Read Online Ex Nihilo Academy by Jennifer Watts - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer Watts
Ads: Link
Motorhead t-shirt under a fitted gray coat. He looks over at me,
his eyes traveling the line of my neck and down to my outfit.
“You do know that you’re in Ireland, right?” He’s obviously referring to my white shorts and pink Roxy zip-up and I can feel my cheeks heating. What is it with people commenting on my attire?
“I have layers on.” I snap back.
“Well at least you had the sense to wear trainers.” He nods his head at my favorite blue Chuck Taylors and chuckles to himself before turning his eyes back to the road. A few minutes later we enter the village of
Strangford and I immediately recognize the dock that Niall stopped at on the drive in.
“You can just drop me off here.” I say, shifting impatiently in my seat.
“What kind of host would I be if I did that?” He says
seriously and I roll my eyes and laugh.
“The non-existent kind?” I say, confused. He doesn’t answer back as he pulls into a parking spot across from the town centre.
“Come on then.” He switches off the ignition and hops out of the truck. I shake my head and slide out of the car after him, trying my best to figure out why he’s acting like a different person all of the sudden. We walk past a row of shops that are painted white and yellow and a gift shop
before Rowan stops in front of a small café.
“Coffee?” He asks and I nod appreciatively and follow him in. I’ve been missing my morning Starbucks but I’m too embarrassed to tell
Niall that I don’t know how to work the elaborate coffee maker in the kitchen. The bell on the door chimes as we walk in and Rowan waves to the girl behind the counter, whose eyes widen appreciatively when she sees him. He doesn’t seem to notice her reaction as he orders two lattes, soy milk for me, and leads me back
outside with the steaming cups.
“It’s not raining yet. Are you brave enough to walk down to the terrace?” I nod in agreement and we walk back to the ferry dock and sit at a
wooden bench right across from the water. We sip our coffees in a comfortable silence as a ray of sun peaks through the clouds and warms my face. Add to that the sound of the waves lapping the stone wall, the smell of sea salt and the screeching sea gulls and I almost feel like I’m home. Almost.
“How are you enjoying the new school?” Rowan breaks the silence first.
“It’s okay, I guess. It’s not like anything I’m used to.” I say truthfully.
“I hear that Ex Nihilo is very prestigious. I’ve met a few
kids from there before. They come into town from time to time but mostly keep to themselves. That is if we’re lucky.” He says the last bit under his breath.
“You don’t seem to think much of the place, or the people
for that matter.”
“Let’s just say we don’t get along. It’s a rivalry that goes back a long time.”
“What Greasers verses Socs? Jets verses Sharks?” I tease and
he snorts.
“You are way too young for either of those pop culture references, but yes something like that.”
“What can I say I like old movies. Who doesn’t love ‘The Outsiders’ or ‘West Side Story’? And it’s not like you were around for them
either. What are you like twenty?” I say, draining the last of my latte.
“Eighteen.”
“And you’ve never thought about college?”
“Of course I’ve thought about it. It’s just my father… I
have responsibilities here… it’s complicated.” I stand up and walk my empty cup over to the garbage can to where group of guys in their early teens are openly staring at me. One leans over and whispers something to his friends and they
all laugh. I walk back and sit down next to Rowan. “What’s there problem?” I frown and he shakes his head good-humoredly.
“It’s not a problem, really. They are gawking at you because you’re beautiful.” Rowan thinks I’m beautiful? The thought sends a jolt right
through me and I have to look away.
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m afraid I do,
his eyes traveling the line of my neck and down to my outfit.
“You do know that you’re in Ireland, right?” He’s obviously referring to my white shorts and pink Roxy zip-up and I can feel my cheeks heating. What is it with people commenting on my attire?
“I have layers on.” I snap back.
“Well at least you had the sense to wear trainers.” He nods his head at my favorite blue Chuck Taylors and chuckles to himself before turning his eyes back to the road. A few minutes later we enter the village of
Strangford and I immediately recognize the dock that Niall stopped at on the drive in.
“You can just drop me off here.” I say, shifting impatiently in my seat.
“What kind of host would I be if I did that?” He says
seriously and I roll my eyes and laugh.
“The non-existent kind?” I say, confused. He doesn’t answer back as he pulls into a parking spot across from the town centre.
“Come on then.” He switches off the ignition and hops out of the truck. I shake my head and slide out of the car after him, trying my best to figure out why he’s acting like a different person all of the sudden. We walk past a row of shops that are painted white and yellow and a gift shop
before Rowan stops in front of a small café.
“Coffee?” He asks and I nod appreciatively and follow him in. I’ve been missing my morning Starbucks but I’m too embarrassed to tell
Niall that I don’t know how to work the elaborate coffee maker in the kitchen. The bell on the door chimes as we walk in and Rowan waves to the girl behind the counter, whose eyes widen appreciatively when she sees him. He doesn’t seem to notice her reaction as he orders two lattes, soy milk for me, and leads me back
outside with the steaming cups.
“It’s not raining yet. Are you brave enough to walk down to the terrace?” I nod in agreement and we walk back to the ferry dock and sit at a
wooden bench right across from the water. We sip our coffees in a comfortable silence as a ray of sun peaks through the clouds and warms my face. Add to that the sound of the waves lapping the stone wall, the smell of sea salt and the screeching sea gulls and I almost feel like I’m home. Almost.
“How are you enjoying the new school?” Rowan breaks the silence first.
“It’s okay, I guess. It’s not like anything I’m used to.” I say truthfully.
“I hear that Ex Nihilo is very prestigious. I’ve met a few
kids from there before. They come into town from time to time but mostly keep to themselves. That is if we’re lucky.” He says the last bit under his breath.
“You don’t seem to think much of the place, or the people
for that matter.”
“Let’s just say we don’t get along. It’s a rivalry that goes back a long time.”
“What Greasers verses Socs? Jets verses Sharks?” I tease and
he snorts.
“You are way too young for either of those pop culture references, but yes something like that.”
“What can I say I like old movies. Who doesn’t love ‘The Outsiders’ or ‘West Side Story’? And it’s not like you were around for them
either. What are you like twenty?” I say, draining the last of my latte.
“Eighteen.”
“And you’ve never thought about college?”
“Of course I’ve thought about it. It’s just my father… I
have responsibilities here… it’s complicated.” I stand up and walk my empty cup over to the garbage can to where group of guys in their early teens are openly staring at me. One leans over and whispers something to his friends and they
all laugh. I walk back and sit down next to Rowan. “What’s there problem?” I frown and he shakes his head good-humoredly.
“It’s not a problem, really. They are gawking at you because you’re beautiful.” Rowan thinks I’m beautiful? The thought sends a jolt right
through me and I have to look away.
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m afraid I do,
Similar Books
