The Nights Were Young Read Online Free Page B

right?”
                  “Yes,” Marie answered. She remained quiet.
                  “So…” Kate insisted. “Why do you sit alone?”
                  “I guess I just don’t feel like sitting with anyone.”
                  “You look like the type that likes to sit with people, though.”
                  Marie shrugged.
                  “Apparently not,” Kate said. “I don’t think I’ve ever even seen you eat.”
    Marie tensed up.
    “I’m never really hungry, I guess.” Marie was lying. She was constantly hungry, but even a bite of a sandwich was enough to make her think about her fat rolls that stuck out when she sat.
    “Okay…,” Kate continued, “I like your shirt.” She sounded like she was simply reaching for any type of conversation.
                  Marie looked down at her purple collared shirt. Then she started analyzing the rest of her outfit. It was plain, plain jeans, plain sneakers, plain everything. “It’s not that great.”
                  “Well – you look very…”
                  “Boring?” Marie asked quickly.
                  Kate laughed.
    “Nice. You look very nice.”
                  “Stop it. I look boring.” Marie hunched over and looked down. Maybe if she was quiet enough this girl would go away and she could just eat alone like always.
                  “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I’m sorry,” Kate said.
                  “I’m fine.” Marie still avoided eye contact.
                  “I’ve got some clothes you could try if you want.”
                  “We just met,” Marie said, puzzled.
                  “Yeah, so?”
                  “And you’re offering me clothes.”
                  “I’m not the Goodwill,” Kate said, laughing. “I’m just offering to let you borrow some if you’re tired of what you wear. Where do you live?”
                  “Crossfalls Estates.”
                  “That little rich neighborhood by the lake?” Kate asked excitedly.
                  Marie sighed. It was agonizing how “uncool” she felt around this girl. “Yes,” she reluctantly answered. She should’ve said something cooler like she lived alone in a swank apartment or that she was a wandering, free spirit who lived in her car in the school parking lot.
                  “Okay. Well, we’re definitely partying at your place sometime.”
                  Marie laughed in surprise. “That’s never going to happen.”
                  “That’s what you think,” Kate said. “Trust me, I get my way and I want to party at your house.”
                  “You don’t even know me,” Marie said, folding her arms. She’d never met someone so straight forward.
                  “Well then I’ll get to know you, Miss Marie,” Kate said, smiling. “And then when we’re best friends we can cause all sorts of trouble.”
                  From the halls, a young man walked into the cafeteria and strolled to the table of boys where Kate’s brother was. He was tall and thin with dark, shaggy hair. His jeans were baggy and torn and he wore a white wife-beater with a plain, black jacket over it. The boys greeted him immediately at the table.
    “Finally showed up, huh?” Kate’s brother said.
    The young man punched him in the arm and laughed with the rest of them. He hopped up onto the table and sat, putting his feet in one of the chairs. He was saying something too low for Marie to hear and smiling about it, and she noticed dimples in both cheeks. His eyes were dark brown, and he had eyelashes that were longer than most girls’. He gazed around the cafeteria as if he owned it, and when his look came around to Marie,