Being Invisible Read online

  “They will give you really embarrassing nicknames.”

  “Can you at least tell them that I rescued you then took you for delicious coffee afterwards?”

  “So you’re planning on taking me sometime to get delicious coffee?” I really needed to stop teasing him so much, but he was kind of adorable when he was flustered.

  “Come on. You don’t like the coffee? Insomnia is known for having some of the tastiest coffee on the campus...well you know, when you’re drunk.”

  “What about for people who aren’t drunk? How does it rate then?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure that anyone other than us has come here while sober.”

  “Ah. That explains the weird looks from the barista. I probably should have slurred my words a little. Might have made more sense to her.”

  “You could have at least talked twice as loud as you thought you were. That probably would have helped."

  Even though we joked about the coffee, we stayed for over an hour and a half, nursing our drinks and taking small bites of our food. Neither of us had a Friday class, so we were in no hurry to leave.

  “So what’s on your playlist? I asked him, nodding toward his mp3 player.

  “Um, you know...the usual.”

  “What’s ‘the usual’?”

  “I don’t know. Running music.”

  “Why are you so weird about your music?”

  “I’m not weird about my music. It’s just not interesting.”

  I glanced at him briefly with a look of uncertainty, then grabbed his mp3 player from the table before he had a chance to register that I was taking it. Just as I snapped it up, his hand came down a second too late.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t want me to see your playlist? I mean, if it’s just ‘the usual’ there’s no reason to hide it, right?"

  Colin rolled his eyes in defeat, then waved his hand in my direction, giving me permission to check it out.

  “Ok, let’s see, what do we have? The Greatest American Hero theme. Weird. But okay. The theme to...” I paused to make sure I was reading it correctly. “Knight Rider? Um, oh-kay?” I raised an eyebrow in question before going back to his list.

  “Wait. What? You have The Greatest Love of All?” I couldn’t help but cringe as I continued because, impossibly, it got worse.

  “Let’s Get Physical?” My voice was lowering with each song title in embarrassment on his behalf. Colin buried his face with his hands.

  I just shook my head. “Really, Colin? ‘What a Feeling?’ The one from Flashdance? This is ‘the usual?’"

  “Okay. That’s it. This day is not going down like this.” Colin started. “I am not knocking down a hot girl, only to woo her with coffee that tastes like vanilla mixed with feet, just so you can leave at the end of it all thinking that I get off on listening to shitty eighties theme songs.”

  His rant completely caught me off guard. For such a laid back looking guy, he was getting pretty worked up. I guess everyone has their breaking point. I just didn’t realize that Irene Cara was his.

  “This is what’s happening. After you let me use your phone, I’m calling my boy Drew to pick us up, because you are not walking home. When Drew picks us up, he is going to explain to you how he thought it would be fun to delete all of my music from my player and create a mix to fit the ‘new-and-improved exercise bullshit’ that apparently I have been ‘spewing’ over the last week.”

  “Wait. You think I’m hot?” I asked, smiling. I was trying to tease him, but I think I came off sounding embarrassed.

  Colin was momentarily startled by my question, but quickly recovered.

  “Hell yeah, you’re hot. You have those adorable green eyes that make you look like you're always laughing. Of course, that's probably because you keep laughing at me."

  I couldn’t help but smile, while my blushing cheeks gave away my embarrassment.

  “I’m kind of partial to blondes too. Plus, you have that messy bun thing that makes you look like a hot librarian.”

  “You think I look like a librarian?” I asked, not all that thrilled with the image.

  “No, a hot librarian,” he corrected me. “Totally different. Are you even listening to me?” His eye roll made me laugh.

  At that point I thought he was starting to regret being so forward, because he suddenly changed focus.

  “So anyway,” he trailed off. “Now that I have had a chance to look like a complete jackass, why don’t I finish the morning by stealing a kid’s bike, or making fun of your mom or something.”

  “My mom left me when I was a child. I haven’t seen her since I was eight,” I remarked quietly.

  His mouth dropped open, and he was silent for a good ten seconds before he finally spoke.

  “What the hell is wrong with me?” He seemed like he needed something to do because he grabbed our cups and napkins and tossed them into the trash can behind us, before returning to me. “I mean seriously. What the hell is wrong with me?” With that he got up to leave, and I followed him, guessing that was his way of saying it was time to go.

  I started to talk, but he spoke again before I could get a word out. “I am so sorry, Lucy. I am usually much more awesome than this. I know it’s hard to believe, but I have never knocked a girl over before.”

  “That is hard to believe. You were so efficient.”

  His glare made me feign an apologetic look. I don’t think he bought it.

  “I’m so sorry.” I said. I could tell he was a good guy, and I was starting to feel bad that he was so worried about his general awesomeness being on the line.

  “You’re sorry? Why would you be sorry?” he asked, genuinely bemused.

  “I think I might have given you a little bit of a hard time.”

  “Little bit?” he smiled.

  “Little bit.” I held my thumb and index finger up to reinforce just how insignificant it was.

  “Right.”

  I ignored his sarcastic tone and continued. “And despite everything, I had a nice time.”

  “A nice time, huh?”

  “Sure. I mean, of course I could have done without the fall, but it wasn’t as bad as it looked- nothing a bit of Ibuprofen won’t help. In fact, I think we can end up being friends.” I smiled to emphasize my point.

  “Friends?” he asked while adding air quotes.

  “No. Not air quote friends. Real friends. In fact, the next time coffee is on me, but at Harvest Moon, my coffee shop. Nothing there tastes like feet.”

  “Oh no. We can go to your ‘Harvest Moon’, but the coffee between non-air quote friends is on me. It’s the least I can do for, you know, today. Next time, you will be blown away by my awesomeness.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” I held my hand out to make it official.

  “A plan.” he repeated while shaking my hand. We both held our handshake a little longer than what would be considered protocol for non-air quote friends. But that was only because...well I don’t know why he did it, but I just did it because he did.

  “I better have my buddy Drew pick us up.” Colin interrupted my thoughts by holding out his hand for my phone. “I’m sure you’re still in pain. You should get home and rest.”

  He used my phone to dial his friend. “Dude, it’s Col. What’s up?” He looked at me and rolled his eyes at whatever Drew said. “Well then you won’t mind picking me and a friend up? We're at the corner of Pearl Avenue and First Street.” He nodded at me indicating that Drew was fine with that. “Long story, man. I’ll tell you later. Uh, hold on. Where do you live, Lucy?”

  “Norwich. Near 9th.”

  Colin nodded then turned back to the phone. “Norwich and 9th. Cool? Yeah, I figured she would be with you.” That statement was followed by another eye roll, but this time he added a headshake. "Thanks, man.” He hung up the phone and passed it back to me.

  “Everything Ok?” I asked.

  “What? Oh yeah, everything’s fine. We get to be graced with the presence of Drew’s girlfriend Mia."<
br />
  “Let me guess. You two are BFFs, right?" His answering look made me laugh.

  We walked over to a bench where his roommate could see us, and sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Colin spoke up first.

  “Hey, Lucy, I’m really sorry about everything. I know I said it before, but...you know. I just feel bad.”

  Oh no. His sincerity reminded me of our earlier conversation, and I felt like the worst kind of person.

  “Um, Colin. Remember when I forgave you for running into me?”

  “Sure. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

  “Ha, ha. Anyway, on a completely different note, I was just thinking about how I am going to meet my mom for lunch tomorrow and…” I mumbled the last part.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  I was just saying that I’m meeting...my uh mom...for lunch.”

  “Your mom? Didn’t she leave you when you were eight?”

  “Um, yeah. That was a joke.”

  “What the hell, Lucy? I thought I broke your heart.”

  “I was kidding. I thought it would be funny. It was a little funny, right?”

  Apparently, not that funny.

  Colin stood up and walked to a bench next to the one we were sitting on; presumably to avoid the space I was in. I followed him anyway.

  “I’m sorry.” I said bumping his arm. Do you forgive me?”

  He let out a breath, knowing that I got him.

  He was silent for a moment before replying. “You’re buying the coffee next time.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured.”

  Chapter Four

  The “I Totally Planned This Party” Playlist

  “Thanks for f’ing with my music,” Colin snapped at Drew as soon as we slid into the back seat.

  “No idea what you’re talking about, dude.” Drew deadpanned, before turning to me.

  “Hi, I’m Drew.”

  “Lucy.” I leaned forward to shake his hand, then turned to the model sitting in the passenger seat.

  “This is Mia,” Colin responded when Mia failed to do more than give me a weak half handshake before returning to her apparently riveting Cosmo.

  “Nice to meet you.” I answered both of them. Drew’s smile was followed by Mia’s curt nod, her eyes never leaving the magazine.

  As soon as the introductions were out of the way Colin returned to telling off Drew. “Don’t act like you don’t know, dipshit.”

  Drew backed out of the space he created when he picked us up. “Oh, wait, Let me guess. He pulled the whole ‘the music on my mp3 player isn’t mine’ BS, didn’t he, Lucy?" Drew looked in the rearview mirror to make eye contact with me.

  “I knew that you love Michael Knight. I knew it.” I laughed.

  “What did I tell you, dude? If the girl likes you she will overlook your love of working out to eighties power ballads. Don’t be ashamed of who you are.” Drew cracked me up, but Colin reacted by throwing a half-full water bottle at Drew’s head.

  Drew barely registered the hit, and instead broke into a loud version of “The Greatest American Hero.” Colin gave up, and joined Drew in an equally appalling voice.

  That’s what finally gave Mia a reason to speak. “Would you both shut the hell up? I can’t think. I’m trying to fill out this quiz.”

  Drew grabbed the magazine from her hands while sitting at a stoplight. “‘Are you a serial cheater?' Really, Mia? If you have to ask, you already know the answer.” Drew tossed the magazine back to her.

  “Don’t be mad, Drew. You know I love you. I am taking the quiz for a friend.”

  "What friend of yours asked you to find out if she cheats too much?” Colin chimed in.

  “Shut up, Colin. Why are you always such a jerk?”

  “Huh…you sure it’s me? Most people think I’m charming. What do most people think about you?”

  “Drew, do you hear how he talks to me?”

  “Hey, Lucy, did you say you live on East Norwich or West Norwich?” Drew asked me, completely ignoring Mia.

  “I live on East, not far from where The Underground Record Shop use to be.”

  “Underground closed? That sucks. I loved that place.” Drew seemed really bummed.

  “Nobody plays records anymore, Andrew. Who the hell cares that it closed?” Mia put down her magazine just long enough to comment.

  Why is Drew with this girl? She must be amazing in…the kitchen.

  I watched for Drew’s reaction, but ignoring her seemed to be his position of choice. Colin, on the other hand, appeared to want to push her out of the still moving car every time she opened her mouth.

  I looked at him sympathetically. He gave me a small smile, then shook his head in defeat, no doubt feeling frustrated that his friendship with Drew was more important than the thrill of watching Mia roll onto the sidewalk as we drove away. I felt his pain. I had known her all of five minutes, and I kind of felt like asking Drew to drop her off at the nearest bus stop.

  “I guess it’s hard to comrob with the age of downloading.” I figured I would ignore the five foot ten, 115-pound elephant in the car, and continue the conversation as if Colin wasn’t mentally throwing things at her.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Drew agreed. “Still sucks. They had a great Ramones collection. Ramones sounds great on vinyl.”

  “I remember getting The Beatles White album there. That’s another one that sounds good on a record player.” Colin added.

  We all agreed with Colin and continued to think of music we loved listening to on a record player. My contributions included The Muppet’s Christmas, and Elvis Costello. Mia’s contribution was to roll her eyes and act like she would have rather been anywhere but in that car.

  “You guys act like you were around during the dark ages. I had my own iPod when I was like seven. Are you really missing the ‘good ole’ days?’”

  “Didn’t your mom ever listen to a record when you were a kid?” Colin asked.

  “Um no. My mom listened to Spice Girls on her CD player. And you know why?”

  “Because your mom was punishing you for something?” Drew laughed at Colin’s comment, which earned him a glare.

  “No, because my mom wasn’t eighty when I was a kid.”

  “You don’t have to be eighty to have taste.” Colin said it mostly to himself, but I don’t think anyone in the car missed it.

  After that, we seemed to have an unspoken agreement to ignore Mia and keep the conversation to the three of us. Talking to the guys was really fun.

  All too quickly, we were in front of my house. “Thanks guys. I appreciate the ride.” I gave a quick wave, then started to jump out of the car, only to pause when I felt the pain that I had all but forgotten.

  “No problem. Good to meet you.” Drew yelled from the front seat. Mia gave me a half wave that looked more like she was shooing me away than saying goodbye.

  Colin took me by surprise by jumping out of the car behind me.

  “Hey, Drew. I’m going to make sure that Lucy gets to her apartment ‘kay?”

  “Sure thing, man.” Drew leaned toward the back seat, while Colin leaned in from the back door to do the guy-friend fist bump thing.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to make sure you get in okay, get you something for your pain if you need it, maybe an ice pack. It would make me feel better to at least pretend like I have done something to help. I won’t stay long, I promise.”

  “Well, if it will make you feel better.” I motioned with my head toward my house. Even though I made it seem like I was doing him a favor, I was sort of happy that he wanted to walk me to my house. I liked him, and I wasn’t sure how to bring up seeing him again without sounding like I ‘liked-him’ liked him.

  What am I, twelve?

  It was a relief to have a couple extra minutes to think of the right way to say, ‘how about that coffee?’ without sounding like I was trying out my new ‘World’s Worst Pick-up Lines” book.

  As soon as I walked into my house I was bombar
ded with the sound of Arctic Monkeys, and my roommate Liz yelling made-up obscenities to no one in particular.

  “Are you fracking kidding me? I am seriously going to string him up by his popcorn balls.”

  “Morning, Liz. Nice word usage. Annie will be proud.” Liz jumped when she heard me. Her focus had been entirely on the computer in front of her, so it took her a second to switch focus to me, and then the stranger standing next to me.

  “Annie won't be proud, she's going to be pis-I mean ticked off because I am going to win the bet. And when I win, I am going to make a list like its freaking Christmas, with all the things I am going to make her clean.”

  I laughed at her, while Colin stood by me completely bemused by the bundle of fire in front of him.

  “Colin, this is my roommate Liz. Liz, this is Colin. I ran into him this morning while out running. He helped me get home after I fell.” Colin smiled at me before turning to Liz. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Oh hi.” Liz smiled at Colin then glanced at me with a look that clearly meant ‘we will talk more about the good looking guy you brought into our home later.’

  Colin put his hand out and Liz shook it.

  “Nice to meet you too. What happened, Lu? You OK?”

  Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just a small bruise I think. No biggie.”

  Colin cringed slightly, but recovered his smile and turned to Liz.

  “So, Liz, if you don’t mind me asking, how are you winning a bet with this Annie person? And why are you planning on torturing her with cleaning?” Colin asked.

  Before Liz had a chance to go off on a rant, I jumped in. “My other roommate Annie made a bet that Liz couldn’t go three months without swearing. If Liz wins, Annie has to keep the house clean for the next three months. If Liz loses, she has to stop nagging Annie for three months about keeping the house clean.”

  “The girl’s room looks like someone ransacked it for drug money.” Liz interjected. “If I don’t nag her, the whole house will look like that. Do you want our home to look like ‘Hoarders: College Edition’? I’m doing this for all of us.”

  So much for avoiding the rant.

  “She’s not that bad, Liz.” I tried keeping a straight face, but Annie was kind of a slob. And, Liz was ridiculous about cleaning. I was slightly suspicious that she liked sniffing Pine Sol when no one was looking.