Find Her, Keep Her (CFTM Sequel)

Chapter 14 (Part 2)

*NOTE: Check out the Audiobook version of this chapter voiced by kaelking12  (Kristen Maglonzo)! Featuring music by OK Go & Demi Lovato.

Elias 

"Jersey, I--"

Three loud knocks on the door cut straight through our conversation and sends Jersey bolting away from me quicker than quick.

Weird.

For a girl who thinks I'm gay, she's hella jumpy at the first sign of someone seeing us together.

Ha.

Such a liar.

Whatever. I'm into it.

"Go get the door, Elias!"

I mean I was going to, but then I started staring at Jersey instead and forgot about the whole person at the door thing. Whoops.

"But I'm in my boxers though. You get it." I say.

She storms over to my dresser, cracks open a couple drawers, and throws me a t-shirt and shorts. She's so nice. I'd be a happy man if she could pick out my clothes for me everyday.

"Get up, get dressed, and answer the door. And if anyone asks, I'm only over here because you needed a favor. Cool?"

"Cool. I'm sure it's nobody, don't stress. Everything's good right now."

"Easy for you to say. You're high as a kite!"

"Yes ma'am I am. Now hush, I gotta go handle this door situation like a boss."

I pull out my t-shirt, slip into my shorts, and stumble over to the peephole to see who's outside. A big blue pair of Barbie Doll eyes stare back at me. Oh, shit. Not her again.

"Elias? Are you home?" She asks.

Me and Jersey have two options. I could open the door, suffer through talking to this Roxy chick, and hope she goes away. Or we could make like Houdini and jump out the third story window. 

That would kinda be epic. Only downside is, possibly breaking our legs or dying. But I'm pretty sure that won't happen 'cause there's like hella bushes under our dorm, and I'm feeling pretty confident right now. Maybe we can stick it.

"Hey, Jersey, wanna jump out the window? If we go right now, we can totally get out of here before she makes us talk to her!"

She leans over to the window and then glares back at me.

"We're on the third floor, Elias! That's crazy!"

Yeah. I guess it kinda is. But so is her whole gay theory, so I'd say we're basically on the same page.

"Fine, but if this conversation's annoying, I blame you," I say.

Jersey waves me off, settles down in front of my desk, and picks up a book while I prepare myself to face the blonde dragon alone.

"What do you want, Roxy?"

"Open up, and I'll tell you!" Roxy screeches.

I crack open the door like she asks, but instead of hanging outside like a polite person, Roxy pushes her way inside the second she gets the chance. The girl looks like she borrowed her wardrobe from Polly Pocket 'cause the only colors she seems to like are bright pink and green. She's got this lime tennis skirt on and a shirt that looks like somebody dyed it with Pepto Bismol.

I mean, to each their own, but next time she comes over I'm gonna get my Ray Bans so I can look at her without squinting.

"Hey, Roxy, I kinda have someone over right now, so--"

"Oh, hi Alisha. What are you doing here?" She asks.

Her eyes cut over to Jersey and she shoots her a warning stare she thinks I don't notice. But I do. I know what girls like Roxy are about. They're the same types who wrote all that bullshit on Lacey's wall the night before she died. Mommy and Daddy spoiled them rotten when they were kids so they grew up thinking they deserved the whole world no matter how they treat the people in it.

"She's here 'cause I want her to be. I needed a favor and she came over to help me out. Is that a problem, Roxy?" I say.

Roxy bats her glued-on eyelashes and magically finds it in herself to smile again once she's looking at me.

"Of course not. I'm actually glad she's here because is Quad 3's annual Social Night, and both of you are required to come. It's a school tradition."

Social night? That'd be great if being around people generally didn't suck. But whenever I walk out the door everybody and their grandma starts crowding me and stressing me out. So instead of being the super outgoing guy they expect me to be, I end up feeling like I'm standing in social quicksand drowning in a room full of strangers. I don't need strangers . Hanging out with Jersey's good enough for me.

"So, it's a school tradition to force people to go to parties they don't want to?" I say.

Jersey stifles a laugh from across the room and the sound makes my high that much better.

"Well, no. But Social Night's kind of a big deal, so most people would kill to go."

"Well, we're not most people, Roxy. Can't somebody else go? If this whole night's that big of a deal I'm sure you can find other people to party with," I say.

Roxy purses her lips and stares at me like a lost puppy. Maybe this works on other dudes she knows, but the only girl who can get me to do what she wants is sitting with her head buried in a book at the back of the room.

"That's not really how it works. But trust me, it'll be fun. As a matter of fact, I'm looking for two capable freshman to take on the role of Official Icebreakers for the evening."

I glance back at Jersey and her face is way paler than it should be. Safe to say, she's about as stoked at being forced into social night as I am, but at least if we're doing the same job together we won't have to worry about being stuck around people we don't know.

"W-what does that mean exactly?" Jersey asks.

And just like that Roxy's death glare comes back full force. She's gotta stop that.

"Basically, the Icebreakers would be responsible for making sure everyone's comfortable. We've got Quad 3 alumni coming so their cups should be filled at all times, but since froshies are under 21, you can't drink. If I were to nominate you for the job, I'd expect you to attend to all of Quad 3's member's needs and make sure everyone generally has a good time."

"So, we're your party slaves?" I say.

Alex shoots me a stare meant to shut me up but it's too late. I'm not scared of Roxy, and she sure as hell shouldn't be either.

"Helpers. So, what do you say, Alisha?"

"Her name's Alex, Roxy. Get it straight."

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. I'm terrible with names. Anyway, I think Alex and her roommate would make great Icebreakers."

Alex stands up out of her seat and steals my attention away from Roxy's bad attitude.

"Wait, what? I thought you were gonna nominate me and Elias?"

Roxy directs her attention down to her peeling pink nail polish, instead of looking at Jersey. Strike two.

"Well, I was, but I think he'd be better going with me. It's Quad policy for the head RA to choose a date for the night."

Maybe it's just me, but for a couple seconds Jersey looks genuinely nervous. I don't what it is about Roxy that makes her feel like she's smaller than she is. But I'd never choose another girl over her. Not now, and not ever again.

"Then find someone else. Either you pair me up with Alex or I'm not going, which would kinda suck for you 'cause...everybody knows a party's not a party without Elias King."

(Thank you guys for reading! Part 3 to be posted on Tuesday/Wednesday! Hope you had fun with the audiobook!)