Page 103 of Soul So Dark
I can’t tell from Mason’s tone whether it’s just a joke or if there’s a different meaning behind it, so I brush it off like I do the rest of his commentary. One thing I know about Colson and his friends is that they don’t tell anybody anything, but I don’t know if that should provide me any comfort or not.
Once inside, I head for the stairs as the first bell rings. But before I can even set foot in the stairwell, a figure bumps right into me. I nearly stumble backward, but they wrap their arm around my shoulders, spin me around, and whisk me back the way I came.
“You look like you could use a day off.”
I look up and, to my relief, I see Alex. “Are you skipping?” I ask with intrigue.
“Yeah, want to come?”
“Duh.”
I’ve had enough of school, and freshman year wasn’t even that bad until this month. Plus, my group project for Web Design isn’t until tomorrow and I don’t have my first final until Wednesday. So, being anywhere else—especially if it’s with Alex—sounds way better than being here.
But the closer we get to the parking lot, the more nervous I get that we’ll run straight into Colson, Mason, and Aiden. But instead, we head to the end of the hallway and exit the side door to circle back to the lot.
Alex pauses as we arrive at his white Lexus SUV. “If you want to learn to drive, I can teach you how to drive.”
My eyes round. “You saw that?”
“I pulled in right behind you all,” he laughs.
“No,” I shake my head and open the passenger door, “I think that’s enough for one day.”
I’ve never even seen the inside of Alex’s car. There’s an assortment of water bottles, both metal and disposable plastic ones, scattered here and there in the cupholders and on the passenger floorboards. A dash cam is mounted above the aftermarket stereo and I’m surprised that the beige leather seats are in such good shape for an older vehicle.
“Where are we going?” I ask, fastening my seatbelt.
He turns the key in the ignition and the engine roars to life. “The creek?”
“To do what?”
“Paddle boarding?”
“I don’t have one.”
Alex looks me up and down and shifts into reverse. “You’re small, it’ll be fine.”
It’s better than being referred to as a shrimp, I guess.
By the time we get to the creek and Alex has his paddle board inflated, it’s clear that one paddle board is sufficient. I’ve never been on one, though. My experience on this water is limited to kayaking and flying off a rope swing. Some people even jump off the overpass in town, but I’ve never been brave enough to do that.
Alex pulls off his t-shirt and tosses it through the window of the car. “Come on.” He picks up the board under one arm and the paddle in the other and starts heading down the hill.
Meanwhile, I take stock of what I’m wearing; cutoff denim shorts and a racerback tank under a hoodie.
“I don’t have any extra clothes!” I call after him.
Alex stops and looks over his shoulder. “Just leave them here.”
I stare back at him. “I’m not floating down the creek in my underwear!”
“Did you forget? I’ve already seen you in your underwear. And who else is going to be here at nine in the morning?”
He has a point. I toss my hoodie back through the window and start unbuttoning my shorts. I’ll split the difference and keep my tank top on. I can always just wear my hoodie if my shirt gets wet. Then I pause and then feel my temple for my glasses. Slowly, I pull them off and drop them onto the seat with my hoodie. At least I’m not totally blind without them.
By the time I get down to the water, Alex is already wading in.
“Climb on the front here where it’s shallow,” he instructs, holding the board steady.
