I check over my shoulder to make sure she’s talking to me. I don’t think she’s ever said much to me other than “excuse me” and sometimes a curt sigh whenever she feels I’m in her way. She’s watching me with a slight grin, and her eyes shine as if she’s seeing me for the very first time. I’m not sure how to respond to her comment, so I don’t.
“I’ve never had a class with you. I guess I’m not a brainiac like you.” She chuckles politely.
I keep my face wide and expressionless. Greenly’s parents must have named her that because her eyes are turquoise. Her lips are red, and everything about her appearance is perfect. She’s the sort of girl that Hercules would go for. Actually, I’ve heard rumors that they were once a couple until he broke up with her.
“Right,” I say absentmindedly.
“What are you doing tonight?” Donovan asks with a straight face. I swear he has no joy in him at all.
Grimacing, I think about what I have planned for the rest of the day—the same old afternoon butter cookies and more coding. “I don’t know. Why?” I’m curt because deep down, I feel like they’re fucking with me. I may be an outcast, but I’m nobody’s punching bag.
“There’s a graduation party tonight, and you’re graduating, so you should come.” Again, he says all of this with a blank face.
“But you can’t bring your goons,” Greenly adds.
I look behind me to see who they’re watching. Mike, the burliest of my bodyguards, stands at the end of the hallway. He’s facing our direction while not focusing directly on us. It’s strange how they know how to make themselves inconspicuous while being so noticeable.
I’m trapped in indecision. My parents wouldn’t want me to leave the house without at least one bodyguard, even though I know I’m not in any real danger. As soon as I make it home, the men will be off shift because I never leave the house once I’m in. For the rest of the night, it’ll be just me and the house staff, people who have worked in our home since my grandparents first moved in.
“You can find the details on the graduation announcements message board. I’m sure you know how to find it since you’re a computer guru and all.” There’s something contemptuous in Donovan’s tone. Or maybe he can’t help but sound like an asshole.
“And Hercules is going to be there. You’ll like that, right?” Greenly says, contorting her red lips into a coquettish smirk.
My mouth falls open as my blinking slows down. “What?”Why in the world would she mention Hercules to me?
The chuckle that escapes Donovan makes him sound like a hyena. “You’re always staring at him.” He rolls his eyes.
He’s objectively being an asshole, but I really don’t care. Frankly, I don’t like him either. But I wonder who else noticed me staring at Hercules.
Greenly chuckles. “Just come. You won’t regret it,” she says before they walk off arm in arm as if they’ve just accomplished something they planned before I showed up.
I examine their backsides until they’re almost at the end of the hallway.
“You should go.”
I whip my face toward the voice and find Hercules slamming his locker shut. He strolls in Mike’s direction.
What a physique. Did he hear Greenly say I’m always staring at him?
He’s not out of sight yet. My lips twitch as I search for the courage to say something. And then…
“Hercules?” I call before I realize I’m doing it. It’s like he’s moving in slow motion when he turns to face me. I fight the urge to hyperventilate as I put on a smile to make myself appear less nervous than I actually am. “Um, thanks.”
Gosh, that sounded strained.I clear my throat.
“For what?”
My hear flutters. He asked me a question. It’s the first one he’s ever asked me. “In the classroom. You said congratulations. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Thank you?” I widen my eyes, feeling foolish because I already said that.
He nods. “See you tonight.” Then he turns and walks away. I can’t take my eyes off him, and I’m still staring at the space he left behind now that he’s out of sight.
Finally, I’m able to release the tension in my body, and I take a deep sigh of relief. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to see him tonight. No bodyguards, no party. But I walk away from my locker, grinning big. I did it. I said something to him first, and he responded. Hercules Valentine replied to me!
Chapter Three
