CHAPTER 11: Never judge a book’s cover, they lie too
2171 Words
LIAM
“Okay what now?” Odessa says when I walk through the diner doors.
Her shift is over in 23minutes, she’s not that busy but the place still has a few customers.
“What do you mean?” I sit by the counter and she gets change from the register.
“Am I on suicide watch? I see you more than I see Jess and Mecca now,” she puts the change in the bill book. “And I live with them Liam.”
“I admit we’ve ran into each more—”
“You made me buy you lunch yesterday.” She gives the other waiter the book. “What’s really going on Griffith? Why are you in my face?”
“Damn Odie,” I touch my chest. “You’re a different person at work.” I shake my head in mock disbelief.
“Liam…” she pops her hip clearly not in the mood for my shenanigans.
“Is it so bad that I’m here?” I pick up the laminated menu.
“Yes,” she scoffs getting a glare from me. “Come on. Tell me why you’re really here.”
“If you must know, my dear Vecker. I plan on making you love me till you stalk me and force me to be your friend,” she finally smiles.
There’s my girl.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here because Jessica took my car to go to an audition in Boston so I need a ride home.” She’s wiping the counter now.
“And I’ll gladly give it to you if you accept the fact that we are indeed friends.”
“How about a free slice of key lime pie and my real middle name instead?” I fake gasp because I knew she gave me the wrong one.
Olivia doesn’t sound Russian at all.
“How about your real middle name, the pie, me giving you a ride home only if you admit we’re friends because I’m here to tell you I’m dropping my catfish hunt.”
“What?” She freezes mid-plating the slice, “are you really?”
I knew it would get a reaction.
“Yes. I thought why look for the copy when I have the original.” I put down the menu, “so what do you say?”
I don’t know why I’m nervous but I am and I hate it.
“Jessie, can you get my friend a fork as I attend table 4?” She puts a plate of pie in front of me with a smile.
“Of course.” Jessie walks into the kitchen as my friend walks away.
ODESSA
“So I need your help,” Liam says.
We are on a bench in the quad. He caught me between classes and brought me frozen yoghurt so I guess we are…hanging out?
“Okay.” I bite an Oreo.
“Olivia Fisher asked me on a date and since the last time I took a girl out she ended up walking in the rain in expensive shoes…”
“…ah memories.” I sarcastically chime out.
“Smartass,” he bumps my shoulder. “But I was wondering if you could suggest a place for the date,” my smile falls.
He wants me to do what?
“Don’t you have a house full of horned up teammates that can help?” I want to ask who Olivia is but it’s none of my business.
“I do but I’ve never really had a female friend, I want to take advantage,” he smiles proudly. “Now if I was taking you out, where would you want to go?”
“I don’t know, ice skating. Maybe dinner or a movie or both.” I shrug honestly uninterested.
I haven’t been on a date since sophomore year so he’s asking the wrong friend here.
“If it was you, would you like any of that?” I give him a look but his face stays the same.
Why does he keep saying it like that? It has nothing to do with me, right?
“I guess.” I lick my spoon and give it a thought. “Why don’t you ask Olivia what she wants to do? It’s her date.”
“She wants me to surprise her, I’m picking her up at 8PM.”
We switch cups.
“Do ice skating then a dinner. It’s an activity you can talk about as you eat, especially if you both suck at it.” I chew the gummy bears I find on the bottom of his cup.
He hates chewy candy so I know he got them for me.
“That’s a good idea actually.” He bites an Oreo topping, “the boys wouldn’t have never come up with that.”
I wonder why.
Liam texts me about his date all night. The dinner portion of their date is at Mickey’s but they sit at one of Jessie’s tables so it’s not so bad.
“I can’t believe Liam is on a date with Olivia Fisher.” Jessie sneers at the petite girl with platinum hair that’s sitting across from Liam.
“Why? Look at them, they look perfect for each.”
They are both blonde and have tanned skin even though there is barely sun in Oakwood. Their children are going to be so accurate it’s going to be considered genetically creepy.
“She’s a jersey chaser, everyone knows that.” She’s making a strawberry daiquiri so her voice is meshed with the blender.
“So she dates a lot of athletes. There’s nothing wrong with having a preference.”
Living with two girls has taught not to hate on someone’s game, especially another woman’s. It’s a tough world for a girl.
“There is when you don’t even like the person or sports.” Jessie scoffs. “She just wants the popularity and money that comes with being with the player.”
“How do you even know all this?” I’m wiping a fork and knife for my table
“She was my roommate freshman year and her literal obsession was bagging Liam, heir of the Griffith Group and assumed first pick at the NBA draft. She didn’t even deny choosing Oakwood because of him.”
Considering he is the ‘campus playboy’ I have a feeling it’s a lot of girl’s obsessions not just Olivia, but I keep that part to myself.
“Why couldn’t she bag him before?” I’m looking at Olivia with new eyes now.
Full faced make up, manicured nails, a good rack and curvy body. She has a girly but cute personality that guys eat up, I wonder if it’s real now?
“She hadn’t gotten her boob job yet. Now she has double D’s that will no doubt be on his face tonight.” I’m surprised she’s not spitting into her drink. “I just know she came here to show off at me.”
“Maybe she really likes him.” I hand her some straws.
“And maybe she didn’t kiss the Chemistry TA so he’d bump her grade up, freaking skank.” She walks away with her tray.
Is it true? Is the girl Liam on a date with really using him? And if so, should I say something about it. He does consider us friends, even though I’d use the term loosely with us.
“How was your date last night? You stopped texting once you left the diner which I also have to ask why you were there in the first place.”
We’re in Target. It’s my turn to do the monthly grocery shopping and since Tommy needed the house for a date, Liam offered to come along.
“Good actually. She blew me in the parking lot.” He smiles proudly, “and she’s the one who wanted to come there and I didn’t mind because the food is good.”
“Classy.”
“But we didn’t have sex.” He picks up a brand of almond milk America hates. “I forgot to pack a condom and I wasn’t risking it.”
“Smart.” I say under my breath and pick up the right brand.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His attention is on the shopping list.
“Huh?” I’m looking at the low-fat yoghurts now.
“You said it was smart, like you’re implying something about Olivia.” He looks at me, “what? You don’t like her or something?”
“What? No,” my voice is too high.
“Good because she adores you,” he goes back to looking at the list.
She does?
I make a face because Olivia doesn’t know me. She didn’t even bother to address me last night when Liam said goodbye at the diner.
“If you have something you need to say, cough it up Vecker.” He frowns when he sees my expression.
“Why are you getting so worked up?” I push the trolley since he wants to be dramatic.
“Because you clearly have a problem and I want you to be honest with me.” He steps in front of me. “What do you want to say about Olivia?”
He’s pushing for an answer and I really have no reason to keep quiet because technically, he’s asking for it.
“Fine.” I look up to face him. “You’re dating a skank Liam.” I circle around him and keep moving.
“A what?” He’s next to me in 2 steps.
“A skank Griffith.” I repeat without hesitation. “S-K-A-N-K.”
I look nonchalant but I am very annoyed by him. I’m not the type of person who calls other girls names but if the shoe fits… Olivia is wearing them.
“Excuse you?” We’re in the ice cream section now.
“Oh come on, you have to know she’s jersey chaser.” Or a gold-fame digger. “Having s*x with her raw is the dumbest thing you could do.”
I’m looking at the flavors through the glass but I can barely concentrate with his scowl over me.
“You’re a music major. Do you even what that means?” He shuts the fridge door when I try to open it.
“It means she’s a skank that only dates people like you to trap with a baby or an STI scandal. Either way I’d say you skip this one.” I push him out of the way and grab a vanilla tub.
“Wow,” he walks to the other fridge and takes out 2 more tubs. “If I knew you’d be jealous, I would have kept quiet about it.”
Campus fool say what?
“Jealous?” I grab more tubs to keep myself from hitting him. “Of what exactly? And don’t say Olivia because I’ll actually laugh.”
I mean it.
“You clearly haven’t been on a date in a while let alone with an athlete and maybe if you weren’t so stuck up and judgmental you’d get one.”
“Excuse you?”
“You’re hot Vecker. And beautiful and very smart and funny but you’re also cold, like your home country cold.”
Cute.
“And I think it’s because you’re too scared to step off your high and mighty pedestal and give some guy a chance.” He clicks his tongue before adding, “calling people’s daughters a skank. What gives you the right?”
“Wow.” I bite the inside of my cheek to calm down.
“What?” His face is stone cold as he steps forward, “literally what Vecker?”
“Is that what you think of me?” I fold my arms and only get silence which speaks volumes. “Fine.” I fight the lump on my throat. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have judged Olivia, she seems like a great girl.” I turn away and continue walking.
Am I offended? Yes. Do I want to cause a scene in public? No.
“Wait what?” He’s clearly taken aback but my change in tone and mood.
Hint: it’s not a good thing.
“I hope you and Olivia are happy Liam.” I don’t even know which aisle we’re on. Can we go now? I’m ready to check out.” I leave the trolley behind and walk away.
I don’t talk to him during check out or when he adds a stash of candy to the pile. I don’t say a word when we walk to the parking lot to our respective cars or even when he helps me load the car.
Clearly he underestimates the Russian temper that made sure Jessica’s costume designer stopped making clothes that pushed her boobs up. Now, that sexist little s**t runs everything through me if she’s involved.
- Writer
