The Special Girl Page 7
Maura
After the run in with Mason at the movies, I feel like things have shifted with me and Zack. He talks a lot about me going to college. He wants to make sure I am prepared. He made lists of things he thinks I will need at school and offers to take me shopping. He hypes up college and tries to get me excited for it. I am anything but excited to leave for school. I can’t imagine how hard it will be to leave him and my family behind. I am starting to regret my choice to go so far away. It was all I could think about last Spring but now as it gets closer, I am dreading it.
My life had changed so drastically in such a short time. Zack has changed everything. He is everything I didn’t know I wanted. The tiaras, popular crowd and notoriety I had been a part of in high school seem so trivial now. With Zack, my life has substance. I thought I had to go to college to find that, but it had been right here under my nose the entire time. I had missed it, until now.
Zack had to work the day I left for school. I spent the night prior with him. He took me to dinner at a nice restaurant. He told me he would miss me, and he encouraged me to enjoy college and make the most of the experience. He was so supportive I almost thought he wanted me to go and be away from him. My heart ached as I sobbed into his chest as I held onto him at his house after dinner. I felt like I was losing a big part of myself. He is my everything.
The day came for me to leave. My mom helped me pack up everything I wanted to bring. My dad’ SUV was full. I kissed my brother’s goodbye. They were leaving to go back to their schools today also. My mom, dad, Ava and I all crammed inside the filled SUV and we headed off. I had a heavy heart as we left our little town. I will miss Zack the most, but I will also miss my parents, Ava and even my friends at Sprinkles.
Zack
I made sure I had to work the day she left. I couldn’t risk breaking down in front of her entire family as I said goodbye to her. I had to do it privately. I took her to a decent restaurant my dad and Dana ate at on birthdays and anniversaries. I borrowed Aidan’s car, so we didn’t arrive at the restaurant windblown from my bike. We enjoyed the dinner and the conversation. We went back to my house after and spent our last few hours together.
When I held her in my arms on the couch in my basement, I wanted to tell her everything I was feeling. I love her more than I have ever loved anyone. I will miss her more than she will ever know. I will be lost without her. I don’t want her to leave me, but I want her to do what’s best for her. She needs to get out of here and explore. I can’t hold her back. If we are meant to be, we will still be. Only time will tell if we can hold on to this thing we have.
I drove her home in Aidan’s car, walked her to her door and kissed her like it was our last kiss. And it was, at least for a while. I wanted her to remember how it felt to be kissed by me and held by me and hopefully she knew how it felt to be loved by me. Because I never told her.
Chapter 12
Maura
My roommate, Kylie, is a good match for me. We were matched up randomly after filling out a questionnaire. We have become fast friends. It is so nice to have a real friend that genuinely cares about me. As soon as we met, we started watching out for each other and spending lots of time together. We talk for hours. She has told me all about her high school experiences and her family, I have told her the same. After a month of living with her and spending so much time together, I have realized just how bad it was with my so-called friends from home.
Kylie and I even look similar. We often get the question, “Are you sisters?” We both have long wavy blond hair and blue eyes. She is a couple inches taller, but we are the same size. That just means we can share clothes. When we go out in public, we get a lot of attention. Kylie relishes the attention, especially from preppy clean-cut fraternity guys. She dated someone early in her Senior year but by the time she came to college, she was single and definitely ready to mingle! I, on the other hand, feel guilty when I get the attention. I am loyal to Zack. I still think of him constantly and miss him deeply.
I speak to Zack almost daily. We tell each other about our day and whatever is going on in our lives, good or bad, at the time. I tell him about my classes and professors at State, and he does the same about the community college he attends. We are taking a couple of the same classes. He is doing very well so far. I am also doing well but I had difficulty managing my time at first, especially while balancing all the activities Kylie plans for us.
Kylie is supportive of my relationship with Zack. From everything I have told her, she believes he is a good guy, and he has my best intentions. She was quite surprised when I showed her a picture of him. She actually thought I was playing a practical joke on her. “What? This can’t be your boyfriend?” she balked. She stared at the photo of Zack in tight dark jeans, a white tee and motorcycle boots sitting on his bike displaying a sexy smile. His arm tattoo is peaking out of the short sleeve of his tee and his shaggy brown hair looks tousled in that “just been fucked” way, even though I know he hadn’t been.
Kylie said she didn’t think the guy in the photo looked like the guy I described to her. “This guy looks dangerous,” she remarks. “He is dangerous!” I point out. “Every time I’m with him, talk to him or even see a photo of him, I want to do wicked things with him!” I gush. She raises her brows and smiles, “Well you better keep that one then! He sounds dreamy!” I plan on doing just that.
Zack
Since Maura left, I try to keep myself busy. That hasn’t been too hard. Between school and work, I have very little downtime. This is the first time in my life I give 100% of myself to my schoolwork. It is exhilarating to put in the time and effort and see a reward for my determination. It is also a personal challenge for me to prove to everyone that I can do this and do it well. My parents, Dana, David and especially Maura, all believe in me and know I will excel.
I wasn’t so sure I could do it, especially when I saw how everyone in my new community college looked at me curiously when I entered a class. I guess I didn’t look much like everyone else. I didn’t portray the typical college coed. My professors looked at me in a way that lacked confidence, that is until my first graded assignments. I killed it each and every time. They all changed their tune on me real fast. I made sure to hand in exemplary papers and get perfect exam grades.
I worked every weekend and after classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, when my classes ended by noon. I was making a lot of money and saving most of it. I wanted to have a good bit of money put away for when I finally went away to college. I know my mom and David were going to pay for most of my expenses, but I would still need money for other things. I had spent most of my high school years hanging out and doing nothing basically. Now I felt like I had purpose. My life was headed somewhere. I just hoped that the person I wanted to go there with would still want to go with me.
I speak to Maura almost daily through September and most of October. We talk on the phone or Facetime. She is really enjoying being at college. She is paired with Kylie, her roommate, and they have become very close. She tells me that for the first time in her life, she feels like she has a real friend. Someone that has her best interests at heart. I am happy for her. She sounds content except when she speaks about some of her classes.
She isn’t doing very well in a few of them and she is upset over this. She feels confident with her English and Bio classes but the Calculus, Western Civ and Philosophy classes give her anxiety. She sought out help with the tutoring her school offered. She has midterm exams coming up and she needs to prepare as do I. We don’t speak for almost an entire week because of this. I give her the time she needs without bothering her.
She texts me after she took all her midterms. She tells me she is worried about how she has done. I reassure her and then I don’t hear from her again for another week. It takes all I have not to reach out to her, but I want to give her space. She finally texts me on a Friday night to say that she had passed all her midterms thankfully. I tell her I knew she would and that I am happy for
her. I ask if I could call her. She tells me she is headed out to a sorority mixer and she will call tomorrow. Her roommate has convinced her to pledge a sorority and those activities were occupying a lot of her time.
She does call me the next day, but I am working on a construction site and miss her call. When I call her back later, I get her voicemail. I leave her a message and hope she will return the call soon. But she never does. Two excruciating weeks go by and I start to realize that the life she is living at school is what she wants, and I don’t fit into it anymore. I really never fit into her life if I’m honest. I was just the distraction she needed to break away from her former friends. I had fulfilled my duty.
I spend any time off with Max mostly. We also meet up with Benny and Aidan sometimes. Benny works odd hours at the tattoo shop. He is almost up to full status as a tattoo artist. He is inking alone with Mick’s guidance most days. He is damn good too! He certainly is artistically talented. The stuff he can draw is unreal! I even think about adding another tattoo and having him design it.
Aidan is working as a welder. He is doing great and making decent money. Max is also making decent money working for my dad and Al. He is saving to move out of his parents’ home soon. They are hard to live with and don’t treat him so well. He will be better off living outside that home.
Piper is working at the salon and attending cosmetology school. She is practically living with Mick in his apartment above the tattoo shop. No one is sure if that is going well, she rarely speaks to any of us. Benny sees her the most because he works at the tattoo shop. Any information we know about her comes from him.
Lindsey is still working at the auto parts business with her uncle. She is full-time there now. I have stopped in to see her a time or two. She reorganized the entire place and talked her uncle into getting a new computer system that greatly improved his business. After that he has treated her like she walks on water. She is very happy there and enjoys the banter of the guys that work there. She has also started seeing a local mechanic that she met while working there. He is tatted up and pierced just like her but with a mohawk. They seem to be hitting it off and I am happy for her. She always asks about Maura. I tell her how happy she is at school, careful to leave out the part of her abandoning me. I don’t let on to that to anyone. I am not quite ready to accept that yet.
Chapter 13
Maura
I am having such a great time at college. I have many new friends and Kylie, my first real best friend. There are plenty of superficial snobby people around also. But I can handle them. I had plenty of experience. Kylie and I have lots of invitations to college events. We are shoe-ins to the top sororities and lots of male attention both Frosh and upperclassmen. We have made a lot of connections and are enjoying the notoriety.
I had kept up conversations with Zack and thought about him often until my midterm scare. I had told him about my fear of failing more than one midterm exam. He, on the other hand, was acing his classes. He had a 4.0 GPA. He had all A’s and was confident in his abilities. I was so embarrassed by my admission to him in late October. He probably thinks I am such a looser. He helped me when I almost failed my Senior year and now, I was doing it again but in more than one class. No way would he still be interested in me! I could tell he thought my extracurricular activities with parties and sororities seemed petty to him. He was studying hard in school and working almost 30 hours a week at the same time. He must think I am immature. He would no way spend his time doing such trivial things.
I was too embarrassed to call Zack anymore after the midterm debacle. I immaturely avoided him. I didn’t want to feel the brunt of his rejection. He hadn’t pursued it anymore and so I left it there. Not the best way to handle things, I know, but the easiest I reasoned. I wondered what would happen when I returned for Thanksgiving or even Christmas break. I wondered if he would even notice I was home.
Zack
My mom had been pestering me to come to New York City for Thanksgiving weekend. She even suggested I bring Maura. Ha! If only! Maura hasn’t spoken to me for weeks. She is obviously over the fling we had. It wasn’t just a fling to me, but I know now, that is how she perceived it to be. So, I dread the occasion I will have to run into her with another guy, especially if it is Cameron or Mason. With this in mind, I call my mom and accept her invitation for Thanksgiving weekend. I need to be far away from here when she returns.
I leave for New York City on Wednesday morning. I take the train and my mom picks me up with a car service from the station. We go to her apartment and I drop my bag in the spare room I use when I stay here. She grabs me a soda and we sit in the living room with palatial windows showcasing the spectacular view of Central Park. We talk about school and how well I am doing. I inform her that I was accepted into the Engineering program at State University for the Spring semester. I should have applied to more than just that school in hindsight, but I didn’t. She is thrilled to hear about my GPA and acceptance. She beams,” Now you can be with Maura also!” I wince at her suggestion.
I swallow hard and decide to tell my mom the entire truth about Maura. I need to tell someone. She listens thoughtfully and when I tell her the part about her calls stopping, she is saddened. I know my mom liked her and hoped we would last. Mom thought about everything for a minute and then spoke. “I know that you really felt something for this girl. You may feel like she just used you to get away from her old friends and move on, but she helped you also,” she explained. “You changed your path as well. A few months ago, you were set on hanging in your dad’s basement smoking pot and working in construction,” she blurted out. I was shocked she knew all that. She looked at me knowingly, “Now you are a college student on the Dean’s list and planning a career in Engineering!” she beamed proudly. “I bet none of that would have been on your radar if it weren’t for Maura. People come into our lives for a reason. Anyhow, that campus is massive. You may never even run into her there. Isn’t she a science major?” she asks. “Yes, nursing,” I reply. “Well there you go. Engineering majors will be taking classes in totally different buildings.” She was probably right. She went to school there, she knows. I should not let this thing with Maura affect my education.
We continue talking in her living room until David arrives home from work. He is glad to see me. He quickly changes and we go out to dinner at a restaurant a block from their building. We talk some more over dinner. David is overjoyed at the news of how well I am doing in school and my acceptance into the Engineering program. He tells me to give the bursar’s office at State his name and address for all tuition expenses. He reiterates his commitment to handle those costs for me. I extend my gratitude, and we have a pleasant meal together.
When I return home Sunday afternoon, my dad and Dana are there. Dana greets me warmly as she always does. My dad asks how the weekend went. I tell him it was actually a nice visit. I tell him how I spent a lot of time talking with my mom and even David. I tell dad and Dana that I feel like I have made a connection with both my mom and David that weekend that eluded us in prior visits. My dad seems pleased with that admission.
Dad then says, “We have some news also.” I look at them expectantly as they both look at me pensively. “Dana and I are going to live here in this house permanently. Her lease is up on her condo and it makes more sense for us to live together since we pretty much do anyhow. This house has more room and I already own it,” my dad says. Dana chimes in, “I hope we don’t cramp your style too much! I know you have had this place almost to yourself for a while now.” I smile at her, “Yes I have! But I am going away to school in January anyway. It makes complete sense for you two to live here.” Dana smiles and gives me a hug. “And we will miss you!” she says.
Maura
I return home on the train on the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. Mom picks me up at the station with Ava in tow. They are overjoyed to see me! Ava hugs me tighter than she ever had before. “I’ve missed you so much!” Ava sobs. “I missed you too!�
�� I say. As we drive home, I catch them up on everything I’ve been up to at school. Mom says, “Well it sounds like you have been having a great time!” I answer, “I really have Mom. It’s been great!” Ava asks, “Have you spoken to Hotty?” referring to Zack. “Not lately,” I answer honestly. “Really?” mom asks. “I didn’t know that. Is it over?” she asks. “I think so. We never officially ended it, but we haven’t spoken in weeks,” I offer sadly.
When we get home, Liam is already there and Brendan saunters in an hour later. It is wonderful being at home with my entire family again. I really miss them. When mom and Ava are out of earshot, Brendan whispers to me and Liam, “I am getting a tattoo tonight! Do you guys want to come?” “What!” I ask. “Really?” “Yes, a Celtic cross on my upper arm,” he says. “I have been in contact with this guy at a tattoo shop here that drew me an awesome design! I have an 8 o’clock appointment with him. You guys in?” Brendan asks. “Definitely!” Liam says enthusiastically. “OK I’m in too,” I answer.