CHAPTER 5: Real eyes, realize lies
2184 Words
ODESSA
After applying dry shampoo to give my hair life and rid it of diner grease. I wear a black t-shirt crop top and dark high waisted straight jeans that make my ass (none existent) look great.
Matching the outfit with a cropped leather jacket, dark green ankle boots with a square heel and toe.
I’m on my 2nd glass of pre-game champagne when America’s date knocks on the door. She is in my white off-the-shoulder crop top, a black leather miniskirt and black sandal heels.
Jessica is wearing knee length block boots and a dark brown halter neck, mini dress with a deep back.
“Guys, this is John B.” America introduces when we get inside his black Ford Capri. “And that’s Odie and Jessica, my housemates.”
“Nice to meet you,” he’s looking at us through the rearview mirror.
Okay, side note because John B is a certified hottie.
Cheesy schoolboy grin with a side of dimples. Curly brown hair and hooded brown eyes to match. He also has a sleeve tattoo and some dainty ink on his ring filled fingers.
“Us too.” Jessica tosses her cigarette out the window.
I expect us to go to a party at fraternity row but we pass the campus sign and end up in some dive bar 30minutes away from our house.
“I thought you said we were going to a party?” Jessica shrugs on a long brown jacket.
“This is it.” John B is pointing at the bar we’re standing in front of but all I can focus on is him.
Holy crap, this boy is tall. He must 6’3 if not 6’4ft.
“Tommy won a bet against a prick from Princeton so the father is letting us throw a party at his joint, free of charge.” He connects his hand with America’s.
“Who’s Tommy?” I mouth but she just shrugs as we walk towards the entrance.
True to his word the bar is packed when we walk in. Someone immediately gives us jelly shots as we remove our jackets and look for empty seats.
“Text me when you want to leave.” America waves when John B pulls her away.
“More shots?” Jessica suggests.
“Definitely.” I spot a bar in the opposite direction.
This must be a sports crowd party because most of the males here are either tall or huge, body wise.
“Oh no—no—no.” A tall African-American boy that looks like Keith Powers appears out of thin air. “You guys are getting your drinks express.”
“Excuse me?” Jess arches a perfect brown.
“America sent me.” He smiles and resembles the famous actor even more. “I’m Tommy, well Thomas Ferguson but please call me Tommy.”
“Tommy?” Jessica folds her arms. “How do we really know America sent you?”
“Because John B is my housemate.” He points to the couple dancing by the stage, “and she said, ‘please get Vecker and Jess drinks’ when she saw you walk to the bar.”
He imitates a girly voice that makes Jessica bite a smile.
“Are you Jess and Vecker? Because if you’re not—”
“We are.” I answer, “But what does express mean?”
“It means no line for you two and everything is on the house.” He signals and the bartender puts a tray full of shots in front of us. “Sydney these are my friends, please take care of them tonight.”
“Of course,” the blonde smiles seductively at him.
Jessica sneers probably because she’s looks like she’s in her 30’s while Tommy looks under 21 but I snort because I don’t blame her for flirting.
Tommy is a certified hottie too, if Keith Powers needs a 6’1ft stunt double with great style then he should really call him.
“Thanks.” Jess smiles when Tommy gives her the entire tray. “We’ll be in the corner so keep them coming.”
“Got it,” Sydney nods as we walk away.
“Thanks Tommy.” Jessica hands me a shot glass that I pass to him with a smile.
We finish the tray in record time and decide to dance the night away when some band starts playing on one of the stages. After their 4th song, Jessica ditches me to take a call outside.
I’m walking back to our table when I see John B and America making out. I decide to try a bathroom instead but I bump into something hard, or is it someone hard?
I’m already moving backwards when strong hands grab me and pull me up effortlessly.
“s**t. Are you okay?” Liam’s hands run down the back of my arms.
Of course it’s him.
“Yeah.” I shrug his hands off and nearly stumble back again.
Okay, maybe those shots were a bad idea.
LIAM
After the real Vecker confirmed she didn’t know me and the one on my phone blocked my number (probably because of my voicemails), I started seeing red.
Fortunately, Thomas Ferguson is my housemate and had a bet he wanted to cash in on. Seeing me in a mood just gave him the motivation to do so.
After a few calls, everyone we knew started getting ready while I started the party early. And I mean, I probably cleared a bottle of Jack Daniels early.
As I bump into the real Odessa Vecker who’s in a tiny top. The room begins to spin and all that liquor starts to fight back.
The thick curls that frame her diamond face compliment her pink lips which have fading lip gloss on them and her double lid eyes are sparkling due to the strobe lights.
“What was that?” I see her lips move.
“I asked if you knew Tommy too?” She leans into my ear.
“He’s one of my housemates.” I nod, “you probably don’t remember but he was there at the diner” where I embarrassed myself.
“I thought he looked familiar,” she imitates my nod.
“Look I’m sorry about the catfishing thing.” I know it weirded her out because she has the same ‘deer in headlights’ look from before.
“What?” She screams so I hold her elbow and lead her out to the hall.
“It was loud out there but I said.” I let go when she looks at my hand. “I’m sorry about the catfishing mess.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
I have to remember not to look at her lips because they are full, pink and—Christ I need to get a grip.
“I don’t know.” I press my back against the wall. “I guess I need to hear someone say it.” I shrug. “I really didn’t mean to spring all that on you.”
I feel bad for acting unhinged but I was really losing it. I sort of am now too but it’s for a completely different reason.
“You’re really hurt huh?” I can’t read the tone in her voice.
“I’m not sure yet but it’s not your problem.” I bite my lip, “I’m sorry they got you involved.”
I can’t believe people still catfish.
“It’s okay.” She steps closer when someone passes behind her and everything in me…pauses?
Paralyzed is a better description of what happens to me.
She’s wearing heels so we’re nearly the same height and I can see her eyes more clearly now. They have a little gold in them but the blue overpowers it as her flowery scent enters my nose and fills me.
Odessa is drop dead gorgeous.
How did I not see her before everything? I know Oakwood is big but one would swear she lived in a different planet entirely.
“Listen,” she steps back and lifts her immobility spell. “You’re having a bad night and I know you’re pretty drunk but I think it’s time you get really drunk.”
Her smiles cracks my heart in half because I’ve never seen something so perfect. It’s unintentionally flirty and bright and…I really need to get a grip.
“So what do you say Griffith?” The long field of her eyelashes lift as she looks up at me.
“Really drunk?” I don’t know…I can barely stand straight and she wants to add to it?
“I’m having a piss night too.” She stretches her hand and opens it, “why don’t we get more sloshed and forget the world together?”
The way she says sloshed makes me smile back because her accent slips a little but when she says together—my heart calms for the first time tonight.
“Let’s do it then.” I take her hand and let her pull me away.
Things become blurry after that.
“Morning,” I walk into the kitchen.
“Hey,” John B is making an omelet. “Do you want the highlights or the full story of last night’s Liam show?”
“I have a bruise bigger than your head.” I press an icepack against my back. “Give me everything.”
“Odessa Vecker.” He switches the stove off and puts the omelet on a plate, “we didn’t know it when we were at Mickey’s but it all started with her huh?”
“I’m guessing I broke down and told you everything?”
I’m usually a happy drunk but my heart was very heavy last night. My head wouldn’t shut up too, I won’t be surprised if I caused a scene.
“Dude. You broke down and told the whole bar everything.”
What?
“You want the full story? Lucky for us Tommy records everything so here,” he gives me Ferguson’s iPad. “Watch the show, live.”
“Who’s the omelet for? You hate eggs.” I eye the plate he’s adding fruit to.
“Watch the video to find out.” John B bites a grape and walks out.
I press play and the video starts with Vecker and I dancing. I look so happy and free, I’m smiling just watching us jump up and down to rock band playing on stage.
It cuts to her sitting at the bar alone as I sing a Post Malone song on stage and everyone cheers me on, even though I suck.
“Damn. It’s not even a karaoke bar,” I click my tongue and fast forward till I’m back at the bar with Vecker as we shoot shots.
The video cuts again to the Princeton center bumping John B which makes his drink spill over America’s white top. The camera turns upside down as, me, Tommy, Jonathan, and the rest of the team appear by his side but then it cuts to us in the parking lot walking.
“We just kicked Princeton ass and got kicked out.” Tommy is recording in selfie mode as John B kisses America in the background.
I’m guessing it’s her omelet.
“And we’re piss drunk.” The camera moves to me but I trip and fall which makes Vecker and her friend gasp in horror as Tommy laughs.
No wonder, I have a bruise.
Jonathan is the one to help me up and I’m about to stop the video when I hear myself start talking,
“First I get catfished then this,” I’m frowning.
The angle of the video is crooked which means Tommy dropped his phone but it continued recording without him noticing.
“Let’s get you home G.” Jonathan dusts me off.
“I’m so upset.” I say to no one in particular. “I am so mad and I don’t even know what to do because she’s right there.”
I point at Vecker and everyone looks at her.
“What are you talking about?” Vecker’s red haired friend, I think her name is Jessica is the one asking.
“Someone catfished me using Odessa’s pictures and profile.” I actually say her name the way she does in Russian.
Good job drunk Liam.
“That person became my best friend and today I found out it was all a lie.” My heart sinks as I recall the whole thing.
I can’t believe with Odessa’s efforts to cheer me up last night, I still embarrassed her in front of all our friends and apparently an entire bar.
“It was all a lie,” the audio continues when the screen turns black.
“Come on cap,” its Jonathan’s voice that reacts. “Let’s get you to bed.”
I put the iPad down and stare at the bruise on the side of my back.
Bad job drunk Liam.
- Writer
