Page 23 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

Suddenly the entrance to The Vortex explodes open and out runs Zoe Cocker past the patio like someone is chasing her.

“What the hell,” I mutter, rising in surprise.

Elena laughs, “Would you look at that!” She calls up to the heavens, “I’d like a Rolls Royce please!”

Ignoring her joke about manifesting I start toward the patio’s iron gate, and freeze as Lexi and Samantha Cocker race out of The Vortex next — the former shouting, “Zoe! I’m sorry! Stop!” and the latter complaining, “When are you going to learn to be quieter, Lexi?”

Elena throws more cash on the table than is necessary, and grabs my arm, “Oh, I’ve gotta see this,” egging me on for the chase.

We start running!

TWELVE

Zoe

Istumble onto the street, heart racing and breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Lexi’s question still echoes in my ears.

I hear my cousins chasing me, but their words are a blur.

She had shouted to the whole restaurant, “Are you no longer a virgin?!” the words cutting deeper than I would have expected them to. I can still feel the stares of strangers boring into me, their curiosity humiliating.

“Zoe! Wait up!” Samantha’s voice cuts through my haze, “Stop! Please Zoe, she’s sorry!” growing louder as Sam and Lexi chase after me. I push myself to run faster, my heels pounding against the pavement like a frantic drumbeat. I just want to escape, to hide from the embarrassment, but I can’t seem to shake them off.

As I round a corner, I hear Tom’s voice shout, “Zoe! Wait!”

What ishedoing here? I look behind me and catch sight of Tom and his sister Elena running behind my cousins though his long legs have almost caught up. Their expressions are a mix of surprise and concern. Just the sight of him makes my heart skip in confusion and…relief? But wait.

Oh no.

Was he there?

Did he hear what Lexi said?

Why is he chasing me, too?

I want to die!

I want to crawl into a cave where no one can find me, and die!

But what would happen to Ralphie?

“Leave me alone!” I shout, and keep running.

“Zoe!” Tom calls out and I can tell by how much louder he is, he’s gaining on me, “Please stop! Talk to me! What happened?” I feel a hand grab my arm. “Stop, Zoe!” he pleads with me.

My heels clatter to an exhausted jog, then slow to stopping, hand flying to my heart as I catch my breath. “Were you there?” I whisper, gasping for air. “Did you hear her, too?”

“Hear what?”

“Hear Lexi!”

“No, Tom was in the patio, Zoe! We saw them run out!” Lexi reassures me as she, Sam and Elena join us, all of them catching their breath, too. “He didn’t hear me. He wasn’t inside!”

Tom asks me imploringly, “What did I miss? What’s got you so upset? Let me help!”

With a frown embedded, Elena cautiously demands, “Tell us what we missed!”

Lexi says, “Zoe was going to tell us something important and I...”

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