Free Gravity by Amanda Miga Page B

with her thoughts. I
feel nervous which is not what I'm use to feeling. I want to
approach her, but I convince myself, not yet, I need
something to bait her.
    Pete appears at my side. "Dude, Jake just
told me that the girl was looking for you . You know
her?"
    "No. I mean—I don't know." I watch her cross
the room. I'm too shocked to move. "She's looking for me?"
    "Go, before she leaves." Pete shoves me. My
legs bring me behind her. I raise my hand to her hair where her
chestnut tendrils hang a little past her shoulders. I imagine
entwining my finger around one of those soft curls. She turns
suddenly and I swipe my hand away as she looks curiously up at me.
Her kissable lips part, a reaction I'm used to with females who
find me attractive. She has the kind of face I could stare at all
day. She's beautiful, but I can tell she's the type that doesn’t
know it. Her clothes scream practicality, not personality. The lack
of make-up is surprising since I usually prefer it on girls;
they're usually unattractive without their faces on.
    So this is natural beauty.
    Her arms cross over her chest like she's not
used to dressing in tank tops. She can't hide that cleavage
anyway—she shouldn't.
    The music fades suddenly. I can now focus on
the jackpot—her thoughts.
    "Are you looking for Alex?" I sip my beer.
She's older, but a soft glow to her fair skin makes her look
younger along with her big brown eyes which suddenly shrink to a
suspicious stare.
    "Yes. You know him?" She's aggravated and
somehow she knows I'm Alex.
    "No. Do you know what he looks like?" I eye
her lips.
    "No." She seems willing to play the game, but
I don't see why if she’s irritated. How does she know I'm him if
Jake didn’t tell her?
    "I need to talk to him. I need his help."
    "Maybe I can help?" I can't tear away from
her dark eyes. There's something innocent there. Something I want
to ruin so badly.
    "Only if you can read minds?" She tilts her
head.
    "Maybe I can, Violet." Saying her name is so
sweet in my lips I can only imagine what she must really taste
like.
    Her forehead wrinkles. She's not impressed.
"Can we not play anymore? I really need your help. Red sent
me."
    So that guy is real? I remember Red from the
weird dream, but the details are fuzzy. Her face is all I really
stands out. Staring at her now, it's like I'm dreaming again.
Jake's house fades away until all I can see is her standing before
me. I feel lighter than air and then I realize all the other sounds
are gone; only her thoughts are audible. A moment of bliss in one
head, finally. What triggered this? Her thoughts hover around a
dominating emotion—worry. What is she worried about?
    The music interrupts the quiet like a fire
alarm, forcing me to resurface out my focus. It feels like my
temple will burst.
    "Are you alright?" She steps a closer. Her
hand hovers close to my shoulder. "Maybe we should go outside. You
don't look so good. Come on.” She takes my arm. Hot blood rushes to
my face. A teasing sensation tickles my groin. I crush my beer can
from the sudden wave of unidentifiable emotions washing over
me.
    "I'm sorry, Alex.” Violet drops my arm and
the sensation subsides. She steps away, but the air around me seems
to be pushing me towards her. “Please, let’s go outside. It’s kind
of noisy in here.”
    I look around the room and spot Jake and Pete
raising their beers, mouthing the word 'score' . Violet heads
for the door and my body is leashed along like a dog. Maybe it's
the alcohol but it's the same piss water I drink at every party and
getting hit like it's the good stuff has never happened before. We
step outside and Violet walks away from the house. "We're outside.
Are you going tell me how you know me?" I attempt to close the
space between us.
    "Your dream with Red.” She backs away. “He
sent me to get you. Red can help you with your telepathy. There's a
lot you can control, Alex."
    “Control?” I'd like to lose control on top of
that perfect body.
    “Red told