Beautiful Tragedy (A Standalone Romance Novel) Read Free Page A

good choice for someone interested in science I would think.”
    “That’s what I’ve heard.”
    I had more than heard it; it’s why I was here. Not so
much the science of it all, but the hospital and the research. I had undergone
multiple treatments for the cancer that insisted on invading my kidneys. I was
at the point now of accepting experimental treatments, and the university
hospital here was world renowned for the strides they had made in cancer
research.
    We were almost to the dorm when out of nowhere a
female voice said, “Hi Brock!” The voice was way too loud and too high pitched.
It made me jump actually. Brock turned, and he not only lost his painted-on
amused expression, but gained a sick one. Then he did something crazy. He
grabbed my hand and held it. I was too shocked to react as he pulled me forward
and called out to the girl over his shoulder.
    “Hey Tammy! Sorry, we have to run.”
    When the Tammy chick was out of sight, he dropped my
hand. I must have had a question mark on my face because he quickly said, “I’m
so sorry. I just really don’t like her. She’s kind of a stalker.”
    “Oh,” I said. “I thought maybe we had a “thing” to get
to.” He started laughing then and said, “Our friends are glaringly obvious,
aren’t they?”
    “You think?” I said with a smile.
    We were in front of the dorms then, and he said, “So,
do you think you’ll end up going to that football game?”
    I laughed and said, “What, and encourage them?” He
laughed then too, and in spite of myself, I liked the sound of it.
    “It was nice to meet you Molly.”
    “You too, Brock.”
    As I went inside I turned back around and he was still
there, watching me. I could take that one of two ways: either he was a creeper,
or he had seen my inner beauty shining through. I was in a good mood, so I went
with the last.

 
    CHAPTER
TWO
    BROCK
    When she turned around and caught me watching her, I
had to wonder if she thought maybe I was a pervert. I really wasn’t looking at
her butt, although I did glance at it earlier and she had a really nice one.
But there was so much more to this girl, and most of it I just couldn’t put my finger
on.
    I had strongly objected when Jake and Megan had
broached the subject of setting me up with Megan’s friend Molly. I’m not
looking for a girlfriend right now. I’ve been there and done that at least ten
too many times in my life. I’m not sure if it’s me, or the kind of girls I
attract, but long lasting love had yet to find me the way it seems to have
found Jake and Megan. The girls I’ve met here at school so far have seemed…shallow…empty
somehow, until tonight.
    Molly and I didn’t have much conversation, but from
what we did have I was able to deduce that she’s smart and funny and she just
seemed so genuine. She wasn’t trying to impress me at all…which was obvious a
few times by the things that she said; also she’s gorgeous. I got the feeling
that she doesn’t know it. It makes me wonder why there weren’t guys following
her around in high school telling her so. She wasn’t plastic pretty like some
of the other girls I’ve dated, but I like that. She’s got plenty of nice curves
to look at, unlike the stick figures of the other girls, and I like the way her
brown hair frames her face. She’s got this sexy little sprinkle of freckles
across her tiny little nose…and those eyes. Sometimes today when she looked at
me, I felt like she could see inside. I hope that’s not the case. There’s a lot
of stuff in there that needs cleaning out before I have any company.
    I fell asleep that night thinking about her…and I woke
up the next morning thinking more of the same. I may have even dreamt something
about her in between. Was I going to give Jake the satisfaction of knowing that
though? I think not.
    “Hey dude!” he said as he came out into the kitchen to
pour himself a gigantic bowl of sugar disguised as cereal. He even bought the
ones with