Page 221 of Phobia

Jules huffs another one of those soft, quiet laughs. “Mhm, neither do you. You don’t have an accent, for one.”

“I’m from Atlanta,” I explain, wringing my sweaty hands.

“Cool, cool.” He nods, glancing around.

My insecurities are up to full blast in an instant.

He’s bored. He’s done talking to you.

You’re a fucking weirdo, and he’s obviously popular or something…

I mean, how could he not be? Look at him!

I’m just about to murmur that I have to be going, and run far away from this embarrassing encounter, when he adds, “And you’re clearly a lot more interesting than the rest of the people here.”

My heart thumps aggressively. “Really…?” He nods, mouth quirked at the corner. “What makes you, um… say that?”

His eyes flick. “I love you hair. And your tattoos… The whole look, really. Those shades are dope.”

I can feel my face flushing, which is crazy inconvenient, because the sunglasses won’t hide that. My chin dips while I look myself over.

No, I definitelydon’tlook like anyone else here, and I guess that’s sort of the point.

I’ve been getting tattoos since I was fifteen, from Lena’s friend Phoebe, who runs the tattoo shop in town, Riot Ink. That was also right around the time I started dyeing my hair wild colors, and wearing edgier clothes.

I like to look different, because Iamdifferent.Why hide it, right?

With my gaze back on Jules’s face, I’m sweating much more. That lip ring makes it really difficult not to stare at his mouth.

I clear my throat yet again, shifting on my feet. “Thanks. I like your outfit too… And your, um…” For some reason, I can’t say the wordlip. It just won’t come out. So I tap on mine.

He beams. “Thanks. Well, I totally didn’t mean to hold you up… You looked like you were heading out.” My head starts shaking as if to say,whatever I was going to do isn’t as important as this…Quite frankly, I forgot what it was, anyway. But then he says, “We should hang out sometime.”

I’m balking at him like he just suggested we commit a murder.

“Since I don’t really know anyone,” he adds, maybe taking my look to mean I’m not interested. “And spending all my time with Mom can get sorta… isolating, I guess.”

I nod slowly. I totally get what he means.

I spend most of my time with Lena. She’s my best friend… Maybe myonlyfriend. I lost touch with the few friends I did have after they all went away to college. I’m a lonely hermit, and up until now, it’s made perfect sense.

But Jules is different, too. Maybe not the same way I am—okay, definitely not.But he’s cool, and nice.

And cards on the table, Ireallylike looking at him.

“Okay.” I keep nodding. “Yea, I’d, um… I’d really like that.”

God, you sound like such a loser. Be cool, nutbag.

Jules releases another quiet chuckle. I can’t tell if it’s because he thinks I’m weird as fuck, but either way, he doesn’t seemrepulsedby it.

“Sounds like a plan. You know where to find me.” He starts walking away backwards, nodding at his trailer. Then he winks at me. “Catch ya later, Asa.”

I’m squirming in place from his comment,andthat sexy wink.

Yea, I do know where to find you… I’ve been watching you through your window for days like a total Peeping Tom.

How has he not realized that his bedroom window looks directly into mine??