Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic Read Free Book Online Page A

doesn't.
    It takes what seems forever for the elevator to arrive. I hand my reservation card to the attendant and we load into the elevator with our fellow riders. I get the camera ready to take pictures of the journey upward. My stomach tangles in knots as we rise higher and higher into the sky. Kaylee grabs the camera and turns it on me, recording my terror. If this, along with the Extreme Scream, doesn't completely cure my fear of heights, nothing will.
    The elevator stops just below the observation deck. The doors open and I grab Kaylee's hand and try to pull her out and into the SkyCity Restaurant. She yanks her hand away and says, "No, Austin, no way. It's too expensive."
    "Kaylee, come on. We already have reservations. Haven't you always wanted to eat here? I know I have. Please?"
    "Fine, but I'm paying for my own dinner."
    "No, you're not."
    "It's too much, Austin," she repeats as if I hadn't heard her the first time.
    "Where else am I going to spend it?"
    She looks up at me. I thought I would see those eyes full of understanding, kindness—pity, even. Instead, she glares at me, and I crack up, which I'm sure isn't the reaction she's looking for.
    "I'm glad you think this is funny," she says, still giving me an icy glare.
    "I don't, really, but you're so cute when you're mad," I slip.
    She whips her head around, gives me a flirty smile, and overdramatically bats her lashes. "You think I'm cute?"
    I turn it around with a joke: "Only when you're mad. Otherwise, you're hideous. I mean, come on, have you looked in a mirror lately? Stringy hair, practically skeletal, totally ugly." We both laugh. "Can we eat now? I'm starved. I mean, I haven't exactly had a square meal today," I say.
    "Oh, that's right, the entire contents of your stomach aside from a few french fries was left in a Puyallup Fair trash can. You must be hungry. Okay, fine, we'll eat," she says, and we head toward the maitre d'. Seated by the window, we're able to enjoy the view to the fullest.
    "Do you know what you want?" I ask.
    Kaylee looks at the menu. "Christ, it's all so expensive!" she says. She immediately blushes when she realizes how loudly she's spoken. Several of our fellow patrons glance at us, frown, and whisper. I force myself not to crack up. Kaylee puts her menu down. "Order for me. I feel guilty enough eating here. I don't want to feel bad about ordering one of these fifty-dollar dinners."
    The waiter arrives for our order. "We'll start with the prosciutto-wrapped Beecher's Flagship cheese and the SkyCity greens. The lady will have the oven-roasted Jidori chicken, and I'll have the petite Kobe top sirloin."
    "Very good, sir. Anything to drink?"
    I look over to Kaylee. She says, "Let's live it up. How about a Shirley Temple?"
    "Two Shirley Temples, please." I hand the menus to the waiter and he leaves us.
    "Have I told you you're crazy yet today?" Kaylee asks.
    "At least twice." The waiter comes with our drinks, and as we're enjoying them I say, "Let's talk."
    "About what?" Kaylee asks.
    "Memories."
    "Memories? Like what?"
    "The day we met. Do you remember?"
    "Yeah. I was on the swings and those two idiot boys tried to push me off."
    I remember distinctly. Third grade. Even back then I knew there was something special about her. She stood out from everyone, like she glowed or something. I had been leaning against the cool metal of the swing set, just staring at her. Until those two assholes came by.
    "And I came to your rescue," I say.
    "I didn't need you to come to my rescue." Kaylee laughs. "You were showing off. Trying to be all macho."
    "They left you alone, didn't they?"
    "You were about a foot taller than they were. I can't say I blame them."
    "True. And I was mean."
    "Never to me," she says, making me blush, though I'm not sure why.
    While talking and waiting for our food, we check out the view of Seattle and beyond. The building spins so slowly, it's barely noticeable. Thank God for a clear day. We can see two bodies of water from