The melodious, tinkling laughter fell on Trudy's ears like nails on a chalkboard. The responding masculine laughter hit her heart like drops of acid, burning their way to the very core of her. There they were, the super couple. Amber and Jay together, a matched set, like two wedding-cake toppers. A wedding? For these two? It doesn't even bear thinking about. But Trudy couldn't stop herself. It was just so typical. If there was a guy that was IT, the smart one, the popular one, the guy all the girls dreamed of being with, then Amber would get him, just steal him right out from under her.
The last time it had been Bray. Mr. Hot-Shot, head of the Drama Club and Student Activities. He'd been older, a senior to their junior status and he'd been a bright shining star in the halls of Zephyr High. Trudy knew him well, had been friends with him and his younger brother Martin since they were really little. They had always gotten along great, and she had known this was it. This was going to be the year that Bray saw the woman she'd become instead of the girl who, along with his little brother, tagged along, wanting to do everything he did.
But that awareness never came. When Trudy had approached Bray, he had looked at her confused and piteously.
Sorry Trudy, I don't—I didn't mean to lead…I thought you were interested in Martin?
She had apologized of course. So sorry to have forced my feelings on you Bray. It won't happen again. She had run off, never seeing the tortured eyes that followed her, that burned so intensely with yearning and loss.
A week later, Bray and Amber had become a couple. Her cheerleading captain and debate team star to his Big Man on campus status. A match made in yearbook picture heaven. Homecoming King and Queen, Prom King and Queen, cutest couple. For her, Most Likely to Succeed and for him, Catch a Rising Star. They had been what everyone wanted to be. The most popular, the most loved, the best and the brightest.
Than had come graduation. And the oh-so-tearful parting. Bray was going off to college, all the way out in California. He was following his dream and she still had another year of school to go. Long-distance relationships never worked and he wouldn't want her to miss out on all the good times of her senior year because he couldn't be there. How touching. Trudy had gotten an awkward goodbye, a pitying look and stilted conversation and a throw-away promise to 'keep in touch'.
Again, she'd run off, if not literally, then in her mind, having gone from that painful parting to the park, to the old swings in the back, where she Bray, and Martin had played so often when they were younger, before Bray had become 'too old' for those kinds of activities. As she sat on the thick rubber seat, her hands gripping the chains, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, she didn't see a lone figure, watching from a stand of bushes not so far away. When the sobs began, and she dropped her head into her hands, he wept too. Moisture seeped from the corners of his eyes, falling in silvery trails to drip from his chin, unnoticed or simply insignificant to him.
But she had healed. The Barbie doll had gone to cheer camp for the summer, because the squad was going to 'go all the way' this year, and of course, she needed time away 'deal with her feelings'. Trudy had scoffed, but accepted the reprieve. Then the most brilliant thing had happened. A new boy had moved to town. Well, two new boys actually, Jay and his younger brother Ved. But Ved was younger than Martin even, and she didn't pay much attention to him. Jay was a different matter all together though.
He made Bray seem like a girl. Where Bray had shoulder-length brown hair, Jay had short, spiky, bleach-blonde hair. Rather than the tights of Romeo and Robin Hood, Jay sported the laced up tights of Marino and Montana. Instead of a slight build prone to wearing silk shirts, linen pants and sock less loafers, Jay was prone to polo shirts and khakis or white tees and mesh shorts on days he had practice.
And he had been all hers. She first met him at the lemonade slushy stand where she worked in the summers. Not because she needed the money, but because her self-made parents felt she was too spoiled and should learn the value of earning a dollar. Whatever. The stand belonged to her uncle, who owned a whole chain, but had started with this single one. She didn't really mind working there. She ran the whole thing by herself, got to talk to interesting people all day and got to work on her writing when business was slow.
It had been a scorcher, that fateful summer day. She'd been wearing her favorite purple cami-top and khaki skooter shorts, with her hair in a loose top-knot to keep it off her neck. She'd looked pretty hot, if she did say so herself, while keeping cool. Two blonde boys had come up to her stand, the taller one flashing blindingly white teeth at her in greeting.
"Two raspberry-lemonade slushies, please" he had said, maintaining eye contact. A gentleman, how refreshing.
"Make mine regular, babe." The shorter one smirked at her, but his eyes locked on her ample chest.
"The name's not babe, Junior. And talk to the face, cuz the tits ain't listening." She had responded, by now used to such behavior.
The older one had laughed, saying, "Ved, looks like she has your number." He had then turned to Trudy and stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm Jay, and this blushing boy is my brother, Ved."
She took his hand, shaking it. "Nice to meet you Jay." She raised her eyebrows. "And you too of course, Ved." Her eyes sparkled.
She had turned back to Jay, slowly pulling her hand from his. He had been as slow, almost reluctant to release her hand. She had colored slightly and unable to meet his eyes, had put on her brightest smile and looked at Ved. "So what size would you gentlemen like?"
Jay had replied. "Two larges." He turned to his brother. "If that's okay with you?"
Ved didn't look at him, just saying in an irritated manner, "Yeah, whatever," before walking a short distance away.
Jay turned back to Trudy, an apologetic expression on his face. "You'll have to excuse my brother. It's not every day that such a beautiful girl busts him down, and so quickly. He's usually the fastest tongue around."
She'd grinned at him, before turning to fix their drinks. Shortly, she was back, putting two straws into their drinks and sliding them in front of Jay. "He probably still is the fastest tongue. I've just had these for a while and don't even have to think about it anymore." She pointed at her breasts, drawing Jay's eyes to them briefly before he met her eyes and flushed, apologizing.
"Don't worry about it. I practically invited you to look after all." She laughed merrily.
"Jay!" Ved called out impatiently.
He looked over his shoulder before turning back to Trudy. "Oops. Looks like 'Junior' is getting impatient. How much do I owe you?" He reached for his wallet.
"Nothing. They're on the house."
He paused. "Surely you don't make much money if you keep giving the drinks away."
She grinned impishly. "Only the first one is free, but you'll be back. These slushies are more addictive than crack."
He raised an eyebrow. "So you admit to being a dealer of an addictive substance?"
"Whatever keeps 'em coming."
He laughed, turning to walk away before saying over his shoulder, "I have an idea of what keeps them coming, and it has nothing to do with the slushies."
She had blushed, ducking her head at the compliment. When he was out of sight, she jumped up and down, squealing silently.
And so it had begun: the best summer of her life. They had spent every spare moment together, going to the movies, to dinner, dancing and on one memorable afternoon, a picnic at the beach. She told him about her dreams of being a writer and he told her about his dream of playing for a Division I college. She and Ved had started again, and developed a brother-sister type relationship, and she had even helped him woo the neighborhood Ice Queen, Ebony. She hadn't melted, but his sharp wit matched her own and spontaneous romantic gestures Trudy suggested seemed to have breached her defenses. Who could have seen that coming?
The answer: no one. But she should have seen Amber coming. After all, Jay had all the qualities Amber liked in a man: handsome, popular and going places. As soon as she came back from camp, she set her sights on Jay. And as Trudy knew all too well, what Amber wanted, Amber got. Next thing, it was unreturned calls and canceled dates from Jay, followed soon after by that most overused and deceitful of speeches; the 'it's not you, it's me' speech. Poof it was over. Bubble burst, dreams shattered, game over and the winner is, by a landslide: Amber, again, of course.
So fucking typical.
Trudy couldn't stand watching them a single moment more. She slammed her locker shut and headed off to class.
Martin watched Trudy stalk off down the hallway. He had seen the pain flash on her face when she saw Jay with Amber. He had seen it before, when Trudy would watch his brother and Amber. He had seen it in his own face when he asked himself in the mirror if he would ever have a chance with her. He had loved her for so long, it was a burning fire within him, almost hurting in its intensity. But she never saw him. She'd only had eyes for his brother and then Jay, but never him.
So here he was, yearning after a woman who always loved another, and never him. He felt her pain because he was going through the same thing. The one she wanted, wanted another. Meaning the one he wanted, wanted another.
So fucking typical.
He shook his head, walking down the hallway in the opposite direction of Trudy.