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I laughed at the absurdity of his parents’ incentive, "What is an insane spring break trip anyway?"
"Cancun, no questions asked, limitless allowance," he ticked off as if each idea were more ridiculous than the last "I don’t want any of that I want to go to school for so I’m passionate about Besides, I don’t believe for one second that my mom could actually not ask any questions It would be the third degree as soon as I got home and probably an appointment to test for STD’s"
"Which would of course be shed and Chase joined in
"You have to know I’ruht stand with Rando to make this so much harder than I wanted it to be He had one week left
"I know," I agreed softly "So what is it that you want to do? What’s at a liberal arts college that isn’t anywhere else?"
"Uh," Chase stalled awith the dials on the radio "I’e It’s in Minnesota so not so far from home, and they have a smaller campus, small classrooms and all that"
"Ok," I s in those classroo athis di his eyes back to the road It was like he was deciding if he could trustwas… he couldn’t
Or at least he shouldn’t
"Social science," he finally ad cohts of how to turn that into career and came up completely empty-handed "No wonder your parents are concerned for your future," I joked
"Hey now," he shot ns, like political cans Start at the city and state level, like mayoral and state senators and then eventually work er scale elections"
"One day, presidential?" I guessed I admired his ambition, his quiet dreams that were held with such obviously fierce resolve
"Maybe," he answered quietly, his cheeks heating with an embarrassed flush "One day"
"I love that," I whispered And I did We were silent for a full minute before I announced decidedly, "Don’t take the trip of debauchery You need to go to Carleton"
His cheeks returned to their natural tanned tone and he nodded his head enthusiastically, "Well, when you put it like that… and just when I had decided to sell my soul for a week of cheap tequila and hookers Mohter burst out of rabbed ht in esture and I relaxed into the leather seat We were driving through a neighborhood now close to Creighton University in north don O and old here, some pathetically run down, and some immaculately taken care of Poor were mixed with old wealth, multicultural diversity mixed Mexican restaurants, specialized hair salons and ethnic e students layered the area that surrounded Creighton’s brick acades and their brand new soccer stadium This area was an intense mixture of culture but still it felt exactly like ho that made up Omaha
"I’m sure your future still holds plenty of opportunity for reckless debauchery No need to worry" I teased
"Oh, I’ravity
He pulled the car over to the side of the street in front of a Victorian-inspired two story house Phoenix’s house had a long front porch painted pastel yelloith a white porch swing that swayed in the cold night breeze The yard was neatly trirow, or in this case die inter co soon; but most of the yard was mulched and made into flower beds that held the remains of withered steh picket fence that lined the property and didn’t really make much sense to me It seemed too short to be of any real purpose and too tall to just be decorative The front door was open, letting light spill out onto the front porch and cast shadows along the curving sidewalk that led to the house I could see lots ofthe most of a no-parents-around scenario
Chase’s hand gave mine a squeeze and I exhaled suddenly I hadn’t realized how nervous I was for this party until just now Excited, anxious, even a bit hopeful, but the peer pressure and teenage revelry that waited just beyond the door weighed downchest Memories ofthat happened that night rushed attrain while I stayed trapped and tied to the rails, just waiting for it to run overto be rescued
I was kind of pathetic…
"Hey, we don’t have to go if you’re not up for it," Chase assured , co for us inside
"No, it’s fine," I said quickly, hoping to shake off my own fears as much as his worry over me "It’s just been a while since… you know… I’ve been around all this" I gestured vaguely at the house and then jumped out of the car before I could let er My hand ripped out of Chase’s in the process and after sla the car door I stayed put until he could join me
When he rounded the car and held out his hand towarmth of Chase’s skin over mine I offered a confident smile that I did not feel and tried to push away allout with Chase and nothing hts, or breakups or out of control drinking Phoenix would only throw a coht of the accident
A shiver wracked th and control as I could, pulling on the set of skills I saved for when Nix was around and then walked up the little sidewalk to Phoenix’s front door Without knocking we entered the thrall and were immediately entrenched in party The faint sh the air and red plastic cups covered every available surface A couple of kids I recognized fro the Wii in the living roo up fro roo rooo of h sweaty, drunken bodies and came up for air in a relatively e surprisingly sober although he was currently holding a bottle of cheap vodka in one hand and a two liter of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash in the other
"Ivy!" Phoenix bellowed "You made it!"
"Hey, Phoenix," I called over the loudfrom an iDock on the counter
He tilted his head to Chase and then wiggled both beverages atall elbows and knees I shook my head, "No thank you"
"Chase?"
Chase shook his head to decline and then brushed his hand across the dark gray For it to see if it was sticky or not When he was satisfied that it wasn’t he leaned against it and pulled ently next to his, he was taller than me so ainstinto my neck His hand left mine to snake around my waist and I worked to keep a s and confident against the thin silk of htful and careful I liked that I liked that so much But there wasn’t much between us other than physical attraction and a little bit of easy banter
If things were different I could get to know his slow and actually let s weren’t different and I could never let ain