45. A hundred pages and a few tears later

FORTY-FIVE

A HUNDRED PAGES AND A FEW TEARS LATER

HARLOW

A few hours after Shep leaves, Lennon finally walks in the door. Her arms are decorated with various bags from the store and she has a very smug look on her face.

“What did you do?” I ask hesitantly.

“I got everything to finish our costumes. I just need like thirty minutes, so take advantage of that time and read your book so you can give me all your attention later.”

I snicker while rolling my eyes. “You’re ridiculous, but okay.”

She starts walking into her room then stops in her tracks, cutting a look at me. “Don’t even think you’re off the hook talking about your sleepover . I just need to do this now so I can make sure I’m not missing anything.”

“Is it a costume or an arts and crafts project, Lenny?” I stand up and follow her into her bedroom.

“Ha ha. Very funny.” She tosses the bags down on her bed, then turns to grab the corsets and shorts from her dresser. As her neck twists, I catch sight of a familiar mark that I’ve seen before in almost that exact same spot.

“Um, I’m sorry. You’re tossing out comments about my very PG sleepover when you have a hickey on your neck?”

She gasps, rushing over to her vanity. “Damn you, Wesley Porter.” She sneers her words as if he can hear them.

“Mhm.” I cross my arms. “Well, I’ll just be in my room then.”

Lennon groans in response as I cross through the apartment to my room. I wonder if she’s ever going to tell me what’s going on between her and Wes. Not that it’s any of my business, but it’s strange the way she’s been acting about the whole thing. Maybe they really are just friends who like to kiss a little. I guess it makes sense. They are both flirts. Who knows.

I fall into my bed and the memories of Shep and I kissing start playing back in my mind. I surprised myself when I told him I wanted him to finish, even if it was just from us making out. The thought of him doing that was hot and my curiosity got the best of me.

My phone buzzes and it’s a picture of Dahlia from Shep. She’s wearing a vest with the Everson Valley sheriff department badge and giving the camera one of those wide pitbull smiles. He told me last night what he’d been working on those few weeks we didn’t talk and I couldn’t believe how perfect his idea was. I was so proud of him and that he didn’t spend all that time moping around, but instead, used it to create something as incredible as E.V.E.S.T.

Shep

Trying on her “uniform” lol

What do you think?

I think she looks like the goodest, most bravest girl ever.

And yes, I hope you read it to her exactly how I would say it.

Shep

Of course. I feel like I heard that text as I read it haha

We’re going to get to the frat house around 9, does that work?

Shep

Sounds good baby girl

Excited to see you

And especially excited to see your costume

You and me both lol

If Lennon ever finishes it

Shep

Well keep me updated, okay?

Will dooooo

Shep hearts my message and I pick up my book, deciding to take Lennon’s advice.

After about a hundred pages and a few tears later, I finish my book. Lennon still hasn’t made an appearance.

“Lenny!” I yell out from my room. She hates when I do this but my bed is too comfortable to get up from right now.

“I’m coming!” Her voice carries through the living room with a heavy tone of sass, emphasized with her stomping into my room. She holds out a collection of items in her hands then drops them onto the chair in my room. “You can’t rush perfection, Harlow.”

“Oh, my apologies.” I respond sarcastically. “Is it done?”

“It is, but we have a few hours before we need to leave so how about we discuss your night.”

“I could say the same thing to you,” I snap back at her.

Her eyes widen and her mouth gapes open. “Excuse me?”

“I didn’t stutter.” I raise my eyebrows. “I’m just saying, you were out all night and you came home with a hickey. I hardly think you’re in any place to be pointing fingers.”

She glares at me, her lips tightening into a thin line.

“Fine.” She speaks through clenched teeth. “I slept over at Wes’s last night, but seriously. It’s not what you or Shep think. We’re just hanging out and sometimes we kiss. Sometimes we fall asleep together. It’s not that deep.”

“Okay, okay.” I raise my hands in surrender. “I just genuinely feel like we haven’t talked about things since that one night someone snuck out of here so…”

“Right,” she deadpans, realizing I’ve connected the dots. “Well, I’ll let you know if it becomes more than what it is, but I don’t think me or Wes really want to date.”

Lennon can tell me all she wants that she doesn’t want to date but I know her. She wants to be loved and loved well, but she’s also terrified to get her heart broken. She’s just waiting for someone to prove her wrong. “I get that. I think if it wasn’t Shep, I wouldn’t be interested in dating either.”

“Oh?” Lennon arches an eyebrow. “So you two are dating?”

“No, I didn’t mean?—”

“Too late, you said it. Go on.” She turns her ear towards me. “I’m listening.”

“We aren’t dating. Well, not officially. I was just trying to say that I’d be in the same boat as you if the guy was anyone besides Shep. Things are different with him.”

She smirks. “I’m proud of you for finally coming to your senses.”

“Oh, and we kissed,” I blurt out.

The highest pitched noise I think I’ve ever heard comes out of Lennon's mouth. “I knew it! I knew it would happen last night!” She lets out another squeal. “I’m so happy for you! Bet you’re glad you packed that lace bra.” She raises her eyebrows.

My cheeks flush. “I–”

“Yeah, I saw it in your bag. Don’t even try to act like you weren’t hoping something might happen.” She smirks.

“I can neither confirm nor deny.” I giggle. “But on a serious note, he and I need to hang out more, and build a friendship too. It kinda feels like we’re doing things backwards since he knows all this deep shit about me but we aren’t really friends.”

Lennon nods, then starts telling me about her thoughts on the situation. Despite the fact Lennon isn’t in a relationship, she’s a hopeless romantic—secretly, though. She wouldn’t openly admit it but after living with her for the last four years, it's clear that the dream of falling hopelessly in love with someone is buried deep in her heart.

Truthfully, I always thought it would be Lennon who would find her person first. She has the personality that attracts guys with ease. Wes must be doing something right though because usually the attention isn’t returned.

By the time we stop our rambling, it’s getting dark outside. We start to get ready and Lennon tells me to curl my hair while she works on her makeup.

Once I’m done, she has me sit down and starts doing my makeup. She doesn’t skip any details, from the dramatic false eyelashes to the cherry red lipstick she paints on me.

After my face is done up, she has me put the red leather shorts on with the white corset.

“Okay, perfect. Now let me finish your hair.” She reaches for a bottle of gel she brought into my bathroom with her and squeezes a large amount into her hand.

“Uh, Lennon?” I interrupt her.

“Just trust me, okay?”

“Alright,” I drawl, skepticism coating the word. I close my eyes as she works her fingers through my hair, mostly near my roots, then starts combing it back. After a few more passes, I hear the water running and open my eyes. She wets a hairbrush then drags that through the gel.

“Perfect,” she says with a concentrated look on her face.

I turn and stare at myself in the mirror. “Lennon, my hair looks wet. I don’t get this.”

“Tsk,” she holds a finger up in my face then points for me to go sit down in my bedroom. “Let me get dressed and do my hair then it’ll all make sense.”

After mirroring my appearance on herself, she walks out of the bathroom and grabs something I can’t see from a bag. She walks towards me and tells me to close my eyes.

I shake my head but listen, and feel her place something over my head. Then she presses something into the top of the corset and claps her hands.

“All done!” she exclaims.

I open my eyes and glance down to see a red whistle hanging around my neck and a cross made of red duct tape on the corset. The whistle has a piece of paper attached to it that reads ‘Blow for mouth to mouth.’

“Lennon! What on earth?!” My eyes go wide.

She lets out a devious laugh. “We’re sexy lifeguards, duh!”

A cackle escapes from me and I shake my head. “You know Wes and Shep are going to lose their ever-loving minds, don’t you?”

“Obviously. Where do you think I got the idea?”

“Oh, Lenny. Remind me never to question you ever again.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she shoots back.

Once we have everything set, we make plans to swing through a fast food place on the way to Chi Kappa.

I already planned not to drink because, with everything that’s happened whenever I’ve been at that damned fraternity house, I’d be foolish to not stay sober.

I slip into my Doc Martens, much to Lennon’s disappointment, but I had to keep a little of myself for the night. Besides, I know Shep likes them and he’s the only person I care about impressing. I have a feeling, though, that won’t be too hard with the way both my ass and tits are on full display.

“Alright, let’s go stir some shit up!” Lennon calls out, as she walks out the door.