t try to befriend many people or do things to draw attention. I might not know pl

nt of me, even though I never interacted with them before. There were three boys and four girls until El

ions on their faces. Some surprised, some shocked,

y as I felt Elliott's

l. She could sing any song and dance any dance. I never cro

een fitting dress Jennifer borrowed me. I was a bit taller and

e only space left was

the guy who saw us in the kitchen earlier, said

ld you rather Elliott t

that? But would I le

mon sense told me that it wouldn't be proper for a boy to sit w

lmost stumbled back. Her look was

e to approach Kate. Owens, you can s

Kate's own almost fel

While at it, I brushed her shoulders. She h

ried to swallow

pal to humiliate him?” One of the girls asked w

wens.” Andrew, a blo

a smile

ed with all this year but couldn't tell her. I

se. I hardly recovered from the drawing blunder that was thr

s

him and I noticed a cr

only to catch Kate's tight and

didn't find i

table in hope that my nerves would be eased. Ellio

e when did you star

ed sound came

trained in my direction. He wasn't looking a

have a p

n if he was ask

er, right?” She asked again, her

n a problem if I did?

s how you want to do it, then fi

n front of him. “Let's go back to the old days then.” S

te, her lips were

quid. Why was it suddenly so bitter? Even t

loud boo. I turned to see Kate now perched

hen got up to dust herself. She shot me a de

he nearest exit, a hand g

tch! This is a

lashes at the caric

sked. “What do

ering, she size

a bad smell to your poor nostrils, then

like you, did you? Don't get so ex

ndid advice, but would yo

hesi

tink. Do yo

d and sto

roup just stared at

meone like you can actually sta

realized Kate really le

et the courage fro

can join our party.” T

needed to qualify

res her. That's a first for someo

I told them and turned aro

o my forehead. Did

lliott, who had jumped t

for my

ome wit

your friends

er and took my

at was remarkable.” He said

erved anything. I shou

on you first

‘old days’?” I asked, remembering

e? It was not

skeptical b

lose and did things we weren't s

r him, but not her.

you o

I answered, bu

uld you like to g

ay

d before I realized, we were climbing the sta

this is m

ealized how stupid the question was. Of c

lau

he party? Where

Trav

they return al

hance

is parents. My parents will skin me alive if I

nder what kind of punis

so much. They've got impor

nt thing

're

nts are in the middle of getting divorced and, by their lawyer

, I'm s

t's f

e you f

heart in my throat whenever I ima

nt them to dr

ed at m

you don't.”

silence with his arm stil

could he

scared that they'll fight over my cust

n't get

and he sta

ust

feathery kiss on my foreh

y I felt the cool evening breeze. He wit

could stay he

cou

haven't forgotten my predicament. I coul

u o

s, my eyes closing as I

ned me when I beg

led, feeling refreshed by the cool breeze against my skin. B

still. I fell into his arms, panting heavily. My mouth began t

e world was spinning so fast

it for a minute? We nee

ok my

uddled at his back as he began t

I could barely h

a door, the first phas

ening another door. Swiftly, he let me do

ir out of my face as I

sighed, placing m

me off the ground to a standing

ry.” I m

s fi

h clean. I walked out when I finished and

g stain at the b

, Elliott. Allow me

was cringing as f

ched him toss it away and went t

g. He had a large wooden wardrobe, beautiful curtains, a huge plas

ious

“I'll just wash the stained part

d it's

bbornly and went ba

hite shirt, and he was sitting on the gia

till take th

d.” I looked over my sho

ve left i

bag, I walked to the end, resting my arm on the railings as

love any place as much as I

on you

him bes

niston be

is b

ha

t unlively. I l

Cit

ea

orry for the trouble I

ef clear in his eyes. “

h wh

ed, biting his l

. My eye

u the entire night.” He added