Reluctance (The Exchange #2) Read Online Free Page A
Author: M. B. Feeney
go in his place, but there was no way I was letting him get out of that shit. I had work to do, plus I needed to prep for this meeting with the board at the oil refinery.
I actually went to speak to Mizz . Jones this morning. For some reason, I’m feeling a bit anxious about this girl coming to live in our house. It’s different than someone, family, staying for a few days, but this chick’s gonna be here for six whole weeks. That’s more than enough time for so much shit to happen, and go wrong. The rest of the day at school was spent in a fog of feeling uncomfortable, an inability to concentrate, and a general awkwardness. Knowing there would be a stranger in my house by the time I got back home didn’t sit well with me, and I tried to put off heading home, until I literally had nothing to do.
I’d missed the bus, so had to walk home. Thankfully, it wasn’t far, and I took advantage of the time to myself and my thoughts. My car was in the shop for a service, and I was missing it.
When I walked up to the front door, I could hear voices inside and I felt sick. Rising above it, I walked inside. My family and Holly were sat at the table about to eat. She’d only been there a matter of minutes, yet they looked like a complete family.
Not sure what to do, I uttered a few welcomes and pleasantries before escaping to the sanctuary of my room. Her blue eyes were on my mind the entire evening.
Aiden
Chapter Six
April 2012
I can’t deal with this. Holly’s everywhere and I can’t seem to escape her. It would normally be fine, but when we were in Ty’s car this morning, I noticed she wears the same perfume as Jessie. What were the odds of that happening? Trying to hold my breath the entire ride to school was impossible and Ty began to notice something was up with me. Ignoring both of them, I opened the window and leaned my head against the door frame.
The moment we pulled up outside the school, I got out and went inside the building. It was mean, I know, but if I’d stayed to wait for her, I think I would have broken down. I’ve been doing so well, too. Mizz . Jones would be so proud, but this girl . . . She changed everything.
Then, at lunch, I could feel her watching me. Not knowing where to go, she’d sat out in the quad and watched me, watching Jessie and her friends. I was tempted to go over to talk to her, but the memory of her perfume rendered that idea obsolete.
My last period of the day, AP European History, one of my favorites, was just about to start when she walked in. Of course, the only empty space was next to me. Thankfully, her perfume had worn off throughout the day, so it wasn’t complete torture sitting next to her. By the time we got into Dad’s car when he collected us, I was almost fine with her being around, but not enough to make conversation with her when we got home.
I can’t stop watching her when my family is together. She’s not sure what to make of everything. Meal times are a bit insane in our house. Dad and Ty argue about sports— depending what season it is, while Mom fussed over ‘her guys’. It was clear that Holly’s not sure where she fits in to this new dynamic. Well, that makes two of us.
Listening to her and Ty laughing and talking in her room spurred me into a frenzy. A red rage came over me out of nowhere, yet rather than gun for him (hear that Mizz . Jones?) I read the essay Holly had given me to read about World War Two and the Holocaust.
Knocking on her bedroom door was more nerve wracking than I’d have expected, but I had an apology to make.
Aiden
—∫∫∫∫—
April 2012
Well, Ty’s got his claws into Holly. It didn’t take him long at all, even after she slugged him at the party we all went to. He was acting like the alpha male everyone believes him to be and he went all Cro Magnon on her. I ended up having to take her home so she could ice her hand.
However, he’s still managed to weasel his way back into her
I actually went to speak to Mizz . Jones this morning. For some reason, I’m feeling a bit anxious about this girl coming to live in our house. It’s different than someone, family, staying for a few days, but this chick’s gonna be here for six whole weeks. That’s more than enough time for so much shit to happen, and go wrong. The rest of the day at school was spent in a fog of feeling uncomfortable, an inability to concentrate, and a general awkwardness. Knowing there would be a stranger in my house by the time I got back home didn’t sit well with me, and I tried to put off heading home, until I literally had nothing to do.
I’d missed the bus, so had to walk home. Thankfully, it wasn’t far, and I took advantage of the time to myself and my thoughts. My car was in the shop for a service, and I was missing it.
When I walked up to the front door, I could hear voices inside and I felt sick. Rising above it, I walked inside. My family and Holly were sat at the table about to eat. She’d only been there a matter of minutes, yet they looked like a complete family.
Not sure what to do, I uttered a few welcomes and pleasantries before escaping to the sanctuary of my room. Her blue eyes were on my mind the entire evening.
Aiden
Chapter Six
April 2012
I can’t deal with this. Holly’s everywhere and I can’t seem to escape her. It would normally be fine, but when we were in Ty’s car this morning, I noticed she wears the same perfume as Jessie. What were the odds of that happening? Trying to hold my breath the entire ride to school was impossible and Ty began to notice something was up with me. Ignoring both of them, I opened the window and leaned my head against the door frame.
The moment we pulled up outside the school, I got out and went inside the building. It was mean, I know, but if I’d stayed to wait for her, I think I would have broken down. I’ve been doing so well, too. Mizz . Jones would be so proud, but this girl . . . She changed everything.
Then, at lunch, I could feel her watching me. Not knowing where to go, she’d sat out in the quad and watched me, watching Jessie and her friends. I was tempted to go over to talk to her, but the memory of her perfume rendered that idea obsolete.
My last period of the day, AP European History, one of my favorites, was just about to start when she walked in. Of course, the only empty space was next to me. Thankfully, her perfume had worn off throughout the day, so it wasn’t complete torture sitting next to her. By the time we got into Dad’s car when he collected us, I was almost fine with her being around, but not enough to make conversation with her when we got home.
I can’t stop watching her when my family is together. She’s not sure what to make of everything. Meal times are a bit insane in our house. Dad and Ty argue about sports— depending what season it is, while Mom fussed over ‘her guys’. It was clear that Holly’s not sure where she fits in to this new dynamic. Well, that makes two of us.
Listening to her and Ty laughing and talking in her room spurred me into a frenzy. A red rage came over me out of nowhere, yet rather than gun for him (hear that Mizz . Jones?) I read the essay Holly had given me to read about World War Two and the Holocaust.
Knocking on her bedroom door was more nerve wracking than I’d have expected, but I had an apology to make.
Aiden
—∫∫∫∫—
April 2012
Well, Ty’s got his claws into Holly. It didn’t take him long at all, even after she slugged him at the party we all went to. He was acting like the alpha male everyone believes him to be and he went all Cro Magnon on her. I ended up having to take her home so she could ice her hand.
However, he’s still managed to weasel his way back into her
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