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“Yes I did,” Je
Tracy crossed into the living room and flopped on the couch. “They weren’t all bad.”
Je
“Sure.” Tracy continued sulking on the couch.
“All they were interested in was getting into bed with me, nothing else.” Je
“Like Steve was any different.”
“Okay, I’ll admit he did want to sleep with me, but that’s not all he wants, and that’s where he differs from everyone else you have subjected me to.”
Tracy tilted her head a little. “Did you sleep with him?”
Je
“Oh my God!” Tracy shot to her feet. “You did!”
“I’m not going there with you Tracy,” Je
Tracy gri
Je
“That good?” Tracy sat and put her feet on the coffee table, crossing her arms, studying Je
Je
“What made you say yes?” She knew Je
“Let’s just say Steve can be very persuasive.” Jen blushed. “And he is one fine-looking man.”
Tracy nodded, a little envious of her roommate. Bill was good-looking, but he wasn’t in the same ‘stop and stare’ realm as Steve. “Even with the black eye.”
“Especially with the black eye. For some reason, that just makes him more…,” Je
“Sexy.”
Je
Tracy raised her eyebrows. “No, not really. He’s just sweet eye candy.”
Je
Tracy smiled at Je
Je
Tracy’s mouth dropped. “How can you be so sure he’s the one?” She wasn’t even sure if Bill was her one, and they’d been dating for years.
“I just know,” Jen replied. “I can see forever with him.” She took a sip of her drink. “Didn’t you know with Billy?”
Tracy shrugged. “I’m not sure he is the one. I love him to death, but forever? I just don’t know about that.”
“When did you come to that conclusion?”
Tracy shrugged. “I don’t know, this summer I guess.” She stood and walked on to the balcony. Je
Je
Tracy slowly turned to her roommate. “You couldn’t wait to get out of here last spring. What changed?”
Je
“You went there,” Tracy gasped.
“Went where?”
“Paradise Cove.”
“What if I did?”
Tracy felt the hair on the back of her neck tingle in the light breeze. She looked out at the lake and back at Je
“Cut the crap, Tracy. There isn’t anything to the legend you told me about.”
Tracy stepped back. Her eyes darted between the lake and Je
“Come on,” Je
“Do you?” Tracy screamed and ran into the apartment, down the hall and threw herself onto the bed in her room.
Je
“Yes it does, Jen. I’ve seen it.” She raised her makeup smeared face from the crook of her arm and met Je
“Sweetie, it’s not real.” Je
“Yet you can see it in your visions?” Tracy sniffled.
Je
“That’s not true, Jen, and you know it,” Tracy snapped. “It’s go
Je
Tracy wished she could believe her friend, but she already felt the cold hands around her heart and could only deny the powerful commands for so long before giving in or going crazy herself. She sat up, wiped her eyes, and just nodded.
Je
Tracy sniffled and stood without meeting Je
Thirsty and wanting to wash the peculiar metallic taste from her mouth, Je
Tracy nodded, still subdued.
“Are you going to see Bill tonight?” Je
“No, he has some pledge stuff to do. They’re deciding what the initiation ritual will be this year.” She rolled her eyes. “Like it ever changes.”
“You know what the ritual is?” Je
Tracy smiled a little. “Yes, but I was sworn to secrecy.”
“Come on, I promise I won’t tell,” Je
“The fraternities and sororities that have been here a while all seem to do the same thing,” Tracy began. “So it’s not really a big secret, but it’s how far the pledge is willing to go that matters.” She looked at Je
Je
“They tell the pledges about the legend of Paradise Cove and send them there,” Tracy said, picking at the tab on her soda can. “They’re supposed to get a picture of their reflection. That’s what’s required to get in, but I guess there’s a bonus as well. If you follow the stream and get a picture of where it ends, you don’t have to pay dues.” She looked up at Je
Je
“Well, I wasn’t willing to get the picture and I certainly wouldn’t follow that stream. You don’t know what’s back there.” She took another sip of her drink. “Bill did it and he must have chickened out on the second part because he still pays dues.” Tracy looked at Je
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Je
“You have to tell him not to go,” Tracy said, this time with more urgency.
“I’ll mention it.” Je
She went to her bedroom, stripped and stepped into the closet. Shuffling through her clothes, she tried to decide what to wear for Steve. The closet door closed behind her. The click of the latch startled Je