Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
This chapter is dedicated to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, BellaNessieCullen, Lsb123, skys the limit 7507, justandsimplyme and Alexsandra
I searched for Mal everywhere on Saturday, but could not locate him on campus. As Sunday dawned I decided that it was foolish to keep searching, he was staying in the same building as me, on the same floor no less, we would run into each other sooner or later. I thought it would be more prudent that I get my Sunday in order and decide on a routine.
After I had showered and placed yet more laundry into the sack I decided that my first port of call would be the laundrette. This seemed an adequate Sunday morning chore. Dove was still in bed as I placed my laundry sack into the laundry basket and gathered together the things I decided I would need for my chore.
Dove raised her head, as I was about to leave.
"What's the time?" She asked.
"Nine o'clock." I said, glancing at my bedside clock.
"Where you off to? It's Sunday." She remarked.
"Perhaps I'm off to church." I remarked.
"You don't strike me as religious." She observed with a frown.
"On the contrary, they say that cleanliness is next to godliness and I am off to worship at the alter of hygiene." I chortled.
"Huh?"
"I am going to the laundrette." I stated.
"You can't have worn that many clothes." She stated.
"Start as you mean to go on I always say. Sunday seems the best day to wash my laundry and so I shall start on the first Sunday." I explained.
"You're crazy." Dove remarked before pulling her blanket over her head.
I laughed as I left the room, musing on how utterly different Dove and I were. Had they deliberately entered names into a computer in order to match those who were opposites? Perhaps it was an elaborate social experiment to see what made odd couples work?
The basket was big; it looked large in proportion to me and almost too cumbersome to manoeuvre. It was nothing to me and I readied to move it to one hand to open the door but somebody did it for me, it was the boy with brown hair.
"Thank you kind sir." I said with a smile.
"My pleasure your ladyship." He replied with a grin and a playful bow.
I dipped slightly in a mock curtsey before walking through the door and descending the stairs, my mood oddly buoyant. There was nothing better than when a perfect stranger shared in your eccentricity. It was nice to know that other people had a similar sense of humour.
When I arrived at the laundrette it was empty and I set about sorting my washing before putting the loads on to wash. As I waited for the cycle to complete I looked around the laundrette, trying to get a feel to the place. I wished to know its character if I were to spend every Sunday morning here. It was an orderly place, the machines arranged in rows along the walls with a table in the middle for folding clothing once it was clean and dry.
The scents were a mixture of warm damp that was inevitable in a place where so many washing machines and tumble driers were located. There was the smell of stale soap powder, although I had ensured the machines I used had no sludge in their drawers, although this required the use of a chair on my part for the drawer was set unfairly high. Then the scent from my fabric softener began to permeate the room and I was in my element.
When I left, the laundrette was still empty since no one had decided to use it this morning. It was most likely due to the fact that it was the first Sunday and everyone had little to no laundry in need of washing. In a sense I could have waited until next Sunday, but as I said to Dove, start as you mean to go on. I decided that I would iron the clothes once I got back to the room, however I had yet to eat breakfast so I purchased a cinnamon Danish and a latte from the coffee shop opposite the laundrette. I placed my purchases carefully within the basket before heading back to the room.
Dove was still asleep as I placed the basket on my bed before settling at my desk to eat my Danish and drink my coffee. Dove stirred and hummed in satisfaction.
"Something sure smells good." She observed, sitting up and stretching.
"It's my laundry, I always use lavender and camomile conditioner for it compliments the scent I use from day to day." I stated before taking a bite of the pastry, it was delicious.
"I'm not talking about laundry, although that does smell good. What food smells nice?"
I swallowed my mouthful before answering.
"It is a cinnamon Danish I purchased at the coffee shop on my return from the laundrette."
"You didn't pick me one up?" She asked in a small voice.
"I am not your servant, Dove. Besides, I had no idea if you were still here. I was coming back in order to iron my clothes when I realised I had yet to eat this morning." I explained.
"Ok." Dove said before yawning widely. "So that's the coffee shop opposite the laundrette?"
"Yes."
"And where is that exactly?" She asked carefully.
I took a breath before answering.
"Would you like me to show you?" I asked, knowing she would wait for me to offer and needle me until I did so.
"If you're offering." Dove said brightly as she leapt out of bed and pulled on a pair of jogging bottoms that had been thrown over the foot of her bed and a t-shirt she pulled on after merely applying deodorant.
I felt something within me squirm at the thought of dressing without showering when it was not in an emergency or one was not out camping. How could Dove even contemplate pulling clean clothes onto a dirty body? It grated against every nerve within me.
"You ready Lize?" She said, motioning her head toward the door and I realised I had lost a moment of time.
"I am ready Dove, and I beg that you call me Liza or Eliza, or even Elizabeth, but I do not like Lize." I stated.
Dove laughed.
"Who does?" She asked as we stepped out into the corridor.
I thought for a moment then laughed.
"Most amusing." I stated. "However, you see my aversion to such an abbreviation?"
"Yeah. I get it." Dove stated as we walked through the common room. "So Liza, Eliza and Elizabeth are ok?"
"That is correct."
"What about Bette or Betty? Bethan?" She asked, and strange as it sounds that was the first time anyone had suggested I use the tail end of my name.
"Perhaps if I wished to reinvent myself when I am older." I stated. "However it would be such a change to adjust to since I am used to the beginning of my name as opposed to the end."
"So what about Liz or Lizzy?"
"Definitely not!" I exclaimed and Dove paused on the steps as we descended the stairs in order to give me a look. "Forgive me, but the name rankles somewhat. I have no objection to the name in itself, but I cannot abide it when it is applied to me. It is what my brother uses if he wishes to be tiresome and tease me."
"Oh yeah, siblings." She said with a snort as we carried on down the stairs. "Is he your younger brother?"
"Only by a matter of minuets." I stated.
"You're a twin?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Wow. I've never met a twin before. What's it like?"
"That is the question I dread most whenever someone finds out I am a twin." I stated as we stepped outside. "How could I possibly give a true comparison? I have always been a twin so I know no different. It would be as if someone were to ask you what it is like to be the child of a Hollywood star. How could you give an accurate analysis since you have no inkling of what not being raised by a Hollywood star is like."
"I guess that's a fair point." Dove conceded. "So are you close?"
"Most of the time." I said with a sad sigh.
"But not now?" She guessed.
"I… There is nothing to say on the matter. Our disagreement is the biggest we have ever had and I am not speaking to him at present." I said firmly.
"What did he do?" Dove persisted.
"He did not share my view. He sided with another over me and that is all I will say on the matter." I declared hoping to bring the subject to a close since it was none of Dove's business and I had no intention to speak of it to anyone.
"Ok. But you should really think about making up at some point. I'd give anything to be close to my brother, but Dad won custody of him while Mom got me. It's rare we get to spend time together." She explained sadly, and I felt a moment of guilt at the thought of throwing away the camaraderie Tony and I share, however he had not shared my view, would not even consider it and that had hurt me deeply.
"It is awful they split you up when they were the ones with differences." I said instead, hoping to bring the subject around to her life now I was given an opportunity to do so.
Dove shrugged.
"I don't wanna talk about it." She said with a sigh as we reached the coffee shop.
"Very well." I said kindly for I could hardly push the matter when I declared my affairs as being off limits.
Dove purchased her own Danish and coffee, and she ate as we made our way back toward our building. We kept our conversation light on our return journey, neither of us wished to broach the subject of family again this day and that was fine as far as I was concerned.
When we reached our room I started on with my ironing while Dove went to shower. She was not gone long and she looked annoyed as she slumped onto her still messy bed with her towel around her head.
"All the hot water's gone." She complained. "It'll take at least an hour for it to heat back up properly."
"There was plenty of water when I showered this morning." I stated.
"Yeah, well don't go saying anything about birds and worms or I'll scream." She said aggressively.
"I had no intention." I said with a slight smile as I finished the last of my ironing since there had been few garments that needed doing.
I wound up the cord of the iron and placed it on the shelf inside the closet before folding the ironing board and placing that away too. Dove was wiping madly at her peroxide hair as I began to put away my clothing and towels where I wanted them to be. As Dove blow-dried her hair I began dusting, it was surprising the amount that could accumulate in such a short time, I had to be rid of it.
By the time Dove's hair was dry and styled into some strange a-symmetrical bob my side of the room was spic and span and I felt a moment's despair that I was unable to clean Dove's half of the room for it looked as if a vacuum cleaner had exploded and had taken the wardrobe with it.
"God, I wish I could clean like that." She observed.
"I could teach you." I said hopefully.
"Nah." She said with a shake of her head. "I know where everything is when it's like this."
"Ah, the old organised chaos theory." I said as I sat upon my bed. "I on the other hand crave order, I can relax when the room is clean. Which I will do now by reading my book."
"What are you reading?" She asked, craning her neck to try and read the cover from across the room.
"Blood Ransome by G Pearson." I stated as I displayed the cover so she could see it better.
"Hey aren't those those real smutty vampire books?" She asked.
"I would say erotic, but if you are referring to the Darktide series then you are correct." I replied.
"I heard they're real good." She said.
"Have you never read them?" I asked in shock for it seemed as if the entire world and his mother had read these books.
"No."
"Would you like to? I have brought the set with me for they are my fall back books. The ones I read when I have nothing new or I merely wish to pass the time." I explained.
"Why not." Dove said with a shrug.
I nodded and went to the closet and pulled out the trunk that contained the books. I pulled the first volume from its place and took out a spare bookmark. I gave them to Dove.
"Please use the bookmark, I am opposed to dog ears." I explained.
"I guess you would be." Dove observed as she turned to the first page. "Are these a slog to get through?"
"No." I said as I returned to my bed and began reading once more.
I had reached one of my favourite scenes, the one where Lady Anna and Brody finally admit that their attraction is more than merely sexual, that they truly love each other and they will be together, even if they must live in exile from both their peoples. Most ardent fans voted for the barn scene where the couple first make love, but for some reason I always found it hard to read the sex scenes. I had no aversion to such scenes usually, but there was something I suspected of the influence of these particular characters that made me feel as if I were intruding when I read of their sexual exploits. It was not how the author wrote the scenes either, other characters had sex scenes in the books and I could bear those, but the scenes of Lady Anna and Brody made me uncomfortable.
"Oh god! This book is awesome." Dove observed.
I raised my head and regarded her with a smile.
"What point have you reached?" I inquired.
"The part Anna has just been introduced to that vamp dude who's all bossing her around. Does she tame him? Is that what these books are about?" Dove asked excitedly, grasping the wrong end of the stick and I worried for a moment she was set to become an Anson follower, but I would give her to the next book before I determined that.
"Do you want me to tell, or would you prefer that I allow you to find out for yourself?" I asked carefully for I did not wish to give the plot away.
"Yes. No. I mean…" Dove trailed off and returned her attention to the book.
I smiled as I returned to my book happy to have gained another fan for Grace. Not that she required my help, her writing spoke for itself, but there were many people who dismissed them because of their reputation and they missed out on the brilliant tale worked within.
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading, although by the evening I realised I had to organise myself for my first lecture would be in the morning. Therefore I set about preparing all I would need before turning in for the night around ten. Dove planned to stay up later but I realised I would have to adjust if I wished to sleep. I found it surprisingly easy to drift asleep and I was roused early the next day by my alarm clock.
Thanks to my organising the previous night I was able to navigate the room without disturbing Dove when I went to shower and dress. When I returned her alarm was blaring but she gave no indication that she was going to rise from her bed. I shook her awake and she questioned me groggily.
"Do you not have a class this morning?" I asked.
"What?" She said, still not quite with me, but then my words sunk in and she jumped out of bed scrabbling with her alarm clock in order to turn off the incessant buzzing. "Oh god! I'm gonna be late!"
I said nothing as I dried my hair while she panicked about the room. I collected my books into my bag and headed for the door.
"The last bus is in half an hour if you wish to make morning classes." I stated.
"I'll make it." Dove said firmly as she rushed out the door to take a quick shower.
I shook my head and made my way down to the designated bus stop for our block in order to catch the bus into the college proper. The bus was laid on because the first year students were encouraged to leave their cars at home if at all possible for there were no parking areas close to the dormitories, unless you wished to pay an extortionate fee at a private parking complex.
I had no intention of paying such fees and my little Audi was safely tucked away in the student garage, which was located five miles away from my building on the other side of the university. If I wished to take longer trips then I could walk there, or perhaps catch a bus, however it was better to take the public transport provided when going about my daily business.
I knew I would arrive at the bus stop with five minuets to spare, so I brought my book with me to read while I waited. If Dove had been ready I would have chatted with her, but I was not accustomed to the rest of the people to strike up a casual conversation as of yet.
"What are you reading?" A boy asked, I looked up into pale brown eyes to find that he was leering at me.
"A book." I said primly and I turned my attention back to it.
"Let's see." Another boy, this one on my right, demanded and he tugged the book from my hands. I could have held onto the book but I feared it would tear. "Well now this is interesting reading." He said, closing the book to look at the cover and losing my page. "What do you say Gobbo?" He added and he threw the book over my head to the other boy.
"Well now, it's one of them porno books." 'Gobbo' sniggered. "All quivering members and the like. Do you agree Trick?" He added and threw the book back to Trick.
"Oh yeah, and fragile blossoms come to bloom."
"I think perhaps you gentlemen have been reading too much Mills and Boon." I said in an unimpressed voice, as I made no attempt to retrieve the book.
They began throwing the book over my head and I looked between them in disgust at such childish behaviour. Besides I knew I could catch the book if I wished to, although it would help to get a bearing if I watched them a moment longer.
"This ain't much fun if you're not jumping around." The one named Gobbo said.
"Nah." Trick replied and he handed the book to me.
I gave him an incredulous look with my arms folded.
"Seriously, have it back." Trick said as he waved the book in my direction.
I waited a moment longer before unfolding my arms, at which point Trick threw the book back to Gobbo yelling, "Psych!"
I sighed and shook my head as I turned to Gobbo, watching him carefully for the smallest tremor of muscle that would indicate he was about to throw the book. His right arm twitched and I prepared myself to leap, although they wouldn't notice. I left the ground as the book left his hand and I would have intercepted it perfectly if someone else had not snatched the book from Gobbo as he went to throw and slapped him about the ear.
"Really Gobbo? Keep away? Are you five?" The person demanded and to my delight I discovered it was Mal. "Here's your book." Mal stated as he pushed it into my hands.
"Thank you kind sir." I said. "You have proven more than honourable, first Friday night and now this? I am forever indebted to you."
"What? Oh right. Yeah it was no problem." He said with a grin. "So what's up…Lizzy right?"
"It's Liza." I corrected with a slight frown. "I was wondering if I could buy you coffee in thanks for the kindness you have shown me."
"That would be real great, but how about we go…"
The bus pulled up and he cut off as we all climbed onto the bus. I sat in a seat near the middle and Mal sat next to me. Trick and Gobbo took the seat in front and they turned to look at us. I frowned at them wondering of what interest I was to them.
"Don't mind these guys, they just like mucking about." Mal said. "They're really sorry about what they did."
"Oh yeah real sorry." Gobbo stated.
"I was a monster." Trick said a little melodramatically and I had to concede that his apology was less than sincere.
"I wouldn't call you a monster so much as a child." I said lightly with a smile and Trick frowned in confusion.
"So about this coffee?" Mal began as the bus pulled away from the curb.
"Yes. Are you free this afternoon? From around four perhaps?" I asked.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Then I shall buy you coffee at that time. I would buy you one this morning but I have a History class to attend." I explained.
"American History and its place in the modern world?" He asked.
"Yes."
"That's what I got." He informed me with a grin.
"Oh, perhaps we could study together when we have need to." I suggested.
"Are you just trying to find ways to spend more time with me?" Mal asked.
"Perhaps." I said with a flirtatious smile that I quickly covered for despite my thoughts on Saturday I did not wish to give Mal ideas that we could be more than friends until I was sure I wished to be more than friends with him.
"I'm glad." He said. "We can have a lot of fun Lizzy."
"Liza." I corrected. "And fun is all well and good, but some studying would not hurt either."
"We haven't had one class yet Lizzy baby, we got plenty of time to study." He said in a casual voice as he leaned back in his seat looking the epitome of cool.
"Point taken." I stated. "And it is Liza." I added although I doubted he would acknowledge it.
Mal sat next to me in the lecture hall and I felt somewhat relieved that Trick and Gobbo would be attending their Media Studies lecture. I could tell by their body language that they deferred to Mal. He was their alpha, if I was to use a wolf term, and they hovered around him awaiting instruction. I would have found the lesson unbearable as opposed to merely tedious with them misbehaving in my peripheries.
The lecturer, Professor Walker, was apt enough and he gave the impression that he knew of what he spoke. I was in no doubt that we were in for an enthralling year, but I hated induction lessons, and although it took up but the first half an hour before Professor Walker started on the first topic of the first module the induction had soured my mood enough for me to dislike the rest of the lecture.
I had no afternoon lectures, and I therefore decided to put my spare time to good use since Professor Walker had given us additional books to add to our required reading. I headed to the bookstore that was located in the town. I could have caught the noon bus back to the residential area, but a walk in the sunshine held some appeal, and since the town was located halfway between the university and my building it would be the same length to walk. At least this way I got to view more and cement the local area into my mind.
The first place I passed was a coffee shop that served panini and other lunchtime delights. My stomach growled at the thought of food and I decided that if I were to spend the afternoon trawling the stores for books a bite to eat would not go amiss.
I entered the coffee shop and the scent of fresh coffee hit me like a comforting blanket. I walked up to the counter and ordered an iced frappuccino, it was a hot day and I hardly required a warm drink. I purchased a ham panini, and a granola bar since there were no healthy side dishes, only potato chips.
I found a small table surrounded by two metal chairs, and for this reason I did not feel as if I were monopolising the seating since I was on my own. I placed my panini and frappuccino upon the table and took my book from my bag along with a butter knife I kept in a zip lock bag for occasions such as this. The attendant at the counter had looked at me as if I were mad when I requested a knife and fork. It was for this reason I carried the butter knife, in case I had food I wished to cut with no means to cut it.
It required a little force on my part to drive the knife through the panini and separate it into six bite size pieces. I would have liked to have carried with me a sharper knife, but that would see me accused of carrying a concealed weapon. The butter knife was blunt and hardly a threat to anyone. Once my panini was cut I returned the knife to the zip-lock bag and placed it into my book bag for washing later once I returned to my building.
I then picked up a piece of panini and placed it in my mouth. I chewed it as I lifted my book and found the place I had read to before the fun and games with Trick and Gobbo that morning. I began to read, periodically pausing to place more panini into my mouth. I sipped my frappuccino too as I read on.
I placed the book down, inserting my bookmark carefully in order to open my granola bar. I lifted the book and brought the bar to my mouth waiting to savour the taste of the mixed grains, nuts and dried fruit. As I bit and began to chew I had a feeling someone was watching me. I looked up and into a pair of green eyes sitting at a table opposite mine. It was the boy with the brown hair and he was reading the same book as before.
I gave him a smile and he smiled in return before I returned my attention back to my book and finished my lunch. I gathered my wrappings onto the plate, however there was no station in which to deposit my plate and cup. The procedure seemed to be that one left the crockery on the table and one of the servers would take it away when they came to wash the table.
I glanced toward the boy with the brown hair as I left. He glanced up from his book and waved to me. I waved in return as I left and I felt happy and ready to face the shopping ahead of me once I had cleaned my teeth.
There was a mall of sorts in the centre of the town, it was nothing extravagant, but it housed public facilities and in my obsession with cleanliness I had found that bathrooms in shopping centres were more likely to be better tended than ones that were on the street.
I used the toilet, then after washing my hands I cleaned my teeth with the small travel set I kept on me at all times. My teeth were something I obsessed about the most. I relied on my teeth for sustenance and it would not do to lose any of them to decay. Not that I planned on entertaining my other nature for the time being, if I did return to it one day I should hate to be hindered by my teeth, or lack there of.
I ran a brush through my hair and reorganised the curls so that they fell how I liked them, although it still seemed strange to look at my reflection and see my hair end by my shoulders. These ringlets had once trailed down my back, but I had conceded that it would be a hassle in college.
Feeling refreshed I placed my book bag on my back and headed out into the town. I ignored the bookstore in the mall. It was a general bookstore, more likely to hold fiction than what I was looking for. I had asked the TA which store would be best to purchase my books. He had directed me to a street of bookstores that specialised in the books the students required. He also informed me that most of the stores had deals on second hand books, but I should check that it is the most recent version for I did not wish to purchase something that was out of date.
By the time I walked back to my building I had all the books I set out to purchase and had paid half the amount I had suspected I would need to. Acquiring the advice of the TA had paid dividends and I was happy that I had thought to do so.
As I neared the building I realised it was quarter to four and I had told Mal I would meet him with the coffees in the common room at four and we could look over the books we required for our course. With the study guide we had received from Professor Walker we could organise study sessions until December at the very least.
I decided that I would buy the coffees and then take them up with me to save having to walk back down later. I had already inquired which coffee was Mal's favourite, it was cappuccino and this is what I bought, along with my latte.
As I began to ascend the stairs I realised that perhaps it would have been more prudent to take the books to my room first, then come back for the coffee. There had been no room in my book bag for the new books, and although I had placed them in my shopping bag I had my doubts of the integrity of the handles and had decided to carry them in my arms. Having thought I would save time by purchasing the coffee on my way up I had not considered the fact that I would have to balance an armful of heavy textbooks and two paper cups of scalding hot coffee. It was the thought of tipping the liquid on me that made my attempt most clumsy indeed.
I was on the landing of the third floor when the books slid and I had to let them fall to the floor or risk adding coffee to the mess.
"Oh damn!" I gasped before I placed the cups onto the window ledge in order to pick the books up.
When I turned to them someone was already doing so, it was the boy with the brown hair.
"There we go." He said, handing them to me.
"Thank you." I said, repositioning the books before I made an awkward grab for the coffees.
I had one in each hand but now my posture was uncomfortable. The boy laughed at me as he took one of the cups from me.
"So what's with the juggling act?" He asked.
"I am providing coffee for the person who saved me three nights ago." I explained for reasons unknown to myself.
"Oh you are?" He asked with a bright smile.
"Yes. We have arranged a study date in the common room since we share a class." I replied.
"You have, have you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in a fashion that recalled someone I did not wish to think of at present. "And does this person know you have a date?"
"It is merely to study." I stated. "Besides, I am not in the habit of making appointments with people and not informing them of said appointment. What point would there be in that? They would not show and I will have wasted my time."
"Good point." He said with a nod of his head. "So why are you getting the coffee and the books if he's such a hero?"
"I have to say thank you." I said firmly.
"Yeah, but there still should be a bit of mutual behaviour. If it had been me I would have said, sure bach buy me coffee, but I'll bring the books." He handed the coffee back to me before proceeding to remove the books from the crook of my arm. "I'll carry them up for you, save you struggling."
"You would do that for me?" I asked, feeling thankful beyond words by this act of kindness by a stranger.
"Course I would. Can't have you struggling up these steps." He said, indicating for me to go before him.
I began up the stairs with the coffee cups while the boy trailed after me.
"You might fall over being so unsteady on your feet and all." He joked.
I glared ahead as he followed me up the stairs. I considered my comeback, but in the end I decided against any. It didn't seem worth the bother since I knew he was referring to when I had been drunk at the party and I thought it was rude of him to make light of it when we were strangers.
"Well here we are." He said as we reached the fifth floor landing and he stepped through the door, holing it open with one supple yet strong looking hand for me to step through with the coffee.
"I can take them now." I stated.
"Nah. I'll take them to the table for you." He said firmly and I trailed after him as his long legs carried him swiftly along the little corridor and into the common room.
Mal was already sitting at one of the tables messing about with Gobbo and Trick. I smiled at the sight of him despite the fact that his horseplay was likely to end in injury.
"Ah right." The boy murmured. "Mal." He snorted and I looked up at him curiously, but it was hard to fathom anything from his expression. "Yr hen mochyn brwnt." He whispered under his breath as he glared at Mal.
"Why do you think he's a dirty old pig?" I asked, translating what he had said to English.
The boy glanced down at me and he was clearly evaluating me before he smiled once more.
"No reason." He said with a shrug. "Just a vibe I got off him."
"Yes, well I think your 'vibe' of him must be wrong for he is a true gentleman. He allowed me to sleep when I was left in a state where others may have chosen to take advantage of me." I informed the brown haired boy.
"Yeah. You're right and I'm wrong." The boy observed in an amused tone, I was certain it was amused, although it was hard to be sure. "And you remind me of someone." He added as an after thought.
"Who?" I asked, curious despite myself.
"Not sure, just someone I knew as a kid. Ah well, I'll work it out. Maybe." He conceded as he placed the books down on the table and Mal looked up and he gave the boy a look of annoyance. "Well our chat sure was fun bach." The boy said, and before I could respond he was heading swiftly toward the corridor that held the boys' bathroom.
"Hey Lizzy, come take a load off." Mal said, patting the seat next to him.
I winced slightly but decided that trying to correct him was a waste of time, he had not heeded my please this morning. Besides, he had saved me twice now, he had earned the right to call me what he wished.
"Here is your coffee." I said lightly as I handed him the cappuccino with extra chocolate.
"Thanks Lizzy." He said, taking a mouthful of the hot liquid whilst I sipped my latte.
"Nice coffee." He said, "Just a shame Gobbo and Trick can't try it."
"It is from the coffee shop opposite our building." I said with a frown. "I am sure they will try it sooner or later."
"It would be good if they could try it now. Wouldn't it be a nice treat?" He asked.
"I wish you had said sooner, I would have retrieved them when I was at the shop." I said with a frown.
"Well why don't we all head down there now?" He asked.
"But we must study." I stated.
"Relax Lizzy baby, it's the start of the year, we should chill while we can." Mal countered.
"I know, but we can chill once our study plan is in order." I said firmly, for I needed to know what my plan would entail for the rest of the year.
"Don't you want to have a little fun?" Mal asked as he touched his fingers to mine and I felt a sudden thrill despite my yearning for order.
"Yes. However that seems to be your main intention." I criticised as I prayed I would keep some semblance of control over myself.
"Are you complaining?" He asked as he regarded me with wide earnest look.
"No." I said with a giggle as I lost all cause to protest. "I am merely a little highly strung at times. Particularly when it comes to studying. However I am most apt and will stay ahead even with a little fun thrown in. After all, do they not say, all work and no play makes Jack and dull boy, and who wishes to be dull?"
"Right on." Mal said, clasping my shoulder.
"I will have to return my books to my room before hand, it would not do to transport them to the coffee shop, unless you wish to study there?" I asked hopefully.
"No. Go dump the books, maybe put on something a little more slinky. Something that screams, I'm out to have fun, rather than, I'm sitting on my ass all day studying." He commented.
I looked down at my clothing and I had to admit that I had picked them for their comfort with a day of lessons in mind as opposed to having fun.
"I will find something." I promised as I stood.
"Good." Mal said, taking my hand and he drew me to him and kissed my cheek. "Don't be too long."
I smiled as I straightened up. I retrieved my books and went back to my room in order to deposit the books. Whilst there I changed into a knee length, sleek black dress. I accessorised with a silvery silk scarf, delighting in the fact that I could wear the delicate flitsy thing in these warm climes. It served as decoration and not a necessity as it would have been back home.
"Where are you going?" Dove asked after entering the room and seeing my attire.
"I am going to the coffee shop with Mal and his friends." I stated, it was at this point I realised I was somewhat outnumbered. "Perhaps you would care to come along?"
Dove looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Sure. Why not? Do I have to dress so fancy?"
"It is your choice entirely." I stated as I reapplied my make up.
"Give me five minuets." Dove announced before she started a frantic circuit of the room, in the midst of this she changed into a dress much similar to my own and asked if she could borrow a silk scarf. I leant her one in a puce colour, I had never been fond of it myself, but it seemed to enhance her grey eyes so I said she could have it. Dove was most pleased; especially when she found out it was a House of Hale original.
Both dressed in a manner I regarded as being perhaps a tad too much for a coffee shop we went out to meet the boys. Mal was joking with Gobbo and Trick once more, but they stopped in their horseplay when Dove and I neared. I enjoyed the look of shock on their faces as they regarded us fully.
"Is this more appropriate Mal?" I asked.
"Sure is Lizzy." He said, taking my hand and twirling me, although I was somewhat put out by the fact that he was clearly not an expert dancer, or an amateur one at that. However I decided not to let it be too big a mark against the character of one who would shelter me for the night without expecting anything in return.
"I asked Dove along." I stated.
Mal glanced at Dove then grinned.
"The more the merrier." He said. "Shame you didn't ask another friend, we could have gone on a triple date."
I giggled, "This is not a date, merely coffee to thank you for Friday night."
"Of course it is." Mal said dryly as he stepped away.
"And I have a boyfriend." Dove said firmly as she stepped in front of me and I was shocked with the hostile air she was showing toward Mal.
"Well whatever. Let's go grab some coffee." Mal said in a somewhat dismissive fashion.
Dove linked her arm through mine and we followed the boys. I frowned at her behaviour.
"You have to watch this one Liza." She whispered. "He might be acting all nice on the surface, but don't trust him."
"He has proven himself a gentleman." I stated.
"Just be careful. He is not the guy you want to lose your virginity to." She said firmly.
"I do not intend on giving it to him." I stated. "At least not so soon. If it were to occur at all I would have to know him a few months at the very least."
"Liza honey, guys like Mal, they ain't gonna wait that long." Dove said kindly.
"I will make him." I said firmly.
"Just be careful." Dove replied equally as firm as we followed the boys outside.
"I will." I promised to make her feel at ease, but I had no reservations myself. As far as I was concerned if Mal wished to take advantage he would have done so on Friday night when I was in no position to fend him off.
As we walked my strides were toward the coffee shop, but then our path seemed to detour.
"Are we going to the coffee shop near the laundrette?" I asked.
"Nah. I decided coffee's not that much fun, I want something a little stronger." Mal said, placing his arm around my shoulders, or as near to around my shoulders as our height difference would allow.
"By stronger you mean…"
"A couple of beers, and who knows." He said with a shrug.
"Will food be involved at any level?" I asked. "I have ate very little this day and that can lead to one becoming inebriated all the quicker."
"Huh?"
I sighed, I was sure my wording was clear enough.
"If was don't have anything to eat we'll get drunk quicker." I translated.
"So you win both ways. You don't have to spend so much on food and you don't have to spend so much to get drunk." Mal said with a grin as if he had discovered some great economic secret.
"I don't drink to get drunk!" I snapped. "At least not usually. I wish not to feel hungover again so soon after Saturday."
"It's only a few beers." Mal said with a shrug.
"Perhaps, but I would like to eat first. What say you Dove?" I asked, turning to my friend for support.
"I'm starved." She replied without hesitation and I felt bolstered to think that she was on my side.
"Then we'll go somewhere that serves food." Mal said with a shrug, and Gobbo and Trick agreed.
I had no intention of getting drunk, however I did. Through various activities such as pool, darts and dancing I lost track of the amount of beers I consumed. I remembered the rest of the evening so I was not as bad as Friday, but I still awoke with a headache the next morning.
I was merely thankful that I had an afternoon lecture that day or lord knows how I would have coped. I was still wary by the time I attended my class, but at least I was not a complete wreck.
After such appalling behaviour I threw myself into my studies, leaving my room only when required. It seemed a safe strategy for I did not run into Mal and it seemed a relief in a sense. It was strange, the note I had read had seemed to indicate a very different person, but so far he had proved to be closer to my first assumption of him.
It was a conundrum indeed and my only thoughts were that he was playing in front of his friends. Perhaps he was a sweet, gentle man deep down, but had developed a façade of swagger and ease over the years in order to hide the insecurities he felt. I would very much like to draw out the man who had written the note to me from the heart of this person and help him leave the childish boy behind.
Part of the problem was Gobbo and Trick. They had come with him from the same area in Florida. It was not the same High School, they had been on rival football teams, but they had all been drafted into a region super squad and that was where their friendship had formed. It would be wrong for me to suggest he got new friends, but I knew that he would never grow into the person glimpsed in his note if he remained their willing ringleader.
I saw a glimmer of hope that I would see the true man within on the Friday. I had a full day of lessons and had returned to my room with a shower in mind and then to settle in bed with a new book I had bought from the general bookstore the day before. I had just come back from the shower, ready to blow dry my hair when somebody knocked at the door.
I opened it to find Mal standing there looking a little uncertain.
"Yes Mal?" I asked.
"Hey Lizzy, I was wondering if you'd like to hit the town with me tonight." He said in a self-conscious manner.
"I was planning on an early night…" I trailed off.
"But it's Friday. Come have a good time. You can come too Dove." He said as Dove pushed past him into the room. "I heard Dermot say he was heading out to the Union tonight."
Dove looked at me, then to Mal.
"Wait in the common room, we'll come let you know in five minuets." Dove said firmly and closed the door on him.
"That was very rude." I stated.
"I know, but you don't want to give them all the control." She stated. "You have to make them sweat a little."
"Are you certain?" I asked for I had never played this game before, the few boyfriends I'd had in the past had deferred to what I wished to do.
"Never make yourself too easy. Now I'd really like to go out meet Dermot, but I still got a bad feeling about Mal." She said, looking torn by the decision.
"You appeared to get on Monday night." I reminded her.
"I was being polite for your sake, but I was so relieved that you've been avoiding him the last few days. I can't believe he came and knocked the door like that. I guess he must like you." She took a breath. "Look Liza, if you really want to get with this guy then give it a go, but I wouldn't go with him."
"We have varying tastes." I stated.
In the end we decided we would go, if only because Dove wished to meet with Dermot again, and she had no idea where his dorm lay as of yet. Therefore we dressed in our finery once more and hit the town. I enjoyed myself and was a little nonplussed as to why I thought an early night would have surpassed this.
Waking up the next day feeling wretched was the answer, but soon a hangover became nothing more than an indication that the previous night had been a riot. If you woke up and there was no pounding in your head then you had failed in your mission to party hard.
The first month past in a blur of late nights and alcohol, although not in the week. I ensured that I did not drink if I had morning classes the next day, but on the nights I would not be constrained in the mornings I indulged to my heart's content, much to Mal's delight and the little group that had grown around us.
It wasn't often that Dove accompanied me, she spent most of her time with Dermot and that seemed fair enough since they were now an item. Every Saturday they had the room to themselves for Erin and Dahlia, the girls in the room next door, had kindly offered me the use of their floor. I had brought an air mattress and sleeping bag with me in case I decided on an impromptu camping trip and thus I was provided with something comfortable to sleep on.
Erin and Dahlia were kind hearted, but there is only so far kindness will stretch and after three weeks of me stumbling into their room at two in the morning falling over in my drunkenness they felt they could no longer house me.
"Like we told Mal, it's not so much the coming in at that time." Dahlia explained the next day. "It's the fact that we're up half the night watching you in case you're sick and die in your sleep."
"It's too much responsibility." Erin added. "You know we might like to just let loose at the weekend too, but we can't with the thought of having to baby sit you at the end of the evening."
"And it's a good job Mal's a good guy." Dahlia stated. "You were passed out when he brought you here. Said he found you slumped outside the building. Anything could have happened to you."
"What if somebody raped you?" Erin demanded. "I heard some girl in our building got spiked a few weeks ago. You have to be so careful."
Dahlia and Erin were both looking at me with concern and I realised I had been unfair to them and so utterly foolish. Something could have happened to me in that state, on the same note I could have happened to someone else. What if I had a sudden wave of hunger? Would I have stopped myself? With no control of my mind it was doubtful and I had been feeling the burn of hunger over the last couple of days when I allowed my mind to wander.
"I think I need to re-evaluate my behaviour." I stated.
"We're not saying don't have any fun at all." Dahlia said, sitting beside me and tapping my shoulder.
"Just don't go overboard." Erin added as she sat on my other side.
"I will be more aware of what I am doing in future." I stated. "Although I will give any form of partying a miss for at least four weeks to make up for all this time I have wasted."
After I had showered and visited the laundrette as was my usual Sunday chore I decided to seek out Mal and thank him for seeing me home, but it was for the best if we refrained from seeing each other for a while. Obviously we were a bad influence on each other.
I found Mal in the common room nursing a hangover.
"Mal, I think we should talk." I stated.
He raised his head and he gave me a wary look. He was worried by the serious tones of my voice.
"About what Lizzy?" He asked.
"I think we should cool things off for a while." I stated.
"Cool what off?" He asked.
"Our going out and getting drunk. I scared Erin and Dahlia last night. If it was not for the fact that you carried me to their room I have no idea what would have happened." I explained.
"I carried you to their room?" Mal asked incredulous.
"Yes."
"Up five flights of stairs?" He demanded.
"They said you found me outside." I informed him.
"Go me!" He exclaimed with a grin. "I was so wasted last night, I'm surprised I got myself home. Did I really carry you all that way?"
"That is what the girls stated." I said, frowning slightly at his reaction.
"Then I got you home. So what's the big deal? You're having fun right?"
"It was fun at first." I stated, trying a different tact. "But now I find it grows tedious. All we ever do is go out with your friends and get drunk and you expect me to be enamoured by that? For once I would like there to be you and me, alone. We could have a meal at a restaurant in order to eat and enjoy, and not merely to line our stomachs ahead of a deluge of alcohol. I would like to go to the cinema, or any number of things that differ from going out and getting blind drunk."
Mal snorted and shook his head.
"I will leave you to think on that Mal." I stated. "But until you can offer me something more then I wish not to know you. I have studying to catch up on, so good day to you sir."
I walked away and did not look back, even when he called my name. On that note he did not call my name, he called for a 'Lizzy' and my name was Liza. I ignored him and returned to my room with Dove close on my heels.
"Did you just chuck Mal?" She asked in pleased astonishment.
"Technically we were not an item, however I have called a cease on our communications. He is a bad influence on me and I should actually try studying, which is the reason I came to college in the first place." I replied.
"Yep." Dove agreed. "And I'm glad you got rid of the creep, although kudos for stringing him along for so long without sleeping with him. How did you manage it?"
I shrugged.
"I make it clear that sex is not on the cards for the time being. Perhaps in the future if I deem them worthy it will be, but I do nothing on a whim."
"That never seems to work for me." Dove mused.
"Perhaps because you have your own sexual appetite to appease. Perhaps once I have dined at the table I too will wish to receive extra servings, but as of now…" I trailed off.
"You're keeping yourself for someone special?" Dove asked.
"Yes. My Dear Boy." I said wistfully.
"Who? Oh, that grad student right?" She said, recalling our conversation from a few weeks past.
"Yes." I said with a smile.
"So. Does he have a name?" Dove asked and I had to think on my feet since I could hardly name Simon.
"Sasha Ulyanov." I said, not knowing why I had picked that name, other than the fact that he had been the only boy I had loved besides Simon, but he had broken my heart.
"Come on, descriptions." She said. "I want to know exactly what he looks like."
"He is rather short, but that is hardly a problem for me." I giggled. "In fact I was bowled over by the fact that I did not have to crane my neck so much to look at him while we conversed. He has light brown hair that he always wears combed down neatly, how I adore neatness. His eyes are butterscotch brown and you can see an age in them, as if Sasha is older and wiser than he appears."
"That's deep." Dove sighed. "And he sounds so dreamy. So is that the type of guy you like? Someone close to your height with light brown hair?"
"I would not say I have a type exactly." I stated. "The looks are merely a bonus, I have to feel comfortable in a boy's presence before I can determine if I like him or not. Other than the sexual tension I could feel so comfortable in Sasha's presence."
"Do you feel comfortable with Mal?" Dove asked carefully.
I considered for a moment.
"If I am honest, I do not feel at all comfortable in his presence. Not that I am particularly uncomfortable, it is mostly apathy I suppose."
"Then why bother with him?" Dove demanded.
"Because he was such a gentleman the first night at the party and he wrote a wonderful note. I wished to see the man behind those words shine through his laddish behaviour, but as of yet I remain disappointed." I said and the sighed.
"Guys can be weird like that. All nice and romantic in writing, then down right jerks in the flesh. I think you've done the right thing chucking him. Maybe you can meet a different guy now. One who isn't afraid to show he's a gentleman in public." Dove said in hope.
"But he's not afraid, at least he showed gentleman behaviour in front of Dahlia and Erin when he took me to their room last night. He carried me up the stairs." I informed her, wondering why I was still feeling the need to defend him while I was annoyed with him.
"Mal did? Last night?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Really? Cause I heard he was a train wreck. Dumb and Dumber had to cart him out early cause he was spewing his guts up." She stated.
"They said Mal." I said firmly in defiance.
"Maybe he got better and went to find you." Dove suggested.
"Or perhaps the rumour mill is producing utter nonsense once more."
"That could be it too." Dove said with a shrug before she lay down on her bed and picked up the book she was in the middle of reading.
I did wonder about Dove's revelation as I drifted to sleep that night, but then I had been the subject of rumours myself in the past and I knew to take them with a grain of salt. Most likely Gobbo and Trick had taken someone else home and due to their association with Mal people assumed it was he. That seemed the best explanation, and somewhat easier to accept than to think he had not the decency to see me home safely when he was the one who encouraged my excess.
The next few days I threw myself into my work and if I saw Mal I made sure to avoid him. I had to remain focused and I did not wish to be brought back into that life of excess for a while yet.
I was successful in my determination; much of what added to this was the fact that I felt a lot better after not drinking for a few days. The hunger was easier to ignore and classes were less of a bore. I found myself enjoying the lectures and I realised that what had made them somewhat dreadful was a near constant headache.
As I walked along the corridor toward my room on the Thursday I heard someone call my name from behind.
"Hey, Liza."
I turned to find Mal standing there, his head lowered in shame.
"You called me Liza." I said in a flat, blasé voice.
"Well that's your name." He said in chastised tones.
"Yes. However you tend to call me Lizzy, no matter how many times I correct you." I said in disapproving tones.
"I know and that was wrong of me. I was being a complete ass. I was a pigheaded, arrogant, boorish jerk. I should have been more respectful of your wishes." He said humbly.
"Yes." I stated.
"And you're right, it ain't much fun partying all the time. In fact it was only so I could spend time with you. I didn't think you'd wanna do anything just us two, that it would be too much like couple territory for you." He said with his head still bowed.
"You should have asked."
"I know. I should have. But I'm hoping that I haven't missed the train on this one. That's why I thought I'd ask you out. On a real date. We can go to the cinema, and maybe get a meal." He said, giving me a hopeful look.
"But no drinking?" I asked.
"No drinking." Mal promised me.
"I will think about it." I said coldly and stepped into my room although I was feeling oddly buoyant as I closed the door.
Was I finally seeing the true gentleman shine through the obnoxious boy? There was but one way to find out. I opened the door to find that Mal was still standing in the corridor looking somewhat lost.
"Call on me at seven tomorrow night." I stated. "Then we shall take it from there."
"You won't regret this Liza." He said with a smile. "I promise I won't be a jerk this time."
"We shall see." I said. "Good bye sir, I shall see you tomorrow."
"Sure thing Liza." He said with a salute.
I nodded my head to him before I closed the door once more and contemplated what tomorrow would bring.
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