The Undesirable (Undesirable Series) by S. Celi Read Free Book Online Page B

of his nose. He studied me in the silence.
    “But you did see me,” I supplied, and the words tumbled out of my mouth. “You did find me, right there in the cornfield. Why didn’t you report me? Why didn’t you do your job? You’re loyal; you know what The Party wants you to do. I’m nobody. Nothing.” I paused, choking on my next words. “I’m the daughter of the town slut.” The sentence tasted bitter, but true. “Was, I mean.”
    Fostino smirked and then chuckled to himself. I saw the curl of his lips and the whites of his teeth for the first time. God, the sight was beautiful, captivating, and mesmerizing. Fostino had a gorgeous smile. Delicious.
    “Charlotte.” His eyes brightened a little. “When was the last time you thought about yourself?”

CHAPTER NINE

    “Excuse me?” I gawked at him.
    Had I heard him right?
    He gave me a knowing look. “You know you’re beautiful. You have to see that.”
    “Well, people have told me that before, but I never wasted time on that and—”
    “It’s your eyes.” He laughed again and ran a hand through his hair. “Beautiful eyes. So blue, and sometimes green. So round.” Then he faltered. “And it’s more than that. Well, it is for me. You always seem so fragile, so alone, but strong. I just couldn’t keep—”
    “But you never talked to me except for that one hello. You never said anything. Not at school, not at the store, not anywhere. Not until last night. Never.” I rubbed my eyes in exasperation and frowned.
    “I never knew what to say to you. You were always by yourself in school.” His eyes searched my face again. “You never seemed to have any friends. You were just shut off — some kind of mystery.”
    My eyes bulged. “I never had time to have friends. Especially not now.”
    “God, Charlotte. So many times I wanted to talk to you, I—”
    “Then why did you wait? Why did you wait until the night before the worst day of my life to talk to me?” I shook my head in disbelief.
    “I should have talked to you.” Fostino leaned back in the wooden chair until it tipped up on his back legs. “I am so stupid. I never say what I should. I always do stuff like this.”
    “What do you mean you always do stuff like this?”
    When he didn’t answer me, I leaned back into the couch. I folded my hands between my knees, making sure the robe stayed around my thin legs. I didn’t eat enough. I never had. I pulled the green bathrobe even closer.
    “I can’t do this right now. No. Too much has happened. It’s been so bad. Why would you tell me this now? I just—” I cried again, and it came out even louder this time. “How come no one is doing anything to stop this? Those people, they have no souls!”
    “Quiet,” he pleaded. Fostino slammed the chair down and came over to me. “They might hear you; they might come here and do something awful. I don’t want that. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He put his hands on my shoulders. 
    They burned like fire — a fire I wanted. So warm, so enticing. Before I knew it, I buried my face into the Homeland Guard medals on his chest. They dug into my cheek like nails, but I didn’t care. I wanted someone to hold me as I cried. I had been so alone. We stood together for a long moment. Fostino put one hand in my stringy hair and rubbed my back with the other.
    “Tired?” he whispered after a few moments. I didn’t move from his arms.
    “Yes,” I replied into the medals. “I just want my mother.”
    “You need some sleep.” He moved a little and guided me down the short hallway. “Is this the way to the bedroom?” I didn’t need to answer. Instead, I led him into my mother’s bedroom and towards the grey duvet. I climbed into the bed. I shivered with cold and grief. Fostino saw this and slid in next to me.  After wrapping the meager cover around me, he molded his body to mine. I felt the press of the medals, the cold hard metal of his belt, the steel tips of his boots, and the