Intertwined

  INTERTWINED

  Brooke VanSoelen

  Copyright © 2020 Brooke Vansoelen

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9781234567890

  ISBN-10: 1477123456

  Cover design by: Hannah Wood

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  To my parent's, for keeping my stories in their dresser drawer.

  And to Nathan and Elise, for giving me something to write about.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Intertwined

  Chapter 1.

  Chapter 2.

  Chapter 3.

  Chapter 4.

  Chapter 5.

  Chapter 6.

  Chapter 7.

  Chapter 8.

  Chapter 9.

  Chapter 10.

  Chapter 11.

  Chapter 12.

  Chapter 13.

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgement

  About The Author

  Intertwined

  Intertwined

  Chapter 1.

  "Eliza DuPont?”

  I raise my head up from my desk and sneakily try to wipe the drool from my chin.

  “Y-yes?” I say, though not really aware of who I'm saying it to.

  Mr. Roberts, my English professor sighs and marks a hasty check-mark on the board. “Just making sure you're still with us.”

  I groan and rub the sleep from my eyes in response.

  “Another late night?” My best friend Luis whispers in his annoying, know it all voice that I can't help but love.

  “Every night is a “late night” these days.” I say.

  I see the grin on his face out of the corner of my eye, and in spite of the groggy feeling in my head, I feel the corners of my own lips twitch.

  Professor Roberts clears his throat, and launches into a speech about a book that I only vaguely remember reading, but we all turn to watch him anyway. We are all strangely okay with tearing ourselves away from the comfort of our minds. A place where we would all undoubtedly love to spend the rest of the class time if we didn't desperately need to pass.

  There are a few small things that make his class different from the others. Different from the others that I have a hard time getting through. And the reasons don't have anything to do with the fact that he teaches my favorite subject. But, more along the lines of how interesting he makes it all sound. How grandiose and romantic and real life he makes the subjects of the novels seem. Sometimes it seems like he knows them so well that they feel like extensions of himself. Like somehow, he's lived hundreds and hundreds of lives.

  And as my friend Annette says multiple times a day, it doesn't hurt that he's beautiful. He has this brown hair that curls just under his ears, and a mischevious kind of look in his eyes. Like a cherub, or baby bunting. Though on him, it only accentuates his muscular shoulders and ever present stubble.

  “I'm sure I don't need to remind you all this.” He says. “But we are going to be starting a project very soon, and I'm going to be pairing you up so don't get any ideas. I think if you allow yourselves to, you'll really enjoy the material.”

  Behind me, Annette lets out a deep sigh and leans forward, so that her long blonde curls tickle my ear. “Could this get any worse?”

  I bat her away with my hand as Mr. Roberts writes the title of the project on the board in large, cursive letters. “A Trip Through Time.”

  A boy in the back of the class groans. “I thought you said that we aren't in high school anymore Mr. Roberts.”

  He turns around, and for a moment it's as though everything slows down as the gears turn in his head. He lays the blue chalk on his desk and grins at the snotty boy, who I think must have been a jock type in high school. It's the kind of smile that shows off his dimples perfectly, and makes him look too young to be in charge of anything. Let alone a whole group of students.

  “Ah, well that's funny Mr. Taylor, because I thought that you were out of high school too.” He says. “That's why I've assigned you this book.”

  We watch as he reaches down and pulls out a thick book, though the size is not what we all immediately focus on though, no, more like the very nude people on the front. Painted painstakingly, to show each tiny detail of the human body.

  “I hope that it wasn't a mistake to think that you are old enough to handle something a little more serious.” Mr. Roberts says, obviously very pleased with the hushed silence that follows. “Now, if there are no more interruptions, I'm going to sit quietly at my desk for a few moments. I'll ask that you try not to disturb me, even though I know it's inevitable.”

  We all decide it's best to obey, and stay deathly quiet as he drops the book down on his desk with a thud, and sits dow. His legs crossed and eyes closed.

  Annette reaches out and taps me on the shoulder. “Oh my god.” She says. “I think I misspoke earlier, this might be a lot of fun, especially if I get the right partner.”

  I roll my eyes and turn to face her. “Speak for yourself. I really hope that I can think of an excuse to sit this one out.”

  “You're such a prude Eliza.” She says. “C'mon you have to let your hair down once in awhile. Before you know it, that same hair is going to be gray, and you'll remember this moment as the turning point of your life.”

  “This moment?” I say. “Really? Ann, I hardly think that it's going to have that much of an impact on me.”

  “Eliza, honey.” She says. “Look at that man in front of you. Yes, Mr. Roberts. He is the single most beautiful man that I have ever seen in my entire life, and you are one of his star pupils. Would it be that far fetched to think that maybe, just maybe, he might pick you to be his study partner?”

  A groan erupts from beside me, and I can tell right away that it's Luis. Who, judging by his scowl, has definitely been listening in on our conversation.

  “Really guys?” He says. “I'm right here, and I'm offended that you would talk about our teacher like that.”

  Annette crosses her arms. “Whatever Lu, you two know that I'm right about this, that's why you're defensive.”

  “No, you're not.” I say, shaking my head. “First of all, why would he do the project with me?”

  “Duh.” She says. “There's an odd number of students in this class, which means someone is going to be the odd man out.”

  I turn and scan the classroom, trying to not to let Annette's persistence cloud my judgment.

  “He's young...attractive...and he knows it.” She says, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied expression. “That's a recipe for one fun after school project Eliza DuPont, and after I'm proven right, you owe me all the sordid details.”

  I open my mouth to speak, but before I can reject her claim, or give her a piece of my mind, everyone around us begins to gather up their things and pile out of the room.

  “Saved by the bell.” Luis mutters.

  “You're so wrong about this Ann.” I say as she giggles beside me. “I guess it is a little funny though, to imagine who we're actually going to get stuck with.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luis shaking his head. “You two are horrible influences on me, you know that?”

  Annette and I look at each other, and break out into a string of carefree, girlish giggles.

/>   “Well the fun's only just begun.” She says. “I say we should go somewhere this weekend.”

  “Right...” Luis says. “I don't know if I can make it.”

  “Oh sure you can.” I say. “You don't even know what we're going to do yet.”

  Annette nods, and punches Luis on the arm lightly. “See? She's right, you have to come when we decide.”

  Luis waves us off with his hand, and gathers up his books. “Well, I have to go talk to the dream boat Mr. Roberts about an assignment, so I'll catch up with you two later.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Wait-”

  “Nope, sorry, I can't tell you why, when or how.” He says. “I really have to get this done.”

  Annette loops her arm around mine and nods to Luis. “Sure, but we are just going to have to assume that you also have the hots for our dear professor.”

  Luis scowls and turns to leave, and we watch as he shoves his hands into his pockets and walks down the aisle to Mr. Roberts, who still looks to be in a deep state of relaxation.

  “Well.” I say. “I guess we should go, I don't want to be here when Luis wakes him from his beauty sleep.”

  “You know what.” Annette laughs. “I don't want to either. Although... if I saved Lu from his wrath, it might win me a few brownie points.”

  I tug on her arm, and we walk up the stairs and out into the throng of students. Forgetting, at least for now, about the erotic piece of fiction that we will be reading. And focusing on more pressing matters, like what we can do to take our minds off of our homework and how much time we are going to have to study if we get to the dorm right now, and don't stop for a coffee on the way there.

  ✽✽✽

  “Do you think that Luis will ever like me the way he likes you?” Annette asks while painting her toes a bright, cherry red. “I know that you two have history and all that, but surely I have a chance.”

  I look up at her from my book and smile. “Luis is kind of weird when it comes to dating Ann, you kind of just have to push him into it until it sticks.”

  She pauses mid stroke and sighs. “See? Of course you would know that. Maybe you two are actually soul mates and I'm just the third wheel.”

  “We are absolutely not soul mates." I say. "Well, unless you call a few drunken fumbles in a football field being soulmates.”

  “At least it's something El, I mean god, you and I haven't been on any dates since we've been here.” She says. “Maybe it's a sign that we are meant to be old spinsters.”

  “You can't be serious.” I say, setting down my book. “Annette you are gorgeous in every way. The reason why you haven't gone on any dates is because you're hung up on Luis.”

  Annette sticks out her bottom lip in a pout. “Well I can't help it, I think he's the one Eliza.”

  “You know I don't believe in any of that soulmate mumbo jumbo.”

  “I know, I know. But that's just because you're the cynic in our relationship.”

  I shrug. “Someone's gotta do it.”

  She smiles at me, and sets down her nail polish with renewed vigor. “I don't know about you, but I feel like a dead man walking. I'm going to hit the sack.”

  “Me too.” I agree. “And...Annette?”

  She turns to me, her arms searching her bed for her bedding. “Yes?”

  “I wouldn't mind being an old spinster with you.”

  “Me neither El.” She sighs, already nothing more than lump underneath her covers. “Night.”

  I stare up at the ceiling as I wait for sleep to come. At the dusty fan and then down at the bubblegum pink walls. Over the year, we've filled every square inch with posters and pictures, even with those tacky, white Christmas string lights. And I realize that this, Annette, and our dingy dorm room, is the closest thing to home that I've had in a long time.

  ✽✽✽

  The next day is a blur of reading and studying and passes by quickly, and without incident. Before I have a chance to catch my breath, the three of us are in our seats again, waiting for a very tardy English professor.

  We wait for so long in fact, that the better part of the half hour is spent counting the once white, but now stained, ceiling tiles that are barely hanging on and placing bets on when the first one will fall.

  When that loses it's fun, my mind drifts off into the hallway, and I force myself past the stale smelling classrooms, and the brown linoleum floors, and I wonder what it would be like if I would have tried, I mean really tried, to escape the fated “Community college” and try for something a little more adventurous.

  But when I think about what it would be like to be in a big city somewhere, I have to remind myself that I do love the closeness, the togetherness that we are all forced to feel, because there's no alternative. We stand in the halls like sardines in a airtight can.

  Annette and Luis are laughing very loudly about something I missed out on when Mr. Roberts finally makes an appearance, boasting an untucked shirt and messy hair.

  “Look what the cat dragged in.” Annette says, flashing him one of her most delightful of smiles.

  He sets down his briefcase and tucks in the edges of his white, button down shirt. “Thank you for your comment Miss Gardner, but just because we are starting late doesn't mean that we don't have the exact same amount of work to do, so let's start with pairing up.”

  Luis nudges me with his elbow. “I think I know who I'm getting.” He says and nods to Annette. “Mr. Roberts said something about it being imperative to my final grade.”

  “Well consider yourself lucky, I just know I'm going to be stuck with some creep who can't be bothered.”

  “I wouldn't be so sure.” He says. “Roberts said that he's pairing us up according to our grades, you know, to help the stragglers along. But, you're at the top of the class, it wouldn't really be fair for him to put you with a low life.”

  I chew on the tip of my pencil nervously despite Luis' reassurance as Mr. Roberts pulls out a crumpled piece of paper that may very well contain my academic future.

  “Here we go class.” He says. “And by the way, if any of you give me any grief about your partners, I'll exchange them with someone even worse.”

  One collective groan later, and he begins reading off the list.

  I don't even realize that I am on the edge of my seat until he gets to the end and my name still has yet to be called.

  “This has to be a joke.” I say. “He doesn't even remember that I'm in his class.”

  “Yeah right.” Annette whispers. “More like he's saving the best for last.”

  “Just be happy that you got a somewhat competent partner and leave me to wallow in my own self pity.” I say.

  Luis elbows me in the shoulder and says something under his breath, but I can't hear it over the nervous pounding of my heart.

  And I know that there's no reason to be nervous, after all, it's not a big deal. But the thought of all my academic excellence amounting to nothing is enough to make me break out into a cold sweat.

  “Alright.” Mr. Robert's says. “Now that that's out of the way, I want you all to come collect a copy of the book and be on your merry way. I expect you to have made a dent in it by your next class.”

  I sit still as the familiar rustling of back packs and jackets makes it's way into my subconscious. I know that it's time to go, but I'm glued to my seat, staring down at the wooden notches in my desk. I have that awkward feeling of should I stay or should I go, which just ends up making me look ridiculous in the sea of emptying desks.

  “Oh, and Miss DuPont, will you please come see me? You're not off the hook this time.”

  At the mention of my name, I snap back into reality, and find Mr. Robert's eyes watching me over the crowd of antsy students.

  “Okay, how amazing am I?” Annette squeals as she pulls me along to the front of the class with her. “I just knew that it was a ploy to get you alone.”

  “Would you stop?” Luis snaps. “It's such a creepy thing to talk about, he's our professor.” br />
  “Yeah he is.” She agrees. “But he's not that much older than us, it's not like high school you know.”

  Luis puts his head in his hands and for a split second I feel sorry for him. I know that he probably feels the same awkwardness that I originally felt when Annette first asked me if she could try her luck with him. It's hard to see someone you used to love move on, even if it's imaginary.

  When everyone, Annette and Luis included, has made their way out of the class room, I step up to his desk and pick up one of the books.

  “That was amazing and horrifying at the same time.” He says. “It was like being swarmed by vultures.”

  I tap the cover of the book. “Don't get too excited, I think it was just because of the cover art, not a new found love of learning.”

  He laughs, and I realize that it's the first time I've ever heard it in a natural, carefree setting. One where he isn't fake laughing at something one of the other professors said or trying to cover up embarrassment at a student's prying question.

  “So, what did you want to talk about?” I say, trying to push down the blood that's steadily rushing into my cheeks.

  “Right, sorry. I forgot that you're all business. It's just, I felt like there wasn't a suitable person to couple you up with so I decided maybe you would be more at ease to do it by yourself.”

  “By myself?”

  He leans forward and clasps his hands. “Well, with my help of course. It wouldn't be fair to leave you totally on your own, I'm nothing if not even handed.”

  I hold the book to my chest. “Well that's good to know, but how are we going to have an authentic experience?”

  He looks up at me, and grins, the same grin that took me completely by surprise yesterday. And it seems like his pauses are getting longer and longer, maybe one accident, but maybe it's because he's so used to his female students falling over him.