Julien's Book Read Online Free PDF Page A

take it from you and do it myself."
    "She said they're all going to Fast Eddie's," Julien said. "I think we should go by there."
    ****
    Two hours later, Julien and three of his friends walked through the door at Fast Eddie's. He figured based on the name that it was some kind of pool hall, which it was—but the place was bumping. He couldn't believe there were so many people. He wasn't even sure if he would be able to find Raven in that crowd. Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure what she looked like. Carlos was with him, and he was the expert who'd spoken up earlier about how hot they all were, so Julien was pretty sure if she was in the bar, his friend would be able to find her.
    It wasn't even an issue. They'd only been inside the bar for a few seconds when he heard his name. "Julien!" she said, coming up from the side of him and putting her arms around his neck. She reached up and kissed his cheek. "I'm so glad you made it."
    She looked up at him, but he just stared blankly at her. Her familiarity rendered him speechless.
    "I'm Raven," she said, as if that should explain everything. "T he one who wrote you the note."
    Julien nodded. "I figured. I hoped that's who you were, otherwise you'd just be a random girl kissing me."
    " Aww, I thought you were gonna say you hoped that's who I was because I was so hot ," she said, sticking her bottom lip out.
    "That too. I meant that too. "
    " Good," she said. She smiled and took his hand. "We're all sitting over here."
    Raven led the way with Julien and three of his friends following her. The other two ring girls, along with a few other girls and a couple guys, were standing and sitting in stools around a pool table not far from the door. Fast Eddie's had quarter tables, but they were nice, and Julien thought he might enjoy getting in a game or two while they were there.
    "Hey Bro, we're gonna hit the bar real quick. You want anything?" Carlos asked .
    "I'll take a beer." Julien said, taki ng a twenty-dollar bill from his money clip.
    "I got it Bro. It's the least I can do."
    "Do for what?" Julien asked, looking confused.
    "For that being your only beer so you can drive and I can drink what I want."
    Julien knew he'd be stuck being the responsible one whether he liked it or not, so he didn't try to fight it. He rolled his eyes and held out the twenty.
    Carlos snatched it without question. " You got mine too?" he asked.
    "Hell no !"
    Carlos laughed.
    "You better bring my change boss ."
    "Chill dude, I'm just messin ' with you." Carlos glanced at Raven.
    "You want anything?"
    "I'm good," she said. "Thanks anyway."
    "Thank Julien," he said. "This round's on him." He held up the twenty with a smirk and turned to head to the bar.
    Julien just shook his head.
    The other two guys went to the bar with Carlos, which left Julien standing there next to Raven. She looked up at him, waiting for him to say something. Julien wasn't really the type who made a lot of small talk, so he just sort of stood there with his hands in his pockets for a few seconds until he realized he should probably think of something to say. Julien smiled at her, but didn't have time to speak before one of her girlfriends came up and whispered something in her ear. They giggled and talked for a minute before she looked back at Julien.
    "Did you read that book?" he asked.
    She cocked her head to the side and stared at him, confused.
    "Your note said 'to the guy with the birthmark', and you knew my name, so I just figured—"
    Her expression told him she had no idea what he was talking about. "I just put the guy with the birthmark because I didn't know your name when I wrote the note. I had learned it by the time you came in just now because I explained which fighter you were to these guys, and they said your name was Julien."
    "So, you have no idea what book I'm talking about?"
    "No. Should I?"
    Julien shrugged. "Not really. I just thought that's why you wanted to hook up or whatever."
    "I wanted to hook up for obvious