Lake Larson

Emily's eyes stopped on me as I waved her down. She smiled, zig-zagging between the tables. Her hair curled down her back as the dress hugged tight like she had a hot date after our meeting.

"Hello, Emily, I'm Lake," I greeted her while she sat down, luckily not on Ian.

"Hey, nice to meet you, Lake," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "Will this be long?"

"No, just a couple of questions." I pulled out my notebook, remembering all the details Ian had told me about their brief relationship. Well, maybe a relationship.

"Okay, well, I have a date after this."

I looked at Ian as he glared at her before fake smiling at her. "I'm not going to beat around the bush here." Her face scrunched together. "I didn't ask you to meet because of the article. I'm here to talk about Ian Cros."

Emily's expression dropped, telling me she remembered him, but she glanced down at her hands. "Who?"

"Ian Cros was a classmate of yours when you attended Eastern," I said while she looked me in the eye. "I know what you did."

She leaned back in her chair, not breaking our eye contact. I opened my mouth to say something, but she beat me to it. "Yes, I know who he is."

Ian stood up quickly. "Ha! She murdered me! Call the police!" he yelled, pointing at Emily.

"Well, what happened?" I asked her, side-eyeing Ian.

"I—" She looked away from me.

"I know you lit photos on fire in his dorm room. Why?"

"Yeah! Lake! Make her talk!" Ian yelled, pacing near the backside of his chair.

"Oh gosh, that was embarrassing. Yes, I was angry with Ian. We were dating, and I was part of the Daily Gossip, so naturally, the lab had tons of pictures of him, given," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "It started as a cute project I would make for him, but I ended up not doing it because it was over the top."

Her eyes looked over my shoulder before focusing back on me. "Ian went home with another girl one night after a party."

I glanced at Ian as his face dropped with regret. He sat down, biting his cheek, not wanting to look at me.

"He cheated?" I asked her, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, and I was angry, so I went to his dorm and showed him how insane I was. I lit those pictures on fire like it burned him out of my life. I left him to kill the fire, and I never saw him again." She shook her head.

"That's it?" I asked.

She nodded. "He disappeared. Nobody saw him from that day forward. I tried to see him and apologize."

I grabbed her hand. "Oh, you didn't need to apologize," I laughed.

Ian coughed slightly. "Hey."

I pulled my hand away while she checked her wristwatch. "Well, when I went back to Ian's dorm. His mom was there cleaning up all his items."

"Okay, thank you for coming here," I said, looking at Ian, knowing I needed to get back to place before Alex arrived.

"All done?" she asked with a smile.

I stood from my chair. "Yep, thank you again for meeting me."

"No problem," she replied. "I hope I could help." Emily walked away, racing from the restaurant.

I glanced at Ian as he watched Emily leave out the door. He looked like he wanted to apologize for his actions. His eyes dropped to the table before they connected with mine.

I cleared my throat. "Time to get back to my dorm. I have a friend arriving soon," I said, leaving Ian behind me.

Stepping into the icy weather, Ian appeared next to me. "What?" he said as I walked by him. "You should have told me. I need to clean my room up."

I rolled my eyes. "My room."

He kept with my pace. "Yeah, that's what I said."

I laughed, glancing down as my breath floated near my face. We sprinted up the steps into my apartment, seeing books scattered on the floor.

"Ian, this is all from you," I said, picking up what I could and tossing them at him.

Ian caught a few books and placed them on my shelf while some went through him, smacking into the wall behind him. I scooped my laundry from a pile and dropped it in a hamper.

A soft knock had Ian freezing mid-crouch as he tried to pick up a cup from the wood floor. We made eye contact while we both headed toward the door. In an instant, I stepped into Ian, standing inside of him. It was numb as the icy sensation vanished. My heart picked up as I stepped out of him.

"Wow," Ian said, tilting his head toward me. "That felt weirder than normal." He stepped away from me and sat on the edge of the bed.

I shook off the numbness, opening the door to Alex's smile. She had been my best friend since elementary school. We grew up down the road from one another in a small town in Idaho. Full of cows and cowboys. Her reddish-brown hair fell into a curly, tangled mess while her red freckles matched her strands.

Ian scuffed. "Hey, Alex, I am Ian. It's nice to meet Lake's best friend," Ian said from the bed.

I couldn't help but glance at him with widened eyes, telling him to zip it.

Alex spun in a circle. "You ready for the best night of your life?" She tossed her bags on the bed, barely missing Ian.

"Yes, I am," Ian said, standing up and winking at me.

My cheeks burned as he raised an eyebrow, biting his bottom lip. His eyes dipped down my body, prompting me to cough.

"W-where do we start?" I asked, looking at Alex.

"Girl!" she yelled, which caused Ian to jump as she pointed at me. "I have the perfect dress for you."

"I don't know about that," I said, following her toward a bag. She grabbed one of her bags and danced to the bathroom.

Ian and I followed behind her. "A dress?" I asked.

"Yes, a dress, Lake," Alex and Ian said simultaneously.

Ian smiled at Alex, shaking his head. "This girl speaks my language." He strolled over to my vanity, jumping to sit on the counter.

Alex glanced around. "Is there an echo in here?"

"What do you mean?" I asked her, but glared at Ian.

She tilted her head at me, thinking, but shrugged it off, changing her expression to a smile. "Let's start with some makeup."

We plastered our makeup on with lots of giggles and gossip. Ian exited the bathroom when Alex talked about her parents and the endless story. She curled my short hair while I straightened hers past her rear.

"I'll go get your dress," Alex said, leaning over the counter and fixing her lipstick.

She hopped backward and smiled ear to ear at me. She flung the bathroom door open, leaving it snagged on my backpack. I watched her digging in her bag on the bed as my eyes lingered on Ian beside her. He smirked, slowly standing on the wood floor. His hazel eyes pierced me to my soul as he model walked closer.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, standing too close.

I mouthed 'thank you' before looking down at my hands, playing with them.

"Why are your cheeks so red?" Alex asked, walking over with a black material in her hands.

I covered my face with my fingers while she held up a black long-sleeve shirt and maroon velvet skirt with brass buttons trailing down the front.

"I thought you said dress?" I raised a brow.

"Yes, but I decided no when I remembered this skirt."

I dragged Alex into the bathroom to change before she could think otherwise. She gave me a questionable expression about changing in the bathroom instead of living room, but luckily, she didn't ask. Her tight black jeans had holes down her legs while the white crop top hung loosely with an open back.

"Here," Alex said, handing me black boots and dangled her high heels to show them off.

Alex stumbled out of the bathroom as I strolled behind her, pulling at the end of my skirt. The boots stretched past my knees as the long-sleeved shirt stopped right at the top of the skirt perfectly without showing my stomach. I tapped one of the brass buttons, looking up at Ian nervously.

His jaw dropped slightly while his eyes sparked with mystery. Ian cleared his throat, trying to decide on his words. His cheeks faded to a pink tint. I didn't think ghosts could blush.

"You ready?" Alex asked as I glanced over at her already with her hand on the doorknob.

I straight-smiled at Ian. "Yes." My heart picked up pace. "I think." My palms increased in temperature. "I-I-I—"

"Lake, you got this," Alex said, stepping closer.

"Let's go break some hearts," Ian said, walking through the door.

Alex and I made it to the bars on the main street. We danced with drinks in our hands while college students sang karaoke. As sweat dripped down my forehead, I dragged Alex to the bar and leaned against it.

"So when am I going to meet Ian?" Alex asked over the loud crowd.

Ian popped up behind the bar. "So you talk about me?" Ian asked, causing me to jump.

"No, Ian doesn't like to put on shoes, so he doesn't go out much," I replied to Alex.

"Not my choice!" Ian yelled.

"You sure about him?" Alex raised both brows. "He sounds weird. What about Hudson?"

"Yeah, you have no clue!" I yelled closer to her ear as the music blasted. "I forgot to tell you. Hudson and I are partners for a presentation and meeting on Monday!"

"This Monday?" she asked.

I watched her face become worried. "Yes. Why?"

"Lake, I'm sorry to be the one with bad news, but you are awkward, and we don't have enough time to make you not weird by Monday." Alex patted my shoulder while Ian laughed loudly.

"Hey, now," I laughed back, shaking my head.

"I'll help you, my little penguin," Ian whispered.

I glared at him, confused by the new nickname. Penguin? What does that mean?

Alex grabbed my wrist. "Hey!" she yelled, glancing across the bar. "Let's go to a different club."

"Why?" I followed her gaze, seeing Gabby enter the venue.

"We can go before she sees us," Alex said, trying to pull me through people.

We shoved by a group of girls in matching outfits. Their shirts had a fraternity logo on them as they danced in circles. Giggles filled the air when one of them fell on the wet floor beside me.

"Alex knows about Gabby?" Ian asked, walking through people while I shuffled around.

"Of course, I tell Alex everything."

"Everything?" He froze with his brow raised before trying to grab me. "I don't think you should leave." I stopped walking. "Don't let her control your life."

I watched the girl stumble back to her feet as I thought about what Ian said. He was right. I shouldn't run from Gabby.

I grabbed Alex before she moved too far. "I don't want to leave," I said, smiling at Ian.

"You sure?" she asked, glancing at the spot Ian stood.

"Yes, let's dance."

Alex and I danced, avoiding Gabby as much as possible. At one point, I saw Jacob walk into the bar, gluing himself to her. As Alex danced with a random guy, I sidestepped to the bar and leaned against a stool.

The bartender rushed by me with a drink, gesturing he would be right back.

I glanced at Alex, watching her grind against a guy before spinning and connecting her lips to his.

"How can your best friend be like that and you—" Ian said, not finishing his sentence.

"I am what?"

He smirked. "Cute."

"But," I responded, knowing there would be a but.

"No buts," he replied.

"There is always a but." I leaned closer to him.

"No, there isn't always a but." I could feel Ian watching me, but I kept my eyes on Alex. "You are awkward, but it is cute."

"If I wasn't imagining it, I would say you are hitting on me," I laughed while the bartender approached.

The man flipped a rag onto his shoulder. "What you having?" he asked.

"Just a Sprite," I replied as he brought up a glass, filling it and sliding it across the bar to me.

"Thank you," I replied as he walked away.

I sipped on my Sprite, glancing over to see Ian watching me. Smiling slightly, I looked at my feet, letting the music fill our silence. The club hit capacity as lines of people stood in the cold outside. I watched them through the dark windows as their breath steamed the glass.

"Hey, let's go back to Alex," Ian said as I looked at him and saw Gabby walking toward me.

Jacob hung on her shoulder as they approached like they owned the club. Jacob's eyes crossed as he tried to focus on me.

"Hey, Lake, nice to you here!" he yelled in an incomplete sentence.

Gabby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Lake," she said with attitude. "Why are you here?"

I glanced at Ian with a worried expression before looking at Alex, not knowing Gabby had approached me. My hand froze, ice crawling up my wrist. I looked down, seeing Ian's hand grabbing my drink. He threw the glass of Sprite on Gabby, soaking the front of her shirt.

Gabby looked down in surprise and back at me with a glare. She stepped forward, but Ian smacked Jacob's drink, splattering it onto her face. The alcoholic drink dripped from her hair as she froze, fuming with anger.

"What the fuck, Jacob?" she yelled.

Ian gripped my wrist for a split second, pulling me away as Gabby yelled at Jacob. I raced onto the dance floor, ripping Alex from a new guy. We ran out of the club as tiny drops of rain covered us.

"Where are we going?" Alex asked, stumbling.

I laughed up at the night sky. "Back to the dorm," I said, smiling at Ian and shaking my head in disbelief. I would relive this day a hundred times just to see a drink being thrown at Gabby again.

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