AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Lily?” Lindsey gawked at me. “What the hell are you doing?”
“N-nothing.” I grabbed my bag and shoved past them, hurrying from the bathroom, their snickers and taunts following me.
“She is such a freak,” was the last thing I heard as I stumbled out of the door.
Tears of frustration pricked the corners of my eyes, but I swallowed them down. Slowing my pace, I made my way to AP English. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in class and pretend everything was okay, but the alternative—go back to Mrs. Bennet’s office or the school nurse—was not an option. I slipped into class and found my seat.
“There have been some last-minute schedule adjustments,” the teacher announced, “so we have a couple of students joining us late.” He glanced at the door just as Kaiden and one of his friends entered the room.
“Ah, gentlemen. Nice of you to join us.”
My heart sank. This was the worst thing that could have happened. It was bad enough seeing Kaiden around school. But now I would have to see him every day.
They moved right past me as he and his friend took their seats in the row behind me. My heart slammed against my chest, blood pounding in my ears. This was a disaster.
“Miss Ford?” Mr. Jenkins said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” my voice cracked as I silently prayed he would swiftly move on. It had been months since I had a panic attack in class.
“Maybe a trip to the school nurse?” he suggested, giving me that sympathetic pity stare I hated so much.
“I’m fine,” I rushed out, sweat beading along my spine and breasts. It felt like everyone was watching me, judging me, wondering why I was such a freak. Could they see my fingers pulling frantically at the zipper on my hoodie? Could they tell my stomach was churning so badly I felt nauseous? Could they see the tears collecting in the corners of my eyes?
Eventually, Mr. Jenkins introduced the work for the next hour and I could finally breathe without feeling like the entire class was watching me.
“Lucky escape,” I heard Kaiden’s friend say, and I went rigid, listening to their conversation.
Of course, I knew better. I’d grown up realizing it was better not to pry because nine times out of ten, you wouldn’t like what you found. But they were sitting right behind me. It wasn’t like I could just unhear them.
“There’s obviously something wrong with her,” he added.
“Shut the fuck up, Bryan.”
Bryan. That was his name.
“I’m just saying, man. You escaped the school freak.”
“Dude, I said shut the fuck up.”
“Jeez, I’m only—” He grunted, cussing quietly under his breath, and I figured Kaiden had hit him or stamped on his foot. Either way, it shut him up.
Without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes colliding with Kaiden’s. But he didn’t acknowledge me. Just stared right through me. As if I was no one.
Nothing.
And I didn’t know what hurt more. That Kaiden hadn’t stood up for me when his friend had been saying all those things or that he was acting so cold now he knew the truth about who I was.
But one thing was for sure…
The boy I’d met at the party was long gone.
Chapter Eight
Kaiden
I watchedLily flee from the room the second Mr. Jenkins dismissed class.
“She’s one crazy cookie.” I elbowed Bryan in the ribs, and he stuttered. “What the fuck, Thatch? I’m just saying, if you ask me, you had a lucky escape.”
