Finds You Well

Seven: The Story

Aspen

With Xavier's help, I manage to get the books to balance out for the day. He makes it look ridiculously easy. In my defense, I try to focus on what he's showing me, but end up becoming distracted by the scent of his cologne. The scent of it is near impossible to describe. He has the sleeves of his shirt rolled up revealing part of a tattoo. My curiosity is starting to get the best of me, it tries to guess what the tattoo is.

I mentally pinch myself. We don't need to know what kind of tattoo he has. This relationship needs to remain strictly professional. He excuses himself, going into the kitchen. Looking over my shoulder I see him preparing dinner or making an honest effort to.

"Hold up, buttercup."

My voice startles him. I hoist myself over the couch, crossing the room in a few strides. Inserting myself in his place to open up the fridge. Taking out the meat and the other ingredients that are committed to my memory I start to prepare barbecue. Xavier looks almost relieved for my intervention. He opts to sit on one of the stools bordering the kitchen island.

"May I ask something of you?"

His tone has me curious. Over my shoulder I make gesture for him to go ahead, mentally preparing for all the possible things he can ask me.

"What brought you home?"

It takes me a while to answer his question. My mind attempts to form the words in the way he'll understand. His mannerisms, his speech, and even the way he carried himself were not from my time. My attention became focused on browning the meat and making the barbecue sauce. Going through the motions of cooking helped me mentally prepare for opening the door to my nightmares. It gave me time to stare my demon directly in the face. The demon in stiletto heels, designer jeans, halter top, and salon perfect bleach blond hair. She was the type of girl who always wore her make up to perfection her green eyes gave off the reptilian vibe. She was a snake and everyone at the university knew it.

"There was this girl I went to school with, her name was Mercedes Pennington." I begin.

"I believe I might know the direction this is heading. Her surname sounds quite prestigious."

"You're not far off. Her family owned a franchise of banks in Wisconsin. Sindri and I wondered how in the Hell she ended up in our program. She didn't exactly scream smart. If a professor called upon her in class she gave the incorrect answer ninety percent of the time. Yet, you'd always see her on the Dean's List at the end of the semester. We didn't think much of it. It wasn't any of our business, until it became it."

I take a break in the story taking out plates setting them down on the kitchen island. Xavier pulls a package of buns out of the pantry. We dish ourselves up taking a seat at the table. Xavier takes out wine glasses and a bottle pouring some out for us. This is looking less like a dinner between coworkers and more like a date.

"Well, do not leave me in suspense. What happens next?" Xavier takes a sip from his wine glass.

"I was in the library planning out my final papers. The only thing I had was the titles. Mercedes comes over, sits down, and compliments me on my recent accomplishments. Dean's List was no easy feat." I take a deep drink; he fills my glass without having to be prompted.

"I take it you did not acknowledge her presence?"

"You'd win that bet. I had my earbuds in. She ripped them out and told them she had a proposition for me. Three thousand dollars apiece if I wrote her final papers for her. I laughed in her face and told her to fuck off. Well, she took that personally." I laugh bitterly.