Page 6 of Let the Light Shine Through

Before I can react, her round eyes rise, connecting with mine, and it’s like I’m right back to that first day meeting her. Everything stops, freezing the world until it’s just us. Her and me. Me and her. Her.

She jerks her chin in acknowledgement, then ollies on to the curb before continuing on her way, trying to leave me for the second time. Um, what?

I dart forward, croaking out, “Hey!” and scowl at my own voice. Is that what I sound like?

She twists her head to the side, letting her smile do the speaking, and I halt. Why am I getting the sudden urge to join her? It’s taking every bit of my control to stay where I am and not jump on that board and ride wherever she’s willing to take me right now, and fuck, I thought it was getting better—the urge. I thought it was getting weaker.

Fortunately, she actually stops this time, snatching her board by the front as she doubles back to the driveway. To me.

She’s really here?

“I didn’t know you lived on Greek Sac.”

What now?

At my confused expression, she explains, “Greek Sac…it’s like Greek Row but on a cul-de-sac.”

“This…isn’t a cul-de-sac.”

“Yeah, I know. Whoever came up with it is an idiot but every campus in the country has a Greek Row and you gotta stand out somehow, right?”

This isn’t a campus either, sits on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t bother voicing it. She obviously knows this place better than I do.

She nods to the house at my back, asking, “Are you a new recruit?”

Yeah, right. College life didn’t interest me in the slightest, and now that I know what it’s like living with three other guys that can’t find the time to clean the piss stains covering every surface of every toilet but somehow do have time to host a party every weekend, I can confidently say it still doesn’t.

I have to swallow several times, loosening up my dry fucking throat. “It’s, uh, it’s not a frat house anymore.” Barely. “A buddy of mine bought it and I’m just crashing with him for…a while.” Is this temporary? I haven’t really put that much thought into it.

She nods along, surveying the expansive yard. Fletcher kept the run-down volleyball net up along with the plywood beer pong table. For whatever reason, those things aren’t frowned upon here. Neither is having dozens of other fraternity and sorority houses line the same street as an all-girls high school.

“What about you? Are you a high schooler?”

I’ve never wanted to be more wrong in all my life than I do right now. Please, please say no.

“Sort of.”

What does that mean?

“Do you go there?” I try to point, but my hands jostle the box in my hold, the glass bottles inside clanking together awkwardly.

“Do you need some help with that?”

My chest puffs behind the box, and I give her a headshake.

“I missed a year, so I’m making up the classes I’m allowed in.”

One of my eyebrows arches.

“They’re obsessive about their rules.” She tips a shoulder, then starts walking around the side of the house, looking back, expecting me to follow.

I do, if only to see where she thinks she’s going.

“Our views differ on certain subjects.”

In a matter of two well-calculated strides, I catch up to her, walking alongside her, listening, watching. She’s the most interesting thing I’ve come across since…I first saw her.

“But I have enough credits to graduate next week, so it’s all good.”