My mind stayed with Rusty and his biting words all day. I wasn't able to get anything done and my paper was due in less than a week. I figured I wouldn't be able to work like I needed to until I got a few things straighten out. Well, two things actually. Cappie and Rusty.
It was time, well past time that I dealt with my Cappie issue once and for all. And as for Rusty, I wasn't sure why our fight was bothering me so much. We fight all the time. It shouldn't be anything to ruin my day, but it had and I needed to do something about it before it ruined my night as well.
Alumni dinner, after all, meant Evan's parents and they already had it out for me. I didn't plan on giving them any extra ammunition. The thought of having to deal with Mr. And Mrs. Chambers left me feeling worse than I had before. Especially since during their last visit they made it crystal clear that they didn't believe I was good enough for their precious son.
Tonight, I was going to prove them wrong. I had to be at the top of my game to do that.
So I was off to the Kappa Tau house, dressed in my best conservative, little black dress. My hair swept high in a tight bun. Pearls that Evan had given me around my neck, wrist and in my ears. I looked like I was heading for a congressional dinner. And considering how many politicians would be in attendance at the mixer, I guess I sort of was.
To be completely honest with myself, I hated these things. They were stuffy and awkward and uncomfortable and I always found myself wishing I was anywhere but there. But it was for Evan. I had to be there for him. He was counting on me. And I wasn't about to let him down.
Another thought occurred to me as I mounted the stairs to the Kappa Tau house. If I really hated these things so much, what the hell was I doing ? I had set my life up around a plan that involved having to endure nights just like tonight forever.
It was worth it, I told myself as I pushed the bell and waited, impatiently tapping a low heeled black shoe on the door mat. It was all worth it for Evan.
Heath was the one that opened the door. I didn't know him very well. I had seen him at the Omega Chi house a few times with Rusty's friend Cal and I nodded politely in recognition.
" I need to see Rusty. Is he here ? " I asked.
" I think I saw him out back with everyone else a little while ago. But I haven't seen him in a minute. "
He opened the door and allowed me inside.
I stormed through the amazingly clean house on a mission. My eyes darted from one occupied chair in the living room to another, searching for my brother's curly locks, or Cappie's messy ones.
As I moved closer to the back door I could hear loud music pratically vibrating the walls and I wondered why I haven't noticed it outside.
Opening the slidign door that lead to the backyard was like opening a window on an airplane. Music hit me in the face with a force that almost caused me to stumble, But I wouldn't be detered so easily. I pushed past several gyrating bodies on the makeshift dance floor as I spied my brother and his girlfriend of almost a year now.
" I want to talk to you. " I demanded, stepping up beside Jenn and giving her a smile before glaring back at Rusty.
" I'm kinda busy right now. " he replied coldly and went back to talking with a guy I didn't know.
" Rusty. I really need to talk to you. " I let my voice soften, hoping to lull him into a false sense of security. It didn't work. He still wasn't budging. But he did turn his head towards me.
" I think we said everything we needed to this afternoon. " he told me.
I felt like screaming and stomping my feet, giving a full flegde tamtrum, but that really wouldn't be befitting my new station in life, so I held back. " Fine, " I replied instead. " I guess this means the next time you need a loan or a favor, you'll be going somewhere else for it. After all, we have nothing to say to each other. "
I turned to walk away and wasn't surprised that I had barely made it inside before he caught up to me, shutting out the loudness from the room with the closing of the door.
" What do you want, Casey ? "
I smiled to myself and turned to him, fire flashing in my eyes. " I want to tell you that from now on, my love life is none of your concern. You have no business discussing it with me. Stay out of my affairs. "
He huffed and I think he actually did stomp his foot. " I would be glad to, if you kept your love life out of my life. But unfornately, I keep having to deal with your messes and I'm tired of cleaning up after you. "
" If you have chosen to adopt Cappie as your new BFF, that isn't my fault. Besides I'm here to see him, too. I want this done with, finally and completely. " I informed him.
He looked pretty horrified for a moment and it made me happy in a small vidictive part of my brain.
" Cappie isn't here. He's out. You'll have to talk to him tomorrow. " he said quickly. A little too quickly for my liking.
" Where the hell is he ? He never misses a party. "
" He's just out. It's none of your business where he is. " he spat. " You are removing him from your life after all, remember ? "
The door opened with another blast and I jerked my head around to see who was intruding. It was the one they call Beaver, very drunk and leaning heavily against the door jam.
" Hey, Spitter, " he slurred. " You gotta come tell everybody how you fixed the volcano last year. That story never gets old. "
Rusty nodded with a wide smile. " I'll be right there. "
Then he turned back to me. " Speaking of parties I have one to get back to and from the looks of it, you have one to get to as well. So goodnight. "
He left without another word or look at me.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel any better. First off, I hadn't gotten to properly yell at him the way I had intended. And second, he was just being way too mysterious about the whereabouts of my other prey this evening.
I glanced at my watch, saw I had plenty of time and decided to do a bit of recon.
No one was around to pay any attention as I went quietly up the stairs to the third floor of the house. It was a route I was all too familiar with. Let's just say, I had made the trip more than a few times before. Actually I probably could have found his door with my eyes closed and my hands behind my back.
The door was closed and I couldn't hear any sound from inside as I pressed my ear to the solid wood.
Turning the knob, I knocked lightly and waited a moment for a reply. When none came, I opened the door and stepped inside.
The only light was a small lamp sitting on the round table beside the bed, which was unmade and messy. Several articles of clothing lay haphazardly around the room, including a few pieces that were decidedly lacy and satin. I was pretty sure they didn't belong to the room's owner.
I spied the picture he had mention the morning before, sitting exactly where he said it was, by the lamp. It almost made me smile, knowing I was the last thing he saw before going to sleep at night.
" What are you doing here ? " A voice asked from behind me, causing me to spin towards the door and almost tangle my feet in a pair of jeans.
Cappie, clad only in a light blue towel wrapped low around his waist, reached out to steady me and I found myself wondering the same thing. What was I doing there ? I was so far into dangerous territory I couldn't even call for an airlift out.
His hair and shoulders were still dripping water from his recent shower and I could smell his soap and shampoo as he moved his hand from my wrist. I felt queasy, my stomach was flopping so rapidly. And the ability to form words deserted me.
" I... um.. " I stammered, knowing full well I sounded like an idiot, but helpless to do anything about it. I just couldn't get the words to come out.
" Are you okay ? " he asked, stepping closer. I could feel the rest of the blood draining from my face.
God ! I wanted so badly to run my hands down the hard plains of his chest. To lean over and lick the droplets of water from his shoulder where they clung to his skin.
The hand that reached out didn't even look like mine. It was like I was an observer of the scene playing out before me instead of a suddenly very active participant. I watched in horror as trembling fingers trailed down the line in the middle of his chest, from his collarbone to the edge of the towel. The hand moved so slowly it was like time had slowed to a crawl. Neither of us spoke. His eyes were intently staring at my hand.
When suddenly he tossed his head back and gave a sort of grunt, I was startled and I snatched my hand back quickly. Then I was crushed against him, the wet towel soaking into my dress, my hands tangling in the mess of his drenched hair.
He didn't just kiss me, he devoured me, like he was trying to crawl inside my mouth with both feet. His hands pulled at me, dragging me as close to him as he could get me, gripping me like a vise. His touch was like fire, so hot it almost burned me as his fingers moved down to the hem of my dress and brushed against my thigh, before digging into the flesh bruisingly.
Then just as suddenly, he flung me away from him almost violently. I was too stunned to undertand what had happened at first. One minute I was riding on waves of estacy, the next I was alone and so cold I was shivering.
" What the hell are you doing to me ? " He demanded in a voice that sounded completely foreign.
" I just came here to talk to you. " I managed after a moment of orienting myself.
" Why can't you just stay away from me ? " He turned from me and started to move around the room like a dangerous animal in a cage that was far too small for it. I couldn't help but fixate on the way his muscles rippled and flexed with every movement.
Focus, I screamed to myself, pinching the back of my hand hard enough to hurt to try and bring my mind back to where it needed to be. " I came here to tell you just that. " I told him.
" What ? To stay away from you. I'm trying. You just keep popping up every time I turn around. Every time I leave this damn house I find out. And now here you are in my room waiting on me. " The tone of his voice was harsher than I had ever heard it and I was beginning to get a little scared. As angry as he had ever been, I had never seen him like he was in that moment.
" You're absolutely right. " I conceded. " I shouldn't be here. "
He spun on me and the look in his eyes scared me even more. " I want you to listen to me, right now. " He said, quietly as he began to advance on me. " If you don't want me, fine, I can accept that. But I can't have you playing with me any longer. "
I gasped. " I'm not playing with you."
" Oh, really. " he smiled. " That isn't what you're doing. You keep me hanging by this little thread all the time. Dangling me on the tip of you perfect little fingernail. I can't get away from you. I can't get over you. Every time you feel your grip slipping, you came back around and toy with me again. Offering me just enough to keep me following after you. "
He was so close now I could smell him again and it was distracting me so badly I almost couldn't concentrate on his words. But his tone was so mean and cruel it brought tears to my eyes again.
" Don't you dare. " he warned. " Don't you dare start crying. "
I gulped in a breath of air and turned from him as the tears started to fall to my cheeks.
" Casey, Please. " his tone softened instantly and the hand that came to my shoulder wasn't cruel or harsh, it was warm and comforting and tender.
He turned me back to him and held me at arm's length. " You have to leave. Please, just go and don't come back here again. "
I couldn't believe I was hearing him say those words to me in such a mournful voice that it just caused more tears. His eyes were so strange, so unlike him that I almost didn't recognize him. Standing before was the sight of a heart breaking, it was happening right before my eyes. I didn't think I had ever seen anything sadder.
" I'm not going to stop and talk to you anymore. " he continued though I could see on his face that the words were like daggers grinding into his soul. " I'm asking you to do the same. Let's just stop this now. It's done. It's over. For both our sakes, let's just stay away from each other. "
I nodded solemnly and turned from him.
I thought the last time I walked down those stairs, the time I told him goodbye was the worse moment of my life. I was wrong. This time definitely topped that one.