He seemed to understand. With a jerky nod, he followed me out of the room and into the elevator. I needed to sweat off the stress of the day, but mainly I needed to stop thinking about the girl with the pretty eyes and even prettier hair. It was long, almost to her waist, but so freaking thick that I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to thread my fingers through it.
She was the first girl I’d let touch me since Lorelei. Not that I’d actually let her touch me, more like she plowed into me. Nonetheless, I hadn’t flinched. Instead, I’d wanted more.
Clearly I’d wanted more, since I’d all but stalked her for the past few hours. Probably not the way to go about things.
The elevator doors opened with a ding. David and I walked out, and people stared, like really stared. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I wasn’t. I hated it. People always wanted something from me. Funny, because I’d give my left arm to be any one of them. I’d gladly take the place of the guy picking his nose by the front door, or even the chick with glasses and buck teeth. I’d trade spots and run in the opposite direction. Not because I hated my life — nope, it was the exact opposite. I loved life.
The doors to the dorm opened.
A few girls held up cell phones, most likely to take pictures. I sighed. Freshman.
I gave a little wave and continued walking, just as James walked up by David and took my left side.
A few more girls giggled as they crossed paths with me. One appeared to faint.
This was my life.
Chapter Six
Into the fire — or maybe it’s out of the fire and into… wait, I don’t remember. Hell?
Kiersten
“You ready?” Lisa wiped some lip gloss from her mouth and checked herself out in the mirror. “Because I know I am.”
I laughed. “Yes, you are.” She had on a miniskirt, heels, and a short shirt. I’d never be caught dead wearing something like that. Uncle Jo would kill me. I would want to kill me. I mean, that’s how girls got into trouble.
“Okay.” She turned, a scowl on her face. “You can’t wear that.”
“What?” I looked down at my straight-leg jeans and boots, I had a white T-shirt on and my hair in a ponytail.
“It’s a party.”
“I know.” I shrugged. “I’m wearing clothes.”
“Yes.” Lisa’s tone was far from encouraging. “But you’re also not a nun, and right now you look like you’re homeschool.”
Homeschool? All the kids I knew that were homeschool were completely normal, crap I’d begged my uncle to homeschool me after everything. I looked down at my clothes and shrugged.
A heavy pounding assaulted the door and then Gabe burst through. “Damn, cousin, you aiming to get laid tonight?”
She smiled.
Gabe’s eyes fell to me. “And you’re dressed like a first grade teacher. Why?”
“Very funny.”
“Wasn’t kidding.” He mock-choked as his eyebrows danced suggestively.
With a sigh I turned back to Lisa. “This is the type of thing I wear. I don’t wear short skirts and belly tops and—”
“See, the very fact that you called this,” she pointed at her shirt, “A belly top, tells me one thing.”
“What?”
“You need help.”
Gabe nodded his agreement.
“Guys, I’m not Cinderella.”
Smirking, Gabe leaned in and murmured, “Drop your shoe, I dare you.”
“Ohhh, he wants to pick up your shoe.” Lisa joked.
“It’s a boot,” I clarified, lifting my foot to show off the shiny black leather.
“Either or.” Gabe gave a flirty shrug. “And clothes or no clothes, you’re still hot, but if I were you, and I had Weston–freaking-Michels panting after me, I’d make him work for it.”
“I, uh…” Playing with my long ponytail, I looked in the mirror. They were right. I looked Amish. I used to be into fashion, but lately things just seemed semi-pointless. At least I was eating and showering — not that Gabe and Lisa needed to know that. It was a giant feat for me to be able to take care of myself.