It started with a list, p.5
It Started with a List, page 5
He began sharp inward and upward thrusts to her stomach. Fear and panic clouded her logic as she fought to move about. He got a firm grip on her and the force of his fist lifted her off her toes. Spit and pretzel pieces flew.
A small drunk audience had gathered and looked on with intrigue. Her skirt was riding up, and she was gonna moon somebody while choking. Another person pulled out their camera. Tears welled in her eyes. Finally, the pretzel flew out onto the floor. The man behind her released her, and she sucked in a deep breath of air.
Pressing her hands to her knees, she wiped the drool from her mouth. She saw feet move in front of her and a beer bottle was thrust in her face. She downed it and balked at the taste, but it helped the sting go away.
“Thank you, death by pretzel would have been tragic.”
“I didn’t know you were going to come, Vee. Definitely didn’t expect to find you choking in here.”
Vassa jerked back as her eyes landed on Lazarus. Of course he appears right now. Vassa glanced over her shoulder for Alexa. He leaned onto the counter with his arms folded against his chest.
“I didn’t think you would come. Is the world ending?” He looked out of the back window to the sky.
She let out a humorless laugh and rubbed her chest, trying to get rid of the pain. “Ha ha, funny.”
Looking at the bowl of snacks nearby, she pushed it away from her. It would be a while before she could eat pretzels again. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the counter to ignore him. Alexa had ruined her mood and now she wanted to leave.
She could feel that piercing glare on the side of her face. She peeked one eye over at him.
Lazarus’s gaze lingered at the point where the fleshy areas of her thighs were exposed and she cleared her throat loudly. His expression turned sheepish and he smiled as she pulled her skirt down. No doubt he felt her up during their exchange. First, he was naked against her. Now they had basically done porn in public. His eyes flew up to hers, looking not at all ashamed at being caught.
“How are you liking the party?”
She cocked her head at him. “You mean besides almost dying?”
“Yeah, other than that.”
She was feeling petty and embarrassed. “It’s lame and I want to go home.”
Lazarus let out a laugh. “You don’t mean that.”
Vassa pressed herself into the counter as he approached. She stood stunned as his hand rose and cupped the back of her neck. She held her breath as his other hand rose. Their noses were nearly touching. Her skin was flushed and her eyes fell to his lips. Her hands were flat on his chest as she watched him softly pluck something from her hair.
Her eyes crossed when he revealed a half-eaten piece of pretzel.
“You had something in your hair.”
Her flush spread from her face down to her neck. Mouth opening and closing, Vassa quickly moved to the side, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You couldn’t just say that?” Her voice was rough, and she cleared her throat. She grabbed her beer bottle and pressed it to her cheek.
He didn’t respond and took a sip out of his red cup. Her eyes lingered on the way his Adam’s apple bobbled and she averted her gaze. “Something happen?”
His words were gentle compared to the loud noise. He is too perceptive.
“Nothing.” She cleared her throat and looked at the ground. What if Alexa walked in right now? What would she do?
“You sure?”
“I said I’m fine.” The words come out harsher than she intended and she winced. She shouldn’t be mean to him because of how she was feeling. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m ready to go.”
Lazarus was silent as he watched her. His fingers tapped against his cup. “C’mon Vee, you gotta let loose and enjoy life. I know what can help you feel better.” Setting the cup down, he tossed his arm over her shoulder and led her to the backyard.
“Where are we going?” she grumbled, but he paid no heed to her, nodding at the people posted up by the door.
Tiki torches were posted all around, adding some ambiance to the scene. There was a plastic fold-out table by the entryway where people were playing beer pong. A beer keg was off toward the east side of the yard where Dara cheered for the poor soul trying to do a keg stand. There was a mini dance circle in the middle of the lawn. The dancers parted like the Red Sea and out came Kiki.
Kiki bounded over. “Vassa, oh my God girl, this party is outstanding!” Swaying back and forth, she grabbed Vassa’s hands, trying to get her to dance too.
“I’m glad you’re having a good time.” Vassa moved stiffly, focused instead on her heart returning to normal after the kitchen incident. She scanned the backyard. Alexa was on the other end with a group of people laughing.
Kiki gawked at Lazarus. Pressing a hand against her chest, a slow smile played on her face. “Vassa, is this the handsome fella?”
Vassa was fixated on the ground and blinked. “Who?”
“Your boo!”
Lazarus’s eyebrows shot up as his mouth parted in surprise. “Boo? I’m your boo Vee? Aww.”
Kiki shot her a smug look and reached a hand out toward him like a damsel. Like a gentleman, he shook it. “She neglected to tell me about a beautiful woman like yourself. I haven’t seen you on campus before.” Did his voice get deeper? Was this supposed to make her feel better?
“I’m Kiara, but my friends call me Kiki. You can call me Kitty.” Did her voice get deeper?
“All right, Kitty, let’s go.” Vassa broke up whatever was going on, ignoring her irritation building. She tried to force Kiki toward the door. She wasn’t staying here a moment longer with Alexa in the vicinity. She knew she shouldn’t have come.
Lazarus looked impressed and slightly alarmed by Kiki, but rolled with it. “Lazarus. No nicknames, I’m afraid.”
Kiki gasped for air and clutched her chest like someone stole her pearls. “Vassa, why have you been hiding your side piece from me? We could have some fun with him.”
Vassa squinted at Kiki.
“Side piece?” Lazarus gave Vassa an expression that screamed trouble. He would never let her live this down.
Kiki eyed him like he was the last piece of bacon on the tray. Stepping forward, Vassa forced Kiki to move back from him. Wait, what am I doing?
“I thought you were dancing? Better yet, we’re leaving.” Anything to get Kiki away from him.
“Leaving? I thought maybe you could add ‘dance the night away’ to your bucket list.” Vassa choked on air as she eyeballed Lazarus. “No, no, let’s not. I don’t want to add that.”
“Bucket list?” he questioned, and Kiki smirked.
This had to be the third worst night of her life.
“You’re hiding things from me, Vee?”
Kiki looked positively evil as her eyes darted between them. “Vee?”
“Honestly, it’s nothing interesting, nothing at all.” Why was she worried about what Lazarus would think? Kiki, what happened to the girl code?
“Yeah, didn’t she tell you? She has a bucket list for her last semester. A bunch of crazy stuff. I think we can knock out at this party, amongst things…” Kiki reached into her back pocket. “I have it right here.”
Vassa felt as if the entire floor dropped from under her. Her list she placed into her drawer earlier. She couldn’t move as Kiki unfolded it.
“You wanna look?” Kiki handed the paper to Lazarus. Vassa lunged for the paper but Lazarus snatched it, raising it above her head so she couldn’t reach it.
“That’s private property!”
“You have something naughty about me?” Lazarus’s arm flexed as he kept her from clawing at the paper.
Vassa was gonna skin Kiki, then him. Looking back toward Alexa, Vassa saw she hadn’t noticed the scene unfurling. Lazarus’s eyes ran across the list and she ducked under his arm, going for his armpits. He laughed and bent over as she snatched the paper out of his hands, placing it into her jacket pocket. He, of all people, did not need to know her business.
Kiki grinned and grabbed Vassa by the wrist as she growled in frustration. “The music sucks, but they’re playing the hits. Let’s go dance.” She shot a look at Lazarus. “Sorry, but it’s the truth.”
Lazarus held his armpits and frowned at Vassa. “Jayden sucks with the music.”
Vassa’s embarrassment and feelings of violation were washed away in the crippling fear consuming her. Kiki led her to the opening of the circle. Overwhelmed, Vassa stopped, but Kiki dragged her in. The world moved in slow motion.
“Kiki! I said no. Let’s go!”
They were in the middle of the circle. Like a deer in front of a pack of wolves, she stood there racking her brain for an escape plan as everyone watched with curiosity before cheering.
“Just move to the music!” Kiki yelled.
Vassa pulled back again, shaking her head. She walked to the wall of drunk idiots gawping at her. “Move, please let me out!”
They continued to cheer, “Dance! Dance for us, baby!”
Vassa ran to the other side. “Excuse me, excuse me!”
This was not the attention she needed. Not with Alexa here. The crowd cheered louder as Kiki put her hands on her knees, twerking. Or attempting to, because Vassa wasn’t sure what was going on there, she was using her back more than her behind. Kiki pointed to Vassa.
“Go!”
All eyes were on her. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go tonight. She tried one last time to escape, but it was no use.
She would not cry. That would be the last thing she did, but the crowd continued to chant and chant as she turned and made eye contact with every one of them. When they saw she wouldn’t dance, the chants and cheers turned to boos.
“No fun, you suck!” someone shouted.
Vassa froze.
“Frankly, it sucked being your friend. I was just being nice to you so as not to hurt your feelings.”
The words began to play over and over.
Just over the crowd, she saw Lazarus with an indecipherable expression. Huh, she thought he would enjoy her public humiliation. Maybe he was just covering it this time, so she couldn’t see. Kiki was now nowhere to be seen, and now this was drawing the rest of the people in the yard over. The booing didn’t cease, and everyone blurred together. She thought she heard Dara call her name. When she looked back at Lazarus, he was gone. Alexa was probably having a field day.
Closing her eyes, she counted to five. She was just going to run for it. The music changed from rap to… samba? That caused everyone to look at one another. The crowd opened and Lazarus walked in, his eyes on her. He extended his hand.
Vassa shook her head. “Lazarus, what—”
Vassa shouted as he spun her. She stumbled, catching herself before he tugged her close. Her face was squashed into his chest. She pulled back and opened her mouth to speak, but he was twirling her out again and her hair was smacking into her face.
The mob’s boos turned into cheers and people clapped along to the beat. Vassa was hauled back into his arms. He moved swiftly as she clomped like a giant. His hands went down to her hips, and he twisted her back and forth in a way she hadn’t moved before.
He spun her around again and pushed in closer, guiding her left, then right to match his pace, enticing another screech from the crowd.
She wasn’t sure what was more embarrassing—standing like a loser in the circle or Lazarus out-dancing her. Pushing away, he took center stage. She staggered before catching her balance. Lazarus worked his hips. Some of the crowd shrilled in response. Since when did Lazarus know the samba? And why was she still standing here like an idiot?
The crowd chanted his name, and her belly dropped. He was lapping this up. If you didn’t think about the crippling terror and embarrassment of the moment, it was… exhilarating?
“Ready for our finale?” His gaze was unwavering.
Vassa trembled as he took her by the arm. He performed some footwork she couldn’t mimic. She realized people had their phones out.
His hands went under her chin, bringing her attention to him.
“Dip.”
That was the only warning she got before he pushed her backward. She didn’t think that samba had dips in it, but they weren’t in a crowd of ballroom dancing judges.
He straightened them up, executed another twirl, and dipped her again. As if he was in a movie, he had one hand held up and his chest heaved as the crowd went wild. She stood up and was pushed to the side by another girl asking him to dance with her. More trampled over her as they rushed him.
Lazarus beamed and chatted with the girls. “One at a time, ladies. One at a time.” His eyes found hers over the crowd.
As quickly as the adrenaline came, it left, hurling Vassa physically and emotionally to the ground. Dara finally got to her, inquiring if she was all right. The others didn’t care, and it didn’t matter if she stayed because she wasn’t important anymore. Vassa broke eye contact with Lazarus, grabbing Dara by the arm as they fled from the party.
CHAPTER FIVE
Whatever Jayden was cooking, it was awful. It smelled like rotten eggs, curdled milk, and garbage juice all rolled up into one. Closing the door of his bedroom, he took a few steps inside the kitchen, taking tiny sips of air through his mouth, but it was like he could taste it.
“Dude, whatcha got, uh… whatcha got going on there?” Lazarus’s eyes watered. Jayden stood in the kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron, two large yellow gloves to his elbows, and a clothespin on his nose. On the kitchen island were boiled potatoes, butter, bread, and chopped onion.
“This is surströmming.” Jayden held the can of fish out to him, and Lazarus winced as the smell grew stronger.
“Is this why your aunt kicked you out of her kitchen?” Lazarus sat at the island and shook his head. He really hoped the smell wouldn’t get into the furniture. That was going to be tough to get out. “That smells, you know, kinda strong. It’s gonna ruin my apartment.”
Jayden popped a piece of fish in his mouth and Lazarus gagged. “Don’t worry, the vendor I ordered it from off Ebay said to keep the windows open and it will carry out the smell.”
It wasn’t smelling like the open windows were doing anything to help the situation. They were going to need an industrial fan in here.
“Did you want some?” Jayden offered the fish again. Lazarus recoiled.
“No… My only question is why?” I’m really about to pass out, he thought.
Jayden shrugged. “I’m an adventurous eater.”
“Anyway…” Lazarus opened the notebook he brought with him. “I was playing around with that business plan. What do you think?”
After the last face-off Lazarus had with his older brother Harvey, he knew that he would have to come back stronger than just telling him he wanted to be an event manager. Normally when he was frustrated, he’d lose himself in good music and dance with a cute girl. He was trying to remedy that bad habit.
“Another one? You’ve been working on this for months. When are you going to show him already?” Jayden plucked off the gloves and took the notebook.
Lazarus ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. “You’re right, but you know Harvey.” He could imagine his voice. “He’s never happy or impressed.”
“Are you sure he’s related?” Jayden raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t have any other internship experience besides working for Gideon’s Landscaping.” “Your first year GPA was barely past a two-point-five.” “You’ve been acting an ass since Dad’s stroke.”
The thought of his father gripped him by his throat and cut off his air supply. His mother’s tears in the hospital that day, the gripping fear the man he admired his whole life would just… vanish. Lazarus knew he had to be strong for his mother but he had wanted to break down. His brain was paralyzed by the thought that his father would leave the earth knowing his last son was aimless. The last few months, Lazarus had been cleaning up his act, until that damn literature class appeared.
Jayden placed the notebook down. “I think it’s great, man.”
“I don’t need it to be great. What’s wrong with it? What’s missing?” Lazarus would admit that being a wild child grew old quickly. After a party, waking up with a hangover, that’s when the weight of his reality always set in. His loneliness. His insecurities. The dismissive words from his brothers, and low expectations from some friends and professors.
“Why are you so paranoid over this? You should be concerned about that class you’re failing. Did you ask Vee yet?”
Right, I was supposed to ask her last night.
Spotting Dara at the party, he knew Vassa would be nearby. He had rarely seen one without the other. Finding her choking on a pretzel wasn’t what he expected but again, he saw sadness in her eyes. Normally she maintained an aloof manner with him, but there was always a spark behind her eyes. He could pull it out of her, but when he tried to show her he was serious, that he wasn’t the jokester she saw him as, she snapped at him.
“Not yet, I’m going to ask today.”
Jayden laughed. “What are you going to do when she says no?”
All he wanted was for her to see him outside his reputation. Grow past their casual acquaintanceship and really get to know him. Vee did something to him, ignited a spark he thought was long gone— he respected her smart and responsible nature. It inspired him to pull up his pants and get serious. But like with Harvey, words weren’t going to cut it. He would have to prove himself to be taken seriously.
“She won’t say no…” He wasn’t confident about that.
“Ha! That doesn’t sound confident.”
Lazarus rolled his eyes. “Along with my business plan, I want to make a portfolio. Clean up my resume. Find an internship or apprenticeship… something like that. Really show Harvey.”
