Unavoidable by Yara Greathouse Page A

where the ball stops. I do not talk about my past.” She looks
     at me with hard eyes and the fun vibe we were just sharing has completely shifted
     to a serious one. “My real life started when I joined the military and goes forward.
     If we are going to be friends – which you seem so intent to make it happen - then
     that’s a rule that you need to understand. It is non-negotiable and today, in this
     moment, it’s the last time we bring this up. Is that clear?” She continues to stare
     at me with the same look and awaits my response.
 
“Crystal.” I nod once with my head to emphasize that I am in agreement with her.
 
“Alrighty then.” And her beautiful face brightens with a happy smile and the mood
     shifts again to the fun one. Wow. This girl is fire and ice. A mystery that I cannot
     wait to explore.
 

 
Brianna
 
I have got to give it to Colton. The boy is engaging. He was talking a lot about nothing,
     but he was fun to have around, and even though all the girls who came through the
     car wash were trying to score with him, he was attentive enough in a gentleman kind
     of way, but without being disrespectful to me. I should not give a shit, but I do.
     He is growing on me and I do not like that feeling. I already knew that there was
     a physical attraction, but the fact that I may like him as a person or intellectually?
     That is dangerous territory. It’s a skip and a jump from being involved. That is a
     price I cannot afford.
 
He looks at me with bright eyes and asks me some probing questions. They don’t bother
     me and I answer them truthfully, until the dreaded questions about my past come out.
     I felt bad, but I had to stop him cold. There’s no repeats. No second chances. If
     he is not going to respect my wishes, he is a goner. I tell him my past is a no-go
     zone and he was accepting, almost understanding. I saw the questions that were going
     through his mind reflected in his gray eyes. I was relieved when he didn’t pry. It
     is my turn to ask some questions, I guess.
 
“What are you studying, what’s your major?”
 
“Finance. I was tasked by my father to learn how to manage money. He has a large investment
     firm and a lot of assets.” He did not sound like he was bragging at all. It was a
     matter of fact, almost annoyed tone of voice. Like he didn’t want to get into it.
 
“What about you?” He asked me. It was as if he felt uncomfortable talking about himself.
 
“Criminal Justice. How did you end up in this school?”
 
“Family tradition. But I do like it also. My family is originally from Atlanta, Georgia.
     We own several rental properties in the Pristina area and a lot of land. My father
     has been selling some of them slowly, making enormous profit. That makes him happy.”
 
“Cool. And what about you, Colton, What makes you happy?” He looks at me and for the
     briefest moment, I feel as if he wants to tell me something important. Like he wants
     to share a part of himself with me, but then he smiles and the moment is gone.
 
“Pretty girls make me happy. Pretty girls, good friends and all the typical dude things:
     speed, hunting, fishing, shooting. I guess we have a lot in common.”
 
“Sounds like we do.” I give him a heartfelt smile. At that moment, Ciara comes by.
 
“Okay, boys and girls, let’s wrap this up!” She goes to the entry point and hangs
     a sign that says the car wash is closed. It’s bittersweet, because even though is
     hard for me to admit it, I was enjoying my talk with Colton.
 

 
Colton
 
Well, shit. Ciara is calling it a day and I’m really having a good time talking to
     Brianna and getting to know her a little bit. I felt we were finally getting somewhere.
     Maybe we can continue the party at the pool. The weather is nice and maybe they want
     to relax as much as I do. I walk away to talk to Traxx and Notso, and they think is
     a good idea. They have hit it off with some of the girls. Let’s see, we are