Read Online The Weight of Words (The WORDS Series) by Georgina Guthrie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Georgina Guthrie
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Once I was sure he’d made his escape, I stepped outside in time to see him climb into his car and speed off around King’s College Circle. I plodded down the steps toward the sidewalk.
I don’t have time to discuss this right now.
Translation : You are of no significance to me. Please move along.
After my embarrassing confrontation with Daniel, I wanted nothing more than to shut my brain off for a while. I had to stop fixating on him, so I contemplated my plans for the evening. Or should I say my lack of plans. As the year had progressed, I’d been secluding myself more and more, but I hadn’t felt the ill effects of isolation for the majority of the year, being consumed by work and school and otherwise quite content to mooch around by myself. Now I was in dire need of distraction.
When Matt came home at five o’clock and I asked him if I could hit the frat party with him, he looked genuinely thrilled. “Wow, Aub, I’d love it if you came. Gotta admit I’m a little surprised. Last time you came to a kegger, you swore you were ‘so fucking done with this.’ Those were your words, right?”
I snickered. He was right—I had said that. Truth be told, a keg party was the last place I wanted to go, but I was prepared to put up with the drunken idiocy of frat boys if only to escape from my own whirling thoughts for a while. Simply put, I was desperate.
“Yeah, well, it’s been about six months since someone’s hurled down my back,” I said, recalling the vile events of a party back in September. “I figure I’m due, ya know?”
“Aw, come on, you have to admit, it was freakin’ hilarious.”
“Maybe for you, but you didn’t have some freshman’s Chef Boyardee Beefaroni chunks in your hair.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “It was gross. The look on your face, though? Absolute mint.”
“All I know is I’m so glad Sarah was there. It takes a pretty special person to help you wash some pimply guy’s puke out of your hair.”
Matt’s face clouded over.
“Oh, crap. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dropped the S-word.”
“Naw, it’s okay.” He rubbed my arm gently. “You can stop walking on egg shells. It’s cool. Gets a little easier every day.”
Out of nowhere, he pulled me into a giant hug, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and burying his face in my hair. I should have pushed him away, or at least cut the embrace short, but after the week I’d had, it felt good to be held by someone who genuinely cared about me. I sighed contentedly. When he finally pulled away, he looked at me tenderly. I felt a pang of guilt. I shouldn’t be sending him mixed signals. Luckily, he stepped back with a sad smile, retreating to his room and saving me the trouble of back pedaling.
At nine thirty, Matt and I were standing in the crowded Kap common room, beers in hand while loud music pumped through the giant floor speakers.
I had to concede, it felt good to be out socializing. I’d been taking myself way too seriously for too long. My determination to graduate with distinction didn’t mean I couldn’t have a life. I needed to take some time to unwind and blow off some steam once in a while. That was probably why I’d been so intense and reactionary, meeting Daniel and allowing him to occupy my thoughts exclusively. I was spending too much time in my own head.
I had a few drinks, but with Wednesday’s hangover still fresh in my mind, I was reluctant to go overboard. A few people fawned over me excessively, claiming they’d thought I was dead. Charming. At one point, I bumped into Shawn Ward who high-fived me, saying my performance at tutorial that afternoon had been “fucking epic.”
“Daniel’s a bit arrogant, don’t you think?” he said. “I mean what’s with all the ‘Mr. Ward, Miss Price’ crap? I’m thinking, ‘Dude…you’re like four years older than me. Get over yourself.’”
Despite the humiliation I’d felt earlier, I had a strange compulsion to
I don’t have time to discuss this right now.
Translation : You are of no significance to me. Please move along.
After my embarrassing confrontation with Daniel, I wanted nothing more than to shut my brain off for a while. I had to stop fixating on him, so I contemplated my plans for the evening. Or should I say my lack of plans. As the year had progressed, I’d been secluding myself more and more, but I hadn’t felt the ill effects of isolation for the majority of the year, being consumed by work and school and otherwise quite content to mooch around by myself. Now I was in dire need of distraction.
When Matt came home at five o’clock and I asked him if I could hit the frat party with him, he looked genuinely thrilled. “Wow, Aub, I’d love it if you came. Gotta admit I’m a little surprised. Last time you came to a kegger, you swore you were ‘so fucking done with this.’ Those were your words, right?”
I snickered. He was right—I had said that. Truth be told, a keg party was the last place I wanted to go, but I was prepared to put up with the drunken idiocy of frat boys if only to escape from my own whirling thoughts for a while. Simply put, I was desperate.
“Yeah, well, it’s been about six months since someone’s hurled down my back,” I said, recalling the vile events of a party back in September. “I figure I’m due, ya know?”
“Aw, come on, you have to admit, it was freakin’ hilarious.”
“Maybe for you, but you didn’t have some freshman’s Chef Boyardee Beefaroni chunks in your hair.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “It was gross. The look on your face, though? Absolute mint.”
“All I know is I’m so glad Sarah was there. It takes a pretty special person to help you wash some pimply guy’s puke out of your hair.”
Matt’s face clouded over.
“Oh, crap. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dropped the S-word.”
“Naw, it’s okay.” He rubbed my arm gently. “You can stop walking on egg shells. It’s cool. Gets a little easier every day.”
Out of nowhere, he pulled me into a giant hug, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and burying his face in my hair. I should have pushed him away, or at least cut the embrace short, but after the week I’d had, it felt good to be held by someone who genuinely cared about me. I sighed contentedly. When he finally pulled away, he looked at me tenderly. I felt a pang of guilt. I shouldn’t be sending him mixed signals. Luckily, he stepped back with a sad smile, retreating to his room and saving me the trouble of back pedaling.
At nine thirty, Matt and I were standing in the crowded Kap common room, beers in hand while loud music pumped through the giant floor speakers.
I had to concede, it felt good to be out socializing. I’d been taking myself way too seriously for too long. My determination to graduate with distinction didn’t mean I couldn’t have a life. I needed to take some time to unwind and blow off some steam once in a while. That was probably why I’d been so intense and reactionary, meeting Daniel and allowing him to occupy my thoughts exclusively. I was spending too much time in my own head.
I had a few drinks, but with Wednesday’s hangover still fresh in my mind, I was reluctant to go overboard. A few people fawned over me excessively, claiming they’d thought I was dead. Charming. At one point, I bumped into Shawn Ward who high-fived me, saying my performance at tutorial that afternoon had been “fucking epic.”
“Daniel’s a bit arrogant, don’t you think?” he said. “I mean what’s with all the ‘Mr. Ward, Miss Price’ crap? I’m thinking, ‘Dude…you’re like four years older than me. Get over yourself.’”
Despite the humiliation I’d felt earlier, I had a strange compulsion to
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