Fionn's Hart

By Kelly Lee Casey

Melody, or Mel, as everyone calls her, is a student at St. Patrick’s University. She has great friends, a steady boyfriend, and a rewarding job on campus.
Her life looks quite put-together from the outside, and that’s exactly how she wants it. Having a less than ideal childhood, with very little recollection of her life before she was adopted at the age of six; Mel is now a driven, confident college senior. After losing the people closest to her, due to a mix of circumstance and vice, she now has everything back on track, with a bright future ahead.
There’s just one problem...him.
He’s a fellow co-ed at St. Pat’s and a womanizing party boy extraordinaire. With the wheel of fate forever spinning its ironic games, he also happens to be her blue-eyed, charismatic, hotter than hell neighbor. Storming through his front door one night, interrupting the out of control riot he calls a ‘get-together’, Melody orders him to take the noise down to a respectable level. With a flash of his enigmatic, sexy smile, he laughs off her demands, suggesting she 'get a life’ and maybe a vibrator too.
He was not a man Melody went looking for, but she found him anyway. From the moment they went toe to toe in the middle of his crowded living room, she knew he threatened to turn her carefully guarded world upside down, at a time when she so desperately needed stability and peace. If only she had known just how right her instincts were.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Lee Casey
• Release date: Jul 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9780463407080

Kelly Lee Casey

Although it was something I have always loved, writing was not my chosen profession. I was happy with my other career for nearly fifteen years until I faced some personal setbacks and began to take stock of my life. Stressed over the usual (and not so usual) problems that come with just living, I think I wanted to escape reality just a little, so I picked up Fifty Shades of Grey. It was the first novel I read in the genre and I was hooked. I began reading Romance novels voraciously, I still do. Then something occurred to me, I thought to myself that I could possibly write one on my own. I don’t know why I felt this way, but on Christmas Day, 2013, the idea for my first novel popped into my head. Everything flowed, the story, the characters and even some of the dialogue. Realizing that this sort of thing does not happen everyday, at least not to me, on December 26th I sat down at my laptop and never looked back. I finished this first book rather quickly (self-editing took a long time, something I would prefer to not have to do again) and I am now currently working on three more novels. I have never been happier...I'm also a sucker for happy endings, a lover of strong coffee, late nights and any good conversation that stays rattling around in my brain for awhile...

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© 2016

By Kelly Lee Casey

Edited by Angel Edits

Line Editing and Proofreading by Pamela Cunningham PA

Cover Design by Graphic Design by Pam

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Fionn’s Hart

Copyright © 2016 Kelly Lee Casey

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the Author. Any violation of the international copyright law is subject to criminal prosecution, fines, and/or imprisonment.

This e-book is licensed to the original purchaser and for personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with anyone else, please purchase another copy for each individual reader. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters in this book are completely fictional. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is completely coincidental. It is a work of the author’s imagination.

Dedication

For my Dad, you are loved and missed, always.

For Pam, my real life Jules. Your friendship, help, and support mean the world to me. You are the Lucy to my Ethel, and the Ethel to my Lucy.

For my mom and sister, thank you for the encouragement.

For my children, everything I do, I do for you, always.

For Vince, you know why.

And for those that believe in the possibility of soul mates.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Playlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Playlist

I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Wet Sand by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Meet Me At The Corner by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel

My Mind Is Ramblin by The Black Keys

Everlong by Foo Fighters

Can’t Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley

Vienna by The Fray

Higher Love by Three Legged Fox

At Last by Etta James

Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift

You Da One by Rihanna

Elastic Heart by Sia

I Miss You by Blink-182

Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg

Give Up The Ghost by Radiohead

Chapter 1

THERE’S NO ESCAPING the near deafening racket coming from next door. At this point, any attempt to finish studying for my exam is futile. The walls have been pounding with the loud music for hours and my head is starting to do the same. Unable to take it anymore, I storm out of my apartment and barge right into the open-door party, looking for him. I spot him sitting across the room making out with a blonde. When they finally come up for air, him turns his head and does the shot he’s got in his hand. I cringe at the rudeness of it, as if he needed to wash the taste of her out of his mouth immediately. Don’t these women have any self-respect? I will surely see her doing the ritual walk of shame tomorrow morning… smudged makeup, disheveled hair and clothes, the vague, but sheepish expression that says, Shit, I just got used. I’ve seen it over and over again for the past two years. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Girl Scout by any stretch of the imagination, but I worked too hard to get into college to have him get in the way of my grade point average.

Obviously, luck is not on my side. Him has been my neighbor since our sophomore year—two long years of this guy and his boorish, disrespectful behavior. Damn, I really must have screwed up in a previous life to have to suffer what feels like some karmic punishment.

He sees me walk in. I know I don’t look happy, but the wide-eyed look of fear I get from him is not something I was expecting. He stands up suddenly, forgetting his tongue-wrestling partner nestled in his lap, and she is knocked to the floor on her butt. He glances down and helps her up, but then takes a step toward me. I stop in my tracks. In a fraction of a second, him’s expression of anxious uncertainty changes to one of, I’m gonna charm the panties right off of her. I want to wipe that over-confident smirk right off party-boy’s face. Him doesn’t know who him is dealing with.

I really need to stop calling him him in my head. I know he has a name. Shane. Shane Young, but he’s been such an irritant in my life for so long now, I just don’t think he deserves to be addressed as a friend. He hasn’t earned it from me.

Shane walks toward me, pushing his way through the drunken crowd, and the corners of his mouth turn up into a lopsided grin. What the hell is he smiling at?

Hey, Red, he coos to me.

I have a name, you know. Yes, I realize this comment is completely hypocritical.

I know. I just like calling you Red. Something about a redhead… He trails off and grins.

Yes, keen observation. You’re a clever one, Shane. Listen, I know you like to cram as many parties between classes, penicillin shots for STDs, and hopefully for you, some AA meetings, but some of us need to study and get some rest, even on Saturday nights. I know that may sound like a sacrilege, but if you don’t take this riot down to a reasonable level, I promise I’ll make your life a living hell.

I think I hear him say, You already have, under his breath.

Huh, what was that? I ask.

Uh, nothing. He waves me off.

Speak up, mumbles.

Listen, why don’t you take the vibrator out of your ass, grab a drink, and get yourself laid. Loosen up, Red. You’re too young to be so fucking old.

Fuck you. Just keep your downward spiral into a wasted life saturated in alcoholism and anonymous sex at a lower volume, and I’ll go back to that vibrator of mine and leave you alone.

At this moment, we both look around and notice that half the party is staring at our little back and forth. Blondie pushes her way to Shane’s side and crams her enormous fake boobs up against part of his back.

Boring cunt. Blondie sneers at me.

She didn’t even have the balls to step out from behind the protective wall that is Shane to insult me. She just sort of muttered it, half into his shoulder, half in my direction. If you’re going to call someone a cunt, you should do it with conviction and gusto. A strong word like that deserves no less. Am I right?

Well, is your cunt an exciting one? You know, since you quite obviously put it to such good use—with so many, I shoot back at her.

Get out, Shane says bluntly.

Oops, I guess I went too far with that comment. I’m about to turn around and leave, but then I realize he isn’t speaking to me.

He’s looking at Blondie. I said get out.

Me? Why? she whines at him.

I don’t like what you called my friend.

Our spectators’ curious glances bounce between Shane and me. I’m sure I look more surprised than anyone else does. Did he just refer to me as his friend? What is this guy on?

Blondie slaps him across the face before running out the door. I almost feel bad for her. That was probably one of the most awkward moments I have ever witnessed in my life, and that’s saying a lot.

Shane turns toward me. He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but instead walks away. He grabs a beer and heads into his bedroom. I look at his roommate Paul. He shrugs, obviously just as perplexed as everyone else.

All eyes are back on me. I figure my work here is done, so I shrug back at Paul. I grab my own drink as I’m heading out and notice Shane watching me from behind his partially closed door. He raises his eyebrow and then his bottle, like he’s toasting me. I toast him back before I take one long, drawn-out swig of my ice-cold beer, and I make my exit.

Chapter 2

I WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING with my face smashed into my textbook. Glasses bent, cheek stuck to the page, with drool down my chin, I look at the time. Seven o’clock.

I lie there for a while trying to go back to sleep, but I can’t stop thinking about last night’s disturbing dream, the same one I’ve had many times before. It always begins the same way. I’m at the park. I’m young, maybe five. The day is bright, and the glare from the sunshine blinds me as I play on the swings. I feel nothing but warmth as I pump my legs and squint my eyes. With a flash of brilliant light, the whole scene shifts. The skies darken with wet, heavy clouds. I’m not at a park anymore, but I’m still outside. I’m holding a man’s hand; he’s tall and has a beard. We’re walking down a street behind two women; one with long, auburn hair like mine and the other with shoulder-length dark hair. I scream as another flash of light blinds me, and I fall hard and fast to the ground. That’s it. The dream always stops abruptly at that point, and I jolt awake scared and breathing heavily. I’ve had it for years, like a movie scene set on repeat in my head. I always thought the second part might have to do with my birth parents, but I don’t remember them. I know very little about either one, other than they both died young.

I shake off the memories, and my mind drifts to thoughts of yesterday’s showdown with Shane. After I left, I heard him yell to the crowd to clear off the lawn and for the rest of his inebriated guests to keep it down, just before his door slammed shut. I’m appreciative but cautious. I know guys like this. The minute they do something nice for you, they want something in return. I know it will come; I just can’t imagine what he would possibly want from bookish, no bullshit me.

I think I may intimidate guys sometimes, I’m not unattractive though…at least I don’t think I am. I’ve been told my long, thick, reddish-brown hair is one of my best features, along with my large green eyes. I’m almost on the short side, barely 5’4", with a decent, somewhat curvy figure, that I try to keep fit despite my crazy schedule. I may look soft on the outside, but I’ve been told I’m a little tough on the inside. I call people out on all sorts of bad behavior, and I guess I’ve developed a bit of a reputation for being difficult. I don’t mind. The persona serves me well, weeding out anyone that may not have my best interests at heart. If someone can’t be upfront and honest about who they are and what they want, I have no time for them. I know that may come off as cold, but I think it’s more of a defense mechanism at this point in my life. So, it irks me that I can’t figure out what Shane will eventually want from me. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to do a favor for no reason, and last night was huge. I’ve never seen him kick out party guests before, or tell anyone to keep it down for that matter. So why last night? Why me? I don’t understand how he even gets away with the stuff he does. The cops have been called on him a few times, but nothing ever came of it. He must know someone on the police force; that would at least make sense.

Maybe I do need to get a life, or at least a vibrator like Shane suggested. I know too much about what goes on in these apartments, which just proves to me I’m home way too much. I know in the end all the hard work will pay off, but I’ll have to talk to that boyfriend of mine about maybe getting out a little more than we have lately.

You’re an asshole!

A woman yells outside. I’m on the second floor, but she is so loud I can tell she’s right in front of my apartment. For a second, I think it’s Blondie coming back to exact some verbal revenge on me for being kicked out of the party last night.

Keep it down. Shane’s voice comes through my open window. There’s no reason to be mad. I told you last night I’m not interested in seeing anyone right now.

For someone telling another person to quiet down, he’s being awfully loud. I want to yell out the window that I can hear his big mouth too.

You’re a pig. You know that, Shane? My friends warned me about you. I’m such an idiot. You know what? You can fuck off, and by the way, you weren’t that good, so don’t kid yourself!

Whatever. Just go, please. I’m done with this little show.

I can’t help myself; I have to know what this walk of Shane winner looks like. I have to see if Blondie swallowed her self-respect and came crawling back last night. I look out the window, but it’s a bad angle. I tiptoe downstairs to get a better glimpse. I crack my front door open and take a peek. It’s not Blondie. Instead I see a girl not so dissimilar in looks to myself. Her hair is brighter red, but she’s the same height and build as me. I don’t know why I’m disturbed by this; it’s not like I haven’t seen every type of girl sneak out of his place, but disturbed I am.

Shane takes a few steps back toward his apartment, but stops in front of my door. Shit! I think he saw me. He turns his head and squints in my direction. The pissed-off redhead arches her neck to inspect the situation.

Get a good earful and eyeful, Mel? he asks me.

Double shit! There is no graceful way to nonchalantly close the door, so I just roll my eyes and shut it. I snicker to myself thinking that last night with Blondie wasn’t really all that awkward. This—Shane and his one-night stand, catching my protruding eyeball in the crack of the door, spying on his misogynist moment—this is awkward.

The redhead speaks again. Mel…Mel…Mel? Hey, you were babbling Mel in your sleep last night. I thought you were dreaming about a guy and maybe you were secretly gay. I guess you’re just hung up on your neighbor, huh? Hey, Mel, is it?

Fuck, now she’s addressing me.

He’s all yours, honey. Good luck with that shit!

Okay, did I say awkward? What I meant to say was really fucking awkward!

I press my forehead against the door. I’m afraid to move or make a noise.

Mel.

Crap.

Mel, she’s gone. He pauses for a second. I know you’re right there. I can hear you. I’m sorry about that—her, whatever…

I open the door; I can’t resist.

No worries, party boy. So I guess you’re crushing on me pretty badly if you’re calling out my name in your dreams.

He’s bright red. Holy shit, I made tough guy blush.

Get the fuck over yourself. I don’t know what she was talking about. But I can tell you, if I did say your name in my sleep, it was because of a nightmare.

You’re a nice shade of deep pink there, Shane, almost magenta. He furrows his brow at me and I add, Anyway, you wear it well.

Bite me, Red. The bitchy, bland bookworm type isn’t really for me.

He’s defensive; I must have struck a nerve.

Your alliteration doth protest too much, me thinks.

Whatever, Shakespeare. Listen, I’m sorry if we woke you, that’s all.

That’s all I get as a response? He must be hung-over. Never in the past two years has he missed an opportunity to one-up my comebacks. I back off since he did get everyone to keep it down last night.

Okay, Shane. It’s fine. I was up anyway.

Um yeah, alright…

He scratches his head and gives me a weird look. I think he’s about to say something else, but he turns back toward his apartment and leaves.

I close my door and consider what just happened. I embarrassed him. I embarrassed Shane Young. I didn’t think that was possible. He’s not exactly the shy type. So many people I meet, on and off campus, seem to know who he is. As soon as anyone finds out where I live, they invariably ask if I know Shane.

I remember one girl nearly began to stalk me in my Art in Western Civ class. She would make sure to get a seat next to me during the lectures and then try to pump me for info about him. What is he like? Is he nice, or is he as much of a dog as all the girls say he is? At first I was sort of polite and told her to go knock on his door and ask him those stupid questions herself. When that didn’t work, I told her flat-out to fuck off. I guess I deserve the bitchy reputation I have. I just can’t take stupidity, especially when it comes from otherwise seemingly intelligent women trying to become another notch on party boy’s bedpost.

There’s no denying Shane Young’s great looking, but so are a lot of men on campus, and I’m sure they don’t get nearly the amount of action he does. He has dark brown, nearly black hair, and he keeps it buzzed short. He’s tall, probably around six foot, and his body is toned and muscular, but not so much you could mistake him for a gym rat. Shane’s eyes are really beautiful though. They’re an intense cobalt blue, framed by long dark lashes and expressive eyebrows. But he emits an obnoxious sort of confidence, which I hate. It’s like he knows he can get away with anything he wants and probably does. I distrust anyone that projects that level of self-entitlement to the world.

***

I get dressed and head out to meet my boyfriend, Craig Olsen. Craig is smart and funny. He’s also tall and handsome, with short, dark blond hair that has a bit of a curl to it. We grew up together here in upstate New York and have been a couple since our sophomore year in high school.

I’m meeting him at the Honeycomb café, right next to campus. It’s a lot smaller than the cafeteria, but always busy. They brew strong specialty coffee and sell the best pastries in the area.

I see Craig through the window of the café and smile. He’s sitting with our friends Carly, Jules, and her boyfriend, Kevin. We’ve all been close for a long time, having grown up in the same small town. So when the five of us were accepted into St. Patrick’s University, we jumped at the chance to be able to stay together. It’s the best of both worlds. St. Pat’s is about seventy-five miles away from our hometown; close enough to visit, but far enough for some independence. The fact that we could be a support system for each other our first time away from home was a bonus.

At the moment though, I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping for some one-on-one time with Craig. Our schedules have been so hectic lately, it’s been more than a week since we’ve seen each other.

I stand outside looking at him through the window for a minute before going in. He looks older than he actually is, but he wears the maturity well. Craig’s chatting with Carly when he glances up, catching my gaze. He flashes a wide, toothy smile in my direction, and as soon as I walk in the door of Honeycomb, he’s all over me. Craig grabs me into a bear hug, my feet lifted from the floor. He spins me around and gives me a big wet kiss. And as much as I like the attention, I’m kinda surprised by this public display of affection. It’s never been his style. But I let it go and enjoy the moment.

How was your night, Mel? Head stuck in those books again? Carly asks me before I even have the chance to say hello.

Well good morning to you too.

Yeah, well, some of us are here for more than a party, Carly.

Ugh, you take everything too seriously. Lighten up. You’ve got a hot man here, that you left alone on a Saturday night, she quips back, and Craig shoots her a look.

How do you know he was alone? I ask as Jules very kindly hands me my favorite extra dark brew.

She starts to sputter out an answer, but Craig jumps in to tell me he was at Finn’s Pub having a beer when Carly came in with one of her friends.

Oh yeah? What friend? I ask.

Tina, you don’t know her. She’s from my sorority, she answers quickly.

Whatever. It’s worth sacrificing a few weekends and some parties to get good grades.

Jeez, Mel, you’re the oldest twenty-one-year-old I’ve ever met. You’re missing out, Carly says in a teasing voice, but it has a tone to it, a snide one, and I don’t like it.

What exactly am I missing out on, Carly? Getting drunk and feeling like crap the next day? That got old real fast. But hey, you do your thing.

She’s about to say something back, when Kevin cuts in. So, speaking of parties, I heard the one Shane had last night was insane, totally out of control. Paul said there were people everywhere.

This campus is starting to feel too small. Everyone knows everyone else and their business.

Uh, yeah, I guess it was a little crazy, but Paul’s exaggerating. When I talked to Shane about the noise level, he threw out a bunch of people. It mellowed after that.

The four of them just stare at me with blank expressions.

What? I furrow my brow at them.

That’s the first time you referred to Shane without using some sort of expletive attached to his name, Jules comments. Wait… he kicked people out of his party for you? Impressive. How’d you manage that?

I shrug.

She probably acted all high and mighty, Carly quips.

If you’ve got some sort of problem with me, Carly, speak up. What’s with you anyway, huh? You’ve been real moody.

She flips her long, wavy brown hair over her shoulder. Her dark eyes narrow, her gaze intensifies. But just as quickly as her emotions, her expression changes again and visibly softens.

Nothing. I’m fine, just dealing with some stress. Carly gets up from the table. I gotta get home. See you guys later. She walks away, head down.

I’m glad to see her go, she’s been like Jekyll and Hyde lately, which is totally killing my morning coffee buzz.

Craig turns to me after Carly leaves and asks if I want to catch a movie later. Behind me, I hear the bell on the café door ring, and Jules’ eyes widen.

I turn to see what she’s looking at. It’s Shane. I should’ve known. It seems like wherever I am lately, so is he.

Shane looks right at me and smiles, then to Craig and sneers. Craig raises his chin in a subtle challenge. Shane ignores him, completely unfazed. I get the feeling he’s not crazy about my boyfriend.

Hey, Red. Shane greets me as he passes our table.

Hey, I respond, not bothering to even look up from my coffee mug.

Thought you weren’t friends with that douche? Craig asks, annoyed.

I’m not.

"Well, it seems like if someone has a nickname for you, it’s a pretty friendly thing."

I don’t like the way he emphasized the word thing.

"What exactly do you mean by thing?" I ask him.

"Nuh-thing," he spits back at me.

It’s Sunday morning. I’m here to relax, and now you’re kinda ruining it for me, I tell Craig, irritated.

I said it a bit too loudly, and Shane shakes his head, chuckling.

You shut up! I throw in his direction.

Yes, Melody, he throws back at me, as he makes his way to the barista to get his coffee. Except…Melody came out like m’lady, not Mel-o-dee, which is how my full name is pronounced.

What did you call me? I ask him.

Melody. He pronounces it correctly this time. What, you don’t know your own name? He jokes.

I thought you said something else.

Nope. Shane grins at me.

"You know what, Red? Craig sounds pissed off enough that I’m half expecting steam to come out of his ears. Forget the movie. Maybe you can go with your new buddy over there instead."

You’re serious? I ask him incredulously.

Can you blame me? Craig gets up to leave.

What’s your problem? You know how much he irritates me. Why do you give a shit what he calls me? I glance in party boy’s direction, and the idiot is still grinning at me.

"Screw this, whatever, m’lady." Craig rolls his eyes at me before he turns and walks out.

"What was that about?" Jules and Kevin blurt out at me, almost in unison.

I have no idea, I answer them, wondering the same thing.

Kevin suddenly jerks his head in Jules’ direction, his wire-rimmed glasses sliding down his nose. Hey, weren’t we supposed to be at your sister’s house for brunch like fifteen minutes ago?

Jules’ sister and her husband live right outside of town. They work for the university.

It’s that late already? she responds, looking at her phone at the same time. Shit, she’s gonna kill me. I’m never on time. Do you wanna come with us, Mel? I know she’d love to see you.

Nah, thanks, maybe next time. Tell her hello for me.

Will do. I’ll call you later.

Okay.

Jules and Kevin leave, and I notice Shane staring at me from a few tables over.

What, no snarky comment? I ask, knowing full well he heard every bit of conversation with my friends.

Nah, looks like you could use a break from my considerable charms this morning.

I let out a mix of a snort and a humph in response to his comment. I guess you could call it a snorph.

Do you want to join me? he surprisingly asks.

No thanks, party boy. I’m just about ready to get out of here.

Yeah, probably a good idea. You seem a little cranky, he says playfully, then pauses for a second. So…what exactly crawled up your boyfriend’s ass this morning? he asks with a big shit-eating grin on his face. He obviously knows Craig’s problem was with him.

I know you heard us, Shane. Mind your own business. Don’t you have some early morning drinking or cheap ladies to do?

Ouch, Mel.

My sarcastic comment is still floating in the air overhead, when two ladies walk right in between us and strike up a conversation with him. Well, I guess when you speak of the devil…

With their faces layered in heavy makeup, hair perfectly coiffed and stiletto heels clicking on the tile, the women look absolutely ridiculous on a Sunday morning in this laid-back coffee shop atmosphere. The taller of the two is wearing tight pants, so tight I can nearly see the origin of the world. The other dressed in a skirt short enough, it would be perfectly acceptable to call it a shirt.

I can’t help it; I lean in and listen. I wanna see what kind of game they have and if party boy will bite.

Hey, Shane. How’s it going? Pants coos over his shoulder, practically drooling on him.

What’s up, girl? Do we know each other? He’s smiling, but doesn’t turn his head in their direction. It makes it hard to tell if he’s acting coy or being a jerk. This should be interesting.

We met at a party a few weeks ago, Pants tells him.

Oh yeah? I go to a lot of parties. Which one?

Skirt answers, A kegger at Delta Tau.

Not sure I remember. I meet a lot of people.

Wow, he’s making these women work for it. This is getting really good now.

Anyway, we think you’re incredibly sexy. Can we join you? Pants leans into him, letting her ample cleavage hang in his face.

Shane just looks at her blankly, and then very matter-of-factly says, No. Can’t you see I’m here with my girlfriend?

Where? I didn’t see you with anyone? Skirt questions him, looking around.

She’s sitting right here. And with an absolutely straight face, he points to the empty chair across from him.

There’s no one there. Skirt answers, looking confused.

Just because you can’t see her doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist. In fact, she’s telling me right now that you’re both incredibly rude hitting on me right in front of her.

The two girls look back and forth at each other. I can tell they don’t know whether to be insulted, scared, or to just laugh it off.

After a moment of excruciating silence, their egos finally kick in.

Fuck off! Pants exclaims as Skirt calls him a dick.

Hey! Not cool! My girlfriend said she wants to kick your asses now! He yells after them. Pants gives him the finger as they storm angrily out the door.

I guess there won’t be any new notches on party boy’s bedpost this morning.

He’s smiling at me again. Not his overly confident grin that I’m so used to, but kind of a boyish one. If he didn’t piss me off all the time, I might think it was cute.

I shake my head at him and go back to savoring the last few sips of my coffee. While I’m looking at a few texts on my cell, I sense someone standing over me. I look up, and I’m met with a pair of watchful blue eyes.

Anyone ever told you it’s not polite to sneak up on someone like that?

Ignoring my comment, Shane leans in and says quietly, You know, Melody, I’m not the jerk you think I am. Bending down further to look me directly in the eyes, he adds, And I hate when you call me party boy.

I don’t say anything back. I just watch him leave.

Chapter 3

IRRITATING NEIGHBOR AND THIN WALLS ASIDE, I really do like my apartment. Some people have commented on the strange layout, having to walk up a substantial, narrow, flight of stairs as soon as you walk in the front door, but I think it’s unique. Directly at the top of the landing is my living room; to the left are the small kitchen and bathroom. Some of the apartments, like Shane’s, have two bedrooms. Mine only has one. It’s past the bathroom at the end of a short hallway. It’s quite tiny, but I don’t care. It’s the living room that I love; it’s fantastic. It has a high ceiling, wood floors, and lots of great natural light because of the large glass sliding doors that open up to a good-sized balcony. I love sitting out there, sometimes just watching the world go by.

It’s later Sunday afternoon now, and Jules has stopped over. We’re having a beer out on the balcony and just bullshitting about the day, mostly superficial stuff.

I really love this new look. I compliment her.

Jules recently got her long ash-blonde hair cut into a stylish, angled bob. It frames her oval face really nicely, making her hazel eyes stand out more.

Thanks, yeah, I thought it was time for a change. I wanted something more trendy and mature, since we’ll be graduating soon.

Jules sighs like she doesn’t want to talk about what she’s about to bring up, but she does anyway.

Hey, what’s up with you and Carly? Jules asks.

What do you mean? I play dumb, but I don’t know why.

I don’t know. She seems to be getting on your nerves.

Yeah, maybe. Whenever I open my mouth around her lately, she has to make a comment that seems like it’s supposed to be funny or teasing, but I get the feeling she’s subtly trying to put me down.

Hmm, Jules answers.

What?

I feel the same way. Carly’s been weird with me too. She’s so involved with her sorority now, I barely see her anymore. I still think she’s mad we didn’t join with her. I guess it’s normal. We’ve all met a lot of new people, but I’m feeling a little snubbed.

I’m happy that she’s made some new friends, but if I keep getting her special brand of unsolicited snarkiness, we’re going to have a big problem.

"I didn’t want to tell you, Mel. I was actually kind of embarrassed by it, but the other day in class, she walked right by me with a few of those new friends. I swear she pretended not to see me. When I said her name obnoxiously loud, she finally came over and tried to play it off that she just woke up, hung-over, running late…blah, blah, blah. I know she saw me.

Are you kidding me? What a bitch! Okay, now I’m really having a problem with her attitude. We’ve been friends for too long for her to pull this kind of crap.

I’m getting the feeling she doesn’t think we measure up anymore, Jules comments, looking sad.

Yeah, well next time I see queen bee, I’ll be sure to remind her that we knew her when she was that awkward teenager with a mouth full of braces and a face full of pimples, I tell her.

Jules opens her mouth to say something when the glass doors slide open next to us, and Shane steps out onto his balcony, which adjoins mine.

He looks over and nods individually at us both as he says, Hey, Annie, Lori.

Huh? Jules asks him, looking perplexed.

Well, then, how about Bonnie and Clyde instead? You know, because you two are always together? He grins.

"Yeah, I get it. Funny. I guess that’s better since I actually know who they are," Jules replies.

Shane simply shrugs. He sits down on his Adirondack chair and makes a phone call.

Jules looks at me and scrunches her brow.

Why did he call us Annie and Lori?

I laugh. "They’re two of the main characters from the movie Halloween. He’s a huge fan."

How on earth do you know this?

Thin walls. I hear him blaring horror movies all the time, that one in particular.

Wow, for someone you dislike so much, you sure do know an awful lot about him.

Yeah, I guess I do.

Let me just say that I know he drives you nuts, but I don’t know how you live next to him, see him every day, and not be even the slightest bit attracted to him, at least physically. My God, Mel, he’s gorgeous.

You really think so?

We look over at Shane to make sure he isn’t listening, and he seems to be preoccupied with his call. He looks up and squints at us like he’s trying to figure out what we’re talking about. We go back to our conversation, a bit more quietly now.

Um yeah, I don’t even think it’s a question of whether he is or isn’t gorgeous, he just is. It’s just a fact, like the earth is round and we breathe oxygen. Jeez, have you ever really looked at him? Those blue eyes with the crazy long dark lashes? That body? And damn, what about that ass of his?

"Ugh, not you too, Jules! I hate the way women fawn all over him like he’s so much more special than everyone else. Add in the fact he’s extremely annoying and it’s hard for me to look at him like that."

"Did you ever notice, Mel, that you seem to be the only woman he goes out of his way to be a pain in the ass with, yet he hasn’t hit on you? It’s