The Embers Of My Heart Read Online Free Page B
Author: Christopher Nelson
simply raised an eyebrow at me and I couldn't help but grin. He was occasionally gone for the night and I never said anything about it to him. I felt a sudden pang of guilt. He wouldn't take the easy shots at my expense.
"Did someone get lucky last night?" Of course, Max didn't have a problem with those shots. "You dipped out early on us and missed the Kaitlyn implosion. That was a scene, my friend, that was a fucking scene."
"She apparently flirted with the wrong set of guys," Drew said. "Came close to a brawl. And you know you broke it up? Fucking Andreas. The skinny bastard went right in and pulled her out."
"Andreas?" I asked. "Seriously?"
"Walked right in, grabbed her hand, and walked her away. I knew Andreas had balls, but there were a lot of big dudes and some really skanky white trash girls there. Could have gotten nasty." Max laughed. "I don't think any of them really knew what to do."
I got a good laugh out of that. "Did I miss anything else of note? Did Max and Jess publicly make out or anything fun like that?"
"There wasn't any alcohol involved, so, no," Drew said.
"Give me a break," Max said. "It doesn't need alcohol to happen. Just the right circumstance."
"Keep telling yourself that."
I walked to my desk while they traded barbs. An envelope rested on my chair, addressed formally to Mr. Kevin Parker, with a campus return address of Dr. Austin Burke. The name wasn't familiar. I turned it over and found an actual wax seal holding it shut. "Hey, any idea what this is?" I asked.
"Came in the morning's mail. Got a secret admirer?"
"Hardly," I said as I peeled it open and pulled out the letter within. The paper was heavy and the ink was deep and rich, probably written with a fountain pen or something similar.
To Mr. Kevin Parker,
Congratulations on your accomplishments during your first year at Ripley University. Your achievements have not gone unnoticed and we are pleased to formally nominate you for a seat on the Student Council Subcommittee for Gifted Students. The Subcommittee is an organization of some of our most highly talented students, providing university administration with recommendations on future program growth. To accept your nomination, please attend the initial meeting as indicated below. Failure to attend without notice will be considered declination of your nomination. We look forward to making your acquaintance.
Sincerely,
Austin Burke, Ph.D.
The bottom third of the paper gave a date and location. Something about the tone and phrasing of the letter told me that this wasn't just some ridiculous honor student thing. "Interesting," I said. "Looks like it's an invitation to join some part of the student government."
"That's a resume enhancer," Drew said. "Do it up, man."
"Sounds like effort to me," Max said.
"You two are like the angel and the devil on my shoulders," I said. "But I think I'll go and see what it's all about. If it sucks, I'll just drop out."
"Seems like the right thing to do," Drew said. Max snorted. "No, seriously, Max. We don't all have a trust fund to cover our asses."
"What makes you think I do? My family's well off, not ridiculously well off. I wish I was a trust fund baby."
"Instead you're just a baby."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I dropped the letter in my desk drawer before standing up and stretching. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Feel like hitting the Caf for lunch?"
Chapter Three
The room phone rang, breaking me out of yet another intense dream. I was almost thankful. It'd been a few days since I spoke with Absynthe and the dreams had only gotten worse since then, complete with waking with a headache. I opened my eyes and looked over at the clock. Just past one in the morning.
"Kev," Drew said. "Tell this chick not to call after midnight on a weekday. Seriously. What the fuck."
I sat up and threw the covers off. I had no idea who would be calling me this late. I also had no idea what our room's phone number was.
"Did someone get lucky last night?" Of course, Max didn't have a problem with those shots. "You dipped out early on us and missed the Kaitlyn implosion. That was a scene, my friend, that was a fucking scene."
"She apparently flirted with the wrong set of guys," Drew said. "Came close to a brawl. And you know you broke it up? Fucking Andreas. The skinny bastard went right in and pulled her out."
"Andreas?" I asked. "Seriously?"
"Walked right in, grabbed her hand, and walked her away. I knew Andreas had balls, but there were a lot of big dudes and some really skanky white trash girls there. Could have gotten nasty." Max laughed. "I don't think any of them really knew what to do."
I got a good laugh out of that. "Did I miss anything else of note? Did Max and Jess publicly make out or anything fun like that?"
"There wasn't any alcohol involved, so, no," Drew said.
"Give me a break," Max said. "It doesn't need alcohol to happen. Just the right circumstance."
"Keep telling yourself that."
I walked to my desk while they traded barbs. An envelope rested on my chair, addressed formally to Mr. Kevin Parker, with a campus return address of Dr. Austin Burke. The name wasn't familiar. I turned it over and found an actual wax seal holding it shut. "Hey, any idea what this is?" I asked.
"Came in the morning's mail. Got a secret admirer?"
"Hardly," I said as I peeled it open and pulled out the letter within. The paper was heavy and the ink was deep and rich, probably written with a fountain pen or something similar.
To Mr. Kevin Parker,
Congratulations on your accomplishments during your first year at Ripley University. Your achievements have not gone unnoticed and we are pleased to formally nominate you for a seat on the Student Council Subcommittee for Gifted Students. The Subcommittee is an organization of some of our most highly talented students, providing university administration with recommendations on future program growth. To accept your nomination, please attend the initial meeting as indicated below. Failure to attend without notice will be considered declination of your nomination. We look forward to making your acquaintance.
Sincerely,
Austin Burke, Ph.D.
The bottom third of the paper gave a date and location. Something about the tone and phrasing of the letter told me that this wasn't just some ridiculous honor student thing. "Interesting," I said. "Looks like it's an invitation to join some part of the student government."
"That's a resume enhancer," Drew said. "Do it up, man."
"Sounds like effort to me," Max said.
"You two are like the angel and the devil on my shoulders," I said. "But I think I'll go and see what it's all about. If it sucks, I'll just drop out."
"Seems like the right thing to do," Drew said. Max snorted. "No, seriously, Max. We don't all have a trust fund to cover our asses."
"What makes you think I do? My family's well off, not ridiculously well off. I wish I was a trust fund baby."
"Instead you're just a baby."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I dropped the letter in my desk drawer before standing up and stretching. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Feel like hitting the Caf for lunch?"
Chapter Three
The room phone rang, breaking me out of yet another intense dream. I was almost thankful. It'd been a few days since I spoke with Absynthe and the dreams had only gotten worse since then, complete with waking with a headache. I opened my eyes and looked over at the clock. Just past one in the morning.
"Kev," Drew said. "Tell this chick not to call after midnight on a weekday. Seriously. What the fuck."
I sat up and threw the covers off. I had no idea who would be calling me this late. I also had no idea what our room's phone number was.
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