Page 38 of The One That Ran Away
I sat a respectable distance away from her, backpack clanking to the ground. Shannon pulled out a cigarette and helped herself to a smoke.
Even though I had seen her smoking before, I was put out that she would do it so candidly around me – especially with the wind blowing in my direction. The moment her tobacco hit me, my eyes itched and my nose ran.
Still, I sat next to her, because to be around her was to suffer.
“I got your note,” I said. “It wasn’t a big deal, I promise.”
Shannon remained quiet and distracted by the comings and goings of people while she smoked. For a while, I assumed she forgot I was there. Or at least, she didn’t want to acknowledge my presence. Bad enough I probably made her think about bad things that may have happened at the party. Here I was, being nosy again.
“Thanks, though. I don’t know what came over me at that party.” She tapped her ashes onto the cobblestone beneath our feet. “It’s really embarrassing to think about, but I owe you a lot.”
I had a million questions about her behavior, but I would never dare ask them. Instead, I sucked up my courage and said, “My birthday is in a couple of weeks. Don’t suppose you’re too busy to catch a drink with me or something.”
Her eyes unexpectantly lit up. Did she think I was asking her out? Because of course I was. I was about to turn twenty-two. If I couldn’t ask a girl out, then what good was I?
“Just you and me? For your birthday?”
“Well, not like that…” If only! “I was thinking the night before. It’s on a Friday. Perfect opportunity to relax, huh?”
“Right before midterms, no less.”
“My birthday always falls right before midterms. Getting people to go out with me is always a hard time.”
She laughed. “All right. Let’s go get a drink or something. My treat. It’ll be my birthday present to you.” She leaned back, kicking her legs out while she extinguished her cigarette. “And my thank you for taking care of me the other night, as embarrassing as that was.”
“Cool. I’ll be in touch.”
She was the first one to leave, package tucked beneath her arm. I sat on that ledge, unable to believe my fantastic fortune – Shannon Parker, going out with me? Wonders never ceased.
***
A text rolled into Jess’s inbox later that night. She was halfway through the second article about King David, and had brewed a fresh pot of tea to keep her awake long enough to finish at least one more article for the night.
“Hey,”Shannon texted her.“If I wanted to get more into astrology, what books would you recommend?”
Somehow, Jess had completely forgotten that Shannon had her number – and the same went the other way around. She had also forgotten that, occasionally, Shannon toyed with her heart enough to make her think the world was going to end.
“Such a classically Aquarian thing to ask me.”
“How so?”
Jess chuckled. When she didn’t have to look at that stupidly pretty face, she was much better at flirting.“Aquarians are known to be intrigued by the universe’s mysteries. Lots of astrologers are Aquarians.”
“You’re not answering my first question.”
No, because deep down, Jess wanted to string the lovely Shannon Parker along and make her keep talking well into the night.“There are lots of good books out there for beginners. Everything about the metaphysical world requires knowing yourself well, because only you can gauge what is best for you.”
“If I become an astrologer, will I have to talk like you?”
“Yes,”Jess teased.
She scanned her bookshelf and made a few recommendations. She also offered to let Shannon borrow her books for a while, if she liked. Cheaper than going to the bookstore, and more convenient than dealing with the library – if the library had books like these.
“You mean you still want to see me after the other night?”
Jess scoffed toward her phone.“I was being a butt. Not a big deal.”
“I made you angry, though. It’s only right that I try to make it up to you.”
