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Maybe.
Lyra sends me a knowing smile, and I ignore her as I hurry to the car.
Ever since she insisted on driving in December, I stopped offering. I’m going to pretend to have a snobby chauffeur who drives me to school every day.
The small smile that blooms dies quickly as Lyra asks, “So when is the last time you ate? You’ve gone from being a round little heifer to rarely eating in front of people. Do you have a stash of food in your room or something?”
Lips pressed together, I ignore her. The truth is, I eat just enough to keep from passing out because I’m never hungry anymore. I used to love food, and she’s ruined that for me, among other things.
“Hello, earth to Cassie!” Lyra calls, and I growl under my breath as she pulls out of the driveway.
The entirety of the drive is my lovely step-sister trying to get me to speak to her while I stare out the window. I can’t even tune her out, but I can ignore her.
The moment we’re parked, I exit the vehicle as if it’s on fire. Breathing deeply, I walk away.
“Cassie, what the hell’s wrong with you?!” Lyra yells.
Rolling my eyes as I walk quickly away from her, I mutter, “You, duh.”
I don’t have a single class with her since I’m in advanced classes, and I focus on this as I move through my day. I have a fruit bar in my bag that I’m actually contemplating eating as I finish my last class before lunch, when I hear someone clear his throat. Looking up, my brows raise as I see it’s a guy who's in my American Lit AP class, but I’ve never spoken to.
“Hi?” I ask with a little smile to soften my cluelessness.
“Hey, Cassie, I’m Walker Evan, we’ve been in classes all year, and I haven’t had the balls to talk to you,” he says, wincing slightly at his crassness.
I laugh openly, sure he’s mistaken. There’s nothing about me that’s scary or overbearing. I’m a tiny redhead who hides from people.
“Are you sure you’re talking about me? I assure you, I don’t bite,” I tease him.
I haven’t flirted since we left Texas, but it feels good to relax and enjoy the attention of a boy.
Walker’s eyes widen in surprise as he listens to me, and then he shakes his head, as if he’s entranced by me.
“Yeah, I’m definitely sure. You have this glow about you, and I’m not sure you realize how gorgeous you are. What I mean to ask, because I’m screwing this all up, is do you want to go to prom with me? Were you planning to go?” Walker is babbling, and it’s adorable from someone who is so gorgeous.
He pushes his dirty blond hair out of his eyes as he steps out of my bubble so I can stand. Grabbing my bag, he hands it to me.
“I… wasn’t planning on attending. I haven’t been asked by anyone, and I haven’t made an effort to make many friends,” I confess with a shrug. “I guess it’s the curse of the military brat.”
Walker nods, biting his lip as he walks with me. “I think you should make a really great memory with me. Please tell me you’ll go to prom… With me, I mean?”
He gives me puppy dog eyes, and I want to tell him no, because there’s no way this guy wants to go out with me. Walker has warm, laughing light brown eyes, and looks like he doesn’t take himself very seriously. Except, now that I think about it, he’s been in a few of my advanced placement classes.
What’s the worst that could happen?
“Yeah… okay. I’m in. I’ll meet you at prom?” I ask with a smile. I don’t want to be stuck there, and Lyra and her friends are taking a limo. The car will be available that night, and I’ll have an escape without waiting for someone to take me home.
Walker stares at me, pushing a curl off my forehead. My hair is actually pretty today, spiraling in pretty ringlets instead of a frizzy poof. I thank the hair Gods that I got asked to prom on a good hair day.
“Yeah, Cassie. I’ll see you there. Don’t stand me up, okay? I can see when to stop pushing, and you’re done bending, aren’t you?” he asks with an amused expression.
Wow, the man can read the room. He deserves an award.
“Yes,” I tell him, bobbing my head with a giggle.
“Damn, you’re seriously gorgeous. I’m a lucky man,” Walker says with a grin, dropping his hand from my hair. “I’ll see you around.”
A smile tugs at my lips as I touch the curl he was playing with. Biting my lip, I float through the rest of my day. The taunts don’t really bother me, I ate the energy bar today outside at a picnic table, and then ignored my step-sister on the drive home.
