Distraction (27 page)

As I drew closer, my mouth went dry and my tongue stuck to
the roof. I wasn't sure what she wanted or what I'd say but I continued, hoping
I'd be able to say the right thing when the time came.

"Hey," I said.

Heather lifted her face revealing a busted lip and a fresh
black eye.

"Who the hell did this to you!" I attempted to keep
my voice low as I sat across from her.

She turned her head to wipe a tear sliding down her battered
face. "I'm fine, Tristan."

What the fuck?

"Heather, you can't keep doing this. You're going to get
yourself killed."

"Tristan, please," she said but stopped, catching
her breath on a sob.

God, I didn't know what to do. Heather was like a little
sister to me, but the ability to say something comforting was lost the second I
saw her.

"Can I get you anything?" A waitress walked up,
breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"A cup of coffee, black, and whatever she wants. It's on
me," I said flatly.

"I'll take a cup of coffee with cream and sugar please,"
Heather said, her face still aimed to the wall.

The waitress scribbled our order before walking away.

"Please tell me what you want because I don't know what
to do."

More tears rolled down the side of her face as she faced me.
"I don't want this life anymore. I'm tired, but I don't know how to stop."

I looked into eyes so much like her sister’s, but Heather’s
were vulnerable and scared.

"I'll help you. I promise. Whatever it takes." I
placed my hand over hers. They were thin and ice cold. I was afraid if I
squeezed too hard I'd break her tiny bones.

The waitress came back with our orders. Heather greeted her
with a sweet smile.

"Listen, I know this is none of my business, but he
isn't worth it." The waitress's dark eyes were like black stones, pointing
solely at me until she stormed away.

"Well, she was nice," I said, lifting the cup to my
mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Tristan. I never wanted this, you know."
She stirred her coffee. "This all started as a way to get out of my head,
but then I couldn't stop." She laughed, though the sound came out hollow.

"None of that matters now. It’s in the past, okay?"

Heather smiled at me. "Thanks for coming tonight. I
called my mom, but she said she couldn't come. And I was too ashamed to call
Elle. I don't want her to see me like this. She doesn’t need to know how bad
I've gotten. Every time I read one of her emails, begging me to come home, it
kills me. I've let her down so many times. After our dad left, she was more of
a mother to me than our mom was."

She looked so small, more like the little girl who'd beg her
big sister to hang out with us as kids. Elle would always let her, especially
when her parents argued. She always tried to protect Heather from their life.

"It's no big deal," I settled. "So, do you
come here often?" I tried for the light approach, hoping to pry out what
she wanted.

"Sometimes. I know Elle works down the street." Her
eyes brightened when she spoke her sister's name. "I come here when I know
she's at work." She shrugged her shoulder. "Being there makes me feel
a little closer to her. That must sound stupid to you, but it's the only way I
can be around her without her seeing me."

"You know she loves you. Right?" I waited for her
to answer, but she sipped her coffee instead. "Heather, do you want help?"
I cleared my throat. "I can drive you to the hospital or to a rehab."

"I want to, really I do." She bit her bottom lip.
"I'm just scared, and I don't have any money to pay."

"Don't worry about the money. If you're serious about
rehab, I'll take care of the cost." She sat quietly while considering the
offer. I worried it wouldn't be enough. "I won't tell Elle, I promise."
The words just slipped out, but when her eyes met mine, I knew I'd said the
right thing.

"If I go, you won't tell Elle?"

"You have my word, kid." I used her old nickname.

"You haven't called me that in forever." She
laughed, sounding more like the person she used to be before alcohol and drugs
took over.

"You haven't given me the chance to use it." I reached
across the table and squeezed her hand.

"I guess you're right." She sighed, and finished
off her coffee.

I bought us a dozen doughnuts, and for once, someone ate more
than me. Heather's shoulders relaxed against the vinyl seat and her cheeks had
more color by the time she swallowed her last bite.

"Wow, I'm impressed." I waved my hand to her.
"Not even Spud can outdo me eating doughnuts."

"You still call her that?" She shook her head.
"You know she hates it when you call her that, right?"

"No, she doesn't." I knew she did, but hearing
Heather's easygoing laugh felt good.

"So, are you two together finally?" Her question
took me by surprise. "Oh, give me a break," she said, arching a brow.
"I figured that one of you would've given in by now. You two have had it
bad for each other since y'all were kids."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied. I
knew how I felt of course, but Elle only thought of me as a friend, right?

Heather rolled her eyes acting more and more like herself.
"Whatever. I swear one day one of you are gonna end up married and realize
you've both been in love with each other, but it'll be too late."

Her words stung, and I again wasn't sure what to say back.

After we finished another cup of coffee, I drove Heather to
the hospital. We waited a few hours before they evaluated her. Once she signed
an agreement to stay in rehab until she was clean, she named me as her
emergency contact if something happened.

"Please, you have to promise me you won't tell Elle
anything until I'm clean."

"Heather, she's your sister. You know she worries about
you."

"That's why I haven't called her. I don't want her to
worry, and I definitely don’t want her to see me, not like this." Her
expression turned hard. "Promise me, Tristan. Give me your word you won't
mention this until I say I'm ready."

I sighed, contemplating whether to lie or not. Finally, I
gave up and agreed. I figured if this was what it took to get her clean, then
I'd keep it from Elle.

"You have to promise you'll call Elle when you're
better. Even if you're still in rehab. She'll be proud of you, Heather. Just
like I am."

Heather smiled with tears in her eyes. I could see the
promise of hope she held onto. She looked so much like her sister, making it
hard not to look away. I swallowed the lump in my throat when the doctor came
back in, telling us to say our goodbyes.

Heather's expression displayed bravery, but she didn't fool
me. I could see the fear in her green eyes. She chose to do the right thing. I
kept telling myself not telling Elle was right.

Elle

The house stayed busy with kids until near midnight. As soon
as the last bag of candy was gone, I wanted to go home. Run was more like it.
The thought of retreating to the peace and quietness of my empty house got me
through the night.

"Thanks for helping out tonight, and for the gift basket
you made." Casey, a new pledge and my assigned little sister, smiled as we
walked out.

"I had fun last year. It was no big deal, and you're
welcome," I offered.

"How's Tristan doing?" I looked up at Casey in
confusion. Casey made a quick glance over her shoulder, and then lowered voice.
"I heard his girlfriend cheated on him with a guy from the football team.
Robbie something? I can't remember his last name. Rumor is, Tristan took off
this weekend because they were going to that big Halloween party together. Are
you going?"

I didn't know they'd broken up, which only confirmed the
distance and change in our once close-knit friendship. I held my smile, and
said, "I don't think I'm going. Is that where you're headed?"

"Some of us are."

Casey's news bothered me. I'd always thought Tristan was
making a terrible mistake being with Kellie, but I'd never wanted him to get
hurt.

"Hey, I've got to go, but have fun at the party."

"Okay, see ya," she said.

At home, I showered the white makeup from my face then
settled on my bed, eating a bowl of ice cream. I attempted to study for my next
Psych test. My effort proved to be useless. Casey's rumor kept streaming in my
thoughts. Had Casey mentioned anyone other than Robbie, I might've dismissed
the rumor easily. But that was classic Robbie. The guy's ethics were seriously
screwed up.

I couldn't believe Kellie would do something as despicable as
cheating–and on Tristan of all people. She had the whole package. Aside from
Tristan's killer looks, he was smart, funny, and basically an all-around good
guy.

Anyone could see how great he was, so why couldn't she? I
knew in the pit of my stomach the rumor was true. I couldn't decide if I should
call to confirm Casey's story or not.

The longer I worried over Tristan and his chaotic life, the
more my head throbbed. I had a cute, funny boyfriend and I should be thinking
about him, not Tristan. With that, I decided to go out after all.

As I searched through my closet, I closed off any and all
thoughts of Tristan.

I texted Eric, letting him know I'd be seeing him at the
club. He replied quickly.

Can't
wait to see you.

After I dressed, I fixed my hair then glossed my lips. When I
finished, I pocketed my ID, grabbed my keys, and hurried out the front door.

The parking lot was full, which required me to park down the
street. The frigid wind whipped my hair in my face and tiny pieces stuck to my
glossed lips. Goosebumps covered my bare skin and I picked up my pace, eager to
get out of the cold.

I borrowed Alyssa's risqué black mid-thigh dress pairing it
with cute yellow heels. With my usual conservative ensemble revamped, I felt
frivolous and welcomed the change. However, needing out of the wind, I almost
took a nosedive, barely missing the hidden hole in the road by inches.

Finally, I reached the front door and walked in. Eric said he
was at the bar and would wait for me there. I hurried over, and as promised, I
found him waiting.

"Hey," I shouted when I walked up.

"Hey, beautiful." Eric smiled, and then pulled me
in for a kiss, warming my cold lips and cheeks.

"Hey, Elle," said Matt, Eric’s friend, leaning over
Eric's shoulder.

"Hi, Matt," I said, blushing, knowing he'd seen the
way Eric kissed me. I cleared my throat. "Y'all having fun?"

"Always," Matt said with a big smile. "Hey,
man, I'm gonna find Stacy. Catch you guys later."

"See ya," Eric said.

Needing to calm my unexpected nerves, I asked, "You want
to dance?"

"Sure. Do you want a shot first?"

I nodded. “Nothing too strong."

"Got it," he said, holding up two fingers to the
bartender. When the flirty female bartender came back, Eric kept a shot for
himself and handed me the other.

"What is it?" I held the glass close to my nose and
sniffed.

"Elle." He chuckled. "You don't smell it, just
drink it. It's not bad, I promise."

I took a small sip figuring he'd ordered vodka since I
couldn't smell the liquor, but found myself pleasantly surprised by the fruity
taste. I threw my head back and downed the rest.

"That was good. Let's have another."

"Anything for you," Eric said with a wicked grin.

Several shots later when my lips were numb, along with my
habitual hesitant inhibitions, I laced my fingers through Eric's and led him to
the dance floor. With my back pressed against his chest, and his hands on my
hips, our bodies blended to the rhythm of the music.

Sweat made my dress stick to my skin. Eric brushed my hair
over my shoulder and moved close to my ear. "You smell so good."

His teeth grazed my earlobe, stirring a flutter of butterflies
in my stomach. With alcohol-induced bravery, I turned to him with a flirty
smile.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he said,
motivating me further.

I fisted his shirt, pulled him to me and skimmed my tongue
across his bottom lip, tasting the lingering salt from our last shot. He moaned
against my smile and kissed me back.

"Let's get out of here," he said around the
lingering kiss.

Considering the rational section of my brain still remained
dulled by alcohol, I eagerly agreed.

* * *

In the privacy of my room, I lifted Eric's shirt over his
head and ran my fingers along his smooth chest.