Seclusion by C.S. Rinner Read Free Book Online Page B

girl we’re picking up, a call to
let her know where we are so she can expect us?”
    “Sure,” he said as he
flipped through a sports app, checking the latest scores on his phone.
    Chase opened the car door
for me. “I insist on opening the door, as should any gentleman,” he grunted,
which I thought was very old fashioned, but appreciated nonetheless.
    When we made the final
stretch to New Mexico, I was so focused on the conversation, I didn’t notice
the scenery. It was a blur of rest stops and nothingness.
    “Elsie seemed sweet. She
had our rooms ready and ordered pizza so no matter what time we make it there,
we can eat. She said she couldn’t wait to meet us! She also told me that she
was my suite officer. I guess for every five suites, there’s an upper classmen
suite officer.” Just hearing her talk about life on campus was exciting!
“Chase, I don’t think it’ll be that bad. Elsie has been going there for two
years, and she still loves it.”
    “We don’t know Elsie,
either,” he commented.
    “Oh, I guess you’re right.
But I feel like I know her from the one conversation!” I said.
    “I’m a little anxious about
staying at a stranger’s house. If you need anything, or want to sleep in my
room, you can have the bed, okay?” he told me in his serious tone.
    “Okay, but I think you’ll
feel better after we meet her,” I said.
    We found the house easily,
but house wasn’t an accurate description. It was a ginormous mansion.
    “I hope our rooms are near
each other,” I said, trying to calculate just how many bedrooms it might have.
    “Things are cheaper here,
Rae.”
    “Oh, but still!”
    He laughed, opening the
door for me. “You grab the pillows and stuff in the front. I’ll get the rest.”
    “Really, Chase, you’re not
going to let me help?”
    “Well, it’s not much yet,
we are just staying here a night.”
    “Oh, right.”
    “Don’t worry about me,
Raegan.”
    His comment irked me. I
was, after all, just being nice. Maybe chivalry wasn’t all it’s cracked up to
be.
    Elsie was everything I
hoped she would be. She was exquisite. Average height and model skinny, she
looked like she had just stepped out of a Hollister catalogue. She had light
brown hair with sun-streaked blonde highlights, and bright, bluish-grey eyes. I
knew she would be my best friend soon. One of those sixth sense things I got. Wow,
I get two new BFFs before school even starts!
    While we scarfed down the
pizza, Elsie refilled our sodas and discussed the school. Elsie exuded warm,
kind, friendly compassion. I could feel her sincerity.
    Out of the blue, I said,
“What’s your talent? Sorry, just curious.”
    Chase snickered at my
bluntness. “I’m curious too, of course. Can I turn the game on? I don’t need
sound, just the scores.”
    Sports again. Geesh, he is a jock .
    “Yes,” she said, playing
with the remote. “Well, the technical term is ecological empathy. Do you need
soda? Parmesan?”
    I shook my head.
    “What that means, and what
I can do, I’m still figuring out. But, I believe it has to do with my effect on
other people. Ranch dressing?”
    I nodded yes this time.
    “I’m supposed to be able to
understand my environment and manipulate nature. That’s the goal, I guess.
That’s their goal for me anyway; they say it’s my potential. Here are some
napkins.” She tossed a pile in front of Chase. “Anyway, usually I just make
everyone feel better – happy.”
    “OHHH!” Chase and I said in
unison. “That makes sense now.”
    Elsie started laughing, and
before we knew it we were all doubled over in joy. “Wow, is your life always
like this?” I asked.
    “Yes. I try not to force my
emotions on others. When someone’s emotions are already similar to mine, mine
will exaggerate their own. I’m still learning,” she said, placing her plate in
the sink. “Okay, you know where everything is now, so make yourselves at home.
I have to go call Connor and give him the new kid dish.