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Maybe even cuter than the braid.
I’m close enough to smell her when she tilts her head to the side, her ponytail sliding over her shoulder as she reaches behind her and grips the back of her neck with her left hand. I note the way her fingers press into her flesh, as if she’s massaging herself, and I hear a sweet sigh come from her.
That sigh settles in my dick, making it twitch.
What the hell?
She must sense I’m behind her because she glances to her right, her gaze landing on me, recognition dawning in her eyes. The friendly look on her face disappears like magic. “What do you want?”
“Ease up, Grumpy.” I do the chin nod thing, playing it cool. Hating how riotous my pulse turns at her nearness. “Whatcha reading?”
Her cheeks color and she slams the book shut so it’s lying face down on the table. “Nothing.”
“Must be good if you’d rather read than hang with your…friends at lunch.”
Her expression remains impassive. Hard to read. “I don’t have a lot of friends.”
The words hit me right in the chest, stunning me silent because what do you say to something like that?
She shoves the book in her backpack and reaches for the sandwich, bringing it to her mouth so she can take a bite. I watch her, transfixed as she chews and swallows, then grabs her tumbler cup and takes a sip, her perfect lips wrapped around the straw tight.
Jesus. I need to get away from her. She’s making me feel things I’m not used to.
“Are you just going to stare or do you want something?” she asks once she’s let go of the straw.
“I should go.” I don’t budge.
Her lips curl in a tiny smile that’s full of relief. Like she can’t wait to get rid of me. “See you later then.”
Realizing I need to leave, I turn on my heel and exit the dining hall without another word, frustrated.
Confused.
Why did I even bother talking to her yet again? She’s not my type. I’m not interested in charity cases. Sweet girls who would put way too much faith in me when all I’d do in the end is disappoint them.
Fuck that.
TEN
DAISY
My entire bodyrelaxes only after Arch Lancaster walks away. I reach for my travel cup with shaky fingers and take another fortifying sip of icy cold water, frowning down at the plain sandwich I’ve barely eaten. It wasn’t that good.
I grab the apple instead of the sandwich, sinking my teeth into it, savoring the satisfying crunch when I bite into the fruit. I keep eating, glancing around at the full tables, everyone seeming to sit with their backs to me. I’m at a table in the middle of the dining hall, yet not a single person talks to me, or even approaches me. No one ever really looks at me.
Except for Arch. Oh and his sister.
This is all so new, and I’m not sure if I like it. Have I become so accustomed to being invisible to everyone that it now feels strange having someone—especially a Lancaster someone—notice me?
Yes. I think so.
I’m comfortable in my invisible existence. I know what I look like to the people who attend this school. I’ve even heard it murmured here and there over the years. It’s no secret, how they all feel about me.
I’m beneath them. I think I make them uneasy whenever I come around, and while at first it hurt, I’ve slowly grown used to it.
Grabbing my book, I try to resume reading but all I can think about is Arch sneaking up on me. Catching me reading it. Oh God, maybe he read a few snippets over my shoulder. That would be embarrassing. The cover is relatively harmless—more like it’s downright cute—but the contents inside are pretty spicy.
After I give up on trying to read, I quickly polish off the apple and gather my things, tossing my trash in the bin before I leave the dining hall. No one pays attention as I exit. Not a single person makes eye contact with me or says hello or calls out my name and yet again I feel like a ghost.
