Page 12 of Foul Territory

FaeAtHeart

I hope they work.

If they don’t, will you stop or keep trying?

NotYourAverageJoe19

I’ll never give up.

FaeAtHeart

It must be something important. Why don’t you take the direct approach?

NotYourAverageJoe19

They are the most important person in my life.

I don’t think they’re ready for direct.

FaeAtHeart

Then for your sake, I hope they’re good at reading between the lines.

3

SYDNEY

This is the last time I’m checking his online status and then I’m shutting my computer down for the day. I have been doing homework, but also flipping over to the forum and refreshing his profile every five minutes.

It’s fine that he hasn’t messaged me today. Not everyone has the same addiction to the forums like I do. I know this. I’ve accepted it.

Most people have lives. I shouldn’t expect him to be online every time I am, despite how much I want him to be.

I found the forum the summer I graduated high school. After everything happened with Koa, I couldn’t talk to him anymore. He was my only friend who didn’t make fun of me for all the books I read which meant he got all of my daily reading updates. He never complained once. Sometimes I think he even enjoyed all of my rambling.

“And we’re done thinking about the past,” I mumble to myself. It needs to stay in the casket I buried it in. I don’t need to be dredging up old feelings. “I am moving on.” I nod in half-hearted agreement.

Sighing, I close my laptopand plug the charger back in. “I’m not going to look for him again until tomorrow.” Grabbing a few clothes I have draped over my desk chair, I walk over to my closet to put them away. It’s a failed distraction attempt. “Maybenot tomorrow. Tonight. I’ll check later tonight.”

Now I just have to keep myself occupied until then. It’s not like I don’t have plenty of things to do. I can go to the lab and work on some assignments. I can read the book I just downloaded. Or maybe I’ll spend the day with Lauren. It’s been awhile since I’ve visited with everyone in her neighborhood for Sunday dinner.

Or…I could stay here and get caught up on my reviews. And if he happened to show up, it would be a lucky coincidence.

My addiction to theFiction Forumis even more out of control than before. It’s not my love of books that has me searching the chat rooms for good conversation.

It’s him.NotYourAverageJoe19.

Ever since he made me laugh with his comment about Viren’s hair, I have intentionally sought him out online. I’ve gotten lucky a few times over the last week. I either found him in a room already chatting with other people or he would show up at some point before I logged off for the night.

I’m used to striking up conversations with strangers onFiction Forum. It’s easy to feel a connection to a fellow book lover. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve typed the word ‘same’ after someone posted an opinion about a character, book, or author theylove.

I rub at my sore jaw thinking about how much he’s been making me smile. There is something about this man that feels different. I have absolutely no idea how or why. His name appears on the screen and my heart starts pumping a little bit faster.

I wish I knew more personal details about him. It’s a little concerning that I have no idea who he really is and I already feel a deep connection to him.

One night he left the chat saying he had to do homework. Does that mean he’s in college? God, I hope he’s not in high school.

Or maybe he’s a psychopath or a kidnapper looking for their next victim. I think I would prefer this to some kid in high school.