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He stared into the empty fridge that I still held open. “What do you eat?”
I shrugged like it was no big deal that I stood in a mansion, but my refrigerator was completely bare. “Pizza. Or Chinese food.”
In reality, I hated the Chinese restaurant that delivered, but I had to make it sound like I didn’t just live off of pizza alone. Thank goodness for the lunch at school or I would most likely die of vitamin deficiency.
We stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity until I couldn’t take it any longer.
“Where’s my chemistry book?”
His narrowed eyes that hadn’t broken their stare on me widened. “Oh, I must have dropped it by the door when I charged in.”
Grateful to have a reason to leave the kitchen, I walked to the door, which was still wide open, and saw my book cast aside on the porch.
When I bent over to pick it up, I heard the words, “Why don’t you come out to dinner with me? I know of this great restaurant about twenty minutes outside of Black Mountain. A small drive, but worth it. They have a steak and baked potato that can’t be mimicked.”
Ahhh, the pity invite.
“I’ve taken up enough of your evening, Mr. —”
“We’ll be far enough from Black Mountain that you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you eat dinner with your principal and then teasing you tomorrow.”
I huffed. “I seriously doubt anyone would pay enough attention to me to even notice what I do or don’t do. But—”
“I’m starving. I’m sure you are too,” he interrupted. “Come on. My treat.”
I walked past him in the doorway and put the book on a nearby table. I looked at the open doors I could see, knowing there were more, and the thought of being left alone in the house again made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Corrine. Come on. Grab a jacket and your purse or whatever. I’m not taking no for an answer. I need the company and a good meal. And after the evening you’ve had, you do too.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him and knew he meant business. And at this point, I didn’t want to resist.
He walked into the living room. “Let’s shut all the doors and lock up before we go.”
Bless the man. I wanted to do that so badly but didn’t want to seem insane. I knew he was throwing me a bone, but I’d take it.
I quickly ran upstairs, with Mr. D doing the downstairs, and slammed all the doors shut with no intent of opening most of them again. And as I closed the last door, I finally felt like I could breathe. I was safe for now. Even if I had demons lurking… they’d have to watch me walk away with Mr. D.4Mr. D“You ate more than me.” I laughed as I turned the car onto the highway leading us back to Black Mountain. “I didn’t realize so much food could fit in a tiny body like yours.”
“I couldn’t help it. It was the best dinner I think I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Corrine said as she stared out the passenger window with a smile on her face, and a casual demeanor about her. It had taken her almost half the meal before she seemed to relax around me, but it was nice to see she finally had.
“I told you it was good,” I said. “But it needs to be kept our secret. I don’t want it to become the next hot spot, and then we’ll be forced to make reservations days in advance. I also don’t want to see all those Black Mountain assholes—” I swallowed the rest of my sentence, realizing I didn’t need to be revealing my true feelings on anything. “I think it’s best to keep this little gem to ourselves.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said, her smile fading. “I don’t really talk to anyone.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know. I guess, I just never fit in with the Hollywood life I was born into. You think Black Mountain Academy is full of spoiled brats, you should have seen some of the other schools I went to in L.A. and New York. London was the worst of them.”
She let out a deep breath which had me stealing a glance at her. The streetlights lit up her face and her soft brown hair, which only seemed to expose the sadness inside her even more. The expression in her heavily-lashed eyes seemed so far off, yet present at the same time. I wanted to read this girl but struggled to.
She continued, “You wouldn’t blame me for not wanting to really have any of them as my friends. And as for Black Mountain Academy… I’m new. It’s hard to break into social circles that have been formed already.”
