Crashing Into You Read Online Free PDF

and I aren’t allowed to move
into our new place until Saturday, though, so it works out, I guess. What about
you?”
    “My last final’s on
Wednesday,” Melanie said. “So Thursday, probably. Where are you guys moving?
Century City, right?”
    “No, Culver City. It’s a cute
two-bedroom off Alameda.”
    “Oh, that's right. That'll be
nice. You’ll have to show it to me sometime.”
    I smiled. “I would love that.”
    She headed to the bathroom, and
closed the door. I thought the conversation was over—the shower turned on
almost right away—so I sat down at my desk and sorted through my binders
on the floor. Melanie was likely getting ready for a party. Would she invite
me? I wasn't sure. I figured I was in for a long night of studying.
    I thought I’d start with sociology.
We had to memorize 120 terms and definitions for the final. I took out the
packet and dropped it down on my lap. I looked at the first term.
Acculturation.
    I closed my eyes. I didn’t
want to look at these words. I loved school, a lot more than most girls my
age—but tonight, I needed an escape.
    A few minutes later, Melanie
re-entered the room all wet, wearing only her yellow towel. She opened her
underwear drawer.
    “What are you getting ready
for?” I asked, tapping my fingers against my desk. “You and Evan going
somewhere tonight?”
    “Yeah, my friend Lea’s throwing
a party.” She grabbed a black pair of underwear and walked back toward the
bathroom. She stopped at the door, and turned to me. “You know what?” She paused,
pursed her lips. “You should come.”
    “What? Really?”
    “Yeah, why not?”
    Lukas insisted. Melanie
asked. Part of me even wanted to go. Still, though, I said, “I’m not sure…”
    I attended the occasional
party freshman year, and the same thing happened every time. I drank enough
Sprite to send me into a sugar coma, as others around me descended into lower
forms of primate, slurring their words, breaking out in fights, blasting the
music so loud they were practically begging the cops to come. I had barely touched
alcohol since the night James died, so I could get bored, fast.
    But Melanie and I were
bonding like we hadn’t in months, and I realized after next week I wasn’t going
to be seeing her much anymore. I looked up into her puppy-dog eyes.
    “It’ll be fun,” she said.
“Super low key. It’s not even that far away, it’s just off campus. You can walk
home if you want to leave early.”
    I turned my computer to SLEEP
mode. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”
    “Really?” She stepped toward
me and did something crazy, even for Melanie; she gave me a big hug. “That’s so
exciting!”
    I didn’t exactly hug her
back. I knew she was happy because this was my first yes to a party invitation
after about a dozen no’s—but she was still naked under that towel. “Yes,
it is,” I said, and kept my hands to myself.
    She stepped toward the
bathroom again. “Okay, so in an hour or so how about we get some food and then head
over to Evan’s. I think his roommate’s gonna drive us.”
    “ Zach ?” Also known as the ultimate jerk, the ultimate womanizer. Almost
as bad as Todd. I loved Evan, but I hated Zach.
    “Yeah. Is that cool?”
    I sighed. It wasn’t cool at
all. What was I getting myself into? “Sure,” I said, and faked a smile. “Sounds
perfect.”  
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    I got to sit by Evan in the
car. It wasn't much, but it was something.
    Zach drove us to the party. I
didn’t trust him. I didn’t really trust any drivers anymore—not even
me—but Zach was a special case. When I spent time with him, which was
seldom, he always had a drink in his hand, and anytime I tried to make conversation
with him, it was like talking to an inebriated sheep.
    “Nice to see you again…
uhh...” Zach said, into the rearview mirror, obviously trying to remember my
name.  
    I waited for his attempt.
Last time, he called me Sarah. When he said nothing, I said,