Liv

“He’s going to find out.”

“Maybe he won’t. Maybe we can –“

“No, he’s going to find out. You know Lance can’t keep his mouth shut.”

“But –“

“No. We have to do something about it.”

I wake up in a cold sweat and my pulse is racing. Chris is next to me, snoring softly and occasionally letting out a deep breath. I’m shaking. I hate that dream. I hate that flashback. I hate –

I stop and hear someone stomping past our door. I slowly lift myself out of bed and walk to the door, opening it and seeing Kate slip into the bedroom she and JC are sharing. The door shuts firmly behind her. I can’t help but think there’s trouble in paradise.

It’s kind of a relief. They’ve been the perfect couple for far too long.

I roll out of bed and stumble into the bathroom to brush my teeth and brush out the tangles in my hair. I’m not quiet about it and don’t regard my husband who is still sleeping. As far as I’m concerned, he needs to get up, too.

Walking out of the room, I see the door across from our room slightly crack open. Justin is staring back at me.

“Hey, Livvy.”

I look at him and smile. “Hi, Justin.”

“I was just gonna take a little nap. I’ll be down later.” He nods at me, then shuts the door. I stand in front of his bedroom door for a moment or two and try to shake off any thoughts of the past.

It was late and I knew I should go back to the dorm. Chris had just told me goodnight at the bar and I was waiting on JC and Kate to finish their round of pool. I turned around and watched them together by the billiard table.

 JC was kissing her and she was pushed against the edge. They were giggling about something and Kate threw her head back and picked up the cue stick. She seductively backed into him and JC shook his head at her, grabbed the stick and threw it on the table. She pretended to be offended and JC just laughed at her. He bent down to whisper something in her ear and Kate bit her lower lip, nodding at him.

“Are you guys ready?” I called to them. I was trying not to show how irritated I was. It was late and my boyfriend had opted not to walk me back to my dorm and, when I asked him to sleep over at his place, he’d said no, that Lance was up late studying for an exam.

“Yep.” JC dragged Kate by the arm and they walked over to me. I didn’t say anything, just walked in front of them.

“What’s wrong, Livvy?” Kate asked, sidling up beside me, her fingers linked through JC’s.

“I’m just tired.” I certainly wasn’t going to tell her that I had been rejected by my boyfriend. Especially since I knew what Kate and JC were going to do when they got back to his dorm room. Kate had never experienced that, I was sure of it. From the beginning of their relationship, Kate had never once complained that she wasn’t getting sex.

I hated that about her.

“Drop you off at Van Cooper?” JC asked as his car pulled into campus.

“Uh, yeah.” I muttered. I was sitting in the backseat, not really paying attention to the conversation JC and Kate were having about some movie they wanted to see later that weekend.

He pulled in front of the dorm and I opened the door. I glanced at Kate. “I’m assuming you’re not coming in?” Kate smirked and shook her head. “Ok. Well, see you tomorrow.” I slammed the car door and trudged towards the entrance of the dorm.

“Liv?”

I looked up and saw Justin coming out of the front door. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just, um, getting back from a date.” Justin walked over to me and gave me a quick hug. “Where’s Chris?”

“In his room. Kate and JC just dropped me off.” I gestured toward the path JC’s car had taken. “You going home?”

“Not if JC and Kate are fucking in our room.” Justin scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“You can come upstairs and hang out with me. I’m pretty sure Koren’s with Joey.” I opened the door of the dorm and Justin shrugged.

“Sure, why not.”

He followed me up to the third floor. Junior year was when the three of shared a dorm. Koren and I shared one room while Kate had a room to herself. In the middle was a small living room. It was the only room on the hall with a living area between the two rooms and because we were upper classmen, we’d managed to score it at the last minute.

“Got anything to drink?” Justin asked, as he sat down on the couch.

“Water and some beer.” I opened the tiny refrigerator next to the television.

“Beer.” Justin settled into the couch while I took two beers out of the refrigerator. I sat down next to him and he took one of the cans of beer from my hand. He looked at it. “Damn. Stella Artois? Fancy.”

“That’s Kate. She only drinks imported beer.” I rolled my eyes.

“Only the finest for Katie.” Justin shook his head and I snickered, knowing how much Kate hated that nickname.

“Anyway,” I said, changing the subject. “How was your date?”

Justin chugged his beer. “Well, it’s over and it’s not even midnight. What does that tell you?”

“It tells me that you could’ve fucked her and left.” I eyed him and we both chuckled.

“Something like that. But she was awful. Not experienced at all. And I’m pretty sure she faked it.” Justin leaned back and rolled his neck around until it cracked.

“Well, sometimes we have to fake it.” I realized what I’d said and immediately regretted it. “I mean, uh, not that I do, but-“

“Oh, so you’ve never faked it with Chris?” Justin cut me off. “Really?”

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. “Maybe. Once or, or twice.”

“Huh.” Justin raised an eyebrow and looked away.

“What?” I put my beer on the coffee table and turned to face him.

“The way Chris talks, you’d think you were some kind of a porn star,” he said.

“What? No. No, I’m not a porn star and what the hell is he even talking to you for about our sex life?” I was blushing and not hiding the fact that I was angry in the least.

“They all talk about it. JC, Joey, Chris. It’s like a thing with them. I can tell you JC and Kate are into some kinky shit and Koren likes it when Joey fucks her in the shower and you…well, you like it when Chris goes downtown.” Justin catches my eye. “Is that because he can’t get you off any other way?”

“Damn.” I couldn’t help but own up to it and Justin knew it.

An hour later, we had finished off three beers each and had a great buzz going. I don’t really remember much except that before I knew it, we were making out on the couch. And after that, we were going at it pretty hard and fast. We were so into it that I didn’t hear the door open.

“Liv!”

I gasped and pushed Justin off of me. Kate was standing next to the couch. Judging by the look on her face, she had seen it all.

Koren

It was quiet downstairs when Joey and I finally emerged from the bedroom. Liv was at the kitchen table drinking coffee and watching the rain. Other than her, everybody else was still upstairs.

“Hi.” I greet my friend as Joey and I make our way into the kitchen. “Did you sleep well?”

Liv shrugs. “Sure. I guess. Chris snored most of the night.”

Silence. Joey clears his throat and goes over to the Keurig. “Hey, babe, you want regular or flavored coffee?”

“Flavored.” I sit down across from Liv. “Hey, I was thinking maybe we could go into town if it doesn’t stop raining. I’m sure Kate will want to go shopping later.”

“Maybe.” Liv sips her coffee and stares off into space. I figure it’s because of her fight with Chris the night before or just the situation in general. The door to the bathroom next to the kitchen opens and JC steps out, nodding at us as he walks over.

“Is Kate still asleep?” Joey asks him, while he waits for his coffee.

“Yeah.” JC averts his eyes away from Joey and sits down across from Liv and me. “Justin got in earlier. He’s upstairs taking a nap.”

“Ok so what does everyone want to eat?” Joey is banging around the kitchen cabinets. “I thought I saw pancake mix in here somewhere.”

“Do you have to slam those cabinets, Joe?” JC rubs his eyes and yawns. “Some of us are still waking up.”

“Sorry.” Joey gives a sheepish grin and I smile back at him. He finds the pancake mix and I decide to get up and help him. Liv is still sitting at the table, lost in her own world.

“Good morning.” Chris greets us from the stairwell. He’s still groggy and waking up. He comes into the kitchen and puts a hand on Liv’s shoulder. “Hey, babe.”

“Hi.” Liv is forcing a smile and we can all tell. I can’t help but wish that we were really back in college for just a split second. Things are so tense right now. I miss the chemistry we all once had and I realize now what it is that Kate is trying to save.

“And you’re sure she has no idea?” Chris asked me again for the umpteenth time that night. We were surprising Liv for her 21st birthday at Chicks. Kate had gone to pick her up and had convinced her we were just having a girls’ night. Liv had no idea that we were all there to surprise her.

“Chris, if you ask me again, I’m going to punch you. Yes, she has no idea. I talked to her today and she is clueless!” I was exasperated but thought it was cute how much Chris wanted to make this work.

Just then, the door opened and Kate and Liv walked into the bar. We all appeared from behind tables and the bar and yelled, “Surprise!”

Liv gasped and put her hand over her mouth. Chris immediately went over to her and kissed her. “Happy Birthday, Livvy Lou.”

“Oh my god, Chris, you said you had to work!” Liv giggled and kissed him again. She looked around at all of us, her friends, and shook her head. “You guys! I can’t believe you pulled this off.”

“It was Kate’s idea.” Chris gestured to Kate. “She told me you’d never suspect it.”

Kate grinned. “Happy Birthday, Livvy!”

We partied into the wee hours of the morning that evening. It was one of the best nights we’d ever had. There was a beer pong game on the pool table, Chris and Joey challenged Lance and Justin to a game of darts, and Kate made sure Liv had the proper drinks for her 21st.

“This is a what?” Liv looked at Kate as if she was crazy.

“A blow job shot.” Kate handed one to me as well. “It’s easy. You just take the shot glass in your mouth and shoot it. But you can’t use your hands.”

“Why do they call it a blow job shot?” Liv asked.

“Because it looks like jizz coming out of your mouth when you shoot it!” Joey yelled from the other end of the pool table.

“Thanks, Joey.” Kate rolled her eyes. She looked at me and Liv. “Ok, girls, ready?”

“Guys! You gotta see this!” Chris called to the others. “The girls are about to do blow job shots!”

Our boyfriends fought each other to see who had the best view while the three of us took the shot glass in our mouth and threw it back. Whipped cream was dripping down the sides of our mouths and we were laughing as we lapped it up.

Later on, we tried body shots and at one point, Chris and Liv disappeared into the bathroom together. When they came out they were giddy and all over each other. I couldn’t help but smile at them. They were adorable together.

When Justin comes downstairs, everybody has gathered around for breakfast. He saunters into the kitchen and hellos and hi-fives are given with Joey and Chris.

“So, what are we doing today?” he asks, as we all sit around the kitchen table and start to eat.

“I guess the beach is out.” I look over at the picture window and the rain hasn’t let up. “I suggested to Liv that we could go shopping in town.” I’m talking to Kate now and Liv is looking down at her plate.

“Oh, that could be fun!” Kate’s eyes widen and look at JC. “And you guys could…uh, maybe see a movie?”

JC snickers at her. “We’ll find something to entertain us, honey.”

“I don’t know if I want to go shopping.” Liv speaks up and is looking from Kate to me. “Sorry, guys. I think I’m just going to stay in today.”

“Livvy, we only get one more day here together.” I state. “It’ll be fun. You don’t have to buy anything.”

“Oh, are you saying that because you know Chris is out of work and we can’t afford it?” Liv suddenly snaps and the table becomes uncomfortably quiet.

“Um, no. No, Liv. I was just saying it would be, fun, or something.” I shut up and shake my head.

“Thanks for letting everyone know.” Chris mutters and Liv groans and throws her napkin on the table.

“It’s not like they don’t already know!” Liv stands up abruptly and pushes her chair away from the table. “Excuse me, I don’t feel like eating much right now.”

“Livvy-“ Kate starts but Liv turns and faces her.

“No, Kate. Go shop with Koren. I’m fine. I’m just gonna go read upstairs.” She storms out of the kitchen and Chris sighs.

“I’ll go see what’s going on.” He shakes his head and follows her path to the stairs.

“Well, good to see not much has changed.” Justin looks around at everyone. “They’re still at each other’s throats after all these years?”

“I’m pretty sure it just started a few months ago.” Joey states and I catch Kate’s eye.

“I swear, Koren. I walked in and she and Justin were going at it on the couch!” Kate was pacing back and forth in front of me while I sat on her bed.

“I believe you, I just…can’t believe it.” I shook my head. “I mean, it’s Liv and Justin. I thought he was still hung up on you!”

Kate made a face. “Ew, no. And if he was, he knows I’ve been with JC a long time now.”

The door to Kate’s room opened and Liv stood on the other side. “Kate, you have a fucking big mouth.”

“Well, I’m sorry, Livvy, but I had to tell someone! And it’s just Koren. It’s not like we’re going to tell anyone!” Kate walked over to Liv. “How did it happen?”

Liv raised an eyebrow and snorted. “You’re asking me how I had sex with someone? You’re the one who had sex with your boyfriend backstage between scenes of ‘Hamlet’.”

“You did what?” I gasp.

“Thanks, Liv.” Kate groans. “Yes, JC and I had sex between scenes in ‘Hamlet’ backstage last year. It’s not a big deal.”

“Which is why you neglected to say anything?” I couldn’t help but start laughing, then looked at Liv. “We won’t tell Chris if that’s what you’re worried about. I guess I just can’t believe you slept with Justin.”

“Yes, well, believe it or not, Kate’s not the only one he found desirable.” Liv narrowed her eyes at Kate and Kate looked taken aback.

“What are you talking about? Justin and I went on one date. That’s it!” Kate scoffed. “And anyway, why does it matter? I don’t want him and I would think that after all you and Chris have been through, you don’t want him either.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t want him, either…”

It suddenly dawns on me that Kate knew about Chris sleeping with Dayna and about Liv and Justin, but she hadn’t said anything.