Page 5 of Fang Girl

Ari’s cheeks pinked up. “Bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No,” I said as I stroked her cheek with my other hand, not letting go of hers. She leaned into the touch. “Only to you.”

“Oh…” she said.

I wanted to kiss her again, but not here, not now.

“Let’s go on a date,” I said.

“Now?” She looked around at the bustling room.

“Victor, Basil,” one of the PAs called out, tapping her clipboard, “You’re needed for the press interview.”

Eddy had booked us solid for the night. “Sorry.” I shook my head. “How about tomorrow night? Give me your phone, and I’ll put in my number.”

“Okay,” she said, digging in her bag and pulling out a cell phone.

"I'll text you with the details," I said, punching my number into her phone and calling mine to capture hers. The PA was getting more insistent about the press interview.

Basil grabbed my arm, but I couldn't tear my eyes from Ari. She called to me like a siren song, and I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Ari

As Kylie and I climbed into the Uber, I kept staring at the number on my phone. Victor had kissed me—had chosen me out of everyone. If this had happened in high school, I'd have assumed it was some cruel joke. But the way he'd looked at me felt real.

"Earth to Ari." Kylie waved her hand in front of my face. "You haven't blinked since we left."

"Sorry, it's just... surreal."

"The Nocturnals' lead singer and your high school crush asked you out. It's like winning the lottery twice!" She squeezed my arm. "You have to tell me everything tomorrow."

I nodded, still dazed from the evening's events. I touched my lips reverently. The kiss had been everything to me, but I guess it had affected Victor too. Why else was he asking me on a date?

“What was Basil like?” I asked Kylie, trying to distract her.

She grinned. “Oh, he’s great, but I’m afraid we didn’t have any of the sparks you and Victor did. He was super sweet though.”

“Sparks?” I asked.

“Yes, dummy,” she said. “He asked you out. That means something.”

Did it though? All my insecurities flooded back over me. Did he just want to see if I was as crazy as I’d been in high school? Was I some check mark for the bedpost?Yeah, I fucked the crazy one.I couldn’t really see Victor saying that.

He’d been kind to me, well, as kind as he could in high school. He’d picked up my books when the other kids knocked them over, and he’d helped me clean the paint on my locker that time.

The Uber stopped in front of our dorm, and Kylie and I climbed out.

Matilda awaited us at the dorm entrance, her translucent form hovering by the sliding doors. She'd been murdered here by an ex years ago, and now she kept watch over the residents.

“Aria,” she said as I approached. “Where have you been?”

“Concert,” I whispered.

Matilda twirled, her dress swinging through passing students. “Awesomesauce,” she said. “I loved concerts!”

I shook my head at her. Too many people around for one of her rambling conversations. Although I did feel for her, since we were similar ages and it was something that could have happened to any one of us.

Matilda followed us upstairs into the quiet hallway. “There’s something different about you.”

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