Page 7 of Palm South University: Season 2

“There’s not much to tell,” I reply, feeling a bit uncomfortable. I don’t really talk to anyone about myself other than Skyler, and that’s just because she pries it out of me. Watching Shawna’s lips press together, I have a feeling she and Skyler might have a bit more in common than I originally realized.

“Sure there is. What are your hobbies?”

“Sports, weight lifting, drinking, fucking.”

“All the essentials.”

“Exactly.”

“What sports?”

“Football mostly, but I like basketball, too. What about you?” I ask, popping another fry in my mouth and leaning back. The small diner she picked only has five booths and they’re a little too cramped for my liking, but I don’t mind being closer to her.

“I love to draw and paint, and listen to live music.”

“Favorite band?”

“Twenty One Pilots.”

“Nice. I’ve heard a few of their songs.”

“Careful,” she warns me, sucking the fry salt off her fingertip. I’m momentarily distracted by her plump lips. “I’m a pusher. I’ll talk your ear off until I convince you to listen to their album with me and then go to their concert.”

“Hmm… dancing to good music with you all pressed up against me? Sounds terrible. Definitely don’t do that.”

She grins.

“Your turn. What’s with the phoenix?”

Her face scrunches. “How do you know about the… oh.” Shawna blushes a bit when she remembers exactly how I saw the phoenix tattoo on her lower back.

I just grin.

“It’s my only tattoo, kind of a metaphor to live by, I guess. Rising from the ashes and all.”

“How many times have you had to rise?”

She swallows, and I’m afraid I’ve maybe asked too much, but she still answers. “Enough times to know you never come back as the same person who went up in flames.”

She keeps her eyes locked on mine a while longer before taking another drink of her soda. I’m studying her, noting the freckles on the apples of her cheeks, the chewed nails of the hand she’s holding her cup with. Everything about her is so different than what I’m used to.

“So what’s your family like?”

I stiffen, clearing my throat. “Shitty. Well, most of them. All of them, really, aside from my little brother.”

Her mouth pulls to the side. “Shitty how?”

“Shitty like they’re druggies, they use me for money, they told me I was worthless growing up and now they think I’m arrogant.” I don’t know why I just opened up about all that shit. I never tell people my family drama — Skyler is the only one who knows.

I wait for Shawna’s mouth to drop open or her eyes to go wide, but she just offers a sad smile. “I’m no stranger to family drama, either.”

“What do you mean?”

Shawna crosses her arms over her chest. “Definitely not first date conversation material.”

“And mine was?” I ask, chuckling. She smiles, leaning forward over the table.

“I like that you opened up to me.”

“I’m still trying to figure out why.”

Her eyes fall to my lips. “Why don’t we go back to my place?” She flicks her eyes back to mine. “Maybe you’ll be able to hear yourself think better there.”

“Good thinking,” I reply, returning her smile. Calling the waitress over, I pay for our check and leave a cash tip on the table before grabbing Shawna’s hand and leading her through the door. She’s smiling wickedly at me, her green eyes curious yet challenging. And I know without a doubt that there will be absolutely no thinking going on once we make it to her place.