The Impact of You Read Free Page B

know if I jump onboard with the Madison school of crazy, all that would disappear.
    I’ve achieved the anonymity I crave– so why do I feel so restless?
    It’s why I choose this middle-of-nowhere-Iowa private college – because practically no one from my high school was coming here, which made it all the more appealing. Safe. Even though my dads wanted me to follow in their footsteps, go to State and become a Viking, I convinced them that this was what I wanted. Now I’m not so sure.
    I replay my conversation with Jase over in my mind. What was it about him that felt so familiar?
    Madison prances over to me, lip syncing with gusto. “ Here’s my number, call me maybe.”
    My mouth curls into its usual crooked grin, watching them sing their hearts out. Once the song is over, Madison removes her bra from under her shirt and thrusts off her jeans. She has zero modesty – in front of me, Noah, or anyone really.
    Madison is my opposite in every way. I wear my hair loose like a curtain to hide behind –the longer, the better. Madison’s is cropped close to her shoulders in a sleek bob that she threatens to chop on a regular basis. She’s also blessed with a flawless olive complexion, while I’m pale except for the fine dusting of freckles across the bridge of my nose and top of my chest. Speaking of chests, hers fits politely inside her shirt, two nicely rounded lady bumps. Mine? Not so much. My boobs and I have never gotten along. Mine spill over a C, but I refuse to buy a bigger size, so I’ve taken to wearing sports bras exclusively since last year. Though it’s not because I care for jogging. They’re just more manageable this way. Of course Madison had a field day with that information, outraged that I’d taken to keeping my lady parts strapped down. She even tried to get Noah involved in making a case to free my boobage, to which he replied, “Eh. I could take ’em or leave ’em. But I have heard guys like those things.” We all cracked up laughing, and that was pretty much the end of that conversation.
    Madison flops down onto my bed, forcing me to scoot over. Noah stretches out on our futon, where he’s regularly been sleeping.
    “Did you have fun tonight , Avery?” Madison asks.
    I nod. “Yeah. It wasn’t bad.”
    She chuckles. “If there’s no one who interested you at that party tonight, you’ve got bigger issues than I can help you with.”
    “There was someone,” I admit, my voice tiny.
    “Who?”
    “His name was Jase.”
    “Jase Owens?’
    I no d sheepishly.
    Her eyes fly to Noah’s, which are just as wide and concerned. “Oh honey,” he frowns.
    “What?” I ask, keeping my voice level.
    Madison rolls her eyes and lets out a huff. “Noah.” She motions for him to explain, anchoring a hand on her hip. Uh-oh, this isn’t good.
    “How do I put this… .” He taps his index finger against his chin, his expression grim. “He’s a shark, babe. You need a guppie.”
    I frown. Was Jase a shark like they thought? After talking with him on the deck, I didn’t think so. But then I remembered the large-chested girl who planted herself in his lap just minutes later. Her breasts weren’t bigger than mine, but she had no problem putting them out there in people’s faces. And Jase did nothing to remove her from his personal space.
    Madison pats the top of his head. “Well said, tootsie roll.”
    “Relax guys, it’s not like I’m gonna do anything about it.”
    Madiso n’s eyebrows dart up. “Baby, you wouldn’t even know what to do with a guy anyway.”
    I don’t argue. I don’t tell her she’s wrong. It doesn’t matter because it’s not like I’m planning on getting involved with anyone. Especially Jase. Getting close to people means running the risk of exposing my past. And that is not okay with me. Not even Madison and Noah know, God love ’em.
    “Night guys.” I flick off my lamp, plunging us into darkness and curl onto my side, letting the numb feeling overtake me. I