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CHAPTER TWELVE

Wednesday morning marks my first official day of college. My first class is Psych 101, which I find ironic given that lately I can’t explain the psychology behind my own behavior. Like why I can’t stop thinking about a guy who lied to me since the day we met. And why I’m thinking about a guy at all when I told myself I wouldn’t get into a relationship until after college.

Hoping to get some type of explanation, I examine the syllabus only to find that the whole semester will be spent learning basic theories of well known psychologists. That’s not at all helpful. I need an in-depth psychoanalysis course in order to figure out what’s going on in my head.

Next is biology, which was not my favorite subject in high school and I’m already predicting will not be my favorite subject in college. The class itself isn’t so bad but I hate the lab part. Biology labs always have that weird smell. To make things even worse, the lab partner I’ve been assigned to informed me that he has no interest in biology and doesn’t care if he gets a bad grade. So I’ll be doing all of the work and he’ll get an A for doing nothing.

I meet up with Harper for lunch. She’s all smiles and full of energy, which I’ve figured out is just her normal disposition. At first I thought she drank too much caffeine or was taking some type of prescription medication that made her that way. But nope, it’s all natural.

“How was class?” She sits across from me eating the biggest salad I’ve ever seen one person attempt to eat. It has more green stuff in it than I’ve eaten in my entire life and she plans to eat it at all in a single meal.

“It was okay. No major disasters.”

She eyes my tray of food, which consists of a plate of French fries, a sugar cookie, and a glass of chocolate milk. “I don’t know how you eat that way and stay so skinny.”

“I run a lot. But I probably do need to eat a little better.”

“So I ran into that Blake guy this morning on my way to class. You’re right. He’s a total jerk.”

“Did he use one of his disgusting pickup lines to try to get you to sleep with him?”

“No. Just the opposite. I went up to say hi and introduce myself and before I could get a word out he said, and I quote, ‘Sorry, babe. I had a blond last week. Brunettes only this week. Try again in a month.’”

“Yeah, that sounds like Blake.”

“Why would Garret be friends with a guy like that?”

“They’re not close friends. They went to high school together and they’re both on the swim team.”

“Speaking of guys, I met this really hot guy in sociology and he asked me out for Saturday night. Can you believe that? And it’s only the first day!”

It isn’t that hard to believe. Harper is gorgeous. “Guys must ask you out all the time.”

“Are you kidding? I hardly ever get asked out.” She opens a bottle of some type of green juice drink that I’m guessing is supposed to be good for you. “In LA, everyone’s super hot. They all have work done. Add in the fake tans and the ultra white teeth and guys out there don’t even notice a girl like me.”

“That’s completely messed up.” I dip a wad of fries in my ketchup. “You’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks, but you should see my sister. She’s way prettier, which is why she’s a model. But between you and me, she’s had some work done. My dad said I’ll never make it in broadcasting unless I fix my nose and get my eyes lifted so they’re not so tired looking.”

“Are you serious? That’s insane.”

She shrugs as she tosses her salad with her fork. “That’s what I say. My talent should get me the job, not my looks. It’s so sexist, you know? Just think about all the ugly men on TV, especially on the sport shows I want to work on someday. Anything’s better to look at than the guys they have on there now.”

I take a bite of my cookie as I get up to leave. “I have to run to class but we should have dinner tonight unless you have plans.”

“I don’t have plans. But I might see if some other girls can join us, if that’s okay.”

“Sure, I don’t care.” Truthfully I kind of do care. I’m more comfortable talking one on one than in groups. But I suppose I need to meet some more people.

“You should invite Garret, too. I still haven’t met the guy. I saw him in the hall that day I was sick but we didn’t actually get introduced.”

“I don’t hang out with Garret anymore.”

“Why? What happened?”

“He forgot to mention his last name when we met. It’s Kensington. As in the people who are paying for me to go here. It’s too weird to hang out with him now.”

She chomps on her lettuce. “I don’t think it’s weird. Why would it be weird?”

“It’s not just that. He lied about it. He didn’t tell me who he was and I don’t like people who lie.”

“Everyone lies, Jade. In fact, I just heard that the average person lies seven times a day. Seems like a lot doesn’t it? Anyway I wouldn’t be mad at him about that. Besides, the Kensington name doesn’t have the best reputation after that fire a few years back.”

“What fire?”

“There was a fire down in Texas at one of their chemical plants. I only remember because they made a big deal about it on the news. More than 30 people died and the Kensingtons wouldn’t pay any damages to the families because they said it wasn’t their fault. Garret is probably embarrassed to be associated with them. I’m not surprised he lied about it.”

I swig the rest of my chocolate milk. “I really need to go so I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

“Okay, but bring Garret to dinner. He’s super hot. We could use some man candy at the table.”

I laugh. “Man candy? Seriously? Is that how people talk in California?” I leave before she has time to answer.

Art history is my only afternoon class and then I’m free for the rest of the day. Now I get why people want to go to college for five or six years instead of the traditional four. There’s so much open time to do whatever you want. But I need to fill that free time with a job.

After art history, I stop by the Student Services building where the job board is located. There’s almost nothing on it. Where are all the job postings? My question’s answered when a girl walks in front of me holding a designer purse that I know costs $5000. I remember seeing it on a morning talk show last summer. Students with money don’t need jobs. Hence, the almost empty job board. I spot a job at the library but then notice the listing was posted last year.

“Looking for work?”

I glance over to find Garret’s friend, Decker, standing there in red pants, a white button-up shirt, and a plaid bowtie, staring up at the job board. His clothes, along with his black rimmed glasses, almost make him look like a professor.

“Hey, Decker. I was looking for work but there’s nothing here.”

“Jade, right?” he asks, turning to me.

“Yeah. I’m surprised you remembered my name. Your friend keeps calling me Ohio.”

“Ohio? Aren’t you from Iowa?”

I knew I liked this guy. He’s a thousand times better than Blake. “Yes. But Blake insists on calling me Ohio.”

“That’s because he knows it bugs you. Just ignore him.”

“So you’re trying to get a job, too?”

“Internship. I don’t need money. I need experience. Something in journalism. Or basically any place that lets me write. I was hoping to find an internship at one of the local newspapers. If I don’t find something soon, my dad will make me intern at his law firm. And believe me, anything’s better than that.”

“Can’t you do writing at a law firm?”

“Contracts and letters. Totally boring. There’s no way I could do that. Plus my dad’s one of those ambulance chaser lawyers. The kind everyone hates.”

“There’s a billboard down the street for one of those law firms. Is that your dad?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yes. It’s so embarrassing. Like he couldn’t put his billboard somewhere else? He had to put it a mile from my school?”

“Now that I think about it, you do look like him. I didn’t put it together before. It said the firm’s in New York City. Is that where you’re from?”

“No, we have a house about 30 minutes from here. But my dad’s office is in New York so he has an apartment there. He’s never home.” Decker searches the job board again.

“Well, there’s nothing here that pays so I’ll see you later, Decker.” I start to leave.

“Hey, before you go, I wanted to tell you something.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“I saw Garret in class this morning and he didn’t look good.”

“Maybe he’s sick.”

“He wasn’t sick. He was upset. Like really upset. He said you two had a fight.”

“We had a disagreement over something, but I’m sure he’s forgot about it by now. He’s probably upset over something else.”

“No, I’m pretty sure he was upset because of your fight. He really likes you, Jade. I don’t know what he did or said to piss you off, but maybe you could give him another chance.”

“Did he put you up to this? I can’t believe he’s making his friends do his—”

“He didn’t put me up to this. In fact, if he knew I was even talking to you about this he’d kill me. I get that you don’t know him that well, but I’ve known him for years and he’s a good guy. Yes, he’s done his share of partying and drinking, which he said you don’t like, but he hasn’t done any of that stuff since he met you. And that’s huge, Jade.”

He waits for me to say something but I keep quiet. I like Decker but this whole conversation is making me very uncomfortable.

“Listen, you don’t have to date the guy, but maybe just don’t shut him out completely. At least not yet. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I should get going. I’ll see you around.”

I race out of there before he can give me more advice about Garret. I don’t trust Decker. He could easily be doing Garret’s dirty work, although I’m not sure how he knew he’d run into me in the Student Services building. It doesn’t matter. I still don’t trust him.

At dinner, Harper is disappointed that I show up alone and not with the “man candy” she requested. The girls she invited to eat with us are on her tennis team and live in a different residence hall. I wish they lived on our floor. They’re way better than the girls Harper and I have to live with every day. I’ve now introduced myself to almost every girl on our floor and Harper is the only one who seems interested in being friends.

Later that night I talk to Ryan and Frank. They both seem to be getting along better. I don’t know what happened to make them stop fighting and I don’t ask. Ryan found a temp job at a hospital lab. It has flexible hours so he’s able to take his dad to doctor’s appointments. Frank doesn’t say much on the call. And when he does talk, he sounds tired. He says he feels okay, but I’m sure if he didn’t, he wouldn’t tell me.

* * *

My Thursday class schedule is easier than Wednesday’s because I only have two classes. Thursday morning is calculus, which doesn’t sound easy but for me it is. I’ve always done well in math. I like the order and structure of it. I like that it makes sense and that each problem has a clear answer.

In the afternoon I have English. I arrive on time, but when I get there almost every seat is taken and I’m stuck sitting in the last row. It’s not like I wanted the first row, but something in the middle would’ve been nice.

I reach down to pull my laptop out of my backpack and my pens fall out all over the floor. I tend to pack a lot of pens, just in case.

“I’ll get them,” a voice says. I look over and see Garret picking up my pens. “Here.” He hands them to me, then takes the only seat left, which is right next to mine.

“So you’re in this class?” I stuff the pens in the front pouch of my backpack.

“That’s why I’m here,” he says staring straight ahead.

He’s being really cold. If he wants me to forgive him, he could be a little nicer.

“Welcome, everyone, to freshman English. I’m Professor Hawkins.” A gray-haired wiry man wearing khaki pants, a plaid dress shirt, and a navy tie stands at the front of the class, chalk stains on his hand from writing his name on the board. “I expect your full attention in this class and that means no texting, no emailing, no note passing, and no talking unless you are asked to speak.”

As the professor talks, I can’t help but glance over at Garret. Harper’s right. He’s super hot. Definite man candy as she would say. An image of us back in the pool pops in my head. His wet lips on mine. His nearly naked muscular body holding me close. His hand on my . . .

I feel a foot lightly kicking mine from the side.

“Jade? Jade Taylor?” The professor is calling my name.

I raise my hand. “Yes. Sorry, I’m here.” The professor continues to read off names. “Thanks.” I whisper to Garret, owner of the foot who woke me from my daydream.

He gives me a brief smile, then focuses on the front of the room again.

At the end of class, the professor hands out notebooks to each of us. “These are your journals. I expect you to write something in them at least three times a week, or daily for you overachievers. You can write anything you want, but it must fill half the page or more. In the past, some students have written about their reaction to a movie, song, or even a simple quote. It’s a free flowing writing exercise so write about whatever you want but I still expect proper grammar and punctuation. This is English class after all.”

“Are you grading these?” someone up front asks.

“You will get points for completing it and those points will go toward your final grade. Also you will not be turning these in until the last class of the semester. I will not be reading each page but I will flip through to make sure you did the assignment.”

He finally passes the notebooks to the last row. “Inside your notebooks, you will find a list of your classmates. You have each been paired with someone. This person is expected to read your journal each week and add a short comment after each post offering suggestions or just general thoughts. And you will do the same in their journal.” He returns to the front of the room. “You should begin writing in these this week. That’s it for today. I’ll see you all next Tuesday.”

Inside the notebook is a loose sheet of paper with a list of names on it. I find my name and who is listed next to it? Garret Kensington.