Page 127 of Girls Night
“I know,” Gwen agrees almost solemnly, “it just sounds so interesting. Black tie affair? C’mon, you guys can’t tell me that doesn’t seem pretty awesome?”
I have to agree there.
“That’s how serial killers reel you in,” Cindy counters, plucking the invite from her friend’s grasp. “They intrigue you, and then next thing you know, you’re dead.”
The fact Kaia isn’t the only one on campus who got one of these piques my interests all the more. She may not think it’s school-related, but if other students are receiving the same thing, how could it not be?
Besides, we’re supposed to be living, supposed to be sayingyesto new experiences. We promised each other as much at the end of summer. I have a bucket list saved on my laptop to prove it.
Chapter Three
Kaia
I. Am. Beat.
Thursdays are by far one of my longest days. I don’t have a solid break until late in the day, and by the time I make it back to the dorms, I’m ready to smoke and pass out. Jules promised me she’d finally watchAmerican Horror Storywith me, though, so we’re having a Netflix binge night, which is why I drove to Walmart in her little Subaru to grab some snacks while she showered. I purposely aim to not be around when she’s in there. In the last two weeks, I’ve seen that girl naked more times I can handle. The first time left me speechless—and admittedly, all kinds of wet—especially since she never did this shit back home.
Popping the trunk, I try looping my arm through all of the bags. Try being the keyword. There’s too many, probably because I went a bit overboard and bought enough shit to last us two weeks…if I don’t eat it all when I get the munchies, that is.
“Just a few more,” I mumble to myself, reaching for the last few bags. My arms are full, but my lazy ass is intent on becoming the Hulk and hauling everything upstairs in one trip.
“Kaia!”
I literally cringe at the sound of that voice, shoulders shooting up to my ears.Not now, God. Why?
“Need some help?”
Inhaling a steadying breath, I turn my head toward Izaak and plaster on as genuine a smile as I can manage. “I think I’m good. Thanks, though.”
“You don’t look like you’re good,” he laughs. “Your arms look like they’re about to snap off.”
He’s not wrong, unfortunately. My armsfeellike they’re going to fall off.
“C’mon, just let me help you, Kai. You’ve got four flights up. I doubt you’re gonna make it with all those bags.”
I sigh because he’s right and extend one of my arms with an unamused huff so he can grab the bags. Hopefully, this will be quick, painless, and without another date proposition. I don’t know how many times I can shoot him down before he gets it through his thick ass skull.
Shutting the trunk, I lock up the Subaru and start up the path toward the dorms. I’m focusing so hard on getting inside and upstairs that I don’t bother waiting for him. It’s not like he doesn’t know the way. Besides, he’s literally right behind me. Any closer and he’d be breathing down my neck.
He actually passes me and holds open the door to my building, allowing me entry first. I tip my head by way of thanks and scoot past him, booking it up the stairs as fast as I can.
“Kaia, wait up!” he chuckles, easily catching up to me. “You in a hurry or something?”
In a hurry to get away from your relentless ass.“Yeah, kinda. Jules and I are having anAmerican Horror Storybinge night. It’s part of her freshman bucket list thing. I left while she was showering to grab some shit, and she’s probably waiting on me.”
“Word, word. Sounds pretty dope. I haven’t watched that shit. Is it good?”
“There’s been a few good seasons. Some were just alright.”Two more flights, just two more flights.
He doesn’t even reply to that, completely bypassing my response and going on to ask,“You and Jules seem tight. You know her long?”
“Yup. Going on five years now. We met at freshman orientation.” Have I mentioned I hate chit-chat and slews of generic questions? It’s awkward and unnecessary.
“Oh, damn—that’s a hot minute. I have a few friends back home who I’ve known all my life, but none of them came here. I’m a lone wolf these days.”
I wonder why.
“Na, I don’t think you’re a lone wolf. You socialize and shit. I’m sure you’ve made some friends by now, right?” I’m not asking ‘cause I care. We’ve just made it to the fourth floor and I can see my door from here. In the next two minutes, he’ll be out of my hair and none of this will matter.
