Locket full of Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page B

at a frame on my desk.
    “That’s my mom,” I laughed.
    “No way!” Steven exclaimed, standing up to get a better look at the photo. “Are you sure she’s not your sister or something?”
    “Yes, I’m sure. It was a few years ago, but that’s my mom,” I laughed. “I can’t wait to tell her you said that though. She’s going to love it!”
    Taking a closer look, Steven seemed suddenly very interested in the photo. Turning to face me he pointed at the image once again. “That’s a really cool necklace you're wearing.”
    “It was a gift from a friend,” I managed, my throat suddenly dry. I was frustrated at how instantly my body reacted. Even thinking about Olena brought back the storm of emotions I was always trying to keep at bay.
    “Are you okay?” Steven asked moving to sit next to me once again.
    “Yeah, I’m fine,” I sighed. “Things just ended badly with my friend. We never got the chance to clear things up, so it’s still hard to talk about.”
    “I’m sorry I brought it up,” he apologized, resting his hand on top of mine.
    “It’s okay, you didn’t know,” I shrugged, my skin warming under his touch. “I didn’t realize that was the necklace I was wearing in the photo. I left the necklace at home when I packed for college and kind of thought I would never have to see it again. It’s just my luck that it’s been staring at me from across the room this whole time.”
    “Well, if it helps, we can always sharpie over the photo so it looks like you’re wearing a different necklace,” Steven winked, his hand still not moving from mine.
    “I don’t think we need to do all that,” I smiled, leaning closer to him inadvertently.
    “Okay, but let me know if you think of anything I can do to help,” he added, leaning closer as well.
    I was suddenly aware of the fact we were in my dorm room. Alone. Where my bed was. My cheeks flushed even thinking about the possibilities. As Steven’s hands curled tighter around mine I found myself lost in his eyes, now close enough for me to see the rim of his contacts. Holding my breath, time seemed to freeze as Steven leaned even closer.
    “Who wants pizza?!” Norra bellowed as she burst into the room.
    Pulling back from Steven I willed my face to go back to a normal color as Norra set the pizza on her desk, oblivious to what she had interrupted.
                  “It’s mushroom, but you can pick it off if you don’t like it,” she explained, before turning and seeing Steven finally. “Oh, hi! I’m Norra.”
                  “Steven,” he said with a slight wave before glancing at me with a sheepish smile.
                  “Norra works at the pizza shop in town so she gets to bring home goodies pretty often,” I explained, standing up to turn on the ceiling fan. The room was suddenly much hotter than it had been a few minutes ago.
                  As we dug into the pizza while listening to Norra talk about her crazy night at work, I couldn't help but to keep glancing at Steven. If Norra had not interrupted us, I was certain he was going to kiss me. It was quite a different emotion than I had felt when memories of Olena had been brought up just moments before. Holding onto the hope that there were more moments to come I did my best to just enjoy this time with friends. It was something I hadn’t had in a long time, so I did my best to savor it while it lasted.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
                  “Well that was less horrible than I thought!” I smiled as I exited class after my math test the next afternoon. Steven had finished before me but waited outside the classroom doors.
                  “I’m sure you did great,” he laughed, before wrapping an arm around my shoulders as we walked down the hall.
                  As we stepped outside and into the fall weather I