just showing me his drawings. Can I show them to Foster, Steven?”
Steven pushed his glasses up further on the bridge of his nose. “Sure, I guess.”
I tilted the book so Foster could get the full effect of the carnage. “Whoa.” I seldom got the chance to see Foster discombobulated. If I weren’t ready to retch, it would have been more enjoyable. “That is really….”
I offered, “Vivid?”
“Yeah, vivid. So sorry to cut your date short, guys, but we are having an emergency at the paper and I need Layney right now.”
“An emergency? Oh no.” I pushed myself out of the booth. “I’m so sorry, Steven, but I really have to go.”
Foster patted Steven on the shoulder. “Good luck with your art, man. Stay and finish your pie.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door.
I went gladly and without complaint. Sometimes, the devil you know really is safer.
Chapter Seven
Mr. June
A few days later I was dreading the newsroom because it was date night again and I wasn’t sure if I was up to it anymore. The last two had taken their toll. The thought of seven more chilled my marrow.
I like people, kind of. I even like boys, mostly. But I was beginning to feel like that stewardess who smiles at you when you get off the plane. Behind the smile you know she really wishes she could trip someone.
Plus, I’d been having strange dreams. Not the kind where you remember the oddness—more like the kind that leave their dregs of uneasiness behind long after you wake up. Tyler told me to keep a journal next to my bed and write them down as soon as I woke up. Like I didn’t keep a journal under my pillow already. Please, I am a writer. I could start an office supply store out of my car on any given day.
But the dreams vanished as soon as I opened my eyes, never staying long enough for me to catch them with my wily pen and parchment.
It was only the vague disquiet that stayed behind.
I thought about staying home sick, but Tyler was bringing my mug from our date to school. And buying me lunch. I wanted both, so I toughed it out.
As I meandered slowly across campus, I spied Micah rolling toward me. What a beautiful, beautiful boy. Rays of sun backlit him like an angel, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he had two cups of coffee in a to-go tray in his hand.
He smiled and did some fancy footwork to stop rolling once he got to me. “Hey, Layney.”
“Hey, Micah. Nice to see you at school for a change.”
“Does that mean you miss me when I’m not here?” He passed me a coffee. “I have this extra coffee here, and it’s a good thing you happened by or I would have to throw it away or something.”
“This is cheating.”
“No, this is coffee.
“We are supposed to be contact free.”
“I had no idea I would run into you. Harmless, coincidental caffeine.” Every now and then, I caught a glimpse of his tongue piercing when he spoke, and it made my tummy flutter a little. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got you a mocha.”
I smiled graciously. I’ve never actually had more than a sip of a mocha, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “What girl doesn’t like chocolate?”
I just didn’t like mine with my coffee.
That must have been a good answer, because he looked pleased with himself as he smiled and puffed out his chest. “Are you going to be online after your date tonight?”
Okay. Small confession. I’d been cyberflirting with Micah since he texted me from Toronto. Nothing serious. Just a few minutes here and there and a couple winking smilies from time to time.
“I don’t know. I have a calculus test tomorrow. I might have to be in full-on study mode.” I checked my watch. “Speaking of my date tonight, I better go retrieve my mission from the newsroom. Thanks for the coffee.”
Micah’s grin turned the blood in my veins to a molten hot wax. He could melt me from the inside out, he was that hot. It’s like he wafted in an air of wickedness—just a smidge, but
Steven pushed his glasses up further on the bridge of his nose. “Sure, I guess.”
I tilted the book so Foster could get the full effect of the carnage. “Whoa.” I seldom got the chance to see Foster discombobulated. If I weren’t ready to retch, it would have been more enjoyable. “That is really….”
I offered, “Vivid?”
“Yeah, vivid. So sorry to cut your date short, guys, but we are having an emergency at the paper and I need Layney right now.”
“An emergency? Oh no.” I pushed myself out of the booth. “I’m so sorry, Steven, but I really have to go.”
Foster patted Steven on the shoulder. “Good luck with your art, man. Stay and finish your pie.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door.
I went gladly and without complaint. Sometimes, the devil you know really is safer.
Chapter Seven
Mr. June
A few days later I was dreading the newsroom because it was date night again and I wasn’t sure if I was up to it anymore. The last two had taken their toll. The thought of seven more chilled my marrow.
I like people, kind of. I even like boys, mostly. But I was beginning to feel like that stewardess who smiles at you when you get off the plane. Behind the smile you know she really wishes she could trip someone.
Plus, I’d been having strange dreams. Not the kind where you remember the oddness—more like the kind that leave their dregs of uneasiness behind long after you wake up. Tyler told me to keep a journal next to my bed and write them down as soon as I woke up. Like I didn’t keep a journal under my pillow already. Please, I am a writer. I could start an office supply store out of my car on any given day.
But the dreams vanished as soon as I opened my eyes, never staying long enough for me to catch them with my wily pen and parchment.
It was only the vague disquiet that stayed behind.
I thought about staying home sick, but Tyler was bringing my mug from our date to school. And buying me lunch. I wanted both, so I toughed it out.
As I meandered slowly across campus, I spied Micah rolling toward me. What a beautiful, beautiful boy. Rays of sun backlit him like an angel, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he had two cups of coffee in a to-go tray in his hand.
He smiled and did some fancy footwork to stop rolling once he got to me. “Hey, Layney.”
“Hey, Micah. Nice to see you at school for a change.”
“Does that mean you miss me when I’m not here?” He passed me a coffee. “I have this extra coffee here, and it’s a good thing you happened by or I would have to throw it away or something.”
“This is cheating.”
“No, this is coffee.
“We are supposed to be contact free.”
“I had no idea I would run into you. Harmless, coincidental caffeine.” Every now and then, I caught a glimpse of his tongue piercing when he spoke, and it made my tummy flutter a little. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got you a mocha.”
I smiled graciously. I’ve never actually had more than a sip of a mocha, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “What girl doesn’t like chocolate?”
I just didn’t like mine with my coffee.
That must have been a good answer, because he looked pleased with himself as he smiled and puffed out his chest. “Are you going to be online after your date tonight?”
Okay. Small confession. I’d been cyberflirting with Micah since he texted me from Toronto. Nothing serious. Just a few minutes here and there and a couple winking smilies from time to time.
“I don’t know. I have a calculus test tomorrow. I might have to be in full-on study mode.” I checked my watch. “Speaking of my date tonight, I better go retrieve my mission from the newsroom. Thanks for the coffee.”
Micah’s grin turned the blood in my veins to a molten hot wax. He could melt me from the inside out, he was that hot. It’s like he wafted in an air of wickedness—just a smidge, but
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