’t say anything as they walked to the car and Sara didn’t get to ask before her cell phone rang. Home was calling.

“Hi, Dad. I’m already on my way. Don’t worry.”

“Actually, pumpkin, your mother has a headache so we’re turning in. If you promise to tiptoe in so you don’t wake her, you can stay out until 1:30.”

What space alien had taken over her father’s body? “1:30?”

She could hear the smile in her father’s voice. “You and Paul have fun. I’ve always trusted you, Sara, but you finally brought home a boy I can also trust.”

Sara stared at her cell phone in stunned silence long after disconnecting the call. Paul glanced over at her. “What happens at 1:30?”

“Apparently, that’s my new curfew tonight.” She shook her head and put her phone back in her purse. “Parents really must like you.”

“I don’t lie.” He changed lanes and frowned. “You didn’t want to actually stay out that late, did you? I have to be at work before it opens for inventory in the morning.”

“No. I wouldn’t know what to do being out that much past my normal curfew.” Besides, that would give her plenty of time to sneak out to see Michael.

After a few minutes of silence, Paul asked, “Does your friend really know what she’s doing?”

“I take it you heard our conversation?”

“Of course. I don’t buy his story, but I heard what it was.”

Sara shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.”

He nodded. “Okay. I don’t see the need to continue following them around.” He parked in front of her house. “So, I guess this is it then. Thanks for playing along in front of your friends. Especially the one who doesn’t like me.”

“No problem.” She started to open the door, but stopped short. “Can I ask you something, Paul?”

“What?”

“Why are you so opinionated?”

“You’ll need to be more specific.”

“Well…that’s why Veronica couldn’t get Lincoln away from you fast enough.” Sara bit her lip, not adding that it was also why she didn’t like him either at first. “Don’t get me wrong. I understand that everyone gets to have their opinion about stuff, but you were really kind of a jerk when you two were arguing in class. I mean…it’s law theory or something. I don’t get why you were so pissed off about it.”

Paul was quiet for a long moment. “My father was killed by a man who was supposedly rehabilitated by our lenient justice system. If they’d thrown the book at him instead of giving him parole, my father would still be alive and my mother never would have moved here for a job.” He closed his eyes, fighting for calm. “I know how selfish I sound, but I liked my life. I didn’t want to move.”

Sara rested her hand on his shoulder. “It’s not selfish, Paul. I think it’s a normal reaction.”

He opened his eyes, meeting her gaze with sadness. “Maybe. The worst part is that I can’t just go visit his grave whenever I want. It takes a road trip to get there now when it used to take five minutes.” He shook away the sorrow and cleared his throat. “It doesn’t matter. This is better anyway. It took my mother almost a year to be able to get out of bed and try moving on. The distance is better than seeing her like that.”

She didn’t know what to say, so she remained quiet. His words, the pain behind them, made one thing crystallize in her mind. Her family dodged a bullet with her mother’s recovery. If things were different, Sara could be the one sitting there trying to keep her emotions in check.

Paul cut the engine and turned fully to face her. “Is there any chance that your parents are still awake and spying on us?”

How did he manage to bounce back and forth between his private pain and keeping up the appearances of their date? “Well, Dad said they were going to bed, but anything’s possible with them. Why?”

“I’d better walk you to the door then.”

Sara hesitated at the door, unsure what she was supposed to do. How would the night end if it were a real date? Was she supposed to kiss him? It was only a first date, at least, that her parents knew of.

Ironically, her awkward indecision standing there, key in hand, looked more like a first date ending than she could ever fake.

“Well, thank you for dinner. I had fun.”

Paul hugged her and whispered, “No, you didn’t.”

“Well, my parents like you, so they should probably think I did,” she whispered back.

“You crack me up, Tancredi.” He released her and stepped off the porch. “See you at school.”

Sara unlocked the door and turned back to him. “Paul?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not going to say anything. You know…about anything you told me.”

Paul nodded and opened his car door. “I didn’t figure you would. Night.”

The house was dark and Sara crept up the stairs. Apparently, there was no need to make it look like a date because she could hear her father’s snoring all the way on the second floor. If it weren’t for the reinforced security door, she would have heard him from outside, saving Paul a trip to the front door.

Paul really was a good guy, she mused as she slipped into her bedroom and closed the door in darkness. Under other circumstances…It didn’t matter. These weren’t other circumstances.

Her heart was already spoken for.

She flipped on the light and almost jumped out of her skin. Michael was leaning against the wall by the window, arms folded, steel eyes ripe with betrayal. “Looks like that was a chummy study session you just had. Obviously…” He pulled in a sharp breath. “We’re over, Sara.”

Continue reading…

…Go back

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Another mammoth chapter. I wanted to start the New Year off with a bonus chapter, but there was no good place to cut that one.

Also, the story’s soundtrack is now available on the Table of Contents page. Yep, you heard me right. I am a big dork who creates a soundtrack to everything I write. The Freelancer also has one if you want to check it out. Oh, and yes…the songs are in an order that makes sense with the story…in case you were wondering.

Happy New Year, peeps.

Jen