Read In Too Deep for Free Online Page B

either.
    “Perfect.”
    We chatted about this and that as we waited for it to get dark. Dark. Blanket. I couldn’t stop my reaction. My stomach filled with butterflies, and without a second thought, I looked around to make sure my parents were nowhere in sight. Of course they weren’t.
    There were a few times we hit that uncomfortable silence that has you hoping the ground will swallow you. But overall, it was nice being there with Noah.
    “So, where do you go to school?” I asked. I didn’t really care, but he was always telling stories about parties and I didn’t really know any specifics about him. I doubted he knew much about me either.
    “UT Knoxville!” He lifted the bottom of his hoodie and pointed to the bright orange letters on the t-shirt underneath. Tennessee Vols .
    “No, way!”
    He took a huge sip of lemonade then nodded and crooked his neck to question my response.
    “I’m transferring there in the spring,” I said.
    “What? I thought you went to school in Memphis.”
    “I did, last year. But my parents watch too much news and made a list of all the murders from the day they dropped me off until the last day in May when they handed me a UT Martin application.”
    “They made a list?”
    “Not really, a mental one. I’ll live at home and go to UT Martin for the fall. Then head to Knoxville in the spring.” Martin was within forty minutes from my house. I really didn’t want to go to the University of Tennessee at all. Growing up in this area, it’s all I heard about. I feared it would be like 13 th grade, and I would just have an extended high school experience. But I didn’t want to make waves with my parents who were footing the bill so when I got my acceptance letter, I decided to register and make the best of it.
    “My buddies and I just signed the lease for an apartment next semester. Movin’ out of the dorms!” He flicked his thumb out of his fist and pumped it over his shoulder. “So, why Martin first? Why not just start Knoxville in the fall?”
    “Martin was my only option. When my parents decided to take over my life, they were a little late in the ‘get your application in by this date’ department so Martin was my only choice.”
    “Bummer.” He held my gaze a little longer than I expected. It was like he was watching a scene that was playing out in his mind. Feeling awkward, I had to look away.
    A thunderous boom took me by surprise and I swear my teeth chattered from the vibration. I jumped and gasped a little as the sky lit up in a flurry of vibrant red sparkles. I didn’t see Noah’s reaction, but when I shyly looked to see if he saw mine, he was smirking. Shit. He thinks I’m an idiot. Wait. Why do I care?
    The next boom I was ready for. It was a blast so loud I could feel the sound waves ricocheting inside my chest. For a second, I thought my heart stopped beating. It was followed by a blinding flash of white light, and little swirling balls of light fell toward the ground and whistled on their way.
    “Ha. Look. Spermies!”
    Did he just call those “spermies?” As in sperm?
    He leaned back on his elbows.
    “Hey, I can’t see,” he complained, and he swiped at the inside of my elbow joint which bent my arm and made me fall backwards. .
    I laughed and propped myself up on my elbows.
    Lying. Blanket. Lying. Blanket. Stop.
    “Here,” he said in almost a whisper, which made his voice raspy. I liked how it sounded. He bent both arms under his head and he motioned for me to use one as a make-shift pillow.
    I eyed him suspiciously. “I am not snuggling with you. I have a—”
    “I know. You have a boyfriend. That nerd, Joel. I’m not going to rape you. I’m just giving you a soft place to put your head.”
    Rape me? Idiot.
    “He’s not a nerd! You’ve never even met him. He’s older than you…” I lay back so he didn’t think I was a nerd. I glanced over at him to see his reaction.
    “ Re. Lax. I…was…kidding…” He said the last part like I