Fluorescence: The Complete Tetralogy Read Online Free Page A

menu. Surprisingly, Mom had been quite cool about the whole “Mind if the new boy and I grab dinner before I come home tonight?” thing. Though I’d forgotten to tell Sam until Brian and I were halfway to J’s. I sent her a text earlier while we were waiting for a table.
    She had seemed heartbroken at first to know I wouldn’t be joining her. The heartbreak had only lasted until she’d brewed up a silly motivational text about how lucky I was to be going out with Brian and how she was “missing out” on a date with the next Tom Cruise. I had to roll my eyes and stifle a laugh. She was so 80’s it hurt.     
    Age difference aside, if I squinted and tilted my head, I could see a slight resemblance . Cruise was so last century, though.
    Besides, it was in no way a “date.” Still, spending time with Brian one-on-one was making me super anxious.
    “So, what are you getting?” Brian asked, peeking at me from around the side of his tall menu.
    My purse chirped. Another text from Sam. I quickly silenced my phone and smiled apologetically at him.
    “I don’t know,” I replied. “Probably fish and chips. I don’t like burgers much.”
    “Oh?” Brian lowered his menu. “Then why did you want to come here?”
    “I figured I could get something different. Didn’t want to be rude.” I looked at him and a little smile tugged at his lips. Butterflies started twirling in my stomach.
    Stop it, butterflies. Stop it.
    “Aw, that was really nice of you. Tell you what. I’ll get whatever you’re having. If you like it, it must be okay.” He slid his menu to the edge of the table and leaned back.
    Jennifer swung back around and pulled a little notepad out of her apron. The back cover had a collage of sparkly rose stickers on it.
    “So, what are you having, hun?” She looked at me and clicked her pen.
    “Fish and chips, please. Waffle fries.”
    “Anything else?”
    I shook my head.
    “And you, sweetheart?”
    “I’ll have what she’s having.” Brian winked at me and I sunk down in my seat.
    Jennifer made for the kitchen and I propped my elbows up on the table and rested my head in my hands. “You didn’t just order the same stuff as me to impress me or something, right?”
    Brian laughed. “Hey, if I haven’t impressed you by now, I may never.”
    I tried to hide a chuckle. Oh my God, he was cocky, but in a charming, I’m-just-trying-to-make-you-laugh kind of way.
    I liked it.
    “I’m not a picky eater anyway,” he added. “I’m so hungry, fried fish is as good as grilled cow at this point.” He took off his leather jacket, rolled it into a ball and shoved it into the corner of the booth. I liked the mossy-green t-shirt he had on underneath.
    Movie and sports memorabilia pieces dangled in every nook and cranny of the place. Posters, jerseys, autographed celebrity photos and even some license plates from different states were hanging on the walls. Brian seemed quite entranced.
    I let him take it all in for a few minutes until I finally worked up the nerve to ask him a question that had been burning in my mind for days.
    “So, what is it you’re always writing in that notebook of yours?”
    He jerked his head toward me, stunned by the question.
    “ If … you don’t mind me asking?”
    “Oh… it’s nothing. Just some… uh… comics I’m working on.” He poked at his silverware, rearranging the fork and knife. “They’re not that great, though.”
    I leaned closer. An artist?
    “Can I see them? Please? I promise I won’t laugh or anything. I love artwork.”
    He shifted in his seat and wrinkled his lips. “Well, uh…”
    “Please?” I scooted closer and smiled.
    “Aw, alright.” He unzipped his backpack. “But you promised not to laugh,” he said, pointing a finger at me.
    Out came a stack of notebooks. I had no idea he owned so many. I’d only seen one at a time in class. He peeled one covered in navy blue off the top and passed it to me, first prying it open to a page