Page 8 (1/1)

Jason hurried into the passenger seat, and I threw ine, and we turned off the block and onto another street as the cop cars began pulling up in front of the house

"That was close"

I wasn’t sure who said that, but it didn’t rinned I wanted to do it again

SOC 101: MINDFCKING A GROUP

TAYLOR

The house was dark when Claire droppedwith half-elasses and a platter with cheese and crackers on it A few grapes re with some crumpled-up napkins and three beer bottles where I assulasses had lipstick stains near the ri from the dirty dishes in the sink, the food was plentiful And based on a few e, the booze had been flowing all night long

Speaking of booze, sorimaced and sed as I cleaned up the kitchen quickly My dad wouldn’t have ti, and I had no doubt he was already knocked out now, sleeping the booze off When I finished and headed upstairs, I was surprised to hear the sounds of his television coht

An old football game played, while my dad snored in his chair His head was back, his mouth open, and another eruption sailed out I shook hts-- either this way or he was gone When being a workaholic didn’t help with forgetting, he’d find other ways: alcohol Strip clubs I was pretty sure he’d had a brief affair with a arette smoke, and I’d found notes written on napkins in the trash Most had hotel names and room numbers on them, but I didn’t have the heart to follow hiht about it once I’d had o with me--Claire wouldn’t have understood Her parents were still together, and alive But Jason was different He got it, but after I brought his nu ho ot to work The television was turned off and I wheeled his chair down the hall to his bedroo the recliner up next to his bed, I put his feet on theunderneath the wheels so the chair wouldn’t go anywhere, and hit the controller so the chair folded down He was next to the bed if he wanted to roll in there, or he could sleep the rest of the night the way he was Either way he’d be hurting in the rabbed a water bottle and a couple of painkillers and set the to bed

When I woke up the next , the chair was back in the office, and he’d taken the water with hi dressed and ready, I sat at the kitchen table drinking , but that didn’t last once I left and got to school I was late Really late

The door to my first class was about to close as I sprinted around the corner A guy was reaching for it, and when he saw me a frown appeared, but he waited I sailed past with a breathless, "Thank you"

I slipped into the first empty chair, which was in the front row The door closed and the guy walked past lare at h class I snuck a look over my shoulder, but I didn’t see any other open chairs I was stuck

Note to self: Leave twenty uy cleared his throat His hands rested on the podiu the class "Welcoy My name is Jeremy Fuller," he said "I’ out withfor this class"

He had striking features Blue eyes, light blond hair that held a little curl, and an almost too-thin face, but he was handsome He looked a little like Jude Lahich would normally have uy was ot the syllabus, an explanation of everything contained in the syllabus, and when no one could think of a question to stall the arrival of our first lecture, we got that, too The lesson filled the rest of the hour He dishis throat

"You’re Taylor Bruce?"

"Yeah?"

"Hi I’m Jeremy Fuller--" His lip twitched, and he pulled back his hand "Sorry Habit We already did introductions, and I swear, I’ his eyes for a beat Then he shook his head "I’ain I knew yourthis, aren’t I?" He tried another smile "I’m really sorry I didn’t realize who you hen you first ca to find you before class started That’s what I’ed inside my chest Someone had openedto stitch oogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">