Southbound Surrender by Raen Smith Read Free Book Online

media sites but couldn’t find her, not that I’m a Facebook or Twitter guru. Hudson made me join earlier this summer so I didn’t cramp his style. According to him, his best friend shouldn’t be socially inept, so Hudson made my profiles, slapped the passwords in my hand, and chirped some friends my way or whatever the hell it is that Twitterers do. Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure Piper said tweet. So, Hudson tweets for me, occasionally. I couldn’t ask for more in a best friend.
    Believe me, I thought about going back to her house more than once over the past two dreadfully long and agonizing days. I want nothing else than to see her again, but she didn’t exactly invite me back, and I don’t want to seem like a bigger stalker than I already am. I came close last night, my nerves on end while I paced my bedroom floor. Hudson advised me from his spot on my bed. “Play it cool, Cash. You can’t seem desperate. Chicks don’t dig desperation.” As if he knows. The truth is neither of us knew what the right move was around girls, but I resort to playing it safe. I can’t keep showing up in that neighborhood on a flamed Yamaha without turning some heads.
    I roll over to see the clock has moved only one minute since I checked it last. I am one minute closer to seeing Piper on the first day of my senior year. Even though it’s more than an hour before Hudson will pick me up, I resort to showering, shaving the stubble that doesn’t exist, and getting ready. I stand in my towel with a blood soaked piece of tissue on my face in front of my near empty closet and wish I had something to wear besides my usual plain colored t-shirts – white, black, or blue Hanes variety – and plaid shorts. Something nicer for Piper.
    But you know what they say about wishing.
    I throw on the usual flare, or lack thereof, and stumble to the kitchen where Big Dave is already dressed in his custodial uniform and dropping frozen waffles in the toaster.
    “Good morning, senior. Big year ahead of you,” he says with a grin. The yellow giant smiley face on his mug beams at me before he takes a sip of his steaming coffee.
    “Yeah, monumental year.” I roll my eyes and shuffle toward the toaster. I tried not to let on about Piper, but Big Dave knows. He always knows and mercifully, he doesn’t mention her this morning. He’s exhausted us both over the last two days with his prodding about “the girl.”
    “Want to change your mind and ride with your old dad to school to be nostalgic? You know, it marks the beginning of the end to an era I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of years.” He looks at me with soft eyes. He’s really laying it on, and I think just for a second that I might cave until he leans toward me and takes a big whiff. “What is that smell?”
    “Hudson’s picking me up,” I say as I pour syrup over my plate of waffles. I lean against the counter and begin stuffing waffles in my mouth.
    “It’s woodsy with a smell of lavender,” he says as he wrinkles his nose. He cocks his head as if he’s contemplating the meaning of life. “But the tail end is not so pleasant.”
    “Got it,” I say between chews. The signal is loud and clear: buy new cologne. But the problem is that I’ve spent what extra money I had from helping Big Dave this summer sending in college applications over the past two days. And if you’re wondering, I did begin the application process for Princeton but still need two teachers to fill out the university’s recommendation forms.
    “You know, I was the same way with your mom. I knew the second I saw her that I was going to marry her except she didn’t know that. And she still didn’t know it six months after I finally convinced her to date me. It took me a few years of meddling in high school and then later in college, but it was worth it. Your mom was quite the catch. Sometimes all they need is a little convincing, that’s all,” he says before he moves his hand like an ocean