CHAPTER 3: The call that changed EVERYTHING
1670 Words
ODESSA
“You know, I’m glad I met you Odessa Vecker.” Jessica throws her arm over my shoulder, clearly drunk.
“Me too Jessica Beer.” I slap a soft kiss on her cheek, drunk as her.
We’re hiding on the balcony downstairs as Felix gets us non-alcoholic drinks. He insures he will spike with a lot of alcohol because this party is far from being over.
“The new year is 40seconds away, here you go ladies.” Felix hands us glasses that look like lemonade. “Don’t worry, dad helped me add tequila,” he assures as my phone rings.
I pull it out and to my surprise, Liam’s name is on the screen.
We’ve never called each other before which means I’ve never heard his voice and with good reason too. But curiosity gets the best of me so I press the green button.
“Hello?” I move to the corner for privacy.
“Vecker? I’m not too late right?” There’s a lot of background noise but his deep, rough voice is clear and melts into my ear.
Christ, it’s as smooth as honey.
“Late for what?” I raise my voice when everyone in the house begins counting from 10.
“To do the countdown with you,” he screams to overpower the noise in his background.
“Not really.” I’m not really sure what else to say.
I’m drunk and his voice is making me feel fuzzy and warm despite the cold breeze slapping hair over my cheek.
“5, 4 3…” my family shouts.
“…2,1! Happy New Year!!!” Liam screams along as the night sky fills with fireworks.
“Happy New Year Lee.” I laugh when I hear his friends try to kiss him.
“Thanks Vecker.” I know he’s smiling because I am too. “I’m glad I brought the new year with you.”
His statement makes my breath hitch.
“You are?” I suck on the straw and leave it on half.
“Yeah dude!” he’s still shouting. “And get this, I know you can’t drink so I’m holding a tequila shot in your honor.”
“Actually I’m having tequila disguised as lemonade so I guess we’re having the same thing.”
Why does that make me smile harder?
“Then, cheers!” I hear him down his shot as I finish the rest of my drink. “Damn, that’s hot.” He hisses the same time I clear my throat.
“I’m definitely starting the year with a hangover.” I hear my mom call for us. “I have to go but text me pictures of your night, I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
It sounds like they are having a wild night and I’m so jealous.
“You too Vecker. I want to see proof that you cleared 2 wine crates in 11days.” His warm laugh sounds too amazing. “Goodbye and once again happy new year!”
I click the red button and turn around to find my brother kissing Jessica. Or is my best friend kissing Felix?
I click my tongue, “so she wasn’t kidding about the wine.” I open the camera on my phone knowing America won’t believe me without any proof.
After hugging and wishing festivities to almost everyone in my family, I excuse myself for the bathroom. I find 2messages from America and 7 from Liam, 4 of which are pictures.
America: Happy New Year babe!!
America: Wait, is that Felix? *Laughing emoji* go Jess!
Me: Happy New Year Mecca!
Me: I’m not touching that, she’s kissing my brother. Ew *throwing up emoji*.
I flush the toilet and click on Liam’s messages.
Liam: Really wish you were here Vecker.
Liam: Is it bad we’re starting the new year off drunk?
Liam: Took another shot for you, #send help.
Attached to the message is a picture of someone pouring tequila straight from the bottle, into his mouth.
The second is a balcony picture of him holding a noise maker, in a white crisp button-down shirt and black plaid slim-fit dress pants.
“Of course you look hot,” I bite my lip.
His blonde locks are sleeked back to show the small metal hoops on his ears. That’s how I looked before, the message says.
The third, is of him sleeping in a bathtub with a party hat on. His blonde hair wet as strands fall over his forehead like noodle strings.
That was me an hour ago the message says.
I snort at the last picture as he kisses a mannequin doll that’s holding a beer bottle, my New Year’s kiss (her name is Odie.)
“Classic.” I shake my head and open the camera.
I already sent him a picture of my tequila infused lemonade, so I send the one Jessica took of me earlier after we got ready with the message me last year.
I am in a halter neck black dress and knee length black boots with a block heel. My hair in a knot bun so my gold hoops compliment my burgundy lipstick.
I take a cute selfie after checking my reflection in the mirror and send it to him, with the message me this year.
My hair is down now and my lipstick is faded but I still look nice.
The last picture I send is of me kissing my cup, where I write my new year’s kiss (Liam inspired) before I leave the bathroom.
Yaya immediately takes me to the Hildago's, she has been trying to get me to mingle with Chase's family all week since technically they will soon be apart of our family. I’m too drunk to come up with an excuse, I let her. #sendhelp
LIAM
It’s been 2weeks since Christmas break ended.
We just had our first game back and we won, so coach is treating the entire to team to dinner to celebrate.
“A diner? Coach really is cheap,” John B scoffs as we walk into Mickey’s to find most of the team filling out the place.
“I like it.” I look around the 90’s themed diner with checked floors and neon lights.
“Over here.” Tommy raises his hand by the booth in the corner where he is sitting with Jonathan.
“Do you guys know what’s good here?” I shrug off my jacket as we sit down.
“Diners have good burgers, maybe we should get those?” Jonathan picks up the laminated menu.
“Screw that, I’m getting a large pizza and root beer.” Tommy signals for the waiter.
“Get both, coach is buying.” John B and I snicker.
“Hey, welcome to Mickey’s. May I take your order?”
Our waitress says as I look at the menu. They order first and John B takes his own advice and gets both.
“And what about you?” She asks so I lift my head to find Vecker staring back at me.
“Holy shit.” I blink.
My eyes move to the name clipped to her baby pink uniform and it says Odessa. Did I say s**t? Because s**t!
It’s Vecker! My Vecker?
Her dark raven hair is curly and held back in a messy bun that shows her bright blue eyes and the gold studs on her ears. I knew she was slim but she’s smaller and taller than I expected.
I look down to check if her shoes have a heel but she’s wearing white sneakers—white Stan Smith’s to be exact.
Did I mention, she’s even more beautiful in person because she is.
“Can I get your order?” Her full pink lips curve when she speaks.
“He’ll get a beef burger, medium fries with a side of wings. Medium hot.” I hear John B say as I stare at her.
I can’t believe she works here. I never even knew that and this place is like 17minutes away from campus.
“Okay and to drink?” She’s writing on her little notepad with a pink number 2 pencil.
“Coke, large.” Jonathan adds and she walks away.
“Dude! What’s your deal?” Tommy kicks me under the table as I follow her with my eyes. “I mean she’s hot but did you have to blank out?”
“Hold on.”
I stand and walk to the counter where she’s pouring our drink orders and coach is enjoying a coffee with his wife.
“Hey?” I rake my hair back in attempt to fix it.
I did not expect to meet her like this. Fresh from a game with wet hair and an outfit I put on last minute but it’ll have to do.
“Hi.” Vecker’s smile nearly cripples me because I realize she doesn’t recognize me. “Did you want to add to your order?”
“No actually,” I lean in as I feel my housemates’ eyes on me. “I’m Liam Griffith.”
“Cool,” she puts the drinks on a tray. “I’m Odessa,” she points at her nametag.
The way she pronounces it (Oh-day-siah) is different from the way I’ve said it, her accent even slips a little so I get why she has people call her something else.
But I still say “no, you’re Vecker as in my friend—”
“I’m sorry I think you have me confused.” I don’t even get to continue, “I mean my name is Odessa Vecker but I have never seen you before.”
But I’m Liam Griffith? I want to say, everyone knows me.
“My mistake,” I say instead. “Are these for our table?” I point at the tray of drinks and she nods so I pick it up and walk back to my booth.
- Writer
