Pulse (4 page)

“Come in,” I said. “Come in.”

“Hey, sis.”

“Hey, Brian.”

My younger brother Brian was there behind my parents. I hadn’t seen him in so long that he looked completely different from the last time. He looked just like a teenager on the verge of high school would. I gave him a hug while my parents examined my apartment.

“Look at this place!” my mom exclaimed. “It’s a mess! Can’t you find the time to clean-up?”

“No, I can’t,” I told her. “What does it matter? It’s not like I have anybody over.”

“Still, that’s no excuse to be living like a slob. This place is a sty!”

“All right, mom! I get it. I’ll clean my apartment as soon as I get the chance. I’ll have more time to now that I’m done with school anyway.”

“Good. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

“This isn’t my room…”

I muttered under my breath. Despite having been away from home for college for four years now, my mother never stopped. Every time she stopped by she treated me like a child still living under her roof. It felt like I was back in my parents’ house once again.

“Make yourself at home,” I said. “I just need to get some work done on the computer.”

“Work?” my dad asked. “I thought you said you were finished.”

“I am. I just need to get my resume ready and start applying for work. My loans are piling up and I don’t have much money in my account—”

“What’s wrong? Do you need money? Do you need help, Alice?”

“Dad! I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Alice, you know that we’re always here to help you. We’re there when you need it.”

“I know… I know you are. Just… let me do this on my own. Don’t worry. I’m not desperate. I’m sure I’ll find a job and start paying back my debt real soon.”

“I know you will.”

My dad walked over to me and gave me a hug. He looked down at me with his hands upon my shoulders. When he stared into my eyes, I could see the emotion inside of him.

“I can hardly believe it,” he said. “My little girl is graduating. You know you’re the first person in our family to get her college degree.”

“I know, dad.”

I was constantly reminded that if I managed to get through school, I would be the first to do it. I had aunts and uncles and distant cousins that gave it a shot but they never stuck with it. Even my parents themselves tried it out before realizing it wasn’t for them. Even though I would never admit it, part of the reason I worked so hard was because I knew it meant so much to them. And now that this time was finally here, I had to tell myself not to get too emotional. I felt embarrassed just being with my family in my apartment even though there was nobody here to laugh at me.

“So what are you guys going to do?” I asked. “My graduation ceremony isn’t for a couple of days.”

“Oh, Alice,” my mother laughed. “Do you really want to be rid of us so soon?”

“No. No, that’s not it. I just don’t know what you plan on doing here. There’s not much to do in the city except—”

“We don’t have to do anything. We just want to spend time with you and enjoy the weekend. Isn’t that enough, sweetheart?”

“…Yeah,” I sighed. “Of course. I… I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Listen, you go ahead and get your work done. I’ll clean this place up a little. Your father and brother will make you something for lunch. And when you’re done, you can show us around the city. It doesn’t matter if it’s nothing special.”

“Okay.”

I nodded to her. I knew better than to argue. The truth was that I was really happy to see them. I just didn’t know what else they expected from me with my graduation still a ways off. But true to her word, my mother stayed out of my business. I was more than capable of cleaning up my apartment for myself but I let her do it anyway. While I worked on my resume and filled out my first few applications, I inhaled the scent of the food my father was cooking for my late lunch. It felt like I was back home and for a moment, I wasn’t worried about anything else.

* * *

I managed to finally finish my resume but there were still dozens of applications I had to send out. There were a lot of job openings in the city but I wasn’t going to leave it to chance. If more than one offer were given to me, I would be able to choose the best opportunity to start my career.

I spent the rest of my time lounging around in my apartment with my family. I asked them how things were back home and they were just fine, as expected. The only thing that had changed was that I no longer lived with them. When I left for school, I knew that my life would no longer be the same. For the past four years, I focused entirely on my studies, not counting the occasional weekend excursions. Now that school was finally over, I realized that work would take its place. I figured I might as well enjoy my time with my family now that they were here. They were part of the reason I worked so hard in the first place.

My parents insisted on going out for dinner. We ended up in a restaurant downtown that I had only heard about. With no money in my purse or my bank account, I never had the opportunity to try it out. I sat there in the restaurant with my parents and my younger brother.

“How is this place?” my father asked me as he examined a menu.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “I’ve never been here before.”

“You’ve never been here? Then why would you take us here.”

“Because I’ve heard good things. A lot of good things. That many people can’t be wrong.”

“Alice, just because some place is popular doesn’t mean
you’re
going to enjoy it, too.”

“I know. But you don’t know that you’re
not
going to enjoy it either. Dad, trust me. This is what I do. This is the kind of work I’m looking for.”

“Picking out which restaurants to eat at?”

“Kind of.”

I explained to my family what it was I studied and what I planned on doing. I told them about the nature of businesses and how important decisions hinged upon understanding the market. It was true that some decisions were made based on intuition and a gut feeling but the correct choices were usually made by people who knew what they were doing.

“That sounds like a lot of work,” my mother said to me. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I am,” I said. “And even if I wasn’t, it’s not like I have much of a choice.”

“Still, Alice. That sounds like a lot of pressure. Did they really teach you how to handle that in school?”

“Yes, mom,” I laughed. “Not everybody handles the situation the same way but I know everything that it encompasses. I’ve read books and written papers on this kind of stuff. I’m ready to apply it to some real work.”

“You hear that, Brian?” my father said to my brother. “Your sister sounds really intelligent, doesn’t she?”

“I guess,” Brian shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t really see what the big deal is.”

“Alice, say something to your brother,” my father instructed me.

I turned and looked at him. The young teenager I saw sitting there reminded me of how I used to be. So free-spirited without a care in the world. I knew that he was worried more about playing video games and spending time with girls than studying. I didn’t want to force him to focus on getting good grades and getting into a good university. I wasn’t sure what to say to him.

“How
is
school, by the way?” I asked Brian.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “It’s fine, I guess.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’m sure it is. Is there anything you like studying in particular?”

“Not really. I guess I like music.”

“Music? Maybe you should join the marching band.”

“Band? Yeah, right! Those guys are dorks!”

I laughed at my brother’s disgust. I turned back to my father and saw him staring back at me.

“Don’t worry about him,” I said. “Just let Brian figure things out for himself. Just like you did with me. You remember that I didn’t do too well in high school.”

“Don’t remind us,” my mother chimed in.

“I know, I know. But I finally focused. And I’m here. I’m… I’m good now.”

“Well, I don’t know if you’re ready for the real world,” my father said. “I still don’t understand exactly what you plan on doing… But we’re proud of you, Alice. We’re real proud of you.”

“I can’t believe it,” my mother said. “Our daughter…”

She reached over from the seat next to me and squeezed my hand. I bit my lip and nodded my head. The moment had finally come and I found myself struggling not to let my emotions get the best of me.

“Where is our waiter?” I said as I shook my head. “I’m starving and he hasn’t even taken our order.”

“And you heard so many good things about this place,” my dad said. “This isn’t looking too good for the start of your career.”

He raised his eyebrows at me. My family began to laugh. I smiled then buried my head in my palm in embarrassment. It was good to feel like I was home again.

Chapter 5

“So, what did they say?”

“They didn’t say anything,” I shrugged. “They told me to go out and have some fun. ”

“That’s it? So, they just let you go?”

“They insisted, Danica. I offered to show them around the city but they figured that they’d have more fun if they did it by themselves. Besides, they’re just here for the graduation.”

“I guess it means that you can’t bring some guy back to your apartment.”

“They gave me my space. They got a hotel room.”

“Wow. You have some really understanding parents. Did you tell them how much of a slut you are?”

“Danica!”

My friend snickered at me. I shook my head at her as she drove into the city toward our next destination, home to alcohol, music and plenty of good-looking people.

I spent most of Friday with my family. On Saturday, they made the decision to head out into the city on their own. I insisted that I enjoyed their company but they forced me out of my own apartment. So while my family was now enjoying the sights and sounds of the city, I was back out on the town with my friend Danica in search of another good time. I made sure that we were on the other side of the city in case we might run into them.

With my graduation scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, this was the last time I would ever classify myself as a college student. After that, I would be some poor woman looking for a job. I was dressed in something a little more glamorous tonight. Glamorous by my standards, anyway. I pulled out a satin red dress. The thin straps were barely enough to hold it up. The skirt was low around my knees. I had a matching pair of heels and with some cherry red lipstick, the ensemble was complete. It was a Saturday night. After my pre-celebration was interrupted by a mysterious man who suddenly no longer had any interest in me, it was time to look for another present for myself.

“Where are we headed?” I asked. “New club?”

“No, the same one.”

“The same club? Danica, we were there just two nights ago.”

“Right. But it’s different. It’s Saturday. It’s going to be a different crowd.”

“How was George, by the way? I don’t really remember what happened after that.”

Danica turned and looked at me. She shrugged her shoulders and made a sour face.

“Well, hopefully we
do
see a different crowd tonight,” I laughed.

It was clear that Danica wasn’t interested in another run-in with George. When the club came into view, I was immediately reminded of the man who had left me dangling on the edge of a cliff. I knew that I was looking for a good time but another part of me wanted it to be with him. I still remembered what he looked like. The way his ass fit in his jeans. The way his shirt draped his muscular frame. The way his light brown eyes were so striking. The way his cock felt in my…

“Alice!”

I jerked my head toward my friend.

“What?”

“Are you all right?”

“What? Of course. What kind of question is that?”

“Well, are you going to get out of the car now?”

I looked around and realized that she had already parked. I was so lost in my memory that I didn’t even know what was going on.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked me as I got out of the car.

“I’m fine. I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“About how much fun we’re going to have tonight.”

“That’s what I like to hear. How does it feel to be a college graduate? Maybe you can use that on one of these poor saps. You’re some poor college grad eager for some cock.”

“Danica! I’m not some poor, desperate college grad. And I haven’t graduated yet. I’ve still got… 20 hours or so.”

“Well, then you’d better hurry up. This might be the last dick you get as a college student.”

I rolled my eyes at my friend and we laughed at one another. I felt a little more like I belonged now that I was wearing a nicer outfit. Danica still outdid me in the black silk number she was wearing. Her skirt was a little shorter and her breasts were definitely bigger. This wasn’t a competition though. I was excited about meeting someone special tonight.

The familiarity of the club washed over me as soon as we stepped inside. The lights, the music, even the way the people moved felt so familiar. We headed toward the bar to get ourselves a drink when a man immediately took notice of my friend. I didn’t hear what line he used on her but it was enough to get Danica interested.

I suddenly found myself alone at the bar once again. I didn’t mind though. It was a Saturday night and there were more than enough people to go around. I managed to catch the eye of a few good-looking men. Maybe it was the outfit. Maybe it was the vibe of a college graduate I was giving off. I leaned up against the bar and waited for one of them to approach me. One of them finally worked up the nerve to say something to me.

“Hi,” the young-looking man said. “My name’s Blake.”

“Hello, Blake. I’m Alice.”

“Alice. It’s nice to meet you. How are you liking this new club so far? Is it your first time in here?”

“Not my first time, no. But it’s a nice place. A
really
nice place.”

Blake had short, curly blond hair. His outfit didn’t stand out too much, his shirt and slacks just as clean as the next man’s. He winked at me and I grinned back at him. I suppose I could do worse.