Free Slice (The Elledge Family #1) by L Johnson Page A

mean awesome.” I whispered.
    “Perfect, and be careful with this Asher okay?”
    “I promise.”
     
    Asher was not as bad as Lucas liked to think. He was smart and handsome. He even reminded me of Lucas. “So what do you study?”
    “I study and major in psychology. The study of why.”
    I laughed. “I’ve never heard it put like that. I write books and it’s hard to write a book when you don't know anything about the human mind.”
    “True. There are different types of people.”
    “What kind of person am I?”
    “The kind of person that wants more knowledge.” He said quickly. “I don't know. I have to listen and evaluate and then apply and blah. It takes too long. I really just like the studying part.”
    “What are you studying right now?”
    “I’m currently writing my dissertation on a psychopath’s decision.”
    “Wow, sounds scary.”
    “Not really. Psychopaths are closer than you know.” He looked down at his work. “They blend in… they are the masters of disguise.”
    “Characteristics?” I asked. I stared at him. “They sound scary.”
    “They are humans with little emotions. To be honest, they just don't care what the world thinks and they tend to blame others for their mistakes. For example, let's say that they cheat on a test. It would not be their fault. It would Susie's fault because she didn't make an effort to cover her exam.”
    “Sounds like a little child.”
    “Could be an accurate assumption,” Asher paused. “They seek out people and use and exploit them. They usually use them for their gain.”
    “Are they dangerous?”
    “Hardly, there are some public figures that are high functioning and then there is Ted Bundy.”
    “A serial killer.”
    “Exactly, but to the world he was normal until he was exposed. Up until his death, he still stated that it was not his fault and there was something dark in him he couldn't control.”
    “Wow,” I nodded my head. “So a serial killer with conscience and no morality meter to let him know that he is wrong. Are they rare?”
    “Statistically… there is exactly one in every hundred group of people.”
    “Asher you love this don't you?”
    “I love it more than you will know.” He paused. “I have been wanting to tell you this the entire time Cypress. Watch who you get involved with around here Cypress.” Asher ‘s voice was playful but I could sense the seriousness behind his warning.
    “Are you warning me about you?” I pushed him playfully. “Are you dangerous for me Asher?”
       “I'm warning you about someone else.”
    “Lucas?” I looked at him.
    “Yeah. He fits a lot of the characteristics on the checklist.”
    “What checklist?”
    “I’ll give you a copy.” He slid the thin sheet of paper across the library table. “A personality disorder that has often proved to be dangerous. I just wanted you to be cautious okay?”
    My eyes glanced over the page. The Levenson-Self Report Psychopathy Scale. Psychopath. “Are you serious?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you trying to hit on me? Is this some kind of psychologist pick up line?” I laughed it off and folded the test in half.
    “No, I have my eyes on someone, but I don't think she has her eyes on me.” He chuckled. “I’m not that big of a nerd?”
    “Someone else? Don’t make me jealous now?” I gasped jokingly. “Who is she Asher?”
    “This girl named Whitney. It's so weird, she used to stalk me in Middle School and High School and now she is all I can think of. And I don't mean to be frisky around her. I just want her.”
    “Make your move. You seem like a nice guy, tell me something about yourself...”
    “What do you want to know?”
    “Mainly what are you thinking in that big brain of yours?”
    “I think geometric mean everything.”
    I stared at him. “Okay. So you love math?”
    Asher laughed as he pulled out a small metal box from his backpack, then out with a compass. “It’s not really what I meant Cypress.” He sharpened