Bared Souls - Ellie Wade Page 0,14
at you and made you leave?” I look at Quinn, my eyes wide.
“Yeah, it was strange.” She takes a sip from the water bottle.
“Well, the impression I got is that he’s a jerk. So, I wouldn’t take it personally.”
“You’re right.”
“How was the party after I left?”
“It was fun. I wish you could’ve stayed a little longer, but I had a good time with the girls.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
A knock sounds at the door, and I look to Quinn. “Are you expecting anyone?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
My heart races as I step toward the door, and I’m ashamed to admit why. A familiar smile greets me.
“Amos?” I shriek, and I wrap my arms around his body, hugging him tight. His hands are full of various bags, so his hug is awkward. “What are you doing here?” I grin and take a step back.
The sight of my best friend fills my soul with a contentment that’s been lacking since a broody boy’s lips stole my kiss hours ago.
He raises the bags in his grasp. “I come bearing gifts, and I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I say as I step to the side to allow him entrance. “What’s in the bags?”
He steps inside and places the bags on my bed. “Well, my roommate was telling me about this amazing Chinese restaurant by our campus. It got me thinking about the last time we ordered Chinese. You remember?”
“The day I got the letter from Eastern, saying everything would be covered for me for the next four years, and you surprised me with a picnic in the park with all of my favorite Chinese dishes? Yeah, I definitely remember.” I grin like a fool.
That day will always be on the highlight reel as one of the best days of my life because, in that moment, I knew that I was free. On my own, I had made it. I would get a degree, be someone great, and make a difference in this world. All regrets that I’d had about my childhood no longer mattered because I knew that as soon as I stepped foot on this campus, life would be different. My journey would be on my terms, and my parents couldn’t sabotage anything ever again. That letter was my golden ticket, and that picnic was the best celebration.
“I needed to see you.” His voice is full of emotion. “We celebrated the future of this place together, and now, we need to celebrate your arrival in the same fashion.”
“You’re too good to me,” I say.
“Where should we have this picnic?” he asks.
“Well, Quinn is feeling under the weather, and with her headache, the sun might push her over the edge.”
“It’s true.” Quinn grins weakly.
“So, let’s just have it here,” I suggest.
“Works for me.” Amos removes a blanket from one of the bags and fans it out on the floor between the two beds. He removes the white takeout containers and places them in the center of the blanket along with some plates and sets of plastic silverware.
“I have grape or red.” He holds up two six-packs of Fanta pop.
“Ooh, grape, please,” I say.
“I’ll take a red,” Quinn says and slides off of her bed onto the blanket.
Amos and I follow suit and sit cross-legged on the soft material across from Quinn. We start serving ourselves.
“So, how was your first night?” Amos asks.
“It was good. We went to a frat party,” I tell him.
“You did?” He sounds surprised. Then, he looks to Quinn in understanding. “Ah, hence the pounding headache.”
“Yes, exactly,” she says.
“Did you drink?” he asks me. His tone isn’t accusing, only curious.
“Some, not as much as Quinn,” I tease. “The party was okay. There were lots of people and loud music. We played a drinking game, and I left early.”
“You walked back by yourself?” he asks.
“No, a friend walked back with me.” That is the loosest use of the word friend imaginable. “What did you do?”
“I went to Pinball Pete’s, this cool vintage arcade place, with Matt and some other guys. Then, we ordered pizza. Pretty chill,” he says.
“Oh, nice. So, Matt’s getting better?”
“I think so. I don’t know. The verdict is still out on him.” Amos lets out a dry chuckle.
“Well, not everyone can have as cool of a roommate as me.” I toss a piece of a crab rangoon in my mouth and wink at Quinn.
“I wasn’t very cool last night. I drank too much and let you leave without me. And worse yet, I sent you home with the rudest guy