Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Looking at him now I see a guy with average look, sandy brown hair, watery blue eyes and clear skin. If I didn’t already know him, if I saw Keith on the street as a stranger, I’d instantly forget his face.
I didn’t really want company right now but what the hell. It’s grad night Keith was okay compared to a lot of my now former classmates.
I manage to twist my lips into what I hope is a smile. “No. I don’t mind.”
“I’m glad you came here. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
I raise a brow. “Oh? You were debating on whether I’d show up?”
His eyes which stick out a but, turned beet red at the tips. “Ugh, that’s not what I meant. Just that I’ve never seen you outside of school before. You don’t ever attend any parties.”
“This is actually the first party I’ve officially been invited to.” Minus the one I was invited to my sophomore year as a joke. I showed up at an address on the invitation which turned out to be an empty warehouse. After that I’ve been wary of all social events. But I don’t mention that incident I’ve filed away in a box of many unpleasant memories.
“Oh, well…I…” His eyes dart away.
I’m not sure what his purpose for joining me was but I have no ill will toward him and don’t want this encounter to be awkward for him.
I reach over and place my hand on his. “Really, it’s no big deal. In a few months, most of us will be moving on to college or whatever the next phases of our lives will be and high school will be a distant memory.”
“I guess that’s a good way of looking at it. Uh, Zora, I actually wanted to talk to you about something. That’s why I’m glad you came tonight.”
My eyebrows shoot up. What could the two of us have to talk about? After tonight he’s one of the many people I planned to never see again. Sure, at one point I thought we were friends but that was a long time ago. But all I manage to say is, “Oh?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of loud in here. Do you mind if we go somewhere a little quieter to talk?”
I glance around the room, and while there are a several people at the various food stations and some at the surrounding tables, no one was paying attention to us that I could tell. “You can’t tell me here?”
He glances over his shoulder before leaning across the table. “I can but I’d rather we have some privacy. You and I used to be cool and I miss that. I know it’s my fault why we drifted but I believe you’re owed an explanation.”
Still, I don’t understand why he’s so earnest about getting me alone, but seems sincere enough.
I release a heavy sigh and against my better judgement, I nod. “Okay, let’s go.”
He points to my plate where I’ve only managed to eat half of its contents. “Did you want to wait to finish that?”
“I’m good. I guess I overestimated my appetite after seeing all the food offerings. I feel bad for wasting all this food though.”
“I’m sure it was to be expected considering the excess. Not like the Champions can’t afford it. His lips twist with what I can only interpret as derision. Maybe I’m just imagining things like the bitterness in Keith’s tone at the mention of the Champion name.
But just as quickly as his irritation appeared, it’s gone in an instant. “Shall we?” Keith stands up and offers me his hand.
I place my hand in his and rise from my seat. He doesn’t immediately let go as he leads me out of the dining area. In fact his grip tightens and anyone on the outside looking in could almost assume the two of us were a couple instead of two people who’ve casually run into each other.
It didn’t occur to me to ask him where he was taking me as we wove through the several people we passed until we’re nearly at the top of the grand spiral stair case. “Are we even supposed to be up here?”
“I’m sure Jackson won’t mind. I’ve attended a party here, nothing on this scale but we have a better chance of finding a quiet room on this level.”
I’m usually a lot more cautious than to allow some guy to lead me to a quiet spot away from the crowd but I’m certain Keith is harmless. Besides, what was he going to do to me anyway? He’s given me no indication that he’s the slightest bit attracted to me.
The first two doors he opens, reveals occupied rooms. In one of them there’s a threesome happening between two girls I recognize from the cheer squad and the Lacrosse Captain. In the other one, I see two guys making out. One of them yells, at us. “Get the fuck out!”