Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1) by Jemma Grey Page A

your
family is really rich and influential?”
“No, other things... secrets you’re not ready for yet...”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know,” was all he said.
“Well help me understand,” I pleaded.
“In time you will... So school?” he smiled. I knew he
was changing the subject, but the idea of going to school
excited me more than I thought possible. He must have
seen the animation written across my face because his
unsure smile turned into one of amusement instantly.
“What?” I asked blinking.
“You’re the first person I’ve ever met that’s actually
excited for school,” he chuckled. “So what sort of work do
you want to do?”
“I’m not sure yet...” I trailed off, wondering.
“Hmm,” he mused. “I thought you would do
something creative. Art, I guess.”
“How'd you figure that out?”
“You draw a lot and you’re really good too,” he added
almost as an afterthought. I frowned at this puzzled by
how he knew. Just as I was about to ask he began to
explain. “The day we met, you were wearing faded blue
jeans and drawn on it was a single red rose. It wasn’t
straight, more slanted and up sided down, like it was
falling. And on the other leg was a spider – a black widow
– next to that were the words ‘Fatal Beauty.” I was
speechless that he remembered what I’d been wearing the
day we met. “There are more drawings on your books – at
the back mostly.”
My eyes narrowed. “You went through my books?”
“Yes,” he smiled, unashamed. “I wanted to get to know
you.”
“Have I ever told you that stalking is not romantic?” I
teased a little annoyed, but not enough to ruin the mood.
“Yes, I believe you have told me that.”
“So what do you want to do? Are you going to follow
in your dad’s footsteps?”
“Well...” he wondered, “everyone expects that,
especially my parents.”
“But what do you want to do?” I pointed out.
“I’ve never thought about it.” His voice and face was
casual. We could have been talking about the weather.
“Never had a reason to. No one has ever asked me that...”
“Well I’m asking you now?” I said, my eyes never
leaving his face.
“Hmm...” he frowned at me “Right now I’m doing a
double major in medicine and business... but if I didn’t
have do those things I’d love to be a pilot...” Eric trailed
off.
“Military?” I asked, somehow already knowing.
“Yep,” he grinned.
“So why don’t you?”
“It’s not that simple... All these things – my entire life –
have been mapped out for me before I was even born...”
he explained.
“Yeah,” I nodded, “right down to who you’re going to
marry.”
“Exactly,” he paused, staring at me intently. “I don’t
mind though. I mean it’s not a bad life.” I didn’t say
anything. I knew if I did, we were going to end up fighting
again. “So what’s the last movie you saw?” he asked,
changing the subject.
It continued like this until I had gone through two
plates of pasta, and half a bag of cookies. Eric ate the other
half. I actually enjoyed talking to Eric and in those few
hours, I laughed more than I had in the last month. It was
carefree and relaxing, and I learned so much about him,
things I would have never thought.
Like how he spent his eighteenth birthday in the
hospital with a friend, instead of throwing a huge party.
We talked about the weird stuff too, which was basically
me telling him about the crazy adventures I dragged Daren
on.
Before I realized the sun started to rise, and without
saying a word Eric took my hand, leading me back towards
the house. I was exhausted and my body ached all over.
After brushing my teeth, I stepped out of the bathroom
wearing one of Eric’s t-shirt, even though he’d shown me
where my clothes were. Eric’s clothes were more
comfortable though. Strangely, they seemed almost
familiar, like I had been wearing his clothes to sleep all my
life. I left the door slightly ajar, allowing just enough light
to coat