15. Haunted Closets
Chapter 15
Haunted Closets
Cece
I’ve never been so aware of the students hustling down the halls between classes as I have been over these last two weeks. It was lurking in the back of my mind that there’s was a chance I might run into Devlin around here, or maybe he’d even be in one of my classes. We are both business majors, after all. That was me being overly optimistic. He’s majoring in accounting, while I’m on the marketing side of things. Given the limited options laid out for me before I started college, marketing was the most creative. I can even slip in some graphic design courses that will still advance my career. Not that I’m planning on spending my life in the marketing department of some soulless corporation, especially not my father’s. But I may need a stable income to pay the bills while I pursue my dream of publishing my own comics and graphic novels .
In our senior year, things have gotten way more specific, so we haven’t crossed paths since our last encounter two weeks ago.
My ringtone cuts through the reverie, wrinkling my nose when I glance down at the number. I am so not in the mood for one of my father’s lectures. But if I don’t deal with it now, he’ll be all over me, so I accept the call with a sigh, bringing it up to my ear.
“Hi.”
“Cecelia. How are your classes going?”
I’m doing great. Thanks for asking. Is what I want to say. “Good.” Is what I actually say, wondering where this is headed. I’ve been doing fine. I’m actually acing my digital marketing class, and I’ve got no economics on the docket this semester.
“I heard you turned in a B paper for your strategic marketing class.” He gets right to the point of his call. No fucking around with small talk. Even with your daughter. Probably especially with your daughter. I’m pretty sure he could make small talk about golf or some new restaurant with his cronies all night at a cocktail party.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I’ve worked with some of the faculty before.”
Isn’t there such a thing as student professor confidentiality? I’m quite certain they’re not supposed to be sharing your grades, even on the golf course. And also, who cares? I’m getting the degree he wants me to.
“I’m doing my best, Dad. ”
“If you need any help to pull that up, talk to your brother. He’s still at the top of his class. I’m sure he’d be happy to help you.”
“He’s pretty busy with hockey already, but I’ll talk to him if I need to.” I absolutely won’t.
“Excellent. I’ve got a meeting in ten, so I’ll be talking to you soon. You will be home for Thanksgiving, right?”
It’s not a request, and there’s only one correct answer. “Of course.”
“Excellent, see you then.”
My sign off lands on a dead line, and I lean back against the wall, but seek comfort in my messages.
The string of texts I’ve shared with Dev has grown into the hundreds over the last couple of weeks since our encounter after the game. Last night, he sent me a text to wish me a good night, and he asked me what I was wearing. So, I sent him a pic of my head on the body of some model in sexy lingerie.
He sent me back a WTH meme and told me he’d rather see a pic of me wearing a paper bag if it was the real me. I responded with a real selfie, flannel pants in a glorious bright yellow with lemons all over them, and a Marvel tee with a small tear below my right boob. My hair was tangled, and I’d already taken my makeup off, so I went all in, making a derpy face with my eyes crossed and tongue sticking out. That’s trust. Not a picture I would ever want getting out into the world.
I’m still smiling at the gif he sent back of a cartoon dog with its tongue rolling out when I glance up, and a shock ripples through me .
There he is, walking toward me. The man himself. He looks as hot as usual in a pair of black track pants. The matching hoodie is pulled down over his forehead, casting deep shadows over the sculpted lines of his face. A shiver runs through me at the sight and my lips curve up in a smile.
“Dev,” I call out, walking toward him.
His brown eyes lock with mine for a moment, and I’m sucked in. Until he breaks the contact, whipping his head back as someone walks up behind him, clapping a hand on his back. Beau. Shit. Right. Of course they share some classes. Stupid of me to think I could just walk up to him in public like that. I mean, it is reasonable. We met, and Beau told me I could call him if I needed something and he wasn’t around. But as far as my brother knows, we’ve only met that one time.
Dev’s expression doesn’t change much. There’s a subtle tightening of his features that most people wouldn’t even notice, but that’s all.
Beau is still turned toward his friend. He hasn’t seen me, but it would be weird if I rushed off without saying hi, so I push myself forward toward the guys.
“Hey, Beau... and Derek, was it?” I force my lips into a big smile, interrupting their conversation.
“Cece!” My brother turns toward me, eyes skating from my face down my body. He takes in my baggy purple sweats and long-sleeved black t-shirt with a dancing skeleton on it. It is spooky season after all. “I would kill to see Mom’s face if she saw you wearing that in public. ”
I shrug, lifting a finger to my lips. “But I know you’ll never tell.”
“Of course not, but it would be so much fun.”
“I can get you one and we can wear them home together. Or just take a snap and send it to her. Probably safer.”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t put that thing on even for a pic, but you go wild. Just let me know when you’re going to do it so I can clear my schedule.”
I can’t help turning back to Dev, and our eyes lock for another moment. It’s hard to tear myself away, but I do, focusing on my brother’s blue eyes that are so similar to my own.
“We were heading over to the UC for some lunch if you want to join us?” Beau tilts his head at me, but his gaze is straying over my shoulder, and his fingers are twitching in a steady rhythm.
“Nah, I’m going to meet Anna at Northman. We’ve got something to work on.”
My brother nods. “Cool. Catch you later.”
“Yup. See you.”
I resume my walk toward the east exit, passing by the guys. My skin ripples as large fingers trail down my arm, and I swivel my head around as Dev squeezes my hand in his. The calloused fingers are scratchy but reassuring. I smile at his back, almost bumping into another student as his fingertips slip from mine, leaving only a pleasant warmth behind.
“Sorry.”
I apologize, hustling on by with a dreamy smile on my face, floating out the door and across campus.
Heat embraces me as soon as I walk through the doors into the hall. It’s in the quiet zone between lunch and dinner, so not too crowded. I scan the handful of tables, searching for Anna, but it’s a raspy laugh that catches my attention. The dining area lights are glinting off a head full of bright blonde hair. My other roomie is sitting across from Anna.
“Good afternoon,” I say, plopping into the seat beside Georgia, and giving Anna a bright smile.
“Well, well, well, what have you been up to, darling? You’re always a ray of sunshine, but there’s something of an extra glow about you today.” Georgia pauses with a fry halfway to her mouth.
I reach up to rub at my heated neck, hoping there’s no blush to give me away. “Nothing. I came from class. It was a sales class. Not my favorite.”
“I don’t envy you that,” Anna says, going along with my deflection.
But Georgia is not deterred. She purses her lips into a perfect bow. “Cute guy in your class?”
“No.” I shake my head.
But she continues to stare at me, and it almost feels like she can see into my mind.
It doesn’t take long for me to crumble under the scrutiny. I glance to the left, and the right before I whisper. “I ran into Dev.” Obviously, I couldn’t keep my tryst secret after he emerged from my room after our last encounter.
She lights up like a birthday cake. “Ooh. Did you get up to some in class shenanigans? Be careful of sneaking into any storage closets in the Jameson building. There’s an entrance to the secret tunnels under the school that is super haunted.”
“Of course not. I don’t sneak into closets between classes for a little make-out sesh. Not my vibe.”
Her perfectly arched eyebrow curves almost up to her hairline. “Of course it’s not.” She turns back to Annie. “She’s more of a restroom kind of gal.”
Annie does her best to muffle her laugh, but she can’t quite do it and it comes out in a snort.
I shake my head. “Wish I never told you that one.”
“Well, guess what? You did. And you should know that a southern lady never forgets a bit of hot gossip.”
And that’s one more reason not to tell Georgia any more secrets I don’t want thrown back in my face for the rest of the year, or probably my life. We haven’t known each other that long, but I think these ladies are in it for life.
“Actually, Beau was with him, so even if I was about to sneak into a haunted closest, twas not to be.”
“You should just tell your brother. He’s going to find out eventually, and it’s going to be so much worse if it comes from somewhere else.”
I’m looking at Annie for help, but she glances at her hands, avoiding my gaze. Clearly, she agrees with Georgia. “I can’t. I promised Dev I wouldn’t tell him. This whole thing hinges on secrecy.” The thing I really should do is break it off. Whatever it is, we haven’t exactly discussed the details yet. But every time he sends me a funny text, or I think of him, I get all hot and bothered. I confessed more things to him about my life when we met at the con than I have to any of my other friends over the years. I want to peel back the layers he’s still keeping tightly wrapped around himself, and I want to explore every inch of his body. I think I might actually be addicted to him.
Annie looks back up at me, and she looks conflicted. “The only thing I’m worried about is the fact that he’s keeping you a secret. That never ends well. I’m worried about you, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
It’s a bit of a cold shock hearing that. Does she think he’s got someone else on the side? I mean, he could. He’s a very private guy and I really don’t know that much about him, but he never seems to leave the school, so I doubt he has anyone long distance.
“It’s not like that. We’re only keeping it a secret from my brother. Besides. I don’t want my dad finding out, either. As amazing as Dev is, I’m sure he wouldn’t approve.” A shitty but true fact.
“Okay, but be careful please, Cece.” Her hand is warm and comforting when she places it on mine.
“I will. It’s all good. I got this. Now, should we get to work on this novel?” We’re t minus 45 days from the deadline.
Georgia pops her last fry in her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick the last bit of salt from her lips. “That’s my cue to leave. I’ve got an art history lecture to get to, anyway. You gals have fun.”She waves the tips of her manicured fingers at us, standing up and sashaying off.
“Later, G,” I say.
“Ta ta.”
“That was a surprise.” I’d only been expecting one roommate, but I got two for the price of one.
“I ran into her in Keefe after class, and she said she was going to waste away to nothing if she didn’t get some food, so I invited her for a snack. But I told her we were planning to work, so she couldn’t linger.” That’s right, they both take most of their classes on the west side of campus where most of the art centric buildings are.
“It’s all good.”
“We should get to work. I was thinking about what you said about Zane, and the relationship between him and Eliza. I’m thinking we could slip their tryst into this story arc, but I think it ends in a betrayal. We can leave it on a cliffhanger and then decide where we want to go with it in the next arc.”
I never intended for my superhero to have a love interest in my graphic novel, but after Annie and I started talking and agreed to a collab, it sort of clicked. It felt right for her. It’s not her entire identity, but she is a woman with needs, and I love seeing her take charge. The romance is a side plot, but it’s been working and adding depth to all the characters. Especially her rival and potential lover. He’s one of the bad guys, but that’s the thing about life. Everyone has a little hero and a little villain inside. It’s the actions you choose that define what kind of human you are. Or in her case, half alien .
“Amazing. Did you read over the Offset guidelines for submission?”
“Yup. And I think it’s going to be tight to get a finished product ready to go by the deadline, but with the two of us working together on it, we can do it.”
It’s hard to believe I’m getting my first graphic novel finished and polished to submit to a publisher. Offset Inx may be a small press, but they’re looking to add some new local creators to their team. I had a chat with them at the con. When they first posted a call for submissions, I didn’t think I’d be able to make the deadline. But working with Annie, I’m confident we can do this.
“Fantastic. I sketched out a couple more panels. Let me know what you think.” I’m chewing on my lip, hoping she likes them. Dev told me my work was amazing, and asked to see more, but I think he’s biased because he’s seen my boobs.
She actually squeals as she’s flipping through my notebook. My new friend that usually has all the chill squealed at my work. I release the breath I was holding and lean back in to see what’s got her excited.
“This is perfect. I know we were talking about adding an edgier look to the design, and I think you’ve got it here. This scene is perfection.”
Pride swells in me. Other than the odd enthusiastic high school teacher, praise for my artistic skills is not something I’m used to. I’m kind of loving this teamwork, and I can’t wait to see where our collaboration leads.