Valo sat at the small table, tapping away at her laptop. Where’s Charise? she wondered. She was supposed to meet me here. Did something come up? She glanced at her cell phone, checking to see if anyone had tried calling. No such luck.

She jumped a little when she felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder. “Charise, you scared me,” she began, turning. Then, she froze, and the smile on her face quickly turned into a bitter scowl. “Oh, it’s you.”


Dunstan smirked and sat beside her. “Is that any way to treat a close intimate friend?” he asked.

“That was a long time ago. I’m in a relationship now.”

“That didn’t stop you before.”

“I’m keeping loyal to this guy.”

“Didn’t know you were capable of monogamy,” Dunstan sneered.

“Same could be said for you, I guess. So, what’s this I hear about you and Charise?”

“Where’d you hear about that?”

“The source herself.”

Dunstan grinned. “Well, it’s true.”

“Along with several other cute young things, I imagine,” Valo shot back.

“Ah, you know me all too well,” Dunstan remarked, lightly tugging at her long hair.


“Hands off. I don’t know where you’ve been… or who you’ve been with… or in… point is, don’t touch. Got it?”

“Fine. Your loss. You sure weren’t complaining a few years ago, though.”

Valo glared at Dunstan. “That was a long time ago. I was fresh out of high school and didn’t know any better… and you were the damn TA who, shall we say, rather liked T&A.”

Dunstan chuckled. “Guilty as charged. Is it so wrong to appreciate the female body?”

“It is when you’re going after high schoolers and barely legals.”

Dunstan shrugged. “I’m not making anyone do anything they don’t want to.”

“That’s beside the point. So, what are you doing here?”

“I go to college here. I have as much a right to be here as you do.”

“Yeah, but why are you here?”


Dunstan patted his pockets, looking for his pack of cigarettes. “Have any smokes?” he asked.

Valo shook her head. “You know I have enough breathing problems as it is. Stop changing the subject.”

“I was looking for my girlfriend.”

“Look, for the good of everyone, stay away from her.”

“Why?”

“You’re bad news, Dunstan. Charise and I may not be close, but I wouldn’t wish you on my worst enemy,” Valo responded. “Scratch that-- you are my worst enemy. I wouldn’t wish you on the devil himself. Oh, wait, you are the devil. Fine, I’ll rephrase that-- I wouldn’t even wish you on my mother, who I hate with the fire of seven hells.”

“Bitter, eh? You just miss spending time with me.”

“I’m serious, Dunstan. Stay away from her.”

Dunstan smirked. “Oh, I’ll stay away from her, Jess. But I can’t promise she’ll stay away from me.”

“Stay the hell away from her. Go find some new plaything.”

“I already have.”

“And you’re picking on me for a few small infidelities. It’s like the kettle calling the pot black.”


Dunstan shrugged and leaned in close to Valo, stroking her face lightly. “Admit it, Jess. You miss spending time with me. Tell me, is he anywhere near as good as I am?”

Valo pulled away. “Get the hell away from me,” she growled.

“You’re angry because you know I’m telling the truth. Don’t fight it; just admit it.”

“There’s nothing to admit.”

“You know that if you were given the choice, you would come back to me so fast, it would make what’s-his-face… whoever you’re dating… it would make his head spin.”

“Never in a million years,” Valo snapped. “Besides, you were… shall we say… rather inadequate, in more than one way.”

“You’re just saying that to convince yourself you don’t need me… don’t miss me. Stop trying to fool yourself, Jess.”

Valo glared at Dunstan and, without saying a word, slapped him. Dunstan narrowed his eyes and whispered, “Fine. I’ll let you have that one for free. But I’ll be damned if you’ll get away with that again. You slap me again, and I’ll beat you black and blue.”

“In public like this?” Valo shot back. “You know if you did that, there’d be people on you in seconds.” She narrowed her eyes. “Get the hell out of here, Dunstan, and leave Charise alone. You’ve probably damaged her enough for one lifetime, whether she realizes it or not.”

They stared at each other, glaring, neither speaking, for several seconds.


“Hey,” Charise called, breaking the silence. She hurried over, followed by Angela. “Sorry I was late; I found Angela here in the cafeteria, and while we were having lunch, we ended up splashed with water. Angela decided that my clothes needed to be cleaned sooner than I planned.”

“I’m sorry,” Angela murmured to Charise, glancing over at Dunstan, who nodded ever so slightly in approval.

Charise looked from Valo to Dunstan and back. “I see you’ve met Dunstan,” she remarked to Valo.

“Yes, we’re very well-acquainted,” Dunstan replied.

“Valo, if you still want to go over the essay--” Charise began.

“No, I can’t,” Valo replied. “Something just came up.”

“Fine,” Charise said. “Maybe another time?”

“Sure.”

Dunstan leaned close and hugged Valo. “It was nice seeing you again,” he said, for Charise’s benefit. Then, he added, whispering into Valo’s ear, “Guess she found me, eh?”

Dunstan led Charise and Angela away, chattering. Valo glared at Dunstan, as though trying to burn holes into his skull through the power of pure hatred. “I hate that man,” she muttered.