Before We Were US
Dani said, appearing beside me with a plastic cup of soda.
"What thing?"
"The 'I'm an island' thing. You’re physically here, but mentally you’re already in a dorm room in Chicago ."
"It’s safer there," I muttered.
The music shifted to something louder, more aggressive. I saw a group of guys from the rival school, East High, swaggering toward the fire. Among them was Jackson Reed,a guy who had been trying to get my number since freshman year and didn't know the meaning of the word no.
"Hey, Isla," Jackson said, stepping into my path. He smelled like bourbon and poor decisions.”I heard you’re thinking about leaving us for the big city. How about a dance before you go?"