The Impact of You

Avery

Jase remains silent beside me, and I can sense there’s something more on his mind than just escaping the party inside – only I have no idea what it is, or why he’s chosen me as company. I grin to myself thinking Madison will be proud that I’m out here talking to the Pretty Boy. And pretty, he is. It’s almost too much to handle having him this close and personal. He smells freakin’ incredible too, like a hint of spicy cologne and a trace of laundry detergent. I want to bury my nose in his neck and inhale, get closer to that delicious scent. Of course I do no such thing.

“What’s the most interesting thing about you?” he asks suddenly.

I am so not telling him that. His question is an odd one, but I go with it. “I was adopted.”

“Really?” His gaze flicks to mine.

Whenever I tell people, their eyes light up in wonder, like I’m suddenly special, different. I don’t know if they expect me to be from some cool foreign country, or maybe have celebrities as parents, but the truth is nothing like that. “Not from anywhere interesting. Just Colorado.”

“That’s cool. Have you ever been back to visit?”

take me there as a graduation present, but I don’t know…” I shrug. “I’d convinced them I didn’t want to go. I actually did. Desperately. But I felt guilty for wanting to. They got uncomfortable whenever I brought up anything about my birthmom, as

continues picking at the fraying string on his

my birthmom, but I’d always wanted to. Depending on the mood I was in, I would picture my mom as an elegant model, or

was that he was your typical party-loving frat boy. Now, watching him silently pick at the hem of his

softly, the timbre of his deep voice rolling over me like a seductive wave. “Hmm.” He considers my question for a moment, looking up at the sky. “I don’t know. But I kind of want to

alone in the dark. I’m running from my past, and he’s trying to discover his future. Either way, it seems we’re both over the idea of pointless partying. As the bash rages on inside, I find solace in the knowledge that

Jase

to her before I say something stupid. And the way her bright green eyes gaze into mine, who knows what I could admit to if pushed.

to mine, like I’ve uncovered some big secret. Only I have no clue what it is.

work, but I can’t argue. I’d rather be out here with her too. For a moment she watches me from the corner of her eye. Rather than stare at her like I want to, I continue picking at the blade