Chicks, Man

That’s when she kicks me.

“Ouch!” I yelp as I grab for my shin. The door opens, light blasting through, causing my vision to strain, but I only need the sliver of light to recognize the tiny girl, her curls in disarray. I grunt as I race toward the door, shielding my sensitive eyes. Just as she veers the corner, I recognize her.

Hannah fucking Matthews.

Hannah

Three weeks later…

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay? A person with your smarts and ambition…I would pay triple what your father’s offering.”

I laugh at Professor Fischer, my mentor and former colleague. Double majoring in international business and business law wasn’t the easiest, but Mr. Fischer’s been there for me since day one. I came to college with the ambition to study business law. My goal from the start was to come back home and work for Matthews and Associates, my dad’s law firm.

“If I’d majored in Criminal Justice, I would love to. Since I didn’t and I’ve been wanting to work at my dad’s firm since I was, like, five, I have to sadly turn you down.” I pat him on the shoulder. “But thank you. It means a lot that you would fight the education system to pay me three times more than I’m worth to keep me around.” We both laugh as I gather up my sample testimonials from the internship course. After graduation I stayed working under Mr. Fischer as his aide. My dad would have taken me under his wing instantly, but I wanted to be ready. I wanted to make him proud.

“Well, know the offer always stands. We’ll miss you around here. You’re destined to be somebody great. There’s no doubt about that.” My eyes begin to shine with unshed tears. This has been my home for the last four and a half years. This building. This classroom. I blossomed here. Gained my wealth of knowledge. I aspired to be a leader here. And in less than three hours, I’ll be headed back home and my life here will be a thing of the past.

I jump at Mr. Fischer and hug him tightly. “Thank you,” I reply, hiding the tears that have escaped.

“Now, now, don’t get all soft on me. Be the Hannah Matthews I watch in the classroom. The fierce, determined young lady who, when she’s in her element, scares me.

I laugh. “I’m anything but fierce.”

“I’m only speaking the truth. Make sure to bring out that fierceness more often. Now…” we break apart, “if you don’t get out of here, you’re going to be late for your celebration barbeque.”

I nod. My parents are throwing me a welcome home/graduation party, and if I don’t get on the road soon, I’ll hit traffic and miss it.

I say no more, grab my things, exit the law building, and get in my car. I brought most of my things home three weeks ago when I went home for Kipley’s wedding, so whatever was still lingering in my apartment is now stuffed inside my tiny Honda Civic. I toss my computer bag in my passenger seat and climb in. I suck in a deep breath, fighting back the tears as I pull away, the law building soon in my rear-view mirror. Over four years of my life is about to become my past as I indulge in an exciting future at Matthews and Associates. All gassed up and ready to dive into the unknown of the real world, I crank up my music, my favorite chick band blaring from my speakers, and cruise down the highway toward home.

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind. Between keeping myself busy with my final weeks of my internship and making sure I close this chapter of my life, it’s also been a fighting battle not to replay the memories of my brother’s wedding. Specifically, the night in the supply closet with him.

Levi Dent.

The second the door opens, I bolt. I shouldn’t have said anything—should have kept the silent act going. But then, what was going to happen once we left that room? How was he not going to acknowledge it was me? I didn’t think that far ahead when I put this whole plan in motion.

I make it down the hallway, catching a glimpse of a silhouette standing outside the supply closet before whipping around the corner and slamming into someone. Kipley wraps his arms around my shoulders, catching me before I go down.

“Hey, slow down, little sister. Where you off to in such a hurry?” I look up to see my brother smiling, his cheeks flushed and eyes confirming he’s been a bit overserved.

“Uh…nothing. I…uh, I need to pee. Really bad.” I try wiggling out of his grip, my panic rising.

“You’re going the wrong way. The bathroom is this way.” He attempts to twirl me back to where I just came from. Fear rises in my throat. If I don’t free myself from Kipley’s grip, I’m done for. I can’t let Levi catch up to me.