In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,4

we were on, "if I ever have my eyes set on a guy and you step in before me, I'll tell everyone in this school that you tried to touch me inappropriately in the middle of the night. Last rule, don't ever come into this room if you see a scrunchie on the door."

"Is that a joke?" I asked, baffled by the last rule. She has to be kidding, right?

"Do I look like I'm joking?" she asked, expressionless.

"I thought that was just a thing you see in the movies." I began laughing. My life in the Midwest was beginning to feel like an episode of Little House on the Prairie.

"What's your story, blondie? You've obviously never had to use the scrunchie-on-the-door trick." Kingsley began playing with her cell phone.

Apparently, she wasn't interested in hearing my answer. I gathered she was the type that just liked the sound of her own voice. I'd heard horror stories of getting stuck with awful roommates in college, but I promised myself that if it happened to me, I wouldn't let it ruin my time here. At that moment, I made it my mission to get Kingsley to warm up to me.

"I'm from Illinois. I graduated from Prospect High School. Let's see ... I've been dancing most of my life at–"

My story was cut short.

"I don't care about the obvious stuff. Give me the juicy details of your life. Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

"Yes," I rolled my eyes while answering. "Of course, I have."

Kingsley thought she had me all figured out in a matter of a few minutes, which always happened to me. I guess, in her book, since I wasn't dressed like a two-cent hooker like her, I must be completely straitlaced.

"Let me guess. You dated the same boy all throughout high school. Prom night, you were both crowned king and queen and lost your virginities to each other? Am I right?"

Kingsley was wrong. I did have a boyfriend, but Cole was someone I kept secret, especially from my mother. We met a few weeks after I lost my dad. I was in such a horrible place and he was a good distraction. We dated for six months and I was convinced I was falling in love with him, that is, up until the point that he broke up with me after we'd had sex. I never wanted to be that vulnerable to anyone again.

"Not even close. If I jumped to conclusions like you, I'd say you've been around the block a few times. I also suspect that most girls hate you." I prepared myself for her backlash, but she looked up from her phone with a smirk on her face.

"We've got a live one." Kingsley's smile fell when she looked down at her cell phone. "This guy really doesn't have a clue. You would think most guys like to hit it and quit it but not this one. It's like he's already planning our future together."

My curiosity piqued. "Who are you talking about?"

She looked up at me, eyebrows furrowed. "This random guy I met last night. He's become obsessed with me."

I could see how easy it would be for a guy to become obsessed with Kingsley. Her striking looks could make any guy fall to his knees. I'm sure the fact that she's a dancer helps. Guys are fond of bendy things.

"I know how that goes." I shifted my weight on my bed, turning my body to look at Kingsley. "I've dated some crazy types, too."

She looked at me skeptically. "I wouldn't peg you as the type to date around." Her judging eyes skimmed my face.

I shook my head and began unpacking my toiletries. It was obviously a waste of time conversing with Kingsley since she believed she already knew everything about me.

"If you say you're a man-eater, then I believe you," Kingsley said as she stood from her bed and walked toward me. She smiled and bent down, kissing my cheek.

Why she kissed me on the cheek, I had no clue. Must be an East Coast thing.

"I never said I was a man-eater. I've had a few boyfriends, that's all," I clarified.

She gave me a wry look and walked back to her side of the room. Kingsley grabbed her phone and began typing quickly on the keypad. I guessed she was responding to Mr. Obsessed after all.

I looked at my phone, seeing that our first rehearsal was in a few minutes. If I hadn't been interrogated by Kingsley, I would have