“If I stayed a little longer,” Doris continued, “he might’ve invited me up to his VIP suite.” Her friend murmured her agreement—I couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or just trying to get Doris to shut up. How did anyone put up with that kind of narcissism?
Moments later two figures rounded the stairwell’s corner and came within sight. One was a very beautiful, very drunk girl—judging by her staggering gait—and the other was a petite brunette.
“Seriously,” Doris, the blonde, said, “If I hadn’t left, it could’ve happened. Not that I would ever date a guy like Andre. Imagine what kinds of blood fetishes he must have.” Blood fetishes? What was with this guy and blood?
Doris’s unfocused eyes narrowed on us as she clumsily ascended the stairs.
“Have a fun night?” Leanne asked.
“Were you eavesdropping?” She directed her question specifically at Leanne, ignoring me.
“Kind of hard not to when you’re shouting up a stairwell.”
Doris tilted her head. “It must suck to know this is the closest you’ll come to Andre, eavesdropping on a girl who actually has a chance with him.” The insult wasn’t aimed at me, but it didn’t matter; I was offended.
I stood up and opened my mouth, about to defend my roommate, when Leanne cut me off. “Funny you should mention your chances with Andre,” Leanne said, getting up, “seeing as how an hour ago Andre asked Gabrielle”—she motioned to me—“and not you on a date.”
Doris’s attention was suddenly, startlingly on me. Her eyes roved me over, head to toe, and then back up again, lingering on my face. The haughty set of her face flickered for a moment, and behind it I saw jealousy, intimidation, insecurity. I had that effect on some women.
And then the mask was back in place. Her lip curled. “I see Andre’s standards have lowered.” Her insult didn’t sting. It didn’t affect me at all. I shrugged, unfazed.
Leanne, who was busy relishing the moment stood up. “His standards still got a long ways to go before he’ll look twice at you,” Leanne said.
I raised my eyebrows. Leanne and Doris must’ve had some sort of history. This confrontation was too personal.
Doris turned on Leanne, leaning in close. “Just like you and Collin, right? Because that’s what he told me after we made out—how unimpressive you were. Remind me, was that before or after you two broke up?”
Oh. No wonder the anger ran so deep. I saw Leanne’s hands fist and knew this was going to get messy really quick. I eyed Doris’s roommate, who was backing up down the hall. She was the smart one.
“Right, that was before you two broke up.”
I saw Leanne’s fist twitch, and I grabbed her as she lunged at Doris. Doris drunkenly staggered away, laughing. “You two deserve each other,” she said, looking from me to Leanne with her unfocused gaze. “Losers.”
Reflexively I loosened my grip, and Leanne nearly broke free. I grabbed her again as she began to slip away.
“Leanne, don’t let it get to you. She isn’t worth it.” Despite how cliché the advice was, I meant it. My heart ached for my new friend, who had been betrayed by this venomous girl and an ex.
We watched Doris’s retreating form. She was cocky to have her back to us; if I were a lesser person, I would’ve let Leanne pulverize her.
“I hope she turns into a frog at the Awakening,” Leanne spat.
I shook my head. “Leanne, what are you talking about?”
Leanne stared down the hallway even after they’d gone into their room, perhaps hoping Doris would walk back out. “Stupid nymph.”
“Leanne, seriously, what’s this about toads and nymphs and blood fetishes? And what’s the Awakening?”
She reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the hall and looked at me. It took her a few seconds to react.
She cocked her head to the side. “Gabrielle, you don’t know what the Awakening is.”
“No, that’s what I just said. Should I?” That’s it. I must’ve missed an email. Of course this would happen. These things always happened to me.
Leanne let out her breath slowly, staring off into space. She nodded to herself, and then pulled out her phone.
“Hey Oliver, it’s me. Meet me in my room. Gabrielle doesn’t know what the Awakening is, and I’m not sure how to phrase it without totally freaking her out.”
***
We walked into my almost-unpacked room. Oliver pushed ahead of us and plopped himself down on my bed, managing to stretch his body out so that no one else could sit down.
“Really?” I looked at him.
“What?” He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch.” He scooted over so there was enough room for me to sit. Barely.
“What about me?” Leanne demanded.
“My God, there’s another bed three feet away,” Oliver said to her.
“Move.”
Under his breath he said, “I give an inch, and they take a mile.”
Once we were all sitting, the room fell silent. For a few seconds Leanne stared at me. Seemingly lost, she glanced at Oliver. He shrugged his shoulders in response.
“Would you please just tell me?” I was getting uncomfortable with their silence.