Chapter 6 Sydney - Betrayal
Chapter 6
Sydney - Betrayal
I paced back and forth in front of the entrance by the parking lot, waiting for Austin to show up so we could exchange backpacks before our respective classes began. I finally saw his “Pinto Bean”—as he affectionately referred to it—whip into the parking lot. His Honda Civic resembled a pile of refried beans, or at least the color did. He had to take a spot in the back corner of the lot. I watched him climb out of his car, grab my backpack, and full-sprint towards the door.
As he approached, I cupped my hands to my mouth and shouted. “Hurry!”
He stuck out his chest and picked up his speed a little. I opened one of the double doors and held it open for him. He sprinted by me and ground to a halt. He dropped the backpack off his shoulder and held it out to me. “Trade me?” He gasped, breathing heavily.
“Sure. See you in music class.” We swapped packs and parted ways. Austin jogged off down the hall, his cowboy boots clomping softer and softer into the distance.
The morning sped by, and soon I found myself in Professor Nelson’s class. Austin slid into the seat in front of me. He showed me his perfect white teeth .
“Are you auditioning for the Cheshire Cat later?” I remarked.
“Nope. Not even close. I’m sure part of it is sleep deprivation, but I think I figured out what we’re doing for our project.” He bounced his knee up and down under his desk and shouted out to Professor Nelson. “What are we doing today, Boss Man?”
He closed the classroom door and walked towards Austin. “Mr. Mitchell, are you late for a very important date? ‘Cause you’re going to have to wait until my class ends.”
Austin remained unfazed. “Just excited to get to work, Sir.”
“It sure seems like it.” He stopped in front of Austin’s desk. “You’re awfully chipper today. Do you want to share?”
“Top secret project work. No can do.” He pinched his thumb and forefinger together in front of his mouth and rotated it back and forth. “Fort Knox, baby.”
Professor Nelson looked at me. “What is this goofball talking about?”
I shrugged. “I have no earthly idea.”
He placed his hands in his pockets and leaned back on his heels. “I suppose we can make this a project day. I don’t want Mr. Mitchell to piddle on the floor.”
Austin pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! Thank you, Professor Nelson! Can we go to one of the practice rooms?”
“Sure.” We headed out the door as he added, “Don’t drink whatever he’s been sipping.”
I picked up my backpack and followed Austin down the hall to one of the empty practice rooms in the music department. Barely the size of a closet, they always smelled like old wood and floor wax. They managed to squeeze in a piano with a bench, a music stand, and a chair. Austin sat down at the piano and started digging frantically in his backpack. He stopped and held a finger in the air. He reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of orange paper with a bunch of scribbles all over it. After unfolding it, he set it on the lip of the piano meant for sheet music.
I stood there with my arms crossed and a puzzled expression on my face. “Austin, you are acting like a psycho. Please tell me what’s going on here?”
He readjusted on the piano bench and looked at me. “I solved the problem for our project. ”
“Come again?”
“Sit down. I’m going to play something for you.”
“Okay.” I hesitantly sat on the edge of the chair.
He placed his hands above the keys, then started playing.
I didn’t recognize the melody. I listened as he sang.
I can still hear your voice
From across a crowded room
Every time I hear this tune,
It makes me think of you
I can still see your face
Yet it’s only in my mind
I can still hear you laughin’
And feel the warmth of your embrace
I closed my eyes, immersed in the song. Halfway through the chorus, I recognized my own words.
I wonder how you are
And if your dreams all came true,
As for me, I’d be happier …
I stood up, knocking over the music stand. Austin stopped playing.
“Where did you get that from?” My voice shook from shock.
He’d read my journal.
It was in my backpack. He had my backpack last night.
My rage boiled over. “Where did you get that?” I repeated, clenching my fists.
His jaw dropped open, but no words came out of his mouth. He didn’t meet my eyes.
“You’re used to playing by your own rules, relying on your charm and swagger to skate through doing the bare minimum. I can’t believe you would stoop so low to read my journal,” I seethed. “We’re all supposed to swoon under your charming spell, when what you are is a lazy, narcissistic asshat. Your audacity is epic level. Truly. Cue the applause. ”
He stood up with his hands raised in front of his chest. “Sydney. I had no intention of making you angry. Your poem is golden. I admit my actions were unethical, but listen to how good it sounds as a song. This is it. We are going to win the showcase with this. Or at least get an A on our project.” His eyes pleaded with me, but my anger outweighed any rational thought.
“You are the worst kind of con man. You make it seem like I’m wrong for having feelings other than gratitude and adoration. Save it for someone else.” I grabbed my backpack and stormed out the door, slamming it behind me.
He bamboozled me! Hot tears of rage spilled down my cheeks and I ducked into the first restroom I came to in case he tried to follow me. I sat in the last stall until I felt sure he went to his next class. Then I trudged to the parking lot to go home.
This is not over, Austin Mitchell. Not by a long shot.
Later that evening, Danny and I went bowling for our second date. I didn’t consider myself competitive, but I loved playing games. We got our rented shoes and picked out brightly colored balls. The pins clanging together echoed like a random symphony across the lanes, melding with the music pouring from the speakers in the ceiling. Disco balls and spinning lights circled around in a dizzying light show. It had been ages since I’d stepped foot into a bowling alley, and I didn’t remember all this loud entertainment being part of the game.
Danny’s bowling skills outshined mine by a mile. Halfway through our first game, he revealed that he had taken a gym class called Lifetime Sports in high school. They played tennis, bocce ball, croquet, billiards, archery, and bowling. I remember having to run a mile three days a week in gym class at my high school. I was robbed.
We played three rounds, and Danny wiped the floor with me all three times. At least a quarter of my attempts found the gutter. I joked that if he wanted to get lucky, he might let me win one. After bowling, we stopped at the local diner where everyone hung out. Their milkshakes came in fifty assorted flavors and tasted like a cup of heaven. I had difficulty choosing. Danny ordered a peanut butter and jelly one, and I selected blackberry .
While we waited for our order, we chatted.
Danny began, “I hope you aren’t upset at me winning at bowling. If I had known how bad you were, I would have suggested miniature golf instead. I’m no good at that.”
“Me neither. That might be an excellent choice for our next date.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you planning on getting a third date?”
I blushed as I tried to think of a witty response. “Maybe.” That was lame, Sydney .
“I might be willing to give you another chance to impress me. But your bowling skills did not do it for me.” He winked.
I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t have much experience with dating, and my flirting skills barely hit the radar. I decided to change the subject.
“While we were bowling, you told me that you and Austin Mitchell are best friends, right?”
“Yes. We both work at Burger Burger and we’re roommates at the frat house, too.” He chuckled. “Either we’re both sadistic to spend this much time together, or we’re a gay couple still in the closet. You decide.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing out with me if you’re gay. I’m going to assume you both are gluttons for punishment or fraternal twins separated at birth. I have a question: Is Austin normally an asshole? I’m working with him on a project for our Music Composition class and he violated my privacy.” I filled him in on the mix-up with our backpacks and what happened earlier that day.
Danny’s face got red, and his posture stiffened. “I’m having a tough time with this information. I’ve known Austin for a long time, and it doesn’t seem like something he would do.” Well, he very well did. I’m about ready to go full-annoyed at bestie defending bestie, but he goes on, “In addition, we have a code of conduct as Kappa Sigs. That would break our academic honor code, and we have consequences for that.” His brows furrowed. “Now I’m angry.”
“With…?”
“Austin, of course,” he said.
Crap. I shouldn’t have said anything. Causing drama between friends is the last thing I wanted to do.
I backpedaled. “I didn’t want to cause a problem. I’m trying to figure this out or I might plot to poison his Mt. Dew. Please forget it.” We sat in awkward silence, drinking our milkshakes and sharing a basket of fries. I didn’t want to anger Danny any further, and I tried to think of a way to change the subject. Before I got a chance, a group of Kappa Sigs poured into the diner—with Austin right in the middle of them. Danny wasn’t facing the entrance, but he turned his head at the brouhaha. His eyes locked onto Austin, and he got out of the booth.
I grabbed his hand to stop him, but he wriggled out of my grasp and made a beeline for the corner booth where they gathered. I wanted to hide under the table, but instead I sat frozen as the scene unfolded.
Journal Entry
Today turned out to be a super stressful one. My project partner, Austin, violated my privacy and read my journal. I’m so angry !! I would never think to do that to anyone. He thinks I’m just going to roll over and give him a pass because he flashed his Colgate smile in my direction. Nope. Try again, asshole.
Danny and I went out on our second date. I like him. And he seems to like me. But I have my doubts. I mean, he asked Meghan out first. She’s beautiful. And skinny. I don’t know why he took Meghan’s suggestion to go out with me. If you put us in a lineup, there’s no way any sane guy would choose me over Meghan. I hope his interest in me is genuine, but I’ve been wrong about guys many times.
We stopped at the diner after we finished bowling. I told Danny about my altercation with Austin. He did not take the news well. And then Austin showed up at the diner and the evening blew up in my face. On the one hand, no one has ever defended me like that. But on the other hand, I don’t like being in the spotlight. I prefer to be invisible. After the fiasco that happened between Austin and Danny at the diner tonight, I can kiss a third date goodbye.
The fat girl loses again.