The Impostor, A Love Story by Tiffany Carmouche

weak in
the knees.
    “I think I’m in love.” Okay it wasn’t
love. It was complete infatuation, but who cares ? I felt hot,
then I shivered with cold. I just wanted to sprint back inside and
jump into his arms, but I stopped myself.
    “We can go to Brad’s place. Whatever you want
to do. It’s kinda cute to see you get all flustered.”
    “Oh my god, is it that obvious I’m totally
into him?”
    “Yeah, it sure is.”
    “I’m so embarrassed.”
    “I think he likes you too. There is nothing
to be embarrassed about. He kissed you, remember?”
    “It was just on the cheek. It’s not like he
meant anything from it.”
    “I don’t know, Nicole. I think he did. Why
don’t we go back? He leaves next month. If you want to spend any
time with him, maybe we should go to Brad’s. Besides, I haven’t
heard you even mention Ronald since you started crushing on Dylan.
That’s a good thing.”
    “I know, but I don’t want to complicate
things. My stomach’s in knots. He really messed me up. I don’t want
to feel like this.” I sighed.
    “You can handle a pretty boy who is amazingly
hot and wants you as much as you want him. You can control
yourself, I’m sure. You have for all those other pretty boys who
have come on to you.”
    “I know. It’s probably because I drank a lot
tonight. I have to think about breathing, and it’s almost like
someone is tickling me. I feel nauseous. Why am I so foolish? He’s
a total player. It’s got to be the alcohol. Tomorrow I’ll be
fine.”
    The cab finally pulled into the motel. As we
paid him, the smirk on his face told me he had been listening to
our whole conversation.
    The cold air stung me as we opened the door
and ran to the motel room. I didn’t even wash my face or take off
my clothes. I jumped in bed and rolled the covers around me,
falling asleep. I began to enter the world of dreams.
     
    “Goodnight, Dylan.” I gave him one last
delicate kiss. “Sweet dreams,” I whispered pulling myself away and
began to walk out the door. He followed me.
    “Don’t go.” He pulled me close to him and
leaned in to kiss me. As his lips kissed mine again, I just gave in
to my desire and melted into his touch. I couldn’t breathe. Mmm .
     
    BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. The blasting noise
trumpeted and broke my delicious dream. Five more minutes ! I
wanted to escape back into his rippled arms. Just five more
minutes . BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. It trumped again. I covered my
head with the pillow, but the noise kept screaming at me.
    There was no way it was already time to get
up. It seemed like I just closed my eyes. I yawned, nestled deeper
into the covers and began dreaming about how safe it felt having
his arms wrapped around me. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. Shit . I wanted
to throw something at the stupid clock.
    “Nicole, it’s already nine-thirty. We better
hurry. Chris is going to pick us up after the lunch shift.”
    I didn’t want to get out of the covers into
the frigid air, and jumping in the shower seemed even more
troublesome. Part of me really wanted to go to work so I could see
Dylan this evening. But, being the chicken I am, I was really happy
we planned to go horseback riding with Chris instead.
    “Nicole, are you thinking about Dylan again?
You deserve to be treated like a goddess. He is cute, but don’t get
too attached, you know of his reputation. Hurry up. We don’t want
to be late.”
    She was right. I finally made my way to the
blow dryer and started getting ready, quickly sneaking in a call to
my Jessica to tell her I was going horseback riding! I loved to
begin the day with her sweet voice.
    I remembered the locket Steve had given me. I
grabbed my pants off the ground, pulling out the necklace. I went
through my pictures of Jess to find one that would fit in the
locket, placing each picture over the face of it until I found the
perfect one. I ran to the office and borrowed some scissors and cut
the picture to fit. I placed it in the locket just as the