Page 29 of Pretty Black

“It doesn’t matter. You don’t think they are going to serve you here, do you?” I leaned against the bar, studying him in the low light.

He grinned. “They will.”

I stared at him and finally answered, “Anything but a fucking beer.” The scent turned my stomach.

“Two vodka sprites.” He smiled, showing off model teeth. Straight and pure white. “I should be upset you don’t know me, Iris. Or maybe I’m more intrigued. They said you were a loner.” We must go to school together, but I couldn’t place him.

“Does that smugness come with a name, or are you like one of those socialite kids I should be familiar with?”

The North Shore of Chicago boasted some of the highest income earners in the county and offered the luxury of being tucked away from prying eyes along the banks of Lake Michigan. But if he was one of those kids, he didn’t fit here.

For all the slander Chicago received as a dangerous city, those of us who lived there knew the truth. I came from there daily, taking the orange line to school, crossing the neighborhoods these people avoided. I walked through them and felt safer in them than alone on the North Shore.

He slid me the drink when it was set in front of him without questions, meeting my eyes. “Told you.”

“Who are you?” But I didn’t have to wait for his answer. The last song played out as we sipped our drinks, and the lights came up a little before the headliner went on.

“My parents are notthatwealthy.” He lifted his hand like he’d touch me but pulled at the collar of his shirt instead. “Caspian. I’m in the year ahead of you at North.” The words cast him in a new light, revealing what I’d missed or ignored in the dark of the pit.

Before me stood perhaps Achilles or some other son of the Gods of North Shore. The whole school was filled with kids like him. All the same. Tall and good looking with expensive clothes and cars. Rich beyond my wildest dreams and just as arrogant. None of them would be caught dead at this venue. At least none of the ones I’d encountered.

He was lovely, but he wasn’t for me. I wasn’t welcome in their world even if I went to their school. I’d never be one of them.

“What are you doing here, Caspian?” I savored his name. It tasted familiar.

“Can’t a guy come listen to music?”

“No, you can’t. I’m surprised your parents let you venture this far south.” I made it sound like a joke, but I wasn’t joking. By the grace of my sperm donor’s parents, I went to private school, but I’d never be anything to them.

“Hardly south. More west.”

“Are you even allowed in the loop? I bet your parents don’t know you’re south of Wrigley past dark.” Even Wrigleyville was dangerous at the wrong time of night.

He rolled his eyes. “They don’t care what I do.”

I didn’t believe him. “This isn’t your scene. Why aren’t you at a swim meet or a fencing tournament or even a lacrosse game?”

“I could ask the same of you. We go to the same school.” He crossed his arms over his chest, getting defensive.

“Not in the same way,” I said, and I knew he’d know what I meant.

He pushed his fingers into his ashy blond hair. It fell to his eyebrows—overgrown for the clean look most of the kids kept for the dress code. “Am I not aware of some alternate form of admission into North other than enough money and the right name? Last time I checked, they didn’t take charity cases, Iris.” His words carried a smugness to them.

“They’re going on.” I didn’t know who the headliner was, but I’d get lost in the music all the same.

“And?”

“Listen to the music.” I turned away from him, drifting back towards the crowd, not sure why I’d indulged him in the first place.

“You can’t listen and talk?” he said, dangerously close to my ear. A seduction.

“Not the way I’m listening.” I said, downing my drink before getting rid of the plastic and closing my eyes to return to my peace.

“Are you going to tell me your secret?” Caspian asked.

I gave him an exasperated sigh and turned on him, putting my hands over his eyes. He immediately grabbed my wrists but didn’t remove my hands. “Listen.” My lips were a breath from his cheek.

He nodded, not saying a word. The band switched to a more upbeat song, and the crowd began to bounce again. We moved with them, and to his credit, he didn’t try and take my hands off his eyes. I got hit from behind and dropped a hand to his shoulder to avoid slamming into him. His hand slid to my elbow, helping steady me. He kept his eyes closed, and I dropped my other hand away from his face, but he tightened his grip on my wrist and put my hand on his chest.

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