with Remy, I wasn’t really there because I was distracted and worried about my mom.
Things finally ended badly a few weeks before the senior prom, with Remy telling me I’d become ‘a major drag.’ He took Ellie Masters to the prom and I stayed home. I didn’t have any other offers and besides, I didn’t want to be a drag for anyone else.
I still don’t, which is why Landon’s admission surprises me and scares me. He’s an athlete, a jock, and he’s also really cute and nice. He could have his pick of most of the girls on campus, starting with Amanda Davis, so why is interested in me?
Is it because he feels sorry for me? Even more than not wanting to be a drag, I don’t want to be anyone’s charity case. Especially because in the short time I’ve known Landon, I’ve come to like him and it would hurt too much for him to think of me as only a drag or a head case who needs to be saved.
“Kori? Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, I heard you.”
“So?” Landon looks at me expectantly, and I know I need to give him an answer.
He’s so cute, standing there with his hands in his pockets, backpack slung over one shoulder, and I want to say ‘yes.’ I want to say I’ll have dinner with him and see a movie. I want to say yes, I’m interested too, so let’s do that. Let’s go out and have fun. After all, we’re two college students. That’s what we’re supposed to do, right?
The problem is fun doesn’t come naturally to me anymore, and instead of saying yes, I find myself shaking my head no. “I can’t. Not tonight. I’m sorry.”
“Do you have other plans?” Landon asks.
“No... no other plans,” I’m forced to admit. “I just... can’t do it tonight, okay?”
“Not tonight? Or not ever? I mean, can you at least give me an idea where I stand with you? Some chance, no chance, what?” He has so many questions, and I don’t like feeling pressured, but he has a right to know.
I take a deep breath. If I say no chance, then he’ll walk away. He’s a good guy, a gentleman, and he has his pride. If I tell him I’m not interested, he’ll leave me alone.
And I’ll always wonder what I might have missed out on.
I may still be struggling with life these days, but I know don’t want to live it with a bunch of ‘what ifs.’
“Some chance,” I say after a minute. “Definitely some chance. Tonight’s just a little too much, too soon, you know?”
He nods. “Yeah, I get it. Thanks for letting me down gently and saying there’s at least a chance. Have a good night, Kori.”
I swallow hard, wanting to backtrack, say I changed my mind, but instead all I manage to say is, “You too, Landon.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
~Kori~
H is shoulders seem to slump a little as he walks away, and even though he said I let him down gently, I wonder if I hurt his feelings and blew any chance I had with him. It would serve me right if I did. I’m standing still, letting life pass me by. And the worst part is that even though I know that’s what I’m doing, I can’t seem to stop.
I can’t seem to make myself go after Landon, either, so I turn the other way and head back to the dorm. As I pass by the dining hall, I glance at my watch. It’s opening again for dinner in a few minutes. I’m not really hungry yet, but I know if I get in there right when it opens, I can beat the crowd and have some space and time to myself.
I’m the first one there when the doors open, and the dining hall manager, Mary, gives me a smile. “You must be hungry this afternoon.”
Not hungry, no. Just antisocial. “Yes, I sure am. I just finished a big test, and I think I worked up an appetite.” She’s a sweet, older lady and I don’t know why I just lied to her other than I don’t want people thinking I’m weird or something. Which is stupid, because almost everyone thinks I’m weird anyway.
The entree tonight is pork chops, which are sometimes pretty decent, and there’s always a pizza or burger option, but I pass by
Things finally ended badly a few weeks before the senior prom, with Remy telling me I’d become ‘a major drag.’ He took Ellie Masters to the prom and I stayed home. I didn’t have any other offers and besides, I didn’t want to be a drag for anyone else.
I still don’t, which is why Landon’s admission surprises me and scares me. He’s an athlete, a jock, and he’s also really cute and nice. He could have his pick of most of the girls on campus, starting with Amanda Davis, so why is interested in me?
Is it because he feels sorry for me? Even more than not wanting to be a drag, I don’t want to be anyone’s charity case. Especially because in the short time I’ve known Landon, I’ve come to like him and it would hurt too much for him to think of me as only a drag or a head case who needs to be saved.
“Kori? Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, I heard you.”
“So?” Landon looks at me expectantly, and I know I need to give him an answer.
He’s so cute, standing there with his hands in his pockets, backpack slung over one shoulder, and I want to say ‘yes.’ I want to say I’ll have dinner with him and see a movie. I want to say yes, I’m interested too, so let’s do that. Let’s go out and have fun. After all, we’re two college students. That’s what we’re supposed to do, right?
The problem is fun doesn’t come naturally to me anymore, and instead of saying yes, I find myself shaking my head no. “I can’t. Not tonight. I’m sorry.”
“Do you have other plans?” Landon asks.
“No... no other plans,” I’m forced to admit. “I just... can’t do it tonight, okay?”
“Not tonight? Or not ever? I mean, can you at least give me an idea where I stand with you? Some chance, no chance, what?” He has so many questions, and I don’t like feeling pressured, but he has a right to know.
I take a deep breath. If I say no chance, then he’ll walk away. He’s a good guy, a gentleman, and he has his pride. If I tell him I’m not interested, he’ll leave me alone.
And I’ll always wonder what I might have missed out on.
I may still be struggling with life these days, but I know don’t want to live it with a bunch of ‘what ifs.’
“Some chance,” I say after a minute. “Definitely some chance. Tonight’s just a little too much, too soon, you know?”
He nods. “Yeah, I get it. Thanks for letting me down gently and saying there’s at least a chance. Have a good night, Kori.”
I swallow hard, wanting to backtrack, say I changed my mind, but instead all I manage to say is, “You too, Landon.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
~Kori~
H is shoulders seem to slump a little as he walks away, and even though he said I let him down gently, I wonder if I hurt his feelings and blew any chance I had with him. It would serve me right if I did. I’m standing still, letting life pass me by. And the worst part is that even though I know that’s what I’m doing, I can’t seem to stop.
I can’t seem to make myself go after Landon, either, so I turn the other way and head back to the dorm. As I pass by the dining hall, I glance at my watch. It’s opening again for dinner in a few minutes. I’m not really hungry yet, but I know if I get in there right when it opens, I can beat the crowd and have some space and time to myself.
I’m the first one there when the doors open, and the dining hall manager, Mary, gives me a smile. “You must be hungry this afternoon.”
Not hungry, no. Just antisocial. “Yes, I sure am. I just finished a big test, and I think I worked up an appetite.” She’s a sweet, older lady and I don’t know why I just lied to her other than I don’t want people thinking I’m weird or something. Which is stupid, because almost everyone thinks I’m weird anyway.
The entree tonight is pork chops, which are sometimes pretty decent, and there’s always a pizza or burger option, but I pass by
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