If Only She'd Loved Him

Chapter 13

Friday 5:30 pm

"Doing fine?  Megan's doing fine?" Jean repeated.  "Didn't you listen?  If she was doing fine, she'd be home by now.  Anyway, what good is talking to Paul going to do?   Like he is just going to confess to being a kidnapper," she sneered.

Paul involved in a kidnapping?  The girl was certifiable.  "Jean, look around.  Do you see Megan here?  Would you like to tour the upstairs, make sure she's not in some closet?  Can you possibly be more irrational?!"

"I'm not being irrational!" Jean snapped back.  "I found blood on the sidewalk.  She hasn't been seen for two days and she had a test in Statistics yesterday!  It's not like Megan to just disappear."

"Well, I can also promise you that Haverson isn't the kidnapping type.  They're dating, remember? Sounds to me like your roommate has just put one big scam over on you, beats me why.  You two sneak off at night and shoot people with water pistols. He's on the Honor Committee.  Now who's the more likely candidate to play with your mind?"

Jean glared, but said nothing.  You really don't know Paul at all, do you, she thought to herself.  "I'll take that tour now," she said.

"Offer's closed," Matt replied.  "We're going up to the field, find Haverson and clear this whole mess up now."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Jean picked up her sweater, and tossed it around her shoulders.  Matt couldn't help noticing what a rich shade of red her mouth had just turned, crimson like apples at full harvest.  Her lips were tempting, but the rest of her wasn't.  The girl was paranoid and half nuts.  He wouldn't be sad to see her go.  He opened the door, making sure she left first.

Jean paused at her car outside.  Matt shook his head.

"Nope, after what you just drank, no way I'm letting you drive," he said, putting his hand on her wrist.  Jean tried to shake it off but failed.

"It's my car."

"It's my life.  Give me your keys."

Annoyed, but aware that she'd had two full shots on an almost empty stomach, Jean tossed the keys to Matt.  He caught them one handed in midair. 

Athlete?  Jean wondered to herself, or showoff?

Matt grinned as he noticed her watching him.  "Ultimate," he said shortly.

"Ultimate?  Can you be more arrogant?"  Jean thought she was asking inside her head, but she had said her thoughts out loud.  Matt's grin deepened, mocked her.  "Ultimate Frisbee."

"Oh."  Blushing, she climbed inside the car. 

Matt didn't lose his grin as he drove.  It was good to see Jean so uncomfortable.  The look on her face as she realized she'd said her thoughts aloud still amused him.  She wasn't afraid to accuse his roommate of a felony, but she got embarrassed by a comment that had just slipped out.  Strange girl.  She was loony, but she obviously cared a lot about her friend.  Loyalty was something Matt appreciated.  He grinned to himself, curious if it was always so easy to make her blush. 

For her part, Jean just laid her head against the cool glass.  It wasn't an icy shower, but it would have to do. Alcohol and I don't mix, she thought to herself, or maybe we mix too well.  Either way, she wished she had some Tums, and that Matt wouldn't try to find every hole in the road!

Lost in their own thoughts, they made the short trip in silence.  Though Jean did groan when Matt purposely took a speed bump as fast he could, making him wish there were more.  Five minutes later, they were up at the rugby field, looking for Paul.  Matt spotted him first.  The two teams were deep in a scrum.  Grunting, head butting, they forced against each other, like rams in a courtship ritual, trying to win the ball with their feet.  But when the teams broke, one player stood out.  Blood streamed from a cut on his knee.  His hair was slick with sweat, but the arrogant grin on his face could only be his roommate.  From the sidelines, Matt yelled at him.  Paul looked up, saw who it was, shrugged, then ran after the ball.