When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(105)
As the players fall out of the locker room door one by one, they each throw us a small wave or some bro nod as our conversation shifts into Dan’s party tonight. Violet makes her demand known. I must stick by her side until Graham’s there. She caught sight of Craig talking to me earlier before the game. After our run in with him during our girl’s night out at dinner she doesn’t trust him as far as either of us can throw him.
“I promise I’ll stay by you or Dan since you will probably be up each other’s asses anyways,” I explain rolling my eyes at her worry. Craig’s just a teenage boy with a bruised ego. He’ll get over the whole situation soon enough and be dry humping another girls leg before we can say “man whore”.
“Very funny,” she smacks me on the back of my head playfully. Suddenly her smile fades leaving a serious scowl across her lips. “Stay away from him, Kennedy. I mean it.”
I nod in understanding.
“Who does she need to stay away from?” Dan startles us both causing us to jump. “Geez, you two are jumpy tonight.”
Violet and I both avoid answering Dan’s question the entire ride to the party. Craig’s one of his best friends. How do you explain to someone that their best friend is a sexual predator?
By the time we pull into Dan’s driveway the lawn is covered with cars. It’s usually like this. I think that’s how most small towns are. Everyone shows up to the parties, at least those accepted by the “in crowd”. The music is already turned up and guys and girls are stumbling around the property trying to find someone to keep them warm for the night. Your normal high school party in America.
The three of us walk through the front door and are greeted by practically everyone that we go to school with and a few that we don’t recognize. An inebriated freshman girl bumps into me on her venture upstairs holding hands with a very sober senior football player. I don’t know his name. Part of me feels like it’s my responsibility to stop her before anything happens. After everything that I went through it seems like the appropriate thing to do. Even if I did stop her she would have shrugged me off. The guy notices me glaring at them. He winks right at me causing my stomach to flip. Disgusting.
“Who are all these people?” I shout over the loud music that’s infiltrating every room in the house.
“God, you never really did get out before Graham, did you? We go to school with most of these people, Kennedy. A few of the players from the team we just beat are here too,” Dan answers shaking his head at my lack of a social life. He grabs Violet by the hand guiding her into the kitchen to grab a drink. I’m left alone to navigate my own way around the packed rooms. Luckily, Violet comes back a few minutes later holding a red cup up to me. I take a long pull without asking what exactly she is force feeding me.
Beer.
Gross.
I take another sip from my cup hoping that it will help my tense muscles relax. When Graham isn’t by my side I still feel out of place. Our school is your typical high school. People stick with the group that they know and most aren’t forgiving to new comers. That’s why I never feel like I fit in anywhere. Then Graham came into my life and all of a sudden I was thrust into his world where booze and sex and sports are a top priority. It’s still hard to adjust. To feel like I can be myself around people who have spent two years ignoring my existence isn’t an easy feat.
“Hey,” a hypnotic deep masculine voice comes from my left. I turn to face the voice and am greeted by the biggest smirk I’ve ever seen on a guy. His dimples stand out on his tanned chiseled face. This kid could be a model. His looks don’t rival Graham’s, but he’s definitely not struggling for attention from the opposite sex.
“Hi,” I say passively turning my attention on Violet who’s fighting back a laugh. I mouthed ‘What?’ This only makes her laugh harder.
“I’m Jacob Landers,” he introduces himself like the names supposed to mean something to me.
“I’m Kennedy and this is Violet.” I point to my best friend who’s exchanging a look with Dan who’s now standing beside her with his arm around her waist. What the hell has gotten into these two?
“It’s nice to meet you. Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes?” Jacob laid it on thick.
Why’s he hitting on me?
You’d have to give him an A for effort. Most girls would be falling at his feet the way he was looking down at me. That is because most girls don’t have Graham Black either. I’d give it to the kid, he’s rather cute. He has sandy blonde hair and gorgeous hazel eyes that stick out. There is innocence in them, but if you bothered to look a smidgen deeper you can see the real mischief is hidden underneath. Not to mention he has a pretty damn good body that’s towering over everyone at the party. He has to be at least 6’3, maybe 6’4.
Like I said, most girls would lose a limb to be on this guy’s arm. Unlucky for him, I’m not most girls.
“I’m sure Graham tells her all the time,” Dan interrupts with a triumphant grin on his face. He’s clearly getting a kick out of this. Jacob looks between the three of us, but his eyes stop dead on me. He scans his eyes up and down my body letting his stare land a little too long on my chest.
“Graham Black?” This response causes Violet to laugh even louder. I sort of feel bad for Jacob now.