“Perhaps,” I say with a knowing smile.
“And you’re going to let Professor Montgomery read it? Man you will definitely get an ‘A’ on your paper. You’re a smart girl, I could tell the first time I met you,” Jason compliments me and I must admit, I eat it up. By now it’s almost five o’clock and my stomach is growling. I didn’t have lunch today.
“Are you hungry? Do you want to grab some dinner?” Jason asks.
“Sure, I’m starved; I didn’t have time to eat lunch today.” We pack up our books and walk out together.
We walk over to the food court and decide to try the new Bar-B-Que place for dinner. Jason insists on paying since I helped review his paper and I let him. We get our food and find a table.
“So, how’s it going with the guy you’re seeing,” Jason asks.
“Good,” I reply, tucking my hair behind my ear, a nervous habit of mine.
“Is he a freshman too?” he presses.
“Yes,” is all I can offer as the lies continue. I desperately need to change the subject I think to myself as I look off into the distance.
“Hey Clarissa, I’m sorry. Too nosy?” he apologizes.
“What? Oh, no,” I stutter out. “So, what are you up to this weekend?” I ask him, changing the subject off of me.
“Probably just going to kick it with some friends at our family’s beach house. You should come hang out with us sometime. We have a house on the water in Laguna,” he says.
“Where in Laguna? I grew up in Corona Del Mar,” I ask.
“Emerald Bay.” Emerald Bay is an exclusive guarded enclave of homes along the coast in Laguna Beach. It figures the Bancroft family would have a home there. Heck, Warren Buffet does.
“We have some family friends who live there. They have a great firework show on the fourth of July,” I share with Jason. We’re just about finished eating when I get a text from Grant.
Grant: Will you come over tonight?
I see it light up on my phone that’s lying face up on the table. I pick it up to read it and then I place it face down on the table. Jason looks at me curiously and then back at my phone, but he doesn’t say anything. Boy, am I paranoid.
“I better get going,” I say.
“I’ll ride you home since its getting dark,” Jason offers and I accept. You can never be too careful around here.
“Ok. Thanks.” What a sweet guy he is.
We ride up to my building and he watches me walk in.
“Goodnight, see you in class tomorrow,” he says.
“Goodnight, thanks for seeing me home,” I say smiling back at him.
“Anytime, Clarissa,” he says as he rides off back towards The Row.
“Hi guys,” I say when I walk into my apartment and Lexi and Deena are sitting at the dining table doing homework.
“Hi Clarissa, where have you been?” Lexi asks.
“At the library and then I grabbed some dinner on campus,” I reply as I plop down on the sofa and toss my backpack on the coffee table. I pull out my phone to text Grant back.
Clarissa: Sorry, I’ve got an English paper to finish. I have this hard ass Professor, he’s hard to please.
Grant: I can think of something that would please him immensely and guarantee you an A+ on that paper.
Clarissa: Very tempting, but I really do have homework I need to get done with no distractions. And you sitting next to me would definitely be a distraction.
Grant: Ok, then plan on Friday night with me.
Clarissa: I will.
Grant: Sweet dreams.
“Who are you texting with that mischievous grin on your face, is it that guy from High School?” Deena asks.
“Maybe,” is all I say as I slide my phone back into the pocket of my jeans.
“You’re a coy one, aren’t you?” Deena teases with a laugh.
“To protect the innocent my Close Encounters shall remain nameless. I already told this to Kara and Lexi,” I state boldly. All Deena does is laugh at me, but I’m totally serious; you know I have my reasons.
FIVE
CLARISSA
“The depth of heart and soul you put into this paper shines through. Your First Love paper gives me remarkable insight into your soul Clarissa. You have laid yourself bare in this paper. It was a passionate coming of age story for you wasn’t it?” Professor Montgomery questions. We’re sitting next to each other on the sofa in his living room and he has just finished reading my First Love paper.
“Yes it was, it had a profound effect on me and still does,” I admit honestly.
“Do you ever see him anymore?” Grant asks.
“He texts me once in a while, but he goes to Pepperdine,” I reply.
“Still trying to hold on to a part of you, I’m sure.”
“He will always have a special place in my heart. I suppose your first love always does. We tried to get back together after we broke up, but we both knew it was over,” I say wistfully.
“You’re a heartbreaker, you broke his heart,” Grant says in all seriousness.