“Um, no. I’m not going to the party.”
“Oh. Okay. Could I walk you somewhere?”
Monica had never had such a cute boy ask her that. During high school, she’d kept
her nose in the books studying so she could get out of Seattle. She’d hated the rain
and the grunge music scene. She’d hoped that when she got to Briar Cliff, things
would be different.
“Sure. I guess.” She swallowed hard. Her mouth still tasted of vomit and beer.
“Okay. Great!” Jeremy’s face broke into a smile, followed by a wide-eyed slowdown-boy
grimace. “Um. Cool. Where do you want to go?” He looked down and kicked the ground
with the toe of his left shoe.
“There’s a coffee house on Briar Lane where I like to study. We could go there if
you want.” Where I like to study? Geez, Monica. Could you say anything nerdier?
“
