Totem by E.M. Lathrop Read Free Book Online Page B

huh,” replies Michelle.
                  She left it at that. This is a side of me that Michelle has not yet seen, but it is also a side of myself I have never seen. Sure, I have had crushes before, but this is something different. This one hit me like a ton of bricks. Its symptoms lasting long after the cause was removed. Something deep down inside of me had surfaced when I laid eyes on Ty. I let out one more sigh. My heart rate is completely back to normal. The intoxication caused by Ty’s presence was wearing off and the brief cloudy haze, a side effect, has lifted. It is gone for now. At least it is gone until Thursday

Chapter 3: Seeing Double
     
                  Andrew and I chill out on my bed watching a movie. It is the Saturday directly after I first laid eyes on Ty and he remains in my thoughts. After making a minimum amount of conversation the first time, I stayed true to form by only saying a total of ten words the next time I saw him and yes I counted all ten words.
                  The first word was ‘hi’ as he walked past me followed by a ‘how are you?’ We exchanged awkward looks. I would flash him a few dumb smiles. He would return them with crooked yet cool ones. We were picked to be on the same team this time. The next words I spoke were ‘your turn’ as I handed him the ball. Our fingers touched sending electricity coursing through my body jumpstarting my heart. He smiled as I released the ball into his hands. The next words were ‘see you next class.’ He returned them with yet another crooked smile sending my heart racing and butterflies shooting through my stomach one last time before vanishing.
                  “So tell me again about this guy Michelle says you have a huge crush on,” insists Andrew as he grabs another chip out of the communal bag between the two of us.
                  I glance at him. I didn’t realize I had drifted off until he spoke.
                  “So you and Michelle have been talking about me,” I squint at Andrew. “What else do you two say about me?”
                  Andrew smiles broadly.
                  “Currently, it is just of the new guy.”
                  “Well,” I reply. “He is very pretty to look at.”
                  “So Michelle tells me,” interrupts Andrew.
                  I smile at him as I take a chip out of the bag. I will have to remind Michelle of the roommate confidentiality clause when she gets home.
                  “He is handsome,” I reply, “but I don’t know him. We just met this week. I am just going to chalk it up to infatuation.”
                  “Infatuation is all you need, honey!” Exclaims Andrew
                  I roll my eyes at him.
                  “Listen Kimber,” begins Andrew as he hops up on a metaphorical soapbox, “you are in college and this is your time to take chances. Experiment with your feelings. This is your time to be selfish about what you want for yourself. I say go for it as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. You need to explore life and figure out what you want in a relationship as well as in life in general NOW before it is too late.”
                  “Wise words from a young man,” I jest at Andrew.
                  Andrew shrugs his shoulders.
                  “Well, maybe it is just me justifying what I do,” winks Andrew, “but it is also good words to live by. Eventually, you will have to test the waters. What better place to do so than in college? It will be up to you if you want to jump right in or test out the waters with your little toes. Either way, I say test it out with the hottie!”
                  Andrew was very insightful. These past few weeks have been awesome in so many ways, but I have been living only minimally out of my comfort