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“You asked me to find someone good-looking.” I shoved a piece of pizza crust into my mouth.
“He is, but I wouldn’t touch that one with a ten-foot pole.”
“What makes him such a bad guy?”
“I grew up with those boys.” She gestured to the group with her fork. “They’re typical eighteen-year-olds, for the most part. They’re impulsive; they do and say dumb shit; and they’ll stick their dicks in any available holes they can find. But Tanner has got major anger issues. He always had a bit of a temper, but it has gotten so much worse over the past couple years. Last year, he punched Jimmy Panico so hard that he had to get homeschooled for the rest of the year.” She shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t think Jimmy’s been right ever since.”
“Why the change?”
“No one knows. Chase is nothing like him, and their parents are so nice. Tanner was just born with a chip on his shoulder. Maybe it’s steroids.”
“People are not born hating the world. Those people usually feel like the world hates them.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Wow. That’s some insightful shit, Dr. Phil.” She stood with her tray in her hands. “Come on. We’ve got about five minutes, and I need to pee like a racehorse.”
I smiled and shook my head as I lifted myself out of my chair. One thing I’d learned living on Staten Island for the past few months was that New Yorkers overdramatized everything. Mallory was loud and proud as she liked to put it. That’s how she introduced herself, and I liked her instantly. Everything Mallory said was filled with passion and conviction. She could make a conversation about a dish towel sound interesting. We decided to become friends when we realized we were in three of the same classes this semester. Though we were different in most ways, she was a good friend. I needed that, now more than ever.
College was much different from high school, as was Staten Island from my small town back in Florida. Nobody cared who I was or where I came from. Nobody asked questions. Nobody even noticed me. I went to class, and then I left. I kept to myself. That was it. Despite being one of the few girls here with blond hair and blue eyes, my plan to blend in was off to a great start.
I followed Mallory across the cafeteria to the garbage cans. Like magnets, my eyes found their way to Tanner again. He joined in the conversation with his friends now and then, but he never smiled. His irises were as dark as his hair, and his facial features were set in a natural scowl. What had happened to him? Something must have. I tried to picture him punching someone, angry and red-faced, but I couldn’t. He looked too calm. Reserved. Stoic.
“Charlotte! Watch out!”
One of the football-playing boys jumped backwards to reach for his friend’s overthrown pass and crashed into my tray. My soda spilled all over my shirt, soaking the ends of my hair. Sauce from the pizza remnants on my plate smeared against my chest. All the boys shouted in unison, as if they were at a live football game, making me feel all the more horrified. So much for blending in.
The boy who knocked into me turned just as red as I knew I was. He picked up my tray from the floor and set it on top of the trash area. “I am so sorry. Are you okay?” Worry flashed in his bright green eyes as they lowered to my cast.
He was cute. Why hadn’t I noticed him earlier?
“I’m fine. Just suddenly regretting the decision to add extra ice to my soda.”
He smiled and outstretched his hand. “I’m Gabe.”
“Charlotte.” I shook his hand and mustered up a sheepish smile.
“Nice throw, dipshit!” Mallory screeched to the boy who had thrown the football. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”
I picked up the empty cup from the floor and tossed it into the trash as I walked toward the exit.
“You’re leaving already?” Gabe asked.
I waved as I walked backwards. “I have to get to class.”
Gabe pulled a black Sharpie out of his back pocket. “Wait.” He closed the distance between us and gestured to my cast. “May I?”
I held my wrist out, watching as he scribbled something onto my cast.
“Call me later.”
Mallory tugged on my elbow before I could respond. “Let’s go, girl!”
I took the door Mallory was holding open for me and walked outside. “Alright, how dumb do I look?”
“Dumb, no. Wet rat, yes.”
Great. We walked briskly down the path, attempting to make it to our building before Professor Ballard started calling attendance. Everyone would already stare at us for walking in after the lecture began; my soaked and sauce-stained shirt would only cause them to stare longer.
Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps hitting the sidewalk behind me. Clutching my purse, I spun around. Both confusion and curiosity collided in my mind.
