Mesmerized Read Online Free PDF Page B

It would be quiet and lonely because Hannah had already left for home. Classes were over, but the library and gym stayed open for the students who were staying at school.
    As she was walking back to her room, she felt like someone was watching her. Looking around, Lily’s eyes finally rested on a figure in the shadows. “Who’s there?” she called out.
    The person stepped into the light and she recognized the long bangs right away. 
    “Jake?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Why are you hiding?”
    He couldn’t tell her the truth. That he was worried about her and felt like he had to protect her. “I wasn’t hiding. I was just…relaxing. 
    She raised her eyebrows. “In the woods at night?”
    “Yes,” he said firmly. "I like being outdoors. Anything to get out of that stuffy dorm room."
    “Okay.” She started walking again. 
    Jake closed his eyes. Don’t let her slip away, he told himself, say something to her. “Um…Lily?”
    “Yeah?” She turned to face him.
    Jake looked down and shuffled his feet. “Do you wanna…maybe get something to eat?”
    Oh did she ever! She would love to go eat with him. But, her mother’s voice echoed in her head, “You can’t date boys. You could hurt them easily. Possibly kill them.”
    She sighed feeling defeated. “I can’t. I have a project.”
    Jake’s face fell. “Oh. You have to eat though, right? We don’t have to stay long.”
    She smiled. “Just dinner?”
    “Of course.”
    “Okay. Where are you taking me?”
    “Just the cafeteria.”
    “Oh, fancy,” she joked.
    He laughed. “Figured if you’ve got a project then maybe we should stay close.”
    She nodded. “Good idea.” It would also be easier to run away if she had to.
    Together, they walked into the dining hall and stood in line. There wasn’t a huge selection like normal because it was vacation and most kids weren’t around. Lily picked out some sort of chicken dish and a drink. 
    Jake led her to a corner booth and motioned for her to sit down first. Lily smiled at the sentiment. He was quite the gentleman. She sat down and he sat next to her, their elbows almost touching. Jake had to suppress the urge to reach out and touch Lily’s body. The feeling was so strong; he had to do everything in his power to keep his hands on his silverware.
    Lily ate a few bites of her dinner. “Where are you from?” she asked him, trying to start a conversation to get her mind off of how badly she wanted to kiss him.
    “A little bit of everywhere,” he answered.
    “Military brat?”
    “No. Just moved around a lot.” He didn’t offer a lot of information.
    “Siblings?”
    “Nope.” 
    She watched his perfect lips move and ached to have them moving on her. “Me either. Are your parents coming for Thanksgiving?”
    “No. They’re dead.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “It’s okay. It happened a long time ago. How about yours?”
    “Yeah, they’re coming.”
    “That’s nice.”
    Lily shrugged. “I guess. It’s just my mom is a little…over the top.”
    “Aren’t they all?”
    She laughed. “You have no idea.”
    “What do you like to do?”
    Lily thought about that while she chewed a piece of chicken. “Watch movies, go to the beach, and make jewelry. I like to try different things, but I’m not always good at them.”
    “Like?”
    “Hannah said there was an ice skating rink nearby. I’d like to try it, but I’m not sure I’d even be able to stand on them.”
    Jake smiled as an idea came to him. “Maybe I could teach you.”
    Images of Jake and her out on an ice skating rink flooded her mind. She could picture them skating, holding hands and then the saw them kissing and… Lily shook her head. Stop it! 
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing…I just…I’m not sure if Hannah would be mad if I went with someone else.”
    “Oh.” He looked disappointed.
    “Maybe we could all go together?” she suggested, but could tell by the look on his face that he would much rather go with just her.