Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
The appreciative smile that curled his lips made me envious. But I’d never be that girl. The Lillianas of the world were thin, without braces or glasses. I was the chubby nerd who stood off on the sidelines or stayed hidden in the library, where all my friends could be found stacked among the shelves.
Noa
Age Seventeen
Ransom: Happy birthday, Shakespeare.
I read the text, unable not to grin. The nickname no longer bothered me. Ransom didn’t give any other girl a nickname. Just like I was his longest female relationship. Or at least, that was what he’d said one day last spring while we were texting about my choices in college.
Me: Thanks.
Then added:
Me: Glad you remembered. I’d hate to have to block you. It would ruin your day.
My friendship with Ransom was unique. While sitting at the library table, explaining the complexities of Shakespeare to him, I had relaxed. Accepted that I wasn’t going to be a girl that he looked at with lust or interest. When I did so, I found that underneath that gorgeous, sexy outer appearance, he was likable. He wasn’t shallow or cruel. He made me laugh. We liked many of the same movies and debated on those we disagreed on. Our taste in music was almost identical, and he got my sense of humor. I couldn’t remember exactly when our texting about tutoring sessions had turned into us sharing things in life, using each other for a sounding board, having someone to vent to, but it had in the most organic way.
Ransom: Can’t have that. Who else is gonna listen to me bitch?
Standing in the overgrown grass, I glanced up at the trailer I lived in with my mother and her boyfriend, Dick—that was his actual name, and he had been the longest relationship she’d had. They were going on five years now, and I couldn’t wait to leave this place because he was, in fact, a dick. Mom hadn’t remembered my birthday. In fact, Ransom was the only person who had wished me a happy one or said anything to me about it at all.
Me: I’m sure you could wrangle Than into it.
I bit my bottom lip as I waited for his response.
Ransom: Do you read the things I text you, Shakespeare? Or just toss out random advice and comments, hoping they stick?
I laughed as I replied.
Me: Eh, sometimes. When I have the time, I’ll give them a read, but mostly, I skim.
Ransom: It’s a relief turning seventeen didn’t change you. You’re still a ray of fucking sunshine.
Ransom: How are you celebrating?
He’d gone to school with me. Although he hadn’t been aware of my existence until his senior year, everyone who went to my high school was aware of my lack of a social life. So that wasn’t a secret. But I didn’t need him knowing my home life was so horrid that school was a place for me to escape.
Me: Oh, you know, big party. Lilliana is hosting it at her million-dollar estate, and the entire student body is attending. There will be a three-tiered cake and dancing. There is even a rumor that Keanu Reeves is making an appearance.
Ransom: How did I not know you liked old men?
I laughed out loud.
Me: Excuse me. John Wick is not an old man.
His response was immediate.
Ransom: Good luck with snagging a proposal from Grandpa. But, damn, Lilliana? You need better friends.
He knew good and well that this was all a fabricated story. Lilliana didn’t know my name.
Me: She doesn’t stalk me. Thankfully, I didn’t spend any locker room time with her.
Ransom: Lucky you.
Me: Subject change, but you might want to take a screenshot of what I’m about to say because it is a rare moment when I find a reason to compliment you …
Me: You’re a way better Literature student than your brother. He’s one of the most difficult I’ve had to tutor.
And that wasn’t a lie. Than struggled with keeping his attention on The Great Gatsby paper he had to write. Starting with him not actually reading the book.
Ransom: You’re tutoring Than? Since when?
Me: We had our third session yesterday, and I’m starting to think he expects me to write the paper for him.
Ransom: Don’t.
Me: You know me. Would I do that for anyone?
Ransom: He’s got a charisma I do not have.
I disagreed.
Me: Charisma gets you nowhere with me.
Ransom: So, you’re a bitch to everyone, not just me?
Grinning, I replied.
Me: No, you definitely get the full brunt of my bitchiness.
I waited, and when there was no other text after that, I slipped my phone into my book bag and headed for the door of our trailer. The blue paint on it was peeling, and the yellow it had been before that was starting to show. Not bothering with digging out my key since Mom’s thirteen-year-old silver Camaro and Dick’s old blue truck were parked outside, I knew the door was unlocked. However, I opened it slowly and listened. Once, I’d opened it up without checking first and caught Dick’s naked butt as he screwed my momma on the kitchen counter. Worst image ever that I could not bleach from my head.