Inseparable

“Because it was graduation and a party and I was attracted to you, yes, and for one night I thought I’d throw caution to the wind and let myself be wild and free and do something different.” It sounded lame but I was terrified to tell him I thought we had good chemistry. He’d sharpen his claws on that for sure.

“You mean do someone different.” He laughed sadistically.

“If that is how you feel Lucas, I’m sorry.” I lifted my chin even though he couldn’t see me. “I did it because you brought out something new in me. I thought maybe you’d understand that. I guess I was wrong.”

“Well, let’s not make this out to be something more than what it is. We fucked. That’s it. You don’t have a stake in my claim. We aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“I never said we were.” I bit my tongue to keep the tears from falling down my cheeks. “You’re right. We fucked. Now I’m going off to Columbia University. I got to say I bagged the richest guy in my high school. Yay for me. Good luck, Lucas. I hope someday you get over your paranoia and learn to trust people.”

I hung up my phone. I really hated how ineffectual cell phones were for the violent hang-up. You can’t slam a cell phone down. You just tap a button. Tapping anything when you’re mad is so unsatisfying. Really.

Chapter 12 – Jenna

I could smell the cigarette smoke as soon as I walked into the house. That brat had another party.

“Lucas!” I listened for a moment but knew he wasn’t going to answer. “Please put those bags over there, Clive.” I huffed. Clive the limo driver had the easiest job of all and drooped around like any minute he was going to be walked to the gas chamber.

“Will you be needing anything else, ma’am?”

“Not right away.” I didn’t want him thinking he could just go drive off to the casino or spend his afternoon drinking beers and watching reruns of Gunsmoke on my dime. Better to keep my answers vague. It keeps the staff on their toes.

I kicked off my heels and walked toward the kitchen. Everything looked in order but when I opened the fridge it was just as I expected. My avocados were gone. Every gluten-free, non-GMO granola bar was gone. There was only whole milk left to drink.

“Son of a bitch.” I slammed the refrigerator door shut and stomped upstairs. “If there is anything missing from my room even a slip of tissue paper I’ll have that kid strung up by his balls.”

This was what happened every time I left the house. I tried to explain to Michael that his son had absolutely no respect for me but he never listened. He’d just say he’s still not over his mother dying. Well, Jeez, how long does it take? The woman has been in the ground for over four years now. He’s got have a sliver of an idea that she isn’t coming back.

It was only after dating Michael for eight months that he allowed me to redo the bedroom. It was a muted, dusty rose color with cream trim. Our four-poster bed was so big it required two steps on either side to climb in.

Michael insisted that I have a black and white photo of myself framed and hung on the wall between the two floor to ceiling windows that let the glorious eastern exposure in every morning. It was the first thing you’d see when you walked in.

Trust me, it wasn't my idea. I've always been very photogenic and Michael enjoyed playing amateur photographer. After he'd snapped a few pictures of me out on his yacht he insisted I have a friend of his photograph me.

Well, who am I to argue? If you look closely you’ll see that there is a tiny strap of a thong over my hip but all my nasty bits are concealed by a cleverly placed shadows. It’s quite tactful. Very classy.

Thankfully, it was still hanging where it should be. My jewelry box was locked at all times but I still took an inventory of everything before I left and once I returned. I didn’t trust Lucas at all.

“Lucas!” I yelled again after stomping back out of my bedroom. It smelled even more like smoke up here. I marched down to his room and knocked loudly on the door.

“What!” He shouted from the other side.

“Lucas, you need to open this door right now.” I waited and listened. Nothing.

“Lucas, I hope you have finished all your packing and will be ready when the taxi arrives to take you to the airport.

That must have done it because finally, I heard footsteps charging toward the door. Junior yanked it open with so much force the breeze made his hair fly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t your father tell you? School bells are ringing, son. You’re off to Dartmouth.”

I watched him let out a sigh. It was hilarious.

“Freshman orientation isn’t until August. Sorry to disappoint you, Jenna.”

“Oh, Lucas? Didn’t your father tell you? Maybe I was supposed to tell you.” I snickered at

him. “Well, no matter now. You need to get packed. Your father had a discussion with the Dean of the school. You are supposed to start the pre-fall season. Your dad and I both thought it would be best for you to get a jump on your grades that way. You can learn your way around campus, find the best pizza places, maybe even get a part-time job to help with a little extra pocket cash.”