Lucas And The Time-Traveling Fog Party Animals
Chapter 19 A Fresh Start

You know what? I think today was a success. I mean, John may or may not hate me for this if he ever finds out I lied or exaggerated on how much my roommate really sees in him a bit but hey, at least he is willing to do this for me so I can go home without him realizing it. But I know coming to my dorm room will be anything but home because after John drove me back to campus and dropped me off by the girl’s freshmen wing building where I headed to my dorm lobby.

I didn’t get very far because I was surprised to see Margaret waiting for me in the lobby. I waved at her, but she didn’t wave back, and that’s when I knew I was busted.

I walked up to her and greeted her like I usually do, but all she could say was, “You were meeting an old friend from high school, huh? Tell me more about this friend in our room.” That’s when she followed me as I got on the elevator that had just opened up, and she hit the third floor.

When the elevator was going up, I tried to talk to her, but before I even got a word out, she said, “Don’t even think about talking to me this minute. I’m not in the mood.” Just then, the elevator doors opened, and in a few short moments, everything that I knew would crumble onto me. It’s now or never, but I can’t help but think to myself, How in the world am I going to make Margaret sit during breakfast all alone tomorrow? That’s almost impossible.

I mean, the last time I did that was when I...ohhh, crud! N-N-N-No, there’s got to be another way. Maybe I could ask her nicely? Ahhhh, who am I kidding? The only way I’m getting out of this is going to be getting my claws sharpened for one of those catfights again. But the more I try to think of a way out of this, a catfight does seem like the only way. Now, when this catfight does end, I could potentially risk ruining the relationship between Liz’s roommate and all of her friends completely. Is it worth it, though? I mean, am I really willing to jeopardize my mission of getting back home just so Liz can have some friends in college?

She can make new friends. Wait, what am I saying? These girls are her only friends, and it’s going to be really awkward not to remember any of this or their argument, and I don’t want that to happen. I can’t even think of a single girl out of her group to call a friend. No, I don’t think I am ready to take that big responsibility yet. Besides, these friends of hers made me feel like I was at home all along, and I-I-I-hate to say this, I really do, but I have made some of the greatest and funniest memories of my life with them. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

From singing in the car to shopping at the mall, I-I-I can’t...I just can’t do it to them. They mean so much to me, so I am going to find a way out, even if it kills me. But I think I said that way too soon because as soon as I got to the front door of my dorm room, the first thing that came to mind was, Oh Fudge! Who out of the two girls spilled the beans?

All I could say was, “Alright, I’ll tell you what hap--”

She was so serious about me doing this to her that she just yanked me inside before I said a single sentence. As soon as I got into our dorm, Margaret slammed the door shut behind me. Uh, oh, this ain’t good. She said, “Now, Kimberly had mentioned something about how John took you to the movies that somehow you forgot to mention to me when I had asked last weekend! What was that about, Elizabeth? I thought us girls are supposed to share everything and not hide secrets from each other. I totally would’ve understood if you just told me.”

Gosh, I haven’t seen her this angry since I got an F in Math, and that was back in 8th grade. But it was Kim who spilled...should’ve known, especially when she told me from the beginning that she wasn’t very good with keeping secrets. Anyway, I held my hand at her to make her stop and one on my head, saying, “Yeah. I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

“You better be. So, what? Are you two a couple now?” Margaret said in reply.

“No...well, I thought we were, but John didn’t see it that way.”

Her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy bar, and she said, “Oh, you got friend-zoned, didn’t you?”

I turned red with embarrassment because it was true but not for the right reason, and she said, “You did. HA, you totally did. You should see the look on your face. I wish I could take a picture of it right now. That’s what you get for trying to take him away from me and not telling me.”

W-w-w-w-wait a minute did I hear her right? I think she just said “take him” to me. This is the first time I had ever, and I mean EVER, heard her admit her love to John myself. I gotta push her more. I need her too; it’s now or never.

So, I smirked and stroked my chin slightly and said, “Wait, did you just say ‘take him’ to me?” Margaret got defensive suddenly and said, “What! No! No, I didn’t. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My mouth was wide open, and I replied, “You did..you did...and you never told me that you love him. Huh, here, I thought I was the one hiding a big secret. You didn’t want to tell me that you love him because you were simply jealous that Johnny talked to me first...am I getting this right?”

She got super red in the face and said, “I was a little jealous...and..and..you make a good point. I guess we both were kinda hiding secrets from each other.”

“So, you’re not mad at me?’’ I asked curiously.

“Ohh, I’m still mad at you. I’m just not going to talk or sit with you for the whole week, starting now, and don’t even think of borrowing my brush to comb your hair in the morning, too,” Margaret stated.

Man, that sucks. I like using her brush...it’s one of the few things that I enjoy doing, especially when I don’t have to ask. I just do it. Now, if she’s doing that to me, it’s only fair that I do the same to her, and I know exactly what will make her tick. So, I replied, “Fine... have it your way, but you’re not allowed to use my makeup pallet till next week.”

“Really? I like using yours! You have so many more color options than mine, can there be something else?” she explained.

“Sorry, Margie, I can’t do that unless you are willing to take back yours.”

“Well, I’m not...I can handle a week without it, but first, do me a favor and stop sounding like you don’t have a crush on anybody. We all know you have a crush on that nerd, Robbie.”

For whatever reason, I decided to shout, “Stop calling him that. He’s not a nerd!”

Margaret tilted her head slightly and said, “Oh, really, then what is he...hmph?”

“He’s a-a-a really….nice guy...but you shouldn’t take--”

She interrupted me, saying, “See, you do love him. But you still won’t admit it. I had my suspicions when you downright defended him when we were gossiping about those two a couple weeks back. It was only confirmed once Tiff found out that someone had spilled that she told me that she and Jo saw you staring head to toe at him in the mall.”

I gasped and suddenly blurted out, “I wasn’t staring. Why did Tiff say I was staring?”

“Me...Tiff...Jo...everybody knows about you two, and what were you doing? Seeing right through him? He’s not a ghost,” Margaret said with a little chuckle. I hate to say this, but my mom has a point. I was staring. But only if she knew how awkward the encounter was. I really had no choice but to stare.

I guess this will be a fresh start that I always….no, this will be Margaret’s fresh start. No, not even that....this will be a fresh start for all of us.

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