Chapter Seventy

Alexandra and her professor, Wade Anthony, walked into B's Bowlarama together.



"Alexandra, I asked you to meet me here, in kind of an informal setting, because I wanted to discuss a few things with you."
Listening intently, Alexandra leaned forward.
"You know, I've been very intrigued by our discussions in class. At first I thought your enrollment at SIT was a publicity stunt for your TV show, but it appears that you have a real interest in the subject matter. I think you'll go far in our field."



Alexandra was surprised by her professor's compliment.
"When I was a little girl, I told my dad that I was going to be an astronaut. The day after his funeral, he appeared to me as a ghost, and I told him again. He said I could do whatever I wanted, and I believe him. I still talk to him almost every day, even though he's a ghost."
"Well, you certainly appear to be well on your way. I also appreciate what you're doing for Sasha. Her grades have improved since you started tutoring her."
"Well, I'm glad I could help."



Alexandra challenged her prof to a round of bowling.
She picked up the ball, threw it down, and allowed it to roll knocking all the pins down.
"How'd you do that?" asked Professor Anthony, amazed.
"Simple, there's a sweet spot on the floor where you land the ball, and you can hit strikes if you hit that sweet spot, every single time."
The professor decided to change the subject. "Have you thought about what you're going to do your thesis on?"
"Well, back at home," Alexandra revealed, "I was working on an experiment --"
Now the professor was intrigued. "Experiment?"
"I was trying to see if ghosts could be completely resurrected."
"Wow." The professor was in disbelief as he took his turn to bowl. "Do you realize your experiment would have enormous implications?"
Alexandra sighed. "I just want my dad back."

A while later...
"You beat me?" Professor Anthony chuckled, "really? Now I'm going to have to deduct from your grade -- just kidding."

While Alexandra was bowling with her professor, Anastasia spent her evening at The Grotto, a campus hangout for artsy types.



It was open mic night there and Anastasia was prodded up to the podium.



But by the time she got there, she'd forgotten what she wanted to say.



Afterward, she decided to call Lucian. "Hey, babe, what's up? Oh, you went shopping, really? That's great, I wish I could have come with you. Look, there's something I have to tell you. I went to this party the other night, and I blacked out, and Alex says I kissed a guy there but I don't remember it. I'm not sure if I dreamed about it or not -- look, I'm going to call you when I get home, ok, love you, bye!"



Soon after she hung up with Lucian, she got a text from Samantha Grey inviting her to yet another party.



She met Alexandra outside of the Grotto and the two of them went into Simburger to get a bite to eat. "How was the professor?" Anastasia asked.
"It was okay, I beat him."
Anastasia managed a laugh. "I figured you would."
"I bowled a 325. He couldn't touch me."



"Say, did you tell Lucian yet?"
Anastasia looked at her sister quizzically. "What? Tell Lucian what?"
"Tell him what happened at the party."
"That I was blacked out and I don't remember what happened?"
"You have to tell him the truth. Be completely honest. That's the only way. He deserves to know the truth, Ana. And so do you."



The lights grew brighter as they approached Simburger. It was a packed house as hungry students lined up for their sandwiches and fries, fuel to feed their studying and their partying.
"I need to know one thing, Ana."
"What's that?"
"Do you love him?"



After a sleepless night, Anastasia awoke the next morning and baked a breakfast calzone in the oven. It was an Italian dish she'd learned in Monte Vista.
"You haven't answered my question," Alexandra said between bites. "Do you love Lucian?"
"Of course I love him," Anastasia replied, "why wouldn't I? He's been with me my whole life."
"Yes, I get that, and Patrick the same way, but are you in love with him? There is a difference. I mean, you kissed that guy at the party like it was no big deal."
"I don't remember it. I mean, I don't remember anything that happened at that party, hardly. What about you, though, Alex? People are still talking about you and Sasha."
"Sasha and I are just friends, that's it. I'm tutoring her in class. And besides, she's got a boyfriend and so do I. This whole thing is ridiculous. It makes no sense."
"Alex," laughed Anastasia between bites, her jade-green eyes twinkling, "you're the one who's not making any sense.  You're in denial.  Just get it over with, everybody knows it.  Everyone at that party saw how you were looking at Sasha.  You want her in the worst way."
"Ana, you're the one who's in denial.  You kissed that guy and won't even admit you did."