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“What?” I refocus on the road.
“Bran, I want you to be happy. It’s been years. Have you ever considered—”
“Don’t,” I snarl. “Even if you saw me that day, you still don’t get it. No one understands, so don’t you dare tell me to try with someone. If I end up hurting Kayla, what will you say then?”
“What if you won’t hurt her?” she mutters.
I don’t answer.
Silence becomes the language in the car and remains that way until we arrive at the academy.
Kayla floats into my mind yet again.
I wonder how she feels about our school and this affluent lifestyle. Her house was beyond modest compared to mine, but so cozy.
Empathy immerses me as I recall the look on her face when she told me her sister died. It was the first time she appeared vulnerable and not so tough.
I’m starting to think she uses the overconfident image as a coverup for the pain.
Britney taps the dashboard, drawing me back to reality. “People will bully Kayla if you don’t claim her,” she says. “Girls have been crushing on you for years, including Madison. And some boys are crushing on Kayla, too.” She giggles. “There’s a rumor that Heath and her might—”
“That’s not going to happen,” I rumble in annoyance. “I won’t let it.”
Her eyes enlarge in sheer surprise, a sly smile forming.
Calming down, I add, “What I mean is, Kayla doesn’t seem interested.”
“Hm. If you say so.” Britney gets out and fixes her bag on her shoulder. “I’m curious to see how the rest of this day goes.”
I delay leaving the car, grumbling, “Heath better stay away from her. They all better keep their distance.” But why? What gives me the right?
Eric approaches me at my locker. “You’re still cool about Brit and me dating, right?” Worry peppers his face. “Because I asked your sis out, and she said yes.”
Exasperated, I roll my shoulders back. “Look, if you both don’t stop asking me that, I’ll seriously blow a fuse.”
He raises his hands in peace and chuckles. “All right. Sorry. What’s bugging you?”
That waste of oxygen and his crew comes walking down the hallway.
Recalling the party and how he ogled Kayla, I glare at Heath.
A dark storm grows within when he throws a look in Kayla’s direction, oblivious as she chats with Sam at her locker.
Heath mutters something to his friend, and they both chuckle in a devious manner.
I grunt under my breath, wanting to pummel them both for whatever inappropriate ideas they may have.
“So, everyone saw him and Kayla talking on Friday,” Eric says as Heath continues past. “But then Irene told Steve she saw Kayla leave in your car that night.” He dips his head and peers up at me.
I shrug. “Brought her home. She lives way across town.” The moment I close my locker, I hear Kayla’s infectious laughter, and my lips twitch to smile while I watch her. She is such a breath of fresh air.
Fuck. I’m so screwed.
“Shit, Bran,” Eric mutters. “Aside from Brit, Kayla’s the first girl you let in your car. The first I’ve seen you have conversations with, and the first you look at like that.” He follows my gaze to Kayla across the hallway.
I blink out of it and clear my throat, telling him, “It’s not…” My insides turn sour when Rajid Burman waltzes up to the girls. Sam is beaming at him, but he’s staring at Kayla. I detest the stupid spark in his eyes. Faint, but it’s there. He fucking likes her, and not as a friend.
Eric snaps his fingers to draw my focus. “What were you going to say?”
