Sleeping Jenny by Aubrie Dionne Page A

stomach, and I blocked the party out, missing my best friend more than ever. Oh, Angela, I’m so sorry .
    I cried until I fell asleep on the table. I didn’t know how long I was out. All I remembered was hearing a disappointing shift in the music. Maxim’s voice wasn’t singing any longer. There was a deeper, bass voice rumbling instead. I rubbed my eyes and went back to sleep.
    â€œHey, Jenny, want to dance?”
    I glanced up. Maxim stood in front of me. I wiped my eyes, making sure I wasn’t hallucinating. There he was in all his hotness, hand extended.
    I must be dreaming .
    â€œJenny, are you okay?”
    I wiped my eyes, remembering my earlier bout of crying must have made my face all red and puffy. “I’m fine.”
    â€œDid you sleep through my whole set?”
    â€œYes. I mean, no.” I shook my head, feeling like a complete dork. Maxim looked disappointed, but he shrugged it off and smiled.
    â€œSo, do you or not?”
    â€œDo I what?”
    â€œWant to dance, sillybot.” It was the first time he had called me sillybot and I liked it a lot better than when Pell said it.
    Glancing behind him at the flickering lights in the cafeteria, I thought about his offer. “What about Exara?”
    He jabbed a finger behind him. “She’s hanging out with her girlfriends.”
    â€œWon’t she be annoyed?” And, like…rip off my arm? “Nah. Come on. It’s just one dance.”
    My fingers slid into his before I could stop myself, and the warmth of his skin lit my whole body on fire. He led me to the dance floor just as the fast techno song came to an end, and the bass voice began a slow love ballad. I watched the other dancers to get some kind of cue.
    Maxim pulled me against him. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. Being this close to him was dizzying in a supremely wonderful way. Heat traveled through me until I thought that I might melt in his arms.
    â€œYour voice is awesome.” I was so impressed I couldn’t stop gushing.
    He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, awesome enough to put you to sleep.”
    I laughed and buried my head in his shoulder. He smelled like mint and spice. His chest was hard, pure muscle. I trembled in his arms, just thinking about his shirt being off. “That wasn’t your fault. I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately.”
    â€œBeen up partying?”
    More like feeling sorry for myself, watching movies of my previous life . I wasn’t going to say that.
    â€œI wish.” In actuality, I’d never partied in my life.
    â€œGeneral Relativity getting to you?” He actually looked disappointed I hadn’t called him for help.
    â€œNo. That’s cool. I’m doing okay.”
    â€œThen what is it?”
    â€œWhat is what?”
    â€œWhat’s keeping you from me?”
    Um. Exara. I stared at him. Was he serious? “What’s keeping me from what?”
    â€œBeing my friend.”
    Oh. Friend. How could such a nice word leave such a vile taste in my mouth? I was so disappointed I could have walked out that minute, but I had to recover if I was going to hide how much it hurt.
    â€œI just can’t shake the feeling I shouldn’t be here. I should be dead.” Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why not take him to a funeral home? Show him pictures of my dead family?
    He traced my cheek with his finger. “Why would you say such an uber-sad thing? Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you just haven’t found the reason why you’re here.”
    â€œBack in two-thousand-twelve I wanted to save polar bears and African elephants. We all know what happened to them. My whole family’s gone. Why on Earth should I still be here?”
    â€œMaybe your purpose is staring right at you and all you have to do is open your eyes.”
    Boy, did I feel my mind was making things up. Was that a double meaning? He almost looked like he thought my purpose