Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding 2)

"So when do I see you next?" he asked.

"Uh...can we talk about this some other time?" Lexi pleaded.

"I know you're probably busy, but we need to talk."

"Uh huh," Lexi murmured.

"About what happened...uh...in the bedroom," he added.

Lexi cleared her throat as loud as possible praying to all things holy that no one was able to hear the other line. She couldn't possibly let that little tidbit fall into the wrong hands...in other words Bekah's hands. She would have a field day with the information.

"Sorry." She heard him sigh heavily. "I didn't mean to bring that up. I know it's kind of awkward right now."

"Yep...awkward is the right word," Lexi muttered staring around at the four girls deciphering every word and body movement she made. She did not want to be dealing with this right now. First, she needed to figure out her relationship with Ramsey. She would have never been with anyone else if she thought there would be another chance for them. That only came after getting through the rest of this week. After she figured those things out, then she could discuss Mystery Man. Until then, she knew she just had to leave him hanging.

"Right right. So can I see you so we can talk about this stuff?" he pleaded.

"I don't really have time this week. Maybe next week when I'm home?" she suggested just to get him off her back the rest of the week.

"Maybe I could come to you," he countered.

"Really not a good idea. One of my best friends is getting married so I'm not going to be available," she told him pointedly. Also, she was pretty pleased with herself. She had instinctively called Jack a friend and not stuttered over their awkward relationship. Clearly she was just a collector of awkward relationships.

"Alright. We'll meet on your time," he said backtracking quickly.

Lexi cursed under her breath. She didn't mean to snap at him...or alienate him. She was just in a really bad place right now. "But hey thanks for calling," Lexi said her voice softening marginally. She caught the change in looks from Bekah and almost instantly regretted adding the last part. "I meant to call you back, but I've been really busy."

"No problem, Lexi. I'll see you next week though."

"Sure sure. Bye," she said hanging up the phone. She was really glad that torture was over.

Planting a big smile on her face, Lexi held her phone up triumphantly. "Mark number six off your list," she cried as if making that call had been a piece of cake instead of like walking on a land mine.

"Oh who was that?" Kersey asked unable to hold back her enthusiasm.

"Yeah he sounded sexy," Maddie added eyeing her up and down.

"I didn't think you had it in you," Amber drawled sitting deep into her right hip and looked at Lexi as if it was the first time she had seen her.

"Well I did," Bekah said slinking forward. "You've told me a few things that make me think it's possible."

"Great," Lexi said rolling her eyes. "Let's bring up how I slept with Jack...that sounds fun. I thought you got this out of your system a year ago."

Bekah's cheeks burned at the admission. The rest of the girls seemed shocked, but not because they didn't know since it was clear that they did. Rather it was from Lexi bringing it up so casually. "I got it out of my system, but now you're talking about my brother and it's a different story," Bekah snapped.

"Maybe you should take a step back. Ramsey and I broke up a month ago. So even if I had anything going on, which I don't, it would be none of your business," Lexi told her defending herself.

"Anything having to do with my brother is my business. So who is this Mystery Man?" Bekah demanded narrowing her eyes.

Lexi rolled her eyes dramatically. She really despised this type of situation. Bekah was used to getting everything she wanted, but Lexi wasn't going to give it to her. She was beyond tired of her little games. Why couldn't she just mind her own business like everyone else?

"He is none of your business. So unless you want to ruin the remainder of your planned evening by focusing on something that has nothing to do with you or Ramsey or anyone else that you know, then I suggest you drop the subject."

Maddie stepped around Lexi and sat on the foot of the bed. "That sounds like a good idea B," she said casually. Bekah's head snapped to her face. She was deliberating. The last thing she wanted to do was give this up, but it was becoming a deliberate argument. Bekah didn't do deliberate until she had all the pawns in her court. The Mystery caller hadn't been part of her plan, and she was overplaying her role.

"Fine," Bekah finally muttered shrugging her shoulders. "Let's get out of here."

What surprised Lexi the most about the town was that it was perpetually changing. The city was built around a three by four block radius of shops, restaurants, and bars. Though the overall layout had remained relatively the same since the late 1700's when the town was built, the bars constantly changed names. Every generation that flowed through the university would grow up with a different set of bars and pubs to frequent.

Lexi could remember nearly all the names of the locations she had regularly visited and as they turned the corner, she could easily recall memories from each locale. Yet only a select few still held the same name. As they turned the corner, Lexi stopped and stared up at her once favorite hot spot, Chamber. It was now called Rage Bar. The girls moved to enter, but Lexi stopped them.

"I'm sure this is still a dance club, and unless you know the bartenders it's not fun until midnight. This should be the last stop," she instructed them.

They all looked at her speculatively. "Did you go here?" Kersey asked her mouth hanging open stupidly.

"Uh...yeah. Four years of my life," she muttered.

"I was told this place was great," Amber told her sticking out her hip.

"It is," Lexi quickly corrected, "just not until late when everyone's drunk. We should get drunk first."

"I second that," Maddie agreed pushing them away from the bar and down the street to a more low key venue to start out with.

Lexi walked farther down the street suddenly realizing where she her feet were carrying her. Her heart was racing as they drew closer. She knew exactly where they were. None of the girls knew the significance of the destination they were approaching. She gulped hard and tucked a lock behind her ear. She could do this. She could face down her past. These next few steps would be easy. It didn't matter that it had been over three years since she had been here. It didn't matter that she had more memories from this stretch of campus then anywhere else. It didn't matter that she had always held them most dear. She could break away from that now.