Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 186756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 934(@200wpm)___ 747(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 934(@200wpm)___ 747(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Shepard
Where are you?
You’re late.
It takes a minute or two for her to get back to me.
A minute or two that seem like a day.
Such a long day that I’m ready, so fucking ready, to call her and fucking demand to know where she is, blowing my cover. Thankfully, the text comes at the last second, though. Or rather a flurry of texts.
Isadora
OMG! I’m so sorry!!!😮😮
I totally forgot!!😦😦😦
Well, I didn’t forget. Time just ran away from me.
I let out a sharp breath.
Shepard
Are you going to stop it from running away then?
Another minute passes that seems like a very long day.
Longer than before and I’m not amused.
Isadora
Okay, don’t be mad but I can’t call you right now.🫣🙈
I sit up straight in the bed, my chest heaving with agitated breaths.
Shepard
Why not?
Isadora
Because I’m not at home.
Shepard
Where the fuck are you?
Isadora
You’re getting mad.
Shepard
Answer me.
It’s a point in her favor that she doesn’t make me wait like before and answers immediately.
Isadora
I’m on my way to go see this guy.
But I don’t think earning points with me is going to help her right now.
Not after her reply.
Shepard
Explain.
Isadora
God, you’re scary. I never knew how scary you could be.
I’m this close to saying fuck it and giving her a call when her next text flies in.
Isadora
Okay, fine. So I have this huge assignment due day after tomorrow and I’m sort of struggling with it.
Shepard
What assignment?
Isadora
History assignment. It counts toward half of my grade.
Shepard
Struggling how?
Isadora
Struggling as in, I haven’t really finished it.
Shepard
How far along are you?
Isadora
On the first paragraph…?
I stare at the screen for a few seconds.
Then, pinching the bridge of my nose, I type:
Shepard
Are you saying that you haven’t even started the assignment that’s going to count toward half of your grade?
Isadora
I did start it! I wrote a whole paragraph!
Well, half of it.
I breathe out a sharp sigh.
Shepard
How many lines?
Isadora
Three.
And a half.
Another sharp sigh.
Shepard
What does this guy have to do with your assignment?
Isadora
Okay, so he’s a genius, see. He sits in the front row, always has his hand up during class. He tutors people. He was supposed to go to Harvard.
Shepard
So what’s he doing at a fucking community college?
Isadora
Hey, don’t knock community college! 😠
Shepard
Fine. What’s he doing at an establishment as fine as Bardstown Community College?
Isadora
🙄
He got kicked out of Harvard in his first semester, okay? But that doesn’t mean he is any less of a genius. So I want him to help me with the assignment. I looked all day for him but no one knew where he was. Until I got a text from one of my friends that he’s at this party. So I’m going there to find him.
Shepard
Why did he get kicked out?
Isadora
That’s not important.
Shepard
Why.
Isadora
God!!!😖🤬
For dealing weed on campus.
Again, I stare down at the screen for a few seconds. Then, with as much patience as I can muster in this situation, I type out my reply.
Shepard
So you’re going to a party in the middle of the night to look for a drug dealer so he can help you with your history assignment.
Isadora
He’s not a drug dealer! He just sold some weed. It’s not a big deal.
I know you’re an athlete and all that and you have high standards but I’ve done weed. Weed’s harmless, I promise.
Not to mention, legal.
Shepard
You still can’t deal it without a proper license.
Isadora
So he made a mistake, so what. All I need him to do is help me with my history paper, for which time’s running out.
Shepard
And why’s that?
Isadora
Why’s what?
Shepard
Why’s your time running out? What were you doing before? If it’s half your grade, I’d assume you’d pay more attention.
Isadora
You know what, Shepard, these days I don’t even recognize you anymore. You sound like an eighty-year-old stuck-up professor. 😒😒😒
My fingers flex around the phone.
In agitation. In anger.
Every time she says his name, I want to command her to say mine. I want to demand that she keeps saying it. So she only knows the taste of me on her tongue.
Soon, though.
Four weeks.
In four fucking weeks, I’ll teach her my name in such a way that she’ll never forget.
Shepard
Why didn’t you do your homework before?
Isadora
Because I was busy with rehearsals.
My brows bunch up. That’s news to me.
We’ve been talking for two weeks now and she hasn’t mentioned any rehearsals to me. As my twin brother or myself.
Shepard
What rehearsal?
Isadora
So omg get this!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰 My department finally has enough funding to put on a show. We’re doing this amazing play in a few weeks and I have the lead role! Can you believe that?! My debut!! Finally!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥳🥳🎉🎉
But it’s been crazy busy. We’re doing everything on our own. Costumes, set, music. It’s been exhausting!!! And I got busy with practice every day that I completely forgot about this stupid assignment and now I’m in this bind and only Jordan can help me. So I REALLY have to go find him, okay?
She is in a bind; I can see that.