Ch. 48 It's a Small World

I stay with Will

because he keeps me distracted.

But then I lose him

to a few guys on the baseball team.

I don't mind much

since he's only here because I asked him to be.

I leave though after a few minutes

because I see Jesse across the room.

I go downstairs

to the basement

where people are watching TV,

playing pingpong and pinball and PacMan,

throwing darts,

and playing pool.

I hear someone call my name.

I don't turn around

because it sounds like Jesse,

but then whoever it is taps me on the shoulder

and I see it's the ice cream store boy

and not Jesse.

He's smiling at me

and holding a pool cue.

He's surprised to see me

because he heard

I wasn't coming.

Someone says his name

before I can answer

and he walks away.

I feel sad,

and disappointed,

and a little lost,

until he looks at me again,

and waves me over

to the billiards table.

"Hang with me for a while,"

he says.

I don't know where Will is

so I stay.

He looks at the other guys

standing around the table

and introduces me.

Then he points to them.

"That's Paul,

Killian,

Ty,

and Brandon."

The last guy leans forward

and squints at me.

His eyebrows go up

and he starts laughing.

"Hey!" he says.

"I know you.

You're that cherry girl."

I don't know what he's talking about

or who he is

until he steps into the light.

Then,

I recognize his face.

Author's Note

Leave comments below! Thanks for reading.
--theladygraceling