Where Two Collide

Chapter Fourteen - Alice

Chapter Fourteen

Alice

Tia was a new driver, and a fast one. She started the car and reversed out of her parking spot, zipping off down the road. I gripped the seat of my chair, feeling unsettled.

"Did you see what that guy sent me?" she asked, unaware of my increasing panic. "I thought he was a good guy, but that, that was not a good guy photo. Why do I always get the gross ones?"

I mumbled an agreement, my fingers tightening on the seat as she turned a corner, not bothering to slow down. If I gripped any tighter, there was a chance I'd tear right through the fabric.

"He's blocked now. No thanks. I think I want to know the next guy I date a little better before I give them a chance. I was thinking maybe I should give one of Owen's friends a shot, maybe Ashton." She quickly glanced over at me and I straightened up so she wouldn't see my fear. "What do you think?"

"Yeah Ashton's sweet," I said, looking out the window so she wouldn't try to catch my eye again. Keep your eyes on the road goddamnit. "I think he has a thing for one of the girls in the year below though."

Tia tapped the steering wheel with her fake fingernails. "Hmm," she said, then giggled as she swerved around another corner. "I'm sure we can do something about that."

I was so relieved to pull up outside Dan's parent's house, that I practically hurled myself out of the car and onto the pavement. Dan's house had always been our groups hang out. It's not that his parents were never home, it's that they went away on a lot of romantic weekends. They almost got divorced a few years back and now they were constantly trying to keep the flame alive. I thought that was great. Dan thought it was great too, but because he was left with the house to himself most weekends, which afforded him a great social standing in our group.

Owen was already inside and he's so deep in conversation with Dan, that I wonder if he was already there when I texted him. He doesn't look up when we come in, not until Rachel shrieks at our arrival. Or mine to be specific, as she runs and clings to me in the same way that Tia had.

"You look so skinny, that hospital trip must have been seriously therapeutic," she said giving me the once over. "I can't believe how long you've been gone; it feels like months."

I gave her a half-smile, uncertain whether I should take it as a compliment. I didn't think I looked so skinny, at least not when I looked in the mirror earlier. "Is Jess here yet?" I asked, swerving the conversation away from myself. "Is it actually official, or are they just hanging out?"

"She clearly thinks it's official, she's in the kitchen making drinks," she scoffed. "Like this is her house. Bitch this is my house, I was here making drinks before you grew boobs."

I was pretty sure this was in fact Dan's parent's house and Rachel didn't have a monopoly on the mortgage, but I didn't say that. "That's just rude."

Tia nodded in agreement, then asked, "What's the game plan, are we cutting out the roots before they flower?"

"I'd like to cut out her roots," said Rachel. She grimaced, downing the rest of the liquid in the glass she was holding. "I'm no good at stuff like that, that's why you guys are here."

"Hey baby girl, you're looking pretty." Owen set an empty bottle of beer on a bookcase as he approached, and then pulled me into his arms. Dan had disappeared, probably into the kitchen with Jess I assumed. "How're you doing?"

"Better," I said. I wondered if I could sneakily take him to one side and get him to fill me in on the details of the story he was telling people. I didn't like feeling so in the dark. I grabbed his hand, ready to take him back outside with me. "Owen..."