|
Chapter 15
February 16, 1999 - Mardi Gras
The after-parade
party was in full swing at the chapter house, and a slow song
was playing on the sound system. Will leaned against the bar,
sipping water - he had enough beer for one day, and besides,
the house was dry - watching Henry and Cathy, changed from their
costumes, dancing in each other's arms to Celine Dion.
There was a new
sparkle in the frat's Sweetheart's eyes that matched the new
accessory on her finger. Cathy's head was on Henry's shoulder,
gazing at the diamond engagement ring she had received just an
hour before.
"You know,
I figured it out," he whispered in her ear, "My Heart
Will Go On" playing in the background.
Cathy turned her
dreamy eyes back to his. "What?"
"What you said
before - how you plotted against me."
"Oh? And just
what did I do?"
Henry grinned. "You
transferred from Ole Miss for your debutante season in the fall
of '97, right? Will roped me into being an escort. Me - a guy
from Jersey, a 'deb's dream.'"
"Mmm hmm."
"We met at
the Howard's garden party in September. I was escorting that
Thorpe girl - whatshername."
Cathy laughed. "Izzy
- Isabella Thorpe."
"That's her
name! Whatever happened to her?"
"She's at LSU.
Why - want her number?"
"Hush! Anyway,
I was supposed to escort Mattie Albright to the party in October…"
Cathy's eyes were
dancing. "Yes…?"
"And I get
a call three days before, saying there was a mix-up - that I
was scheduled to escort you."
"And you did
and did a fine job, too." She kissed his cheek.
"And it was
all over but the shouting after that."
She kissed his other
cheek. "Any complaints?"
"No way. But
like I said, I finally figured it out. Mattie's your sorority
sister."
"She is."
Cathy was grinning.
Henry gave her a
smug look. "There wasn't any mix-up. You set me up - you
and Mattie."
Cathy batted her
eyes. "Now, sugar, would I do something low like that?"
Henry's expression
softened. "I would have."
Cathy smiled and
gave him a soft kiss in the lips. "Aren't you glad we think
so much alike?"
Henry grinned wickedly.
"So…what am I thinking about now?"
She returned the
look. "What I've been thinking about since you gave me my
beautiful ring."
"Early night?"
She answered with
another kiss.
Will did not overhear
their conversation, but it was obvious they were both in seventh
heaven. No one in the chapter was surprised at the news of their
engagement; they had been inseparable for over a year and a half.
Henry and Cathy - it was hard to think of one without the other.
Not that they were
sickly sweet about the whole thing. At most functions they were
apart as much as they were together, fulfilling their duties
- she as sweetheart and he as vice president. But they always
seemed aware of each other, knowing where the other was, conscious
of the other's state of mind. They complemented each other. While
other couples were engaged in public displays of affection that
would have done the WWE proud, Henry and Cathy communicated their
deep fondness for each other with a single look or touch of their
hands. Will had only seen that kind of beautiful relationship
once before, and that was between his father and mother.
Will took another
sip of water, suddenly wishing it was something harder. He felt
a longing for the kind of deep relationship with another person
that his parents had, the type Henry and Cathy enjoyed. Something
real and strong - strong enough to last a lifetime.
Had he found her?
Was she a beautiful Cajun with the most intriguing eyes he had
ever seen? Was it time to stop holding back and find out?
Next week, he thought, I'll start next week.
~*~*~
It was after nine
in the evening before Chris and Lizzy made their farewells and
pulled out of the Breaux's driveway. Lizzy immediately cracked
her seat back to get some sleep.
"Tired, Lizzy?"
"You betcha
- we've been going since six this morning. I'm wasted. But thanks
- I've got some great stuff." She looked over. "Oh,
wait - how are you? Are you okay? Can you make it?"
Chris grinned. "Sure.
I've gotten used to pulling long hours. No problem."
"You get tired,
you pull over, all right?"
Chris nodded. "I
hope you enjoyed yourself."
Lizzy smiled while
keeping her eyes closed. "Oh, yeah. Your family's great.
Though I think they were disappointed that I wasn't your girlfriend."
"C'est la
vie. They should be used to frustration by now."
"Why? How come
a great guy like you doesn't have a girlfriend? If you don't
mind me asking."
"No - a long
as you tell me why you're not dating."
"Hey! I'm the
reporter! I ask the questions around here!" Both laughed
it off before Lizzy continued. "I'm sorry, Chris, I'm sure
it's none of my business."
Chris sighed. "Nah,
it's all right. Medical school isn't exactly conducive to romance,
Lizzy. The hours suck. Girls don't like being in second place
to an organic chemistry text, y'know?"
"Shallow girls
might feel that way. I'm sure not all the girls at Tulane are
like that."
Chris said nothing
for a moment. "It seems the good ones are taken." At
Loyola, too.
"No, they're
not. Just look around." Damn - if it wasn't for John,
he'd be perfect for Mari.
"Maybe. How
'bout you? What's your excuse?"
Lizzy glanced at
Chris, and then looked out the passenger window. "I don't
know. I'm through with boys - I had my fill of them back
home. I guess I haven't found a man who's nice and smart and
solid, yet."
"Hmm…that
sounds like somebody I know…"
"Yeah, who?
Besides you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you're
definitely an all-around upright guy."
"Oh, don't
go flattering me, Lizzy; you'll turn my head."
She playfully slapped
his shoulder. "Really, who were you thinking about?"
"Will."
"Will? Will
Darcy?"
Chris chuckled.
"If you think I'm upright, Will's the paragon of
righteous dudes."
Uptight, more
like. "Oh, c'mon!
Can you see it? Me and…Darcy? I seriously doubt I
live up to his standards!"
Chris frowned. "What
do you mean by that?"
The darkness of
the cab prevented Chris from seeing the embarrassment on Lizzy's
face. "Let's get real! He's Mr. Tulane! He practically runs
the damn school! He does what he wants, when he wants. He can
have any woman he wants - look how he had to fight off Carrie
Bingley."
"I though y'all
were friends."
"We are, it's
just…Chris, you're sweet, but there's no way. Will and I
are just that - friends. And that's the way we like it."
"If you say
so." But Chris was smiling inside. He knew that both Will
and Lizzy were protesting too much. If they aren't dating
exclusively by the end of the semester, I'll eat my ball cap!
Lizzy was relived
that the conversation ended. But the damage was done. A pair
of devastating dimples were floating in her mind's eye as the
Silverado hurtled eastward in the night through the Atchafalaya
Swamp.
~*~*~
Mari was usually
a happy person, but tonight she was downright giddy. Romance
did that for her. Cathy and Henry's announcement had touched
her right in her heart. An engagement during Mardi Gras! How
romantic is that?
Mari's happier outlook
was improving her opinion of her own boyfriend. He had done everything
she asked. He had been thoughtful, on-time, and considerate.
He didn't even blink at Mari's last-minute change of plans the
night before. She was in a very forgiving mood, Lizzy wouldn't
be home until after midnight, and John was looking real
cute…
"Hot, babe?"
John asked as they were dancing.
"Oh, yeah."
In more ways than one. "Let's get something to drink."
The pair left the
dance floor for the kitchen, where they ran into Greg Wickham.
"You look like you could use a drink, Mari."
"You're right,
Greg."
He smiled. "I'll
getcha something, if I can get a dance."
She glanced at John,
who just shrugged. "It's a deal," she said.
"You hang out
right here - I'll be right back." John followed Greg into
a back room while Mari sat on a nearby couch.
~*~*~
"Okay, dude,
she'll be ready for you in about ten minutes," Greg promised.
"Just be cool."
John was so nervous
he shook. "Can't, man - you sure this will work? It ain't
gonna hurt her, right?"
"Nah, just
loosens the inhibitions, dude." He dug something out of
his pocket. "Here - go take the edge off."
John took the joint
gratefully. He felt he was a nervous wreck. What was there to
worry about? He wanted to - she wanted to - Greg was just helping
things along.
"See you in
a few, dude." John left out the rear door.
A few moments later,
Greg handed a fruity cocktail to Mari. "Here 'ya go - enjoy."
Mari took a sip.
"Mmm…this is good! What is it?"
"Secret recipe
from my bartending days."
"Where's John?"
"He had to
take a leak. Wanna dance?"
"Just a minute."
Mari tossed back the remainder of the drink. "There! Let's
go."
~*~*~
George and Emma
did not go to the party at the AI House. Instead, they spent
the evening with Abe, watching TV and unwinding. George was still
in his scrubs, but Emma had changed into a t-shirt and jeans.
It was just as well,
for George and Emma were reevaluating their relationship, if
it could be called that. George found that he had fallen into
a teasing banter with Emma, and she seemed to like it. He knew
he was becoming more and more attracted to her, and his resistance
to her was nearly zero.
George sat on one
end of the couch, the end nearest Abe in his La-Z-boy. He tried
to keep his attention on the television, but he kept glancing
at the attractive girl lounging on the other end of the sofa.
Emma was leaning against the far armrest, hugging a pillow, her
legs drawn up on the couch, her bare toes nearly touching George.
Throughout the evening,
George drank in her lovely full lips and her tousled blonde hair.
Her Star of David pendant gleamed in the limited light, drawing
his gaze to her full breasts, barely contained by her t-shirt.
The more he looked at her, the more he realized that somewhere,
sometime, Little Em had become this beautiful woman. A woman
he wanted to know and hold and kiss and…
George shook his
head and turned back to the TV.
What George didn't
know was that Emma was furtively observing him, as well. She
had not really noticed what an attractive man her dear friend
was until that weekend. She had dismissed the "almost kiss"
of Friday night as hyperactive imagination - until George had
shown up unexpectedly Monday evening. New, exciting, and frightening
thoughts now invaded her consciousness. She wondered how his
kiss would taste, how his arms would feel about her. His hands
gliding over her body…
Very un-sisterly
thoughts, indeed.
But could she risk
their life-long friendship? George had always seemed to be there.
As she was growing up. When her mother died. When her sister
married. He was like an older brother, yet…
But we're not
so much brother-and-sister, are we? No, we aren't - not at all.
Neither was aware
of the other's intense interest. Both were acutely desirous that
Abe was anywhere but in his recliner.
As for Abe, he was
oblivious.
~*~*~
John was one frustrated
guy. He intended to smoke the joint in the back yard, but he
didn't count on Chuck and Lizzy's sister using the swinging bench
to sit and talk. Giving up and returning to the house was out
of the question - he was too tense to be any good for Mari when
Greg's little helper kicked in. He needed to level out, and there
was nothing like Mary Jane for it. He had to find a new place.
Unfortunately, the
street was filled with late night revelers. John walked one block
and then another, but was unable to find a quiet place. He was
about to chance using somebody's back yard to light up when he
saw his opportunity.
Two minutes later,
John Waguespack, sophomore Marketing major at Tulane University,
one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the United
States, was crouched down in the rear alley behind a convenience
store, hidden from sight by an overflowing stinking garbage dumpster,
nervously smoking a marijuana cigarette.
~*~*~
About half-way through
the dance, Greg could see his concoction taking effect. Moving
quickly before anyone else could notice, he took Mari by the
elbow and maneuvered her into the back hallway. Fortune was with
him as it was momentarily deserted. Too deserted, in fact - John
wasn't there, either. Greg didn't have time to wonder where his
missing co-conspirator had disappeared. He had only minutes before
the girl would be almost unable to walk.
Greg opened a nearby
bedroom door and found the room deserted. He got Mari inside
and closed the door before they could be discovered. Mari barely
made it to the bed before she passed out, falling face up half
on the bed, her feet on the floor.
Greg smiled. Everything
was working to plan, except John wasn't there. Where is he?
It don't take that long to take a couple hits off a joint. Shit
- fucker probably is smoking the whole damn thing! He turned
to retrieve his missing partner, and his hand was on the doorknob,
when he hesitated. He looked over his shoulder at the helpless
coed, her short shirt bunched up high on her thighs.
Damn, she's fine!
Them legs seem to go on forever!
He felt himself get excited. I could use a little of that
myself. Sure, why not? Consider it payment for services rendered.
He locked the door as he reached for the front of his jeans.
She's a little flat on top, but ya don't screw tits. John's
fault he gets sloppy seconds - he should've been here.
~*~*~
The party at the
Weinberg house watched the ten p.m. local news, and then Abe
switched the set over to the local PBS station to watch one of
the great traditions of Mardi Gras - the Meeting of the Courts
of Rex and Comus.
To the classic sounds
of the official theme of Carnival, "If Ever I Cease to Love,"
the silver-clad Comus and his consort approached the dais, where
Rex and the Queen of Carnival, dressed in gold, awaited them
on their thrones. The masked Comus and his un-masked queen paid
the others the homage due them, then took their place beside
them on their own thrones. Then all four, Rex with his scepter,
Comus with his goblet, and their consorts, rose and acknowledged
the combined krewes before the dancing commenced. The entire
ceremony took about fifteen minutes.
As the broadcast
ended, George arose to make his farewell. He took his leave of
Abe, who remained in his recliner, but Emma insisted on walking
him to the door.
At the threshold,
George turned to Emma. "Goodnight, Em."
"'Night, George.
Drive safe."
George hesitated,
and then turned to open the door. He was halted by Emma's hand
on his arm. Turning, he received a peck on his cheek.
"I…I hope
you had fun-"
Emma's words were
cut off as George returned her kiss, softly, on her lips. He
drew back, his eyes concerned that he had stepped over the line.
Emma touched her lips with her fingers, looking at George in
wonder.
"Em…I…I…"
His apology was
cut off by Emma reaching up and kissing him. They savored the
sensation for a moment.
"Emma,"
George managed, "you know this can change everything."
She blinked. "Y…yes."
"Is this what
you want?"
"I don't know.
Maybe. Do you?"
"Maybe. I don't
want to hurt you."
"Then don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't hurt
me."
George paused for
a moment as he tried to work out Emma's logic. He then smiled.
"Only you, Em…only you could have put it that way."
He kissed her again and then prepared to open the front door.
"And - Emma?"
"Yes?"
"Don't worry
- I'll never hurt you. Never."
~*~*~
John finished his
joint and got to his feet, the world seeming so much better now.
He crept out of his hiding place and found luck was with him
- there was no one in the immediate vicinity. With a smirk, John
walked back to the chapter house, knowing Mari was waiting for
him.
John took the front
steps two at a time and entered the house looking for Greg and
Mari. He stood near the doorway, scanning the crowd. The smile
on his face faded as he saw no sign of either.
Confusion was the
first emotion that registered, one that was quickly replaced
by another - dread. Something had happened. Something
unplanned. Something bad.
John was searching
the chapter room for Mari when he saw a disheveled Greg enter
from the back hallway. John quickly cornered him. "Where
were you? Where's Mari?"
"Waitin' for
ya, dude," Greg grinned. "All primed. 'Course, you
get leftovers."
John looked in horror
at Greg. "What did you do?"
Greg indicated with
his head and led the way down the hallway. In a back room, Mari
was passed out on a bed, her clothes in disarray.
"What the fuck!?!"
"Roofies, dude.
Works every time." Greg waved at the girl. "She's ready."
John was dumbfounded.
Greg had said his concoction would "loosen her inhibitions,"
not knock her out. And he had never said anything about participating.
Greg's current behavior was something John had never seen before.
Greg wasn't defensive or ashamed - he was proud of his crime.
Greg was acting like he had given John a great gift rather than
brutally abusing him by raping his girlfriend.
John stared at his
companion and saw something even more frightening than the condition
Mari was in. Greg's eyes were empty of any humanity; they were
cold, like a shark. His smile had no humor in it. For the first
time, John realized that Greg was a sociopath. Immediately, he
knew that his next statement would mean the difference for him
surviving the night or not.
"Umm….thanks,
Greg. But I think I ought to get her home." John barked
out a fake laugh. "I'm not into necrophilia."
Greg blinked. "Suit
yourself, dude."
Swallowing the bile
of terror, John carefully pulled up Mari's panties and repaired
her clothing, all under the seamlessly careless gaze of Wickham.
John was thinking furiously. In Greg's mind, he had done his
friend a favor. Should Greg become aware that John felt differently,
he would be insulted. It was not good for one's health to insult
Greg Wickham.
John picked up the
unconscious girl. Wordlessly, Greg held the door open for him.
John moved down the hallway towards the back door. He had almost
reached it when it was opened by Will Darcy.
"Hey, John!
John? What's going on? What's wrong with Marianne?"
John went white
as he began stuttering an excuse. Will's eyes narrowed as he
observed the scene.
"John - Mari
needs a doctor!" Darcy cried. "I'm calling an ambulance."
"No! I mean,
thanks, Will, but I've got it handled. She's just a little wasted,
is all."
Will remembered
the last time John uttered those words - the Homecoming Halloween
Dance after the football game. He put his arm on John. "Not
this time, John. Come on; let's get her into a room."
"Hey!"
interjected Wickham. "Don't you listen good? He's got it
handled. Get lost, asshole."
Darcy turned on
Wickham. "You get lost. This isn't your house. Get the hell
out of here."
"Umm…Will…"
muttered John.
"Fuck you,
rich boy! Nobody tells me to get lost!" shouted Wickham.
He moved to shove Darcy out of the way. A mistake - Wickham found
himself pinned face first to the wall, one arm twisted behind
him, Darcy's forearm hard against the back of his neck.
"Like I said,
this isn't your house," spat Darcy from between his teeth.
"Shut your mouth."
John saw his opportunity
and fled out the door, carrying Mari, disregarding Will's cries
to stop.
"Alright, he's
gone. Lemme go!"
"Not just yet,
Wickham. What the hell's going on? What's wrong with Mari?"
The yelling had attracted company. The hallway was starting to
fill up.
"I'll KILL
you, you fucker!" screamed Wickham.
"Will! What's
going on?" Henry fought his way though the crowd.
"Something's
wrong with Marianne. John just carried her out of here. Wickham
here knows something about it."
"He carried
her out?"
Before Will could
answer, Chuck came in through the back door, Jane Boudreaux close
behind. "Do y'all know what's wrong with…? Darcy! What
is this?"
"Ask Wickham
here."
"I'm telling
you nothing! I'll let my Glock do my talking!"
Darcy shoved hard,
yanking Wickham's arm tighter. "Threaten me again and I'll
break your arm."
Chuck grabbed Darcy's
shoulder. "Let him go, Will."
Darcy hesitated
before releasing Wickham. The blond-haired man twisted around,
eying the crowd.
"You got anything
to say, Greg?" asked Chuck.
"Nothin' -
'cept you'll be seeing me again, rich boy!" He pointed at
Darcy.
Will wasn't afraid.
"I'm sure my cousin on the NOPD will like to know that,
Wickham."
"Yeah, right!
Who do you know on the police, asshole?"
"Lt. Fitzwilliam
- narcotics."
Wickham blinked.
As much as he hated it, he had to retreat. Too much business
was at stake. "Look, you just stay outta my way, and I'll
stay outta yours." With that he squeezed between the wall
and Bingley before fleeing the house.
Chuck turned to
the others. "Now, will somebody tell me what's going on?"
~*~*~
Wickham slammed
the door of his Camero, his arm still aching and his mind still
steaming. For a moment he thought about his gun, hidden beneath
his car seat. I'll get my nine and show 'em what happens when
you disrespect G-Daddy! Yeah, just light that place up! Watch
rich boy crap his drawers afore I bust a cap into him!
'Cept there's
a crowd. I can't kill 'em all. Five-O'll be on my ass before
I get five blocks. Maybe later? Wait and jump Darcy some other
time?
Think, asshole!
Too many witnesses! Darcy goes down, Fitzwilliam comes after
me! Darcy's his cuz? Shit, Fitzwilliam would kill my ass for
sure!
Okay, so rich
boy gets lucky. I'll find some other way of takin' him down.
~*~*~
John managed to
maneuver a barely-conscious Marianne from his car to her dorm
lobby. As it was after eleven on Mardi Gras night, the residents
and guests in the lobby barely registered that another coed had
over-indulged. No one stopped or even questioned the pair, and
John made it to the elevator undisturbed. Minutes later they
were at Mari's room door.
"Mari - Mari,
can you hear me? I need your key. Mari?" John asked. The
girl only mumbled incoherently. With a sigh, John propped Mari
against the wall and looked through her fanny pack. It took only
a moment to find her key and another to open the door. He half-dragged
the girl into the room and let her fall onto her bed.
John tossed the
key onto a desk and thought what to do next. Even asleep - Mari
was out again - she was incredibly sexy. His body reacted to
the tempting sight before him. Maybe I ought to take advantage
of this? Give her a happier memory? An image of her with
Greg flashed through his mind just then, putting him right off.
He couldn't, not now, not after what Greg had done.
With a mumbled curse,
John reached down and removed Mari's shoes. He positioned her
fully on the bed and placed her covers over her. After tucking
her in, he almost kissed her forehead before thinking better
of it. With a last glance, he let himself out of the room.
~*~*~
Patel showed Chuck
the state of his room. "I can't believe he used my room!
Look at my bed!" The pillows were on the floor and the sheets
were twisted and crumpled. Chuck walked over and could see the
evidence of sex on the sheets. Patel blanched. "Aww, gross!"
"Who did you
say was in the room?"
"John's girlfriend,
Marianne, that Wickham character, and John - that's it."
Chuck rubbed his
tired eyes. He wished Darcy was still there - he could use the
advice. "John was in here with Greg and Mari?"
Patel's eyes went
wide. "No!" he remembered. "I saw him in the chapter
room most of the party. He must have gone in here for only a
few minutes before he left with Mari." He looked around.
"I gotta clean up this mess."
Chuck sighed. This
night had ruined his first real date with Jane Boudreaux. She
had left for Hammond right after Greg disappeared. "Yeah,
go ahead. I'm gonna get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning."
~*~*~
"All right…"
said the Chief of Police as he watched the seconds count down
to midnight, "…NOW! Start them up!"
A hand signal was
made, and the sirens blared as three patrol cars in echelon formation
began to move down Bourbon Street. Crews had already removed
the barricades that would have prevented this maneuver. The chief
and dozens of his people walked behind the cars, Richard Fitzwilliam
among them. The chief raised a bullhorn.
"EVERYONE -
MARDI GRAS IS OVER! CLEAR THE STREETS - MARDI GRAS IS OVER FOR
1999! PLEASE CLEAR THE STREETS! THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS THANKS
YOU FOR VISITING US! WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOURSELVES, AND WE HOPE
YOU WILL RETURN VERY SOON! CLEAR THE STREETS - MARDI GRAS IS
OVER!"
Again and again
the chief repeated the request. Behind him, the street cleaners
were already beginning the process of reclaiming the French Quarter.
Fitz always loved this part - the look on the tourists' faces
as they realized that the party was over. No more acting the
fool in the street. After all, it was midnight.
It was now Ash Wednesday.
Lent had begun.
|
