Choices Read Online Free Page A

conversation. The boys joke back and forth, telling hilarious stories about one another. They were in the same pledge class, and they really do seem more like brothers than friends.
    As soon as we pull into the parking lot, I know I’ll love this place. Naples is a small, locally owned Italian restaurant, and I love nothing more than a good Stromboli. The hostess smiles and hugs each of the guys. I figure that they must eat here a lot. It makes me a little envious, wondering if he brings other girls here.
    Declan sits next to me while Eric and Jenna sit across from us. The server comes, and we place our drink orders. I’m not sure she even sees Jenna or me because she doesn’t once look at either of us. I kind of smile to myself, knowing they have that effect on most girls.
    After placing our order, we begi n talking about ourselves. Eric is from Nashville, and he’s a pre-law student. He volunteers at a local homeless shelter three days a week. Declan is from Knoxville, and his family lives nearby. His father is a Baptist minister, and his mother is a school teacher. I am shocked when he announces that he is the chaplain of his fraternity. No wonder he seems so sweet and thoughtful . He wants to be a teacher, like his mom. Jenna tells them about her cheerleading days and her plans to become an interior designer. Then she brags that I want to become a doctor, and though it embarrasses me, I know they are impressed. We tell them stories about growing up in Collier, but I manage to steer the conversation away from my personal life.
    We eat and talk thro ughout dinner, and before we know it, we are headed to Club Bliss. “Hey, you know we are only 18, right?” I ask, not wanting to look stupid when we can’t get in.
    “Yeah. Club Bliss is an 18 and over club. Lots of college students. They’ll put a big X on our hands, but you can usually sneak a drink here and there.” Declan explains. I have never been in a club, so I’m excited to see what all the hype is about.
    “Girl, we are gonna dance all night!” As soon as Jenna says that, my mind jumps to a set of blue eyes watching me while I danced, his tongue on another girl’s body. Whoa! Where did that come from? I remind myself that I’m here with Declan. There will be time for daydreaming later.
    As we wait in line, Declan reaches for my hand. I think it’s kind of sweet, and my cheeks instantly heat up. He leans toward me and asks, “You don’t mind, do you?”
    “Not at all.” Then he smiles, and I forget what I was thinking. His smile is so vibrant, so real that it draws me in. He gives my hand a quick squeeze, and I know I’ll never forget this moment.
    We finally reach the door, show our IDs, and get our big Xs. When we go through the door, Declan grasps my hand a little tighter. Man, it’s packed in here… There are people standing at a bar, and a dance floor is straight ahead. When I look up, I realize there are other floors above us, all filled with more people. My senses are overloaded. The music is loud, and I can feel the beat through my body. People are jostling me around as they push past us, and I am assaulted by the smell of sweat and perfume. Jenna looks just as awed as I am. I decide right then and there… I love it. Every bit of it.
    The boys guide us through the crowd to a bar. “One of our brothers works here, so I can get us some drinks. Want anything?” Eric asks. Jenna wants a beer, so I ask for one, too. I don’t drink, but I don’t want to be the odd man out. That’s just another lesson I’ve learned from my sister. I’ve seen her drunk out of her mind more times than I can count, and I see how my parents worry about her. I make sure they never have to worry about me. I am, after all, perfect.
    Declan explains that each floor of the club plays a different kind of music. I’m not much of a line dancer, and Jenna doesn’t like techno. That quickly eliminates the first and third floors. The second floor plays more pop and