On His Face - Tabatha Kiss Page 0,8
I just asked out a boy.
“That’s even better, actually,” he adds. “I don’t have to worry about one of my housemates stealing you from me. A few of them are slightly more attractive than I am.”
I chortle. “Only slightly?”
“Hard to imagine, I know.” He points at my car. “Why don’t you try starting her up?”
I pause, completely forgetting the original reason he came out here. “Oh, right,” I say, spotting the long cables connecting our cars. “Will do,” I say as I begin the short trek around to my driver’s side.
I lower myself inside and say a quick prayer as I turn the key.
The engine revs to life.
“Yes!” I say, standing up. “She lives another day.”
“Awesome.” Drew detaches the clips from my car. “Leave her running for a little while. Let her charge.”
“I will,” I say. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s no problem,” he says as he lets his hood drop with a loud thump. He hooks the cables in his arm and joins me on my side. “If it happens again, let me know. I’ll keep my cables handy.”
“Oh, I will be more vigilant about the lights from here on, I’m sure.”
“You got your phone?” he asks.
“Uh...” I take it out of my back pocket. “Yeah.”
He snatches it from me. “Just going to send myself a text,” he says, tapping with his thumbs. “Text me back about… anything. Anything at all.”
I bite my lip. “All right.”
Drew gives the phone back. “I’m officially late for class, so I should get going.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was worth it.”
I blush. “Well, go on. Please. Go live your life. You’ve given me enough of your time already.”
He laughs as he drops the cables into his passenger seat and grabs his backpack from the backseat. “I’ll see you around, Heidi,” he says as he locks the car.
I nod. “I’ll see you around, Drew.”
He walks toward campus, then pauses and turns back. “Oh, and congratulations,” he says.
“What for?” I ask.
He gestures at my car. “You just learned a new life skill.”
I gasp. “Oh, my god!” I say, excited. “I totally did!”
“You totally did!”
“Holy crap.” My smile dips. “I should have taken notes...”
Drew laughs as he turns. After a few steps, he glances over his shoulder at me, his face still plastered with the same dimply smile as before.
Learn a new life skill. Check!
Fall in love with a stranger...
In-progress.
Chapter 5
Heidi
I press the charcoal against the paper as lightly as possible. I brush it down the bridge of his nose, keeping the shading light but noticeable. Today, I spotted a freckle just beneath his right eye, so I take a moment to dab one in place.
Drew.
A stranger no more, but that doesn’t make him any less fall-worthy.
“Are you sons of bitches ready to par-tay?!”
I sit back as I look at Jenna standing in my open doorway. Both of her hands rest on the frame as she presents herself in a little black dress and strappy, red heels. A tiny purse. Flawless make-up.
I snort. “You certainly are,” I answer.
Jenna frowns as she steps into my room. “What are you doing?” she asks.
“I’m just...” I glance at my sketchbook. “Practicing for class.”
She tilts her head as she studies at the sketch. “Nice,” she says, meaning it. “You made Resting Prick Face look mildly approachable.”
“Thank you.” I stand up and look at my black-stained hands. “Let me wash up and we’ll go.”
“You’re not wearing that, are you?”
I check myself. Baseball t-shirt. Jeans. Red sneakers. My basic everyday attire, and plenty good enough for a walk down to Bobby’s house.
“Yeah?” I say.
“Uh, no.” She shakes her head. “Change.”
“Why?” I ask. “We’re just going to Bobby’s, right?”
“We’re not going to Bobby’s,” she says. “Bobby’s canceled.”
“Again? Why?”
“Just…” She slices the air with her hands. “I’d rather not discuss it right now.”
“Okay. Then, where are we going?” I ask.
“To one of the biggest parties of the year!” She spins toward my closet and exhales. “It’s okay. It’s fine. I will find you...” she sneers at my clothes, “something.”
“Party?” I ask. “What party?”
“The Alpha Delta Xi party, stupid.”
My gut churns. “A frat party?”
“No. This will not do.” She steps back. “We’re going to my closet.”
I follow her into the hall. “I can’t go to a frat party!”
“You can, you will, and you are.”
“But...” I linger in her bedroom doorway as she disappears into the depths of her own closet. “Can’t we just... chill here? We haven’t talked in ages.”
“We talk every day, Heidi,” she says, barely visible between a line of identical little black dresses.
“But