A group of guys walks into the kitchen, loud and rowdy. One of them has laser vision for Amelia, a bright smile lighting up his face when he sees her.
“Hey, you made it!”
She looks up just as the guy leans on the counter across from us. He’s a pretty boy, with longish blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He kind of reminds me of that guy from Saved by the Bell.
“Jace!” she says with a big smile. “How’s it going?”
“Much better now I’m talking to you.”
I have to fight back the gag.
Amelia rolls her eyes playfully before taking a sip of her drink.
“This is my friend Sailor.”
Jace glances at me, giving me one of those bro up nods. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
I sip my drink, and zone out while Amelia chats with this guy. His friends have left, and so it’s a little quieter, but this is weird. I think I prefer the crazy parties that keep me busy people watching, where I can get lost in the crowds. This is… boring.
“You’re that girl.”
I turn around to find a guy behind me. Tall. Skinny. Red hair and freckles.
“Excuse me?”
He gives me a crooked grin, then takes a sip of something in a glass that’s the color of apple juice. “That girl.”
I look from side to side, and the only other girl in here is Amelia… and she’s still talking with Jace.
“What girl?”
He points to my head. “Pink hair.”
“The girl with the pink hair?” I question.
This guy isn’t coming on to me or flirting with me… at least, that’s not how it feels. And he seems harmless. So I keep talking to him because what else do I have to do?
“Jaxon was looking for you.”
The can slips from my hand, but I grasp it at the last second before it tumbles to the ground.
I glance over my shoulder to find Amelia giving this Jace kid goo-goo eyes.
“Jaxon?” I ask. “When?”
“Uh, like, months ago. Last semester.”
My stomach turns sour. Why was I hoping he’d say recently?
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Orville. I’m kind of a big deal.”
“Oh?”
“Yep.” He finishes off his drink, then lets out a long breath like it burned going down. He pats his chest, puts the glass down, then leans against the counter. “I know everything.”
