Under Ground by Alice Rachel Read Free Book Online Page B

long, and
he must have felt it because his eyes rise to take me in, for just
one second. It doesn’t seem like he has recognized me, and
disappointment seizes my heart right away, tearing at it. What I
felt during the football game was not returned. This boy is like
all the others, and I am nothing to him. But then, his eyes meet
mine again and remain there. I can't look away; his gaze is holding
mine with intensity. He doesn’t smile, and I forget to breathe. I
avert my eyes. I’m blushing. I'm embarrassed at how my cheeks keep
on betraying me. When I dare steal a glance again, his eyes are
still devouring me whole and I get nervous that someone might catch
him staring.
    I turn around and walk to the
punch table. I’m walking on a cloud, as if I were flying. I step as
steadily as I can in my high-heels, with emotions rushing through
my core.
    There’s a line at the table; I
have to wait. When I finally reach the punch bowl, I take the
serving spoon. My hand is shaking. I try to control it as I fill my
glass. I need to get a grip on myself. Someone behind me reaches
for the spoon, and I extend it to them. When I look up, I see that
it’s him. I stumble backward and almost drop punch all over myself.
He holds out a hand to steady me, but I’ve recovered my balance
already. I take a step back, and a flirtatious grin spreads on his
face—the same mischievous smile that he sent me at the game. I find
it both irritating and engaging. My cheeks burn under his
gaze.
    “Hi, I'm Chi,” he says while
beaming at me.
    His name sounds like "shy," not at
all what I had imagined all those times I thought about him. He
extends his hand to me as he introduces himself. I recoil and scan
the room nervously to see if anyone has witnessed this incident.
Even though there is still a line behind us, everyone's busy
picking up cake or talking to each other. Chi laughs at my
reaction.
    He bends close to my ear to
whisper, “It’s okay. No one’s watching, and he’s not paying any
attention to you.”
    His breath against my skin makes
me shiver. His closeness is unsettling, but he steps back really
quickly—too quickly. A part of me wants him closer. Of course, by
“he” he means “William.” He knows. He knows whom I’m promised to,
and yet he’s flirting with me. The recklessness of it all is both
attractive and disconcerting.
    He beckons with his head for me to
follow him. I’m at a loss what to do. There's this sudden pull
inside me and a tempting voice in my ear telling me to go after
him. But I’m petrified, paralyzed on the spot. I stay where I am
while he makes his way through the crowd. I have to act now before
he’s too far ahead or I may lose him.
    I run after him, but William
chooses this exact second to step in front of me. I sigh in relief
and frustration. Of course, William would choose this moment to
finally show up. I steal a glance at Chi, but he’s already far away
and he won’t turn around. I focus on William and force a smile on
my face. Even if he's been rude to me, I need to hide the insane
thoughts that have been flooding my mind since I saw
Chi.
    “I was talking to my friends,"
William says, "and I lost track of time a little.”
    I guess that’s as good an excuse
as it gets when it comes to him, so I just accept it. I search for
Chi through the crowd. He has turned around at last, and he’s
looking at me. When our eyes meet, he shrugs, gives a tiny smile,
and walks away. I sigh in relief. I'm not sure what I was about to
do, but it would have been a bad idea.
    “It’s okay. I went for more
punch,” I reply. “Did you want some?”
    "No. Do you want to sit
down?"
    I nod. I'd rather dance than
remain still all evening, but I already know he's never going to
ask, so I might as well forget the idea. We find seats. William is
fidgety; he's stirring in his chair. His behavior is so annoying
that I almost roll my eyes at him. I scan the crowd for Chi again,
but he’s nowhere to be found.