Brazen Girl by Ali Dean Page 0,19

extrovert, but that doesn’t mean I thrive being alone in a dark room all the time. If I can’t skateboard, I at least need some human interaction. Besides my parents, that is.”

“What are you doing standing outside?”

“I don’t have a car, and didn’t want anyone dealing with driving me so I just took the bus. Called you on the walk from the bus over here. Walking’s basically the only activity I can do right now so I’ll take it. It’s freezing here though.”

I picture her standing on a sidewalk in the dark shivering her ass off. It fills my lungs with the kind of breath I haven’t been able to take in weeks, because she’s doing it just to talk to me, but it also makes me ache. Why do we have to be so far apart? Not wanting to let her go, I force myself to tell her to go inside. “Be safe, Jordan. I want to take care of you,” I admit. “But I can’t, so you have to take care of yourself, okay?” It’s a little passive aggressive of me, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t killing me that she didn’t want me cancelling Shred Live for her. And now she’s forced to go to parties to get social interaction so she doesn’t stay cooped up in her parents’ house all day. We could be hanging out together at least. Wouldn’t she rather have been cooped up with me? I’m not going to ask that question, because I know the answer. Even if it’s yes, she’d never admit it. She wouldn’t want me stuck cooped up with her. If only she understood I don’t see it that way.

There’s a knock on my door as we end the call. Sarah Kase telling me burgers are ready. Yeah, I’d so much rather be cooped up with Jordan right now.

Chapter Eight

Jordan

Everyone’s back on campus, hugging and excited to see each other after break. But this isn’t my campus, and I’m not in the right place. Phoebe and Wyatt have introduced me to their friends, and I’ve been enjoying no one on their campus knowing anything about me. Skateboarding isn’t big here. While people from my hometown might have kept up with me, no one at Hooper College has heard of me. I’m sure a lot of them have heard the names Beckett Steele or Griffin Perry before, but the odds of them keeping up with their love lives are low. In that way, I feel safe. But I also know this isn’t my place. This isn’t my school. I’m not starting classes with the rest of them. I’m only here tonight as a sort of therapy. To avoid being alone too much. To prevent sinking into social isolation.

“It’s getting pretty crowded! You okay?” Wyatt is nearly shouting to be heard. This apartment isn’t big, and it’s now packed so tight I can barely move.

“I’m okay. But I think I’m gonna go outside for a minute. It’s hot in here and I could use some fresh air.”

“Okay, I’ll come.”

“I’ll be fine, Wyatt. Go find Phoebe.”

I’ve gotten a text from Beck and I want to check it.

“All right, but I’ll come find you if you’re not back in a minute.”

The sharp air feels good when I step outside a moment later. There’s a small group of people smoking down the street, and I slide out my phone as I lean against the wall outside.

Beck: Where are you sleeping tonight? I hope you’re not planning to take the bus home late.

I don’t want him worrying about me. Hell, that’s the main reason I ended things with him. It’s why I wasn’t even sure I should call him to check in. But the truth is, this text makes my chest fill with warmth, even if there’s some guilt there too.

Me: I’m staying at Wyatt and Phoebe’s. Their apartment is across the street from the party. Kind of tempted to go there right now but I’m trying to make it a full hour first.

Beck doesn’t respond right away and my eyes move up and down the sidewalk, wishing I had my skateboard right now. It snowed a few days ago, but it’s been shoveled away. I could skate flat surfaces easily with no risk of falling, and I’m not sure why I haven’t yet.

“Jordan Slattery!” My head snaps to the group of smokers. I didn’t look closely before, but the grin is unmistakable under the street light now. It’s Tanner Pollard. The