Hello LAlaland (Lost in LAlaland) by Madi Merek Read Free Book Online Page A

could manage.
    Our twice-weekly tutoring sessions lasted throughout the rest of the semester, and Anthony completed the philosophy class with a B. I was as proud of him as he was of himself, and felt his gratitude on the last day of the school year when he grabbed me up in a giant hug and spun me around in circles.
    “This chick is the best tutor in the world!” Anthony shouted to the class. I realized then that we hadn’t been becoming friends like I’d been wishing for. He only saw me as his tutor, though I had really hoped to change that.
    The day of graduation, I stood with my family outside the high school as we took pictures of me in my cap and gown. A smirking Anthony ambled over to us and photo-bombed one of the shots of me with my grandmother.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked him in annoyance. He only chuckled and asked me to step aside so he could talk to me privately. My mom shrugged and nodded, so I had no choice but to follow him and his flowing, blue graduation gown.
    We hadn’t been as friendly our senior year. I’d dated other guys instead of holding out hope for him, and I’d thrown myself into designing, landing a scholarship at the Tisch School of the Arts with NYU. I also hadn’t paid him much attention in Psychology—the one class we shared that year.
    “What are you doing later tonight?” The look in his eyes excited my entire body. Ever since I lost my virginity, I’d been even more aware of Anthony’s sexiness, despite how earnestly I tried to ignore him. Things with Russell hadn’t worked out after we’d slept together. He hadn’t been the one I wanted, and he’d been all too aware of that fact. But Anthony hadn’t exactly been knocking at my door, so I tried to move on.
    “I’m not sure what my parents have planned. Why do you ask?” I wondered, realizing I hadn’t answered his query.
    “Come to Greg’s house tonight for the graduation party.” It wasn’t a request, and the way the order fell from his lips sent a tremor through me. Of course I wanted to go. Even though it was going to be at the home of the boy who’d been my first kiss, he hadn’t spoken to me in a couple of years so I wasn’t concerned with him. Maybe if I tried to be sexy and wore enough makeup, it would be my chance to hook up with Anthony. Even if it was just one night, I would take what I could get.
    Hesitating, I nodded in acceptance and was rewarded with Anthony’s bright white smile. “Excellent!” he exclaimed, backing away as his grin grew wider. “I’ll see you at eight.”
    I got as dolled up as I could that night, and I’d even put on blush, eye shadow, and extra mascara. When I arrived at the party with Marci on one side of me and Ashley on the other, the music was loud and pumping. We walked through the front doors and were immediately greeted with plastic cups filled with smelly beer thrust into our faces. Each of us took the proffered drinks, but I refused to sip it as we looked around the room. I knew that Marci had been looking for someone to dance with and drop by the end of the night, and Ash was checking to see if Matty had arrived yet. I, however, had one mission: find Anthony.
    We each went our separate ways, promising to call each other’s brand new cell phones if we needed to leave. I didn’t need to look very far for Anthony. When I found him, Samantha was grinding her nasty crotch against him on the couch in the den. Tears stung my eyes as I watched them making out, and my beer dropped from my hand, spilling on the perfect white carpet.
    Anthony’s eyes shot open and drunkenly tried to focus on me. “Winieeeee?” he slurred, but I didn’t give him a chance to stop me as I turned and ran for the front door. The last thing I needed was pity from the guy I was trying not to be in love with for inviting me to a party and then ignoring me. At that moment, I knew that I could never be anything to Anthony, and I was desperately sorry that I’d allowed