The Boyfriend List

Chase Tyler

“Things I love about Chase Tyler: His Extraordinary Knowledge of Star Wars. Kitschy but cute.”

“So, tell me,” I asked with hushed tones as the class formally began.  “What made you pick this college? I mean, it’s not exactly on your side of the country.”  And we weren’t.  Which was odd.  Last I had read, he had been in LA for the last ten years, so what would make him pick the East Coast?

“It’s a long story.” He quietly answered, a small smile twisting his lips. I nodded, hoping that he would see how sincere I was. 

“Well, I can’t say that I’m not excited to be here. Chemistry is basically my life,” I coyly let a subtle laugh, placing the bait. “So, I hope this year we can get along. As long as you don’t get in my way, we’ll be just fine.”

Chase’s ears perked as the last words left my mouth. I smiled, congratulating myself on the bait placement.

“As long as I don’t get in your way?” He asked with eyebrows raised. “Geeze. All right,” he laughed. “That’s not what I expected.”

“You’ll find that I’m rarely what people are expecting.” I flipped my long mahogany hair over my shoulder, creating a barrier between us.

I heard Ravi snort a few rows ahead of us. “That’s the truth,” he grumbled under his breath. I let it slide, wanting to avoid that cistern of drama at all costs.

The rest of the class went by smoothly. We all picked up our books and were walking out. I half expected Chase to rush up behind me, and ask to borrow my meticulous notes. But alas, he did not.

It was Ravi that was pinching my elbow.

“Ow!” I jerked my arm from his grasp. “That was a little aggressive!”

“What are you doing, Eloise?” He towered over me.  “You’re making yourself look stupid. Get a grip before you really embarrass yourself.”

“Ravi Patel! I never—”

“And you never will.” He spat. Knocking his way further down the crowded atrium, I watched his back disappear around a corner.

“That was weird.” I heard Chase’s musical voice lilt above the hub. “What’s his damage?”

Beckoning my most beguiling brave face, I told him. “I think he’s still in love with me. It was a hard break up, and it’s one that he’s not quite over.”  I tried my best to look concerned, but inwardly I was leaping. He spoke to me.

“You must’ve really broken his heart.” Chase suggested.

“It was a long time ago. I don’t know what else to do.” I sighed before continuing down the path.

I heard his feet scrape across the pavement as he rushed to catch me for the second time. “I don’t know what his problem would be. You seem pretty great to me.”

“I try,” I shyly admitted. “Well anyways. It was nice to meet you. I’ll let you get back to your next class. See you next time, OK?”

“Wow.” I heard him say. 

Looking back over my shoulder, I threw a questioning look. “What?”

“Oh, nothing.” He was grinning. “I just think I’m going to like it here.”

I grinned as big as I could manage. “I hope you do.”

Perfect execution.

“Chase! Omg, is that Chase Tyler?!” I heard their voices before I saw their bodies. Leaping over the nearest railing, I dashed for the library entrance. Safely inside, I quickly made my way to the top of the stacks. “Shew.” 

I didn’t know what it would take to get some peace. I really thought that if I left LA, the paparazzi would stay behind as well. But it was never going to be that easy for me. I heard a chuckle coming from further back behind the book walls. “That was quite the landing you made there.”

I looked for a face to the voice but came up blank. “Yeah,” I hesitated to respond. “Happens when you’re running for your life.”

“Try the science building next time. It’s an official maze in there.”

I kept walking towards the voice, unable to place it amongst the endless rows of hardbacks. The smell of must and printed pages was overwhelming in this section. You could tell the summer heat had caused the bindings to swell, making the grounded scent of the fibers come to the surface. My hand came to cover a sneeze. The force of the projectile snot coming from my head propelled me forward, smacking me into a soft surface.

Thump!

“Ow!” I had collided with a person. We were both haphazardly sprawled across the floor, a topple of books covering us as we laid motionless.

“I’ve had less awkward introductions.” The voice said again.

I felt around the floor to find my bearings.  “I think my leg is twisted between yours.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty pinned right now. The sooner you get up the better dude.”

I rolled to the side, careful not to squish her more than needed. “Usually, I get a number before I get this personal with a female,” I chuckled as my hand made contact with something that felt suspiciously like a boob. “I’m so sorry.”

Rolling to her side, I felt her legs untangle from mine as she popped up to sitting. “Well, this has been fun.”

As soon as I saw her face, I stopped dead in my tracks.  “Eloise! How did you get here so fast?” There was something different. “When did you change?” I hedged, glancing down at her ensemble.

Eloise in class had on a dress. That I knew for sure. It was pink. Super tight.

Now she had on a baggy shirt and flannel.

“I’m not Eloise.” She huffed. The bangs that framed her face puffed to the sides with an angry sigh.

“OH!” I was confused.

On her knees, she started collecting the books that had come with us in the tumble.

“So…” I couldn’t just let this go. This girl was the spitting image of the female in class just minutes ago. “Who are you?”

“My name is Veridian. Friends call me Vera.”

“Oh, Vera—”

“You’re not my friend.” She cut me with a look.

“Excuse me,” I cleared my throat. “Veridian…you look awfully like someone else. Scarily like her.” They could be carbon copies of the other. I could feel myself moving closer to her as she stayed near the ground with her piles of literature.

“What are you doing?” She jerked back.

“Sorry,” I muttered. I didn’t notice how close I had come to her face.

“Look, freak, I’m aware that I look like her. She’s my twin sister.” Emotions I didn’t recognize played across her face. “Now if you’re done with your freckle-to-freckle analysis, I have things to do.”

My jaw was still slack as I scooped it from the floor. “Yeah, yeah. Obviously, you have things…that need to be…doing…done.”

“You can go now?” She rolled her eyes.

“Uh, yeah, totally.” It was work to stand to my feet. I hadn’t had someone be that rude to me since…well it’s been a very long time. Gathering my spilled bag, I pulled out my phone.

Sixteen missed calls.

Forty-seven text messages.

Heaving a disgruntled breath, I found a dark corner to call my agent. He picked up on the third trill. “Chase? Thank God I’ve been freaking out!”

“It’s the first day of classes, Andy. I told you to not need me from about eleven until three.”

“Yeah, I know, but you’re never going to guess who’s requested you for the Late Night Show?!”

Again?  No.

“It wouldn’t be the same producer that’s had me on three times in the past two years, would it? Andy. I’m tired of doing these events. I want some time for me. That’s why we’re doing the whole college thing. Remember?”

“The world doesn’t stop revolving if you’re not in the center, Chase. Remember that, all right?”

Clicking off the phone, I let my back slink to the wall. When was it going to end?