and I don’t really feel like explaining myself. “I don’t shop, I’m just keeping my friend company.”
“Yeah?” He looks in Chrissy’s direction. I suppose I should introduce them.
“Emerson, this is my best friend, Chrissy. Chrissy, this is Emerson, from Bookkeeping 101.”
Chrissy sashays in front of me and slides her hand into his. “Well hello, Emerson from Bookkeeping 101.”
She can never turn it off. Always looking to turn her next trick, I swear. The discomfort I feel knowing this brings out a physical reaction and I slap her on the shoulder, bringing her back to reality. Emerson is not some Joe. He’s a guy. A guy who I have to go to school with. A guy who I’d really like to keep in the dark. She looks at me, slightly confused, before I shoot her a death glare and she immediately gets the hint, chancing a quick glance back at Emerson. He clears his throat before answering, “Nice to meet you.”
And then his attention is back on me and he smiles. “So do you have anything important planned for today?”
“Just mall trolling.”
“Well, that’s boring,” he quips back.
I glare at Chrissy. “Tell me about it.”
“Well, I was just about to head to the movies with some friends. You guys should join us.”
Movies. I haven’t seen a movie in ages, and I could use a little entertainment right now. Even though I’m not much of a moviegoer, the distraction would be welcome.
But do I want to travel into this grey area with him?
Before I can think about how to respond, Chrissy answers for me. “That sounds great!” she says, and the answer is obviously acceptable to Emerson because, with a nod of his head, he gestures for us to follow him, and Chrissy goes . . . without hesitation. I, on the other hand, am frozen in place. This can’t possibly be a good idea. Chrissy notices I’m stuck in place and looks over her shoulder at me. Rolling her eyes, she takes a few steps back to me and sighs. “It’s just a movie. It won’t kill you.”
She’s right. A movie never did anyone any harm. Like I thought earlier, it could probably do me a little good right about now. “Fine,” I snap. “But if this gets weird, I’m out.”
She nods before linking arms with me, dragging me at pace in order to catch up to Emerson, and as we walk I realize I’ve just made a big mistake. My heart races, which causes my head to swim. This isn’t part of my life plan. I don’t have time for this sort of thing. Pretending to be a normal twenty-one year old isn’t for me. It’s stupid. I’m acting like a silly teenager and I can’t believe that I’m going to allow it. My inner voices argue with each other. I deserve the chance to be carefree—even if I’m only pretending.
Chrissy and I link arms as we follow Emerson, and I begin to relax when he laughs and chats casually as we navigate our way past store after store.
“He looks familiar,” Chrissy whispers into my ear.
I shrug. He does have that All-American boy next door look. Surely he just looks like someone we know? I don’t think about it for long because my thoughts immediately shift when I see a crowd of people up ahead. One of the girls looks and waves to Emerson, and he waves back just before she starts whispering to the girl standing next to her. Both of them are gorgeous, and dressed in their Sunday best. Chrissy and I can’t be bothered to dress up on our days off. It’s high-waisted shorts and grungy tees for us.
But those girls. Those girls give a shit. They’re out to impress, and they’re doing a fine job of it.
I swallow, intimidated just by their presence because I know all about girls like them. Catty girls. My very own proverbial hell.
High school girls can be downright evil, as Chrissy and I found out. It started when we were young. Once it was discovered that I lived near the brothel, it didn’t take long for the news to spread amongst the parents, who then urged their kids to keep their distance. Once we got into
“Yeah?” He looks in Chrissy’s direction. I suppose I should introduce them.
“Emerson, this is my best friend, Chrissy. Chrissy, this is Emerson, from Bookkeeping 101.”
Chrissy sashays in front of me and slides her hand into his. “Well hello, Emerson from Bookkeeping 101.”
She can never turn it off. Always looking to turn her next trick, I swear. The discomfort I feel knowing this brings out a physical reaction and I slap her on the shoulder, bringing her back to reality. Emerson is not some Joe. He’s a guy. A guy who I have to go to school with. A guy who I’d really like to keep in the dark. She looks at me, slightly confused, before I shoot her a death glare and she immediately gets the hint, chancing a quick glance back at Emerson. He clears his throat before answering, “Nice to meet you.”
And then his attention is back on me and he smiles. “So do you have anything important planned for today?”
“Just mall trolling.”
“Well, that’s boring,” he quips back.
I glare at Chrissy. “Tell me about it.”
“Well, I was just about to head to the movies with some friends. You guys should join us.”
Movies. I haven’t seen a movie in ages, and I could use a little entertainment right now. Even though I’m not much of a moviegoer, the distraction would be welcome.
But do I want to travel into this grey area with him?
Before I can think about how to respond, Chrissy answers for me. “That sounds great!” she says, and the answer is obviously acceptable to Emerson because, with a nod of his head, he gestures for us to follow him, and Chrissy goes . . . without hesitation. I, on the other hand, am frozen in place. This can’t possibly be a good idea. Chrissy notices I’m stuck in place and looks over her shoulder at me. Rolling her eyes, she takes a few steps back to me and sighs. “It’s just a movie. It won’t kill you.”
She’s right. A movie never did anyone any harm. Like I thought earlier, it could probably do me a little good right about now. “Fine,” I snap. “But if this gets weird, I’m out.”
She nods before linking arms with me, dragging me at pace in order to catch up to Emerson, and as we walk I realize I’ve just made a big mistake. My heart races, which causes my head to swim. This isn’t part of my life plan. I don’t have time for this sort of thing. Pretending to be a normal twenty-one year old isn’t for me. It’s stupid. I’m acting like a silly teenager and I can’t believe that I’m going to allow it. My inner voices argue with each other. I deserve the chance to be carefree—even if I’m only pretending.
Chrissy and I link arms as we follow Emerson, and I begin to relax when he laughs and chats casually as we navigate our way past store after store.
“He looks familiar,” Chrissy whispers into my ear.
I shrug. He does have that All-American boy next door look. Surely he just looks like someone we know? I don’t think about it for long because my thoughts immediately shift when I see a crowd of people up ahead. One of the girls looks and waves to Emerson, and he waves back just before she starts whispering to the girl standing next to her. Both of them are gorgeous, and dressed in their Sunday best. Chrissy and I can’t be bothered to dress up on our days off. It’s high-waisted shorts and grungy tees for us.
But those girls. Those girls give a shit. They’re out to impress, and they’re doing a fine job of it.
I swallow, intimidated just by their presence because I know all about girls like them. Catty girls. My very own proverbial hell.
High school girls can be downright evil, as Chrissy and I found out. It started when we were young. Once it was discovered that I lived near the brothel, it didn’t take long for the news to spread amongst the parents, who then urged their kids to keep their distance. Once we got into
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