Fall Semester by Stephanie Fournet

Author:Stephanie Fournet [Fournet, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-10-04T22:00:00+00:00

“I’m two inches taller than you. It’s not too short?” Helene, clad in purple, stood in Maren’s room, looking back over her shoulder at the cheval mirror.

“No, your legs look amazing. Jess is going to swallow his tongue.”

Helene winked at Maren’s reflection.

“Not if I do it first.” The two women squealed, and Maren felt like she was closer to 14 than 24.

“Here, sit down while I do your nails,” Maren said, shaking a bottle of Plum Pearl. Helen carefully arranged the flared skirt and settled herself in the one chair in Maren’s bedroom. Maren was on her third nail when Helene started asking questions.

“So, what was up with you today? You were in such a funk this morning, and now you seem fine—giddy, even.”

Maren glanced at her friend, who was watching her closely, and then returned her focus to the nail polish.

“What do you mean?” she asked, innocently.

Helene tsked and squirmed in her seat.

“You know what I mean. Look, if you don’t want to tell me about it, just say so, but don’t bullshit me. It’s not like you.”

Maren blew on the nails of Helene’s right hand to buy herself time. She didn’t know how much she could get away with saying or not saying, but she wished that she could spill every detail of the emotional roller coaster she’d been on for the last several days.

“Let’s just say that I don’t want to tell you,” she said, finally.

“Oh my God,” Helene’s eyes bugged. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” Maren muttered, moving onto Helene’s left hand.

“Yeah, right. It’s a man.” Helene stated with conviction.

Maren covered Helene’s thumbnail with the rich purple polish and said nothing.

“It’s eating you up. I can tell. You’re dying to tell me.” Helene pulled her hand away so Maren had to look her in the eyes. Maren watched as the curiosity in Helene’s face gave way to concern.

“Maren, why won’t you tell me?” she asked, softly.

Maren pressed her lips together. She had let too much show. She thought of Malcolm and how dangerous it would be for him if others knew that they had kissed, that she’d been to his house for dinner. The thought of bringing him harm made her physically ill.

Never.

Maren was overcome by an urge to protect that was so strong it stole her breath. The feeling seemed to pull from her sternum all the way to the soles of her feet. She knew without a doubt that she would never let anything hurt Malcolm Vashal. The sensation amazed her. She had never felt its likeness before.

“Helene,” she said, calmly but firmly, looking her friend in the eye. “Drop it. It’s okay. I’m fine now.”

Helene blinked at this side of her friend that she had never seen up close.

“O...kay...Just know that I’m here if you need anything,” Helene said, before an amused smile came to her. “Boy, now I see what Jess was talking about. You can be kinda scary.”

“Don’t you forget it,” she teased, and feigned turning her attention back to the purple manicure.

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